China Flies 52 Military Planes into Taiwanese Airspace in Largest Incursion Ever

The Chinese military on Monday sent 52 military planes into Taiwan’s air defense zone — the most ever in a single day — one day after the U.S. issued a warning to Beijing over similar flights it conducted in recent days.

China has sent 145 flights into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone in the past four days, including Monday’s incursion, which was first reported by Fox News.

“The United States is very concerned by the People’s Republic of China’s provocative military activity near Taiwan, which is destabilizing, risks miscalculations, and undermines regional peace and stability,” the U.S. State Department said in a statement on Sunday evening. “We urge Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure and coercion against Taiwan.”

The flights began on October 1 when 38 People’s Liberation Army aircraft flew close to southwest Taiwan before circling back as modern China celebrated the 72nd anniversary of its founding, CBS News reported. Chinese planes flew 39 more sorties the next day and another 16 flights the day after that — all following a similar path.