The Air Force yesterday confirmed a local media report that a Russian Tupolev Tu-95 bomber had briefly entered the country’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Jan. 28, but said it did not dispatch combat aircraft to monitor or intercept the intruder as it changed course toward Japan after receiving a warning message.
Chief of General Staff of Air Force Combat Command, Major General Wang Hsuan-chou (汪旋周) told a press conference that “on Jan. 28 the Air Force discovered an unknown aircraft had entered Taiwan’s ADIZ. The Air Force reported it to the Ministry of National Defense, and also monitored the aircraft using radar and raised the alert level.”
“The measures taken were in accordance with the Air Force’s standard procedure,” he said.
After two or three days of checking, the Air Force identified the aircraft as a Russian Tu-95 strategic bomber, he said.
Asked why the Air Force did not dispatch aircraft to intercept the Tu-95, Wang said it had followed procedures for discovering an unknown aircraft in the air defense zone.
The Air Force also issued a press statement yesterday, adding that the Russian bomber, flying northeast to south, flew along the northeast boundary of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone and only briefly entered Taiwan’s ADIZ.
Because the aircraft stayed in Taiwan’s air space for a short time and Combat Command decided the bomber was not hostile, combat aircraft were not scrambled, the statement said.
The Russian plane turned toward Okinawa after a warning broadcast was issued, it said.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chai Trong-rong (蔡同榮), however, accused the Air Force yesterday of neglecting its duties by not dispatching combat aircraft to monitor or intercept the bomber.
“Any foreign combat aircraft intruding into the nation’s defense territory is a very serious matter, but the Air Force did not respond to the situation at all,” he said.
Chai requested the Air Force discipline the personnel in charge during the time of the incident.
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