Taiwan scrambles fighters to see off Chinese warplanes as Xi meets top brass

Chinese-claimed Taiwan has complained for a year or more of repeated missions by China’s air force near the democratically governed island, often in the southwestern part of its air defense identification zone, or ADIZ, close to the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands.Taiwan calls China’s repeated nearby military activities “gray zone” warfare, designed to both wear out Taiwan’s forces by making them repeatedly scramble, and also to test Taiwan’s responses.Over a four-day period beginning on October 1, when China marked its national day, Taiwan said that However, Chinese state media reported that President Xi Jinping had held a three-day meeting which ended on Sunday with the country’s top officers to discuss how further to strengthen the armed forces through talent cultivation.While the read out of his remarks made no direct mention of Taiwan, Xi did stress the need to modernize the military to be able to win wars.”It is necessary to make great efforts to strengthen scientific and technological literacy and improve the actual ability to win modern wars,” the official Xinhua news agency cited Xi as saying.”It is necessary to strengthen practical experience and encourage and guide officers and soldiers to experience the wind and rain, see the world, strengthen their muscles and bones, and develop their talents in fiery military practice.”