China’s Latest Taiwan Incursion Reveals Worrying Capability

TAIPEI, TAIWAN — China surprised the world on Sunday when it practiced aerial refueling during its latest mass incursion into Taiwan’s air defense zone. Aerial refueling has long been considered a weak point of the Chinese air force. Here are the details: <br /> <br /> <br />Reuters reports that a large force of Chinese warplanes passed close to Taiwan on Sunday, November 28, prompting Taiwan to scramble fighter jets to track the incoming warplanes. <br /> <br /> <br />The Chinese force consisted of 27 aircraft that included five nuclear-capable bombers, 18 fighters, three large support planes, and an aerial tanker. <br /> <br /> <br />The aerial tanker was significant as it was the first time that China practiced a refuelling mission in Taiwan’s air defense identification zone. <br /> <br /> <br />Twelve of the fighter jets flew patterns around the southwest corner of Taiwan's air defense zone, just to the northeast of the Dongsha Islands, while the remaining aircraft flew in a large “V” pattern from the southwest corner of the zone to the southeast corner, and back. <br /> <br /> <br />China has recently greatly increased its pressure on Taiwan’s defenses, sending a total of 149 warplanes into the democratically governed country’s air defense zone in only the first four days of October. <br /> <br /> <br />Taiwan says China is using “gray zone warfare," which is designed to wear out Taiwan's forces by forcing them to scramble repeatedly. <br /> <br /> <br />China’s Y-20U tanker is a new version of its Y-20 military transport aircraft that’s been modified for aerial refueling. <br /> <br /> <br />The addition of such aircraft could greatly extend the range of China's fighters, bombers, and transport planes. <br /> <br /> <br />