Taiwan scrambles aircraft as Chinese bombers fly round island

Taiwan’s Air Force has scrambled aircraft as Chinese bombers flew around the self-ruled island, according to the military. In the latest flight by Chinese aircraft around Taiwan, two H-6 bombers passed through the Bashi Channel which separates Taiwan from the Philippines in the early hours of Friday and then rounded Taiwan via Japan’s Miyako Strait, to Taiwan’s northeast, the island’s defense ministry said. It added that Taiwan aircraft accompanied and monitored the bombers throughout and described the Chinese aircraft as being on a long-range training mission, Reuters reports. The people of Taiwan should not be alarmed as the air force was well able to monitor the Chinese aircraft and can ensure Taiwan’s security, the ministry said. Beijing has not commented on the statement.