Focus Taiwan
Date: 10/07/2020
By: Matt Yu and Joseph Yeh

Taipei, Oct. 7 (CNA) China has conducted 49 military aircraft sorties across the Taiwan Strait median line this year, the highest number in any year since 1990, Taiwan's defense minister said Wednesday.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) has conducted 1,710 military aircraft sorties and 1,029 military vessel sorties into Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) this year, Yen De-fa (嚴德發) said during a briefing at a legislative session.

Of the 1,710 sorties by PLA aircraft, 219 were into Taiwan's southwest ADIZ while 49 crossed the median line of the strait, the most since 1990, Yen elaborated.

In response, Taiwan's armed forces have conducted nearly 3,000 military aircraft sorties to intercept and monitor the Chinese aircraft and vessels, Yen said.    [FULL  STORY]