The Taiwan Air Force carried out this Thursday a set of maneuvers throughout the island, in which different types of combat aircraft participated, “to verify the defense capacity of important objectives” in the face of a “communist attack“, according to the official news agency CNA.
The exercise, called ‘Comprehensive Air Defense Operations Plan‘, took place between 05:00 and 07:00 in the morning (21:00 and 23:00 GMT on Wednesday) and consisted of the simulation of enemy attacks against “important positions” in Taiwan.
During the maneuvers, the Taiwanese Air Force mobilized several combat aircraft, including fighters F-CK-1 Ching-kuo, Mirage 2000-5 and F-16Vas well as transport aircraft Hercules C-130H and combat helicopters Apache AH-64which coordinated with other air defense units on the ground.
According to CNAthe exercise focused on the “integration of military and civil air defense systems” and in the operation of the “joint command mechanism” of the Armed Forces, and was intended to evaluate the “ability to protect important targets” and “improve the efficiency of joint air defense operations.”
“The Air Force emphasized that, in the face of changes and challenges in multi-level combat environments, it will continue to implement various practical training to prepare for potential threats and challenges in the region, defending the airspace and protecting our home,” the agency indicated. state news, adding that the maneuvers were developed in a “favorable” manner.
These drills took place hours after the chinese forces to fly over the surroundings of Taiwan again: a total of eight Chinese Army aircraft They crossed the dividing line of the strait and entered the north, southwest and southeast area of the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) Taiwanese, according to the island government.
In his last daily report, the Ministry of National Defense (MDN) of Taiwan reported the presence of several of these aircraft 107 kilometers from the western city of taichung and another 116 kilometers from the northern town of Keelungwhere an important military base is located.
Island forces also detected two drones 112 kilometers southwest of Cape Eluanbilocated in the southern tip of Taiwan, and a helicopter circulating 157 kilometers from this same point.
Taiwan – where the Chinese nationalist army withdrew after defeat at the hands of communist troops in the civil war (1927-1949) – has been governed autonomously since the end of the war, although China claims sovereignty over the island. which he considers a rebellious province for whose “reunification” he has not ruled out the use of force.
The president of Taiwan, William Laistated this Wednesday, during a press conference on the occasion of his first month in office, that his country will remain firm in the face of pressure and hostilities from the Chinese regime.
“In addition to military force, (the Chinese government) has increasingly employed non-traditional methods of coercion to attempt to subdue Taiwan.”Lai stated.
“However, Taiwan will not bow to pressure. The people of Taiwan will resolutely defend their national sovereignty and maintain their democratic and free way of life,” he added.
In recent years, China’s regime has increased military and diplomatic pressure on the government in Taipei, including military maneuvers near the island three days after Lai took power.
Beijing has described these military exercises as “retaliation” to Lai’s inauguration speech, which they called “Taiwan independence declaration”.
(With information from EFE and AFP)
