Taipei: Taiwan’s Apex Aviation has confirmed that a Chinese military aircraft buzzed one of its medevac planes near Kinmen in June. The incident, which first came to light through a report by RW News, occurred on the morning of June 26. Apex Aviation stated that the aircraft was en route from Taipei Songshan Airport to Kinmen County, with no patients on board, when the encounter took place.
According to Focus Taiwan, the medevac pilots were alerted by Kaohsiung Approach to the presence of a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) fighter jet in the vicinity, which was ordered to vacate the civilian airspace. Apex reported that the Chinese jet was visible alongside their plane for approximately five minutes, although the exact timing of its approach and departure remains unclear.
Apex Aviation clarified that there were no disruptions to the flight following air traffic control instructions. The company did not initially report the incident, believing it to be a coincidental encounter amidst PLA’s joint combat readiness patrols on the same day.
RW News had reported that two PLA aircraft, a JH-7 and a J-10, had approached the medevac plane. In response, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) issued a strong condemnation, urging China to cease such actions, which it claims jeopardize humanitarian aid and flight safety.
On Thursday, MAC Deputy Head Liang Wen-chieh highlighted the significance of the Kinmen medevac service due to the area’s limited medical resources. However, he did not address questions regarding the lack of immediate reporting or preventative measures for future incidents.
The Air Force, when asked about the discrepancy in the number of PLA aircraft involved, emphasized its use of a joint intelligence system to monitor movements around the Taiwan Strait. The incident was labeled a gray-zone incursion, although the Air Force did not elaborate on the classification.
Meanwhile, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua criticized Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party for allegedly exaggerating threats to distract from domestic issues, dismissing claims of “gray-zone harassment.”
