The Chinese state media announced on Sept. 12 that the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) had dispatched bombers, fighters and support aircraft through the Bashi Channel into the Pacific Ocean. Taiwan’s Up Media reported that the U.S. Air Force dispatched F-15s from Japan during this exercise. We’ve check with our source and can confirm that the incident did occur.
According to Up Media’s report, the U.S. Navy’s destroyer USS Spruance (DDG-111) was in the vicinity when it detected the group of aircraft heading towards Bashi Channel. It immediately requested for air cover and eight F-15s from Naha, Okinawa plus two RC-135s were immediately scrambled to the location.
At the same time, Taiwan activated up to 16 F-16s and IDF fighters in several waves after detecting both waves of aircraft.
Both the Americans and Chinese converge in the vicinity of Orchid Island according to the new report, however, our source said it was closer to the junction where the Taiwan and Japan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) converge. Fighter pilots from both sides tried to gain height advantage and at some point, the PLAAF fighters entered the Taiwan ADIZ. RoCAF fighters observe the sequence of events from afar and did not close in on the Chinese side. The American and Chinese fighters eventually flew away towards North and East respectively.