Beijing confirms strategic bombers circled Taiwan in 2018 night mission

At the time, the mainland’s defence ministry acknowledged an operation had taken place but did not directly confirm the plane model used or that it happened at night.

Since last August, when then US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei, Beijing has sent more warplanes and ships near Taiwan, which it considers a breakaway province to be put under its control, by force if necessary.

Most countries, including the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington opposes the use of force to change the status quo.

On Monday, CCTV began airing a series of reports and a propaganda video about the bomber group that boasted about the capabilities of the H-6K bombers and their pilots – apparently as a prelude to the granting of an honorary title to the flight group by top Communist Party leaders.

The publicity department of the party’s Central Committee on Tuesday awarded the group the honorary title “Role Model of the Era” – a reference to the Chinese president’s signature ideology, known as “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era”.

“Our far-sea missions in recent years are unlike those in the past, where I flew one H-6K plane out there,” Zhang told CCTV. “Now, it’s about formations in every size and shape.”

“For example, our electronic-warfare planes, early-warning planes, tankers, fighter jets that cover for us and even warships at sea – their sharing of data and information about the combat situation and other forms of support make us more confident.”