Taiwan’s Air Force scrambled to alert nine Chinese planes that had entered its air defence zone on Thursday, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said. This was the same day as Russia invaded Ukraine. Taipei is closely monitoring this situation.

Taiwan, which China considers its territory, complained about regular Chinese airforce missions over the past two years. However, the planes do not approach Taiwan.

It was far less than the number of Chinese aircraft that flew by on Jan. 23rd, which included 39 aircraft. However, these fly-bys are now much more frequent and involve far fewer aircraft.

According to the ministry, the most recent mission was comprised eight Chinese J-16 fighters as well one Y-8 reconnaissance plane. It flew above an area northeast of Taiwan’s Pratas Islands at high end of South China Sea.

Taiwanese fighters sent up to warn Chinese aircraft, and air defense missiles deployed to “monitor activities,” according to the ministry. The standard words Taiwan uses for its response are used in the statement.

Taiwan was watching carefully the Ukraine crisis. It is nervous that China might try to use it as an opportunity to make a move on the island.

Although Taipei did not report any suspicious movements of Chinese forces, it has raised its alert level.

China has not renounced using force to subdue Taiwan. It routinely denounces U.S. arm sales and other forms of support.

When asked by reporters in Beijing about Thursday’s new U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy the spokesperson for China’s Defense Ministry Tan Kefei stated that Taiwan is a core issue of China and would not tolerate any foreign interference.

Tan stated, “We ask the U.S. to recognize the Taiwan question’s high sensitiveness and refrain from interfering with China’s internal affairs.”

The 12-page Indo-Pacific Strategy Overview, published earlier in the month by the Biden Administration, stated that the administration would commit additional diplomatic and security resources for the region.

Washington said that Taiwan would be cooperating with its partners from both within and outside of the region in order to preserve peace and stability along the strait which divides Taiwan and China.