Webdesk: Taiwan’s defence ministry reported Friday that a long-range Chinese combat drone with a large weapons payload circled the island.
Beijing threatens democratic Taiwan, which it claims.
Taiwan’s defence ministry reported 38 Chinese aircraft. It includes a “twin-tailed scorpion” TB-001 drone, around the island between 6 am (1000 GMT) Thursday and 6 am Friday.
While, Ministry map showed the drone crossing the median line, an unofficial boundary dividing the Taiwan Strait. To the island’s south, flying around its east coast, and returning to China.
Moreover, Taiwan’s defence ministry’s first report of a Chinese military aircraft circling the island from end to end of the median line.
While, Ministry reported 19 aircraft “crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait or entered Taiwan’s southwest, southeast and northeast (air defence identification zone)” since China ended three days of war games earlier this month.
While, zone overlaps China’s ADIZ and Taiwan’s territorial airspace.
TB-001, China’s largest drone, can fly 6,000 km (3,700 miles).
China used the drone in April 10 military drills simulating targeted strikes and a Taiwan blockade.
The war games followed Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen’s US meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Moreover, Chinese fighter jets tracked a US reconnaissance plane through the Taiwan Strait.
Western militaries, led by the US, regularly conduct “freedom of navigation operations” with warships and aircraft to assert international status of regional waterways like the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea.
Moreover, Military social media identified the US plane as a P-8A Poseidon.
Boeing’s P-8A conducts reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare.
US Navy’s Seventh Fleet confirmed the flight.
“By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations,” it said.
In February, a P-8A flew through the Taiwan Strait, provoking China.
