USAF F-16s flew to South China Sea on same day China sent 14 J-16s into the area

Photos released by the Pentagon revealed that F-16s from the 13th Fighter Squadron had rendezvous with the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group on Apr. 12.

SOUTH CHINA SEA (April 12, 2021) – U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 13th Fighter Squadron fly in formation over the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) April 12, 2021. The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. As the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed fleet, 7th Fleet routinely operates and interacts with 35 maritime nations while conducting missions to preserve and protect a free and open Indo-Pacific Region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Conner D. Blake)

The 13th Fighter Squadron is part of the 35th Fighter Wing at Misawa Air Base, Japan.

On the same day, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense announced that China had sent 4 J-10s, 14 J-16s and 4 H-6K bombers into its ADIZ.

Commercial satellite imagery revealed that the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group was in the same area as those Chinese flights.

ADS-B data shows that those F-16s were supported by four USAF KC-135s flying above the aircraft carrier.