Eight Chinese Fighters Buzz Taiwan's Air Zone

Reuters: Chinese fighters buzz Taiwan's air zone as it appoints new defence minister 

 * Taiwan reports eight Chinese fighters in defence zone 

 * Taiwan announces new defence, intelligence chiefs 

 * Tensions have risen as China asserts sovereignty claims 

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan’s air force scrambled on Friday after eight Chinese fighter aircraft flew into the southwestern part of its air defence zone in another display of stepped-up military activity around the democratic island. 

Beijing, which claims Taiwan as Chinese territory, says it is responding to what it calls “collusion” between Taipei and Washington, Taiwan’s main international backer and weapons supplier. 

The Taiwanese Defence Ministry said four Chinese J-16s and four JH-7s as well as an electronic warfare aircraft flew near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands in the top part of the South China Sea. 

The air force scrambled, with “radio warnings issued and air defence missile systems deployed to monitor the activity,” the ministry said. 

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