The Global Times (March 30) publicised that on March 26 and 29, PLAAF aircraft surrounded the island of Taiwan from both west and east in two exercises. In the drill on March 29, the additional aircraft crossed the Miyako Strait to reach Taiwan's eastern side. It said 10 PLA aircraft - four J-16 and four J-10 fighter jets, a KJ-500 early warning aircraft and a Y-8 anti-submarine warfare aircraft - entered Taiwan's "self-proclaimed" southwest air defense identification zone on March 29, with the Y-8 anti-submarine warfare aircraft flying across the Bashi Channel to the southeast to the island before returning. It said the flight paths of the warplanes on March 29, were similar to those in the exercise on March 26, which was the largest drill featuring 20 PLAAF aircraft. It added that unlike the exercise on March 26, the PLA sent another group of warplanes on March 29 that were not observed by Taiwan island's defense authorities, but Japan's. Xu Guangyu, a senior adviser to the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, told Global Times (March 30) that to resolve the Taiwan question, no matter through peaceful or military means, military strength is always needed as a basis.  He added that the PLA must be able to deter Taiwan secessionist forces from all directions, and the recent exercises were very much needed and aimed at achieving this goal. He predicted that more and larger exercises could take place in the future.  

(Comment: The PLAAF exercise on March 26 coincided with Taiwan and the United States signing the “Memorandum of Cooperation in Maritime Patrol.”)