The PLA’s Y-8 aircraft entered Taiwan’s southwest air defense identification zone on October 10 (Screenshot from the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense website 20201010)
On the day of Taiwan’s Double Ten Day celebration, Taiwan’s military said that a PLA Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft violated Taiwan’s southwest air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Saturday (Oct. 10), and that the Taiwan Air Force (TAF), in addition to dispatching air patrols to respond, also broadcasted the aircraft away and monitored anti-aircraft missile tracking. This is the 16th time since September 16 that PLA military aircraft have disturbed Taiwan.
According to Taiwan’s Central News Agency, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) released information about the PLA’s military aircraft movements on its official website on the evening of October 10. According to the Ministry of National Defense’s October announcement, in addition to the 7th for the Air Force 500 AWACS, the 9th for a Y-8, a Y-9, 10, 8, 6, 4, 3 and 1, are a Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft violated the southwest Taiwan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).
On September 29, 23, 22, and 21, two Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft intruded into Taiwan’s southwest ADIZ; one Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft intruded into Taiwan’s southwest ADIZ on the 24th; on the 19th, two Boom 6, 12 J-16, two J-11, two J-10, and one Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft entered the airspace of southwest and northwest Taiwan, and crossed the centerline of the Taiwan Sea.
On September 18, 2 Boom 6, 8 J16, 4 J11, and 4 J10, a total of 18 CPC military planes disturbed Taiwan, and 12 of them crossed the centerline of the Taiwan Strait; on September 16, 2 Y-8 anti-submarine sorties invaded the southwest ADIZ of Taiwan.
During the 48 hours that U.S. Undersecretary of State Clarkey, the highest ranking State Department official to visit Taiwan in many years, arrived in Taiwan on the evening of September 17, the PLA flew a total of 37 military sorties to disrupt Taiwan, reaching a peak.
Since the beginning of this year, the number of PLA sorties in the Taiwan Strait has reached 221.
In the face of the frequent intrusion of Chinese military aircraft into the airspace southwest of Taiwan, the Taiwan Navy has been carrying out intensive “air layer airspace” drills in the southwest off the coast of Taiwan since Friday (October 9).
Some military experts say that this represents Taiwan’s determination not to show weakness in the face of China’s increasing intimidation of force, and the choice of drills in this sensitive sea and air area is intended to show the PLA that Taiwan has self-defense and war preparedness determination and combat capability. They also said that if the frequent disturbance of communist aircraft is intended to fight a war of attrition with Taiwan, the ultimate disadvantage is not the Taiwanese army, but the PLA.
In addition, according to Taiwan media reports, a U.S. Air Force military aircraft flew from north to south along the centerline of the Taiwan Strait on the morning of October 8, crossing the Taiwan Strait. Some analysts say the plane was on a special mission to draw a line for China, asking it to respect the “Taiwan Strait median line,” which has been held for decades on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
Earlier, U.S. Assistant to the President for National Security Robert O’Brien warned China on October 7 not to attempt to seize Taiwan by force and called on Taiwan to increase its defense budget in response to China’s growing military expansion.
In his National Day speech, President Tsai Ing-wen used the theme “Unite Taiwan, Move Forward with Confidence” to highlight Taiwan’s epidemic-prevention achievements and highlighted “U.S.-Taiwan economic” cooperation as one of the priorities, demonstrating the Taiwanese government’s continued strategy of diplomatic proximity with the United States.
He also said that peace in the Taiwan Strait is a shared responsibility of both sides and that Taiwan cannot bear it alone, stressing that the most urgent task at this stage is for both sides to discuss the way to live together in peace and coexistence based on mutual respect and understanding.
The two sides are willing to work together to promote meaningful dialogue under the principle of reciprocity and dignity, as long as the Beijing authorities are sincere in resolving confrontations and improving cross-strait relations, Tsai said. This is the view of the people of Taiwan and the consensus of political parties in both the government and the opposition.
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