China conducts strategic bomber drills near Taiwan

China has sent a group of H-6K strategic bombers near Taiwan for “confrontation drills,” Chinese state media reported late on October 26, just days ahead of an anticipated meeting between US President Donald Trump and China’s leader Xi Jinping.

“Multiple H-6K bombers went to the waters and airspace around Taiwan to carry out simulated confrontation drills,” the report said, adding that “several J-10 fighters flew in combat formations” to an unspecified airspace," CNN cites.

H-6K bombers are capable of carrying nuclear weapons. The Chinese state television military channel, without specifying a date, reported that air force units of the Eastern Theater Command – responsible for operations around Taiwan – conducted combat training focused on reconnaissance, early warnings, air blockades, and precision strikes in key areas.

The report aired footage showing J-10 fighter jets taking off and H-6 bombers releasing missiles. A Chinese soldier was quoted as saying, “Taiwan’s coast line is clearly visible up in the (air).”

Taiwan’s Defence Ministry, which publicises daily updates on Chinese military activity in surrounding waters and airspace, said on the morning of October 27 that four sorties of Chinese aircraft were detected, without specifying any abnormalities. The ministry added in a statement that the Chinese report was “clearly a public-opinion operation aimed at intimidation.”

China frequently deploys fighter jets, drones, and warships near Taiwan, and in recent years has increased military, diplomatic, and economic pressure on the self-ruled island democracy, which Beijing claims as its own despite never having governed it.

The United States maintains close unofficial ties with Taiwan and is legally required to sell arms to the island for self-defence, though it remains deliberately vague about whether it would intervene in the event of a Chinese invasion.

By Sabina Mammadli