Taiwan Scrambles Jets as China’s Air Force Holds Drill Near Island

A F-16 Fighting Falcon takes off during an annual drill at an air base in Taitung City, southeast Taiwan on January 30, 2018. Mandy cheng//AFP/Getty Images

TAIPEI—Taiwan sent aircraft on Monday to shadow China air force fighter jets as they flew through the Bashi Channel to the south of the island, its defense ministry said.

China sent an unspecified number of Xian H-6 bombers, Su-30 fighter jets and Y-8 transport aircraft over the waterway on their way to the West Pacific Ocean, the Taiwan ministry said.