China’s military flies eight sorties within 44 kilometers of Taiwan proper

Taiwan’s missile defense system in Pingtung County was deployed on Saturday when Chinese fighter jets flew to within 44 kilometers of Taiwan’s main island. On Sunday, the defense ministry confirmed the incident. But one retired Air Force general says the military should be more active and send Taiwan’s own fighters on regular patrols in the Taiwan Strait. Meanwhile, one military analyst says China’s saber rattling will only result in greater international support for Taiwan, thereby defying Beijing’s threatening rhetoric.

Taiwan’s domestically produced Sky Bow III longe-range air-defense missiles have a range of approximately 200 kilometers. On Saturday, launch vehicles for those missiles appeared on the streets of Hengchun in Pingtung County, after Chinese military aircraft came within 44 kilometers from Taiwan’s shoreline.

Voice of Sun Li-fang
Defense ministry spokesperson
Starting at around 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, the national defense ministry detected 19 sorties by various Chinese military aircraft including the J-10, the J-16 and others. Eight of the sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, and came within 44 kilometers of Taiwan’s shoreline. There were also five Chinese military vessels involved in combat-readiness drills and patrols.

According to a trajectory map released by the defense ministry, a total of eight Chinese J-10 fighter jets crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait on Saturday, coming within 44 kilometers of Taiwan proper.

Chang Yen-ting
Retired Air Force official
In Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung, Taoyuan and Yilan, there are no dedicated military air bases. No fighter jets are permanently stationed there, and no military aircraft on standby alert. If you just rely on anti-aircraft missiles for tracking and monitoring, the effectiveness is very limited. In the future, we should send four F-16s, or four Mirage 2000s or IDFs every month to Kinmen or Matsu Islands on patrol, as a show of power. We could also send our drones. We would cross the median line of the strait for reconnaissance and patrols. As soon as a PLA plane enters our training airspace, we would respond by sending planes to intercept it.

The retired official said Taiwan’s military must take a more active defense posture, citing increased tensions in the Taiwan Strait that have even garnered the concern of the U.S.

The U.S.’ National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 mentions the establishment of a “comprehensive training, advising, and institutional capacity-building program for the military forces of Taiwan." It also calls for American and Taiwanese officials to conduct appropriate exchanges, and to expand cooperation in military cybersecurity.

Su Tzu-yun
Institute for National Defense Security Research
The 2024 National Defense Authorization Act includes a great number of items that support Taiwan. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has expressed dissatisfaction over the bill, which may likely lead to Chinese military intimidation. However, the bill is proof that Chinese threats conversely result in greater international support for Taiwan, which means Beijing loses more than it gains.

China continues to react aggressively toward any acts of support for Taiwan. But the more threatening China becomes, the more support Taiwan gains from the international community.

[oklahoma]

Peace Mercy & wisdom will prevail !

[listservd]

Jinping: bark

Putin: 1 bark
Jong Un: 2 bark
Khomeni: 3 bark
Pak ISI: 4 bark
Burma junta: 5 bark
Westerner in China: 6 bark
Chinese in Tawan: 7 bark
Chinese in Jap: 8 bark
Chinese in Europe: 9 bark
Family member of Jinping: 10 bark
Pet of Jinping: 11 bark
Chinese immigrant in US: 12 bark
Chinese born and raised in US: 13 bark

[americanknow]

That is only for checking to see if Taiwan reader is working. The stealth J-20 had been flying over Taiwan island multiple times without notice.

[josemhernandez]

Taiwan defense is chickening!They should have shot down those airplane!! And the armor should be ready all time!!

[MadMaxSHTF]

The people in Taiwan wants to be unite with China so eventually Taiwan must become as one China

[nickb]

Hahaha, did you ask what this Taiwanese think? Yes, me. There is only One-China. Clarify "Taiwan Proper"? I could not find that info Online. I do know Taiwan's air space cover parts of China. Meaning PLA plane on the ground, in China, Taiwan can claim it is in their space.