PLA Long-Range Flight Training: 22 Sorties, 20 Crossing Median Line into N/Central/SW ADIZ Before Western Pacific Transit

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected 5 PLA aircraft sorties (6 PLAN vessels, 5 official ships, 2 sorties into SW ADIZ) in the initial 06:00 (UTC+8) window on July 2, 2026, followed by a larger formation later that morning. By the day's tally, 22 total PLA sorties were recorded — including J-16 fighters, H-6 bombers, and KJ-500 airborne early-warning aircraft — with 20 of the 22 crossing the Taiwan Strait median line into Taiwan's northern, central, and southwestern ADIZ sectors before continuing to the western Pacific to conduct joint air-sea training and long-range flight exercises. Taiwan's MND issued a same-day press release specifically addressing the 'PLA Long-Range Flight Training' and 'PLA Joint Combat Readiness Patrol' designations. ROC Armed Forces monitored throughout with CAP aircraft, naval vessels, and coastal missile systems.