US Strategic Bomber B-1B Passes Over Taiwan Airspace Again... Rising Tensions Between US and China

▲U.S. B-1B bomber appearing over eastern Taiwan. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Following the recent passage of a U.S. Navy destroyer through the Taiwan Strait, it has been confirmed that two U.S. Air Force B-1B strategic bombers also flew over the eastern waters of Taiwan, sparking anticipated controversy.

According to Taiwanese media including Liberty Times on the 15th, two U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer strategic bombers took off from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam and appeared over the eastern waters near Taiwan the previous day.

The bombers received aerial refueling support from KC-135 tankers over the eastern waters of Taiwan and then flew northward, Taiwanese media reported. It is understood that the two KC-135 tankers returned to the Guam base.

Recently, tensions have been escalating as the U.S. military continues a series of shows of force around Taiwan’s surrounding waters to counter China.

Earlier, on the 13th, the U.S. Navy destroyer USS McCampbell (DDG-85) passed through the Taiwan Strait, followed the next day by the Chinese military conducting live-fire drills in the waters near Tangshan, Hebei Province. The Chinese Maritime Safety Administration announced that the live-fire exercises will continue until July.

The U.S. military withdrew five B-52H bombers from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam to the U.S. mainland last month and instead deployed four B-1B Lancer bombers along with approximately 200 operational personnel.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.