taiwan-claims-a-chinese-plane-flew-near-a-remote-island

Taiwan claims a Chinese plane flew near a remote island.  

Taiwan: A small Chinese civilian aircraft flew close to an island controlled by Taiwan near China’s coast in early February Taiwan’s defense ministry reported on Tuesday and added that China could be testing an innovative strategy to test its reaction.

Taiwan has been complaining in the past two years of constant Chinese military activities in the vicinity, particularly the Chinese air force that has been flying into Taiwan’s defense zone off its southwest and southern coastlines, despite being far from Taiwan the island itself.

Taiwan is a territory China declares to be its territory and has intensified pressure to get Taipei to recognize its sovereignty. 

It has called this “grey zone conflict” created to weaken the air forces of Taiwan and test its capabilities.

In February, the ministry reported that the plane flew close to Dongying, part of the Matsu archipelago off China’s Fujian province. 

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Although they had not previously known the plane’s name, officials announced they confirmed that it was a Chinese civilian Y-12, a twin-engine light aircraft.

“On the Dongyin incident, naturally we have reached a preliminary conclusion on the Dongyin incident, but we can’t rule out the possibility the possibility that they’re employing civilian aircraft to test the response to our forces,” ministry spokesman Shih Shun-wen said to reporters.

“The military will certainly adopt similar actions, but it will also take a variety of precautionary actions without an incident of minor significance that triggers war.”

The ministry claimed that the plane was in its “defense response zone.” Still, it could not enter its territory within Matsu, Taiwan’s region, as airspace and water extend six kilometers beyond the coast (about 4,500 m). 

China is not recognized as a sovereign state. Any claim to sovereignty made by Taiwan.

Shih did not provide details on how Taiwan’s military reacted in the wake of this incident. Instead, he cited the military’s confidentiality.

China’s defense ministry did not promptly respond to comments.

However, Taiwanese media has shown footage of the plane moving next to Dongying and claimed that people could hear and see the aircraft.

Taiwan has controlled the Matsu Islands since the deposed Republic of China government fled to Taipei in 1949 following an unpopular civil war against the Communists.

The Matsu Islands aren’t as robustly protected as before the latter part of the 1970s when China often attacked the islands. However, Taiwan has a military presence there.

Taiwan also has control over the more extensive Kinmen island and several nearby islets further along the Fujian coast located in the Chinese city of Xiamen city.