"Old-fashioned fighters were used": the Chinese Air Force used copies of the Soviet MiG-21 in exercises near the borders of Taiwan
The Chinese Air Force conducted regular exercises near the air borders of Taiwan, which Beijing considers the territory of the PRC. These tests received special attention due to the fact that they involved old aircraft of the Chinese air force. These are Chengdu J-7 fighters, which are copies of the Soviet MiG-21. J-7 aircraft in China were produced for a long period of time - from 1967 to 2013.
In the Chinese press, commenting on the exercises near the borders of Taiwan, they noted that "it is probably about an attempt to test the effectiveness of the Taiwanese air defense."
Chinese edition of the Global Times:
Taiwan Service News UDN notes that along with the J-7, other aircraft from the Chinese Air Force appeared in the immediate vicinity of Taiwan's borders. In particular, we are talking about the Shaanxi Y-8 electronic warfare aircraft. This is a Chinese copy of the Soviet An-12.
It has been suggested that the Chinese Air Force has practiced suppressing Taiwan's air defense radars and simulated interceptions of Taiwanese fighters. It was as the aircraft of the Taiwan Air Force that 4 Chengdu J-7 fighters could be used during the exercises. Together with them, more modern combat aircraft of the Chinese air force - J-16 fighters were seen in the sky.
Earlier, American journalists asked the Russian president a question about what the Russian Federation would do in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan. Vladimir Putin, in turn, asked where the American reporters got the information that China is going to attack someone, including Taiwan, and added that Beijing is carrying out economic cooperation with the island.
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