China launched 26 aircraft to monitor US P-8

The US Navy has conducted several transits of the Taiwan Strait in 2023. Its latest transit, on 13 July, by a Boeing P-8A Poseidon, attracted a major response from the Chinese PLA. (Taiwan Ministry of National Defense/US Indo-Pacific Command/China Ministry of National Defense)

The flight of a US Navy Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft over the Taiwan Strait on 13 July prompted China to launch 26 combat aircraft, according to the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense (MND).

In a statement issued on 13 July the MND said it “successfully detected 26 sorties” by People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft “in response to the US P-8A-type aircraft”. The MND added that these were fighter aircraft, including a number of CAC J-10s, atleast two SAC J-11s, seven J-16s, and six Sukhoi Su-30s.

“Among them, 13 [aircraft] crossed the centre [median] line of the strait and its extension line and entered the southwest airspace to conduct joint sea-air training with [PLA Navy] ships,” the MND said. “Another four [PLA Navy] ships co-operated in the implementation of combat readiness and policing patrols.”

According to the MND, the P-8's transit over the strait occurred in the morning. The aircraft flew “north to south along the centreline of the Taiwan Strait,” the MND said.

The P-8, which is also an anti-submarine warfare aircraft, can detect, locate, and track surface and undersea targets. Its mission systems, datalink, and L-3 Wescam MX-20HD digital electro-optical/infrared sensor system can support battlespace control, according to Boeing.