Beijing warplanes resume ‘patrols’ over Taiwan airspace

A Taiwan Air Force fighter AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo intercepts a PLA H-6 bomber above the Taiwan Strait. Photo: Taiwan Defense Ministry.

 

Six Chinese warplanes, including four H-6 strategic bombers, two electronic intelligence jets, one Tu-154MD and the other Y-8, flew past the Miyako Strait between Taiwan and Japan’s Okinawa prefecture on November 19, until the Japanese Self-defence Force scrambled jet fighters to monitor and intercept the flyover, Japan’s Ministry of Defence said.

Taiwan authorities confirmed that the Chinese warplanes crossed deep into the island’s airspace – above the waters off Eastern Taiwan – before following the same route back.

Chinese military planes spotted over Sea of Japan

A Chinese military Y-9 surveillance aircraft (Provided by the Defense Ministry)

 

According to the ministry’s Joint Staff, a Chinese Y-9 surveillance aircraft and Y-8 early warning plane were confirmed to have flown from the East China Sea, traveling south of Tsushima island in Nagasaki Prefecture, before reaching the central part of the Sea of Japan.

China’s PLA Navy sends new surveillance planes on submarine hunt

The military deploys advanced Gaoxin aircraft to its North Sea Fleet to flex its maritime surveillance muscle in disputed waters

The navy has deployed several new advanced surveillance aircraft to its North Sea Fleet to hunt down submarines in the East and South China seas.

The new “Gaoxin-6” maritime anti-submarine warfare planes are modified versions of the Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation’s Y-8 and Y-9 medium transport aircraft and were added to the People’s Liberation Army’s North Sea Fleet late last year, Beijing-based naval expert Li Jie said yesterday.

China fields new maritime patrol and anti-submarine Y-8/Y-9 variant

China fields new maritime patrol and anti-submarine Y-8/Y-9 variant

The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has introduced into service a new maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) variant of the Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation (SAC) Y-8/Y-9 medium transport aircraft, national media reported in late June.

An unspecified number of the four-engined Y-8GX6 (Y-8Q) turboprops have now been inducted into the North Sea Fleet, which is responsible for the maritime domain that stretches from the North Korean border to Lianyungang (Jiangsu Province), some three-and-a-half years after the type was first revealed in late 2011.

PLA aircraft could threaten Guam, says analyst

Just as China-Japan relations had begun warming up, Japan reported on Dec. 6 that five Chinese military aircraft were observed flying over an area between Okinawa’s main island of Okinawa and Miyako island. The five aircraft are believed to have been capable of posing a threat to Guam, according to a military expert.

Chinese military commentator Li Xiaojian said the jets may have departed for the Western Pacific to take part in a large-scale naval and air combat exercise, in which Chinese naval ships also participated. This also signals that China has the joint combat capability of combining its naval and air power.