Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Two Chinese military aircraft violated the airspace of Taiwan, forcing Taipei to scramble planes to "accompany the two jet outside air defence identification zone". The Taiwanese army spokesman said the incident took place on August 25 and that the "invading" planes were two Y-8 of the People's Liberation Army.
The incident occurred just days after an incident involving the United States: a Chinese fighter jet came dangerously close to an American reconnaissance plane in international air space above the waters of the island of Hainan, south of China, sparking the ire of the Pentagon.
As on that occasion, the Chinese authorities claim that nothing happened. According to a statement from the Ministry of Defence, the aircraft were involved in "routine flight activities in relevant airspace", "with no unusual occurrences".
Since the end of the civil war between the Maoists and Kuomintang nationalists (1949), Beijing has considered Taiwan a renegade province and an integral part of its territory. After decades of tension, in recent years Beijing and Taipei have reached a certain detente in improving bilateral economic relations. However, from a political point of view they remain distant, partly because of Taiwan's historic ties of friendship with the United States.