Taiwan scrambles jets after 27 Chinese planes enter buffer zone

Taiwanese Air Force personnel pass one of the upgraded F-16V fighter jets at a base in Chiayi, south-western Taiwan (Johnson Lai/AP)

Taiwan said 27 Chinese aircraft entered its air defence buffer zone on Sunday, the latest in a long series of incursions as part of Beijing’s pressure on the self-ruled island.

The Defence Ministry said Taiwan scrambled combat aircraft to “warn” the Chinese planes to leave. It also deployed missile systems to monitor them.