Taiwan recently spotted mainland Chinese drones hovering in airspace near islands controlled by Taiwan in the South China Sea. Lee Chung-wai, chairman of Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Commission, said Wednesday (April 7) that if Chinese drones deviate and enter restricted waters, “they will be shot down if they should.
Li made the statement on Wednesday morning while attending the Interior Committee of the Taiwan Legislative Yuan to prepare for questioning. However, Li said he has not yet observed any mainland Chinese drones entering the restricted waters.
In the recent period, Chinese military aircraft and ships have been exerting intense military pressure on Taiwan, constantly entering Taiwan’s waters and airspace to conduct military activities, sometimes right near the restricted areas designated by Taiwan, just 6 kilometers from its coast.
When asked how the Coast Guard would react if a Chinese drone entered the restricted area, Lee Chung-wai replied that the Coast Guard would follow the disposal regulations and “fire when it should fire”.
Taiwan Central News Agency reported that the Taiwan Coast Guard submitted a special case report to the Legislative Yuan on Sunday, pointing out that the recent Chinese drones flying around the island in the airspace near the Dongsha Islands (Pratas Islands) are not ruled out for reconnaissance and search operations. The report concluded that as U.S.-Taiwan relations deepen, the mainland’s military or paramilitary harassment of Taiwan will intensify.
Dongsha Island is located at the uppermost end of a disputed shipping lane in the South China Sea, and both China and Taiwan claim sovereignty over the island, but actual control has always been with Taiwan. Taiping Island is the other disputed island under Taiwan’s de facto control. Li Zhongwei said no mainland drones have been spotted operating in the airspace near Taiping Island.
Li Zhongwei said that Taiwan’s airspace is divided into “surveillance zone”, “alert zone” and “destruction zone”, in the “surveillance zone In the “surveillance zone,” Taiwan will use search engines to monitor operations. If you enter the “alert zone”, the Taiwan military will send appropriate troops to monitor and warn; once in the “destruction zone” will be handled in accordance with the provisions.
Li Zhongwei said in response to a question, the Chinese military has been using different means to test the use of gray areas. He said, for Taiwan’s surrounding waters to grasp the situation, in addition to the Sea Patrol Agency’s existing detection energy, but also with other units of horizontal contact, sharing information. Li Zhongwei also said that whether it is an air target or a surface target, there are ways to master.
The so-called “gray zone” is actually an unconventional form of conflict used by the Chinese military against Taiwan to consume Taiwan and force it into submission without the need for a major fight. The “gray zone” conflict includes economic, information attacks, and “paramilitary” tactics.
March 26. China sends a record 20 military sorties into Taiwan’s southwest airspace in a single day. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense reported on April 5 that 10 Chinese military aircraft intruded into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone that day, including one that flew over the strategically important Bashi Channel.
China’s official media Global Times on Wednesday reported Li Zhongwei’s remarks, saying he “once again exposed the bottomless provocation of Taiwan independence forces. The report said that such “collusion with external forces” and “seeking independence by force” is “completely profit-driven.
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