Taiwan radio enthusiasts tune in as Chinese, U.S. warplanes crowd sensitive skies

Equipment used by radio enthusiast Robin Hsu, 50, to monitor flight traffic in air space southwest of Taiwan, is seen at a cafe in Pingtung, Taiwan May 3, 2022. REUTERS/Yimou Lee

Shortly after dawn on a southern Taiwanese beach, Robin Hsu's iPhone pings with the first radio message of the day from Taiwan's air force as it warns away Chinese aircraft.

"Attention!" a voice says on the radio, speaking in Mandarin to a Chinese military plane flying at an altitude of 3,500 meters. "You have entered our southwestern air defence identification zone and are jeopardising aviation safety. Turn around and leave immediately."