Chinese military aircraft made a dramatic escalation of tension across the Taiwan Strait

For the last three months, the Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) in an amazing escalating rate.    Recently, twenty Chinese military aircraft entered ADIZ in the largest incursion yet reported by Taiwan.   The People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft involved in the mission included J-16 multirole fighters, J-10 multirole fighters, nuclear-capable H-6K bombers ,Y-8 anti-submarine warfare plane, KJ-500 airborne early warning and control plane and others.   The island’s defense ministry said the air force deployed missiles to “monitor” the incursion into the southwestern part of its ADIZ.   It also said each timeTaiwan sent its fighters to fly close to the Chinese planes and warned them to fly away by radio.   Taiwan’s defense ministry almost daily disclosed how Chinese military planes flew over the seas between the southern part of Taiwan and the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands in the South China Sea.   Several times, the Chinese aircraft flew in the airspace to the south of Taiwan and passed through the Bashi Channel.   The China’s actions mean there is a good possibility of clashing between Taiwan’s fighters and Chinese airplanes.   A small clash might turn into major conflicts.    According to Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration (CGA), China was likely conducting reconnaissance missions over the Dongsha Islands, as its drones were recently spotted near the Taiwan-held territory in the South China Sea.  The Dongsha Islands, also known as the Pratas, lie 450 kilometers southwest of Kaohsiung. They are one of two territories in the South China Sea that are controlled by Taiwan and manned by its CGA personnel, the other being Taiping Island.    Some military analysts in Taiwan believe that such flyovers may be part of a strategy by Beijing to project an impression that the airspace is its own backyard that it can frequent anytime it wishes.