Since February 2021, China’s military aircraft have conducted eight combat readiness patrols over the Taiwan Strait, with some Taiwanese media complaining that they “report for duty every day”. In addition, Taiwan has also noticed an increase in the number of PLA aircraft entering the Taiwan Strait at night. For example, on January 31, there were two J-11 aircraft. On January 28th, there were 2 J-10s.
J-16 is a heavy-duty multi-purpose fighter recently equipped by the Chinese military. It has strong air, ground and sea attack capabilities, and its comprehensive performance can “completely crush” almost all military aircraft of the Taiwan Air Force, even the newly upgraded F-16V.
It is worth noting that the special aircraft troops stationed at the Guizhou airbase visited by Chinese mainland leader Xi Jinping on February 4 have been conducting combat readiness patrols at sea. Taiwan media once reported that “even the planes from Guizhou have come”.
During the meeting, Xi asked a pilot if he had a holiday for Spring Festival. The pilot replied that he will have seven days, but two of them will be on “combat readiness missions.” According to the analysis, during the Lunar New Year, the sky over the Taiwan Strait will not be clear.
The Y-9G jammer, the latest electronic warfare aircraft developed by China, is capable of imposing strong electromagnetic jamming and suppression on adversaries, forcing communications to be disrupted. The aircraft has been described as “a nightmare” for the Taiwanese military.
As for the PLA’s combat readiness patrol, the spokesperson of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese mainland once pointed out that combat readiness patrol is completely legitimate and lawful, and is a necessary action to be taken in response to the current security situation in the Taiwan Strait and the need to safeguard China’s national sovereignty.
The Eastern Theater Command also stressed that it has the determination and ability to thwart all “Taiwan independence” separatist activities, resolutely safeguard China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and resolutely safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits.