China Angry at G7 Pressure, Expands Protests to Taiwan's East Coast

Record Largest Scale and Expanded Scope
"A Signal Sent to Competitor US"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The entry of 28 Chinese military aircraft into Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADOZ) on the 15th is reported to be the largest scale ever and the first instance of the Chinese military expanding its demonstration range to the eastern coast.

Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) cited military experts on the 17th, stating, "This shows that the Chinese military is aiming to improve operational capabilities and conduct combat training resembling real battle situations."

SCMP noted, "There are two major Taiwanese airbases on Taiwan's eastern coast that would play a key role in an emergency," adding, "They are concealed by mountain ranges located in central Taiwan."

Derek Grossman, a senior researcher at Land Corporation, analyzed, "This operation by the Chinese military helped enhance the operational capabilities of the People's Liberation Army Air Force in accordance with leadership orders to train under realistic combat conditions."

Senior researcher Grossman said, "If China attempts to invade and conquer Taiwan while countering U.S. military intervention, the Chinese Air Force must be able to operate smoothly in this area (the eastern coast)." He added, "This operation seems to indicate that the People's Liberation Army has entered the next phase toward real combat readiness."

Shu Xiaohuang, a researcher at Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense think tank, the National Defense and Security Research Institute, also told Taiwan Liberty Times that the Chinese military's demonstration appears to be targeting Taiwan's Taitung and Chasan airbases.

Hong Kong military expert Song Zhongping analyzed that this demonstration is a signal to the United States. Song explained, "China must demonstrate its ability to protect sovereignty, security, and development interests against the U.S., which it views as a structural competitor."

Meanwhile, after the Group of Seven (G7) leaders mentioned the Taiwan issue in a joint statement on the 13th, the Chinese military simultaneously sent military aircraft including fighters, bombers, early warning planes, and anti-submarine aircraft into Taiwan's ADIZ to conduct a show of force. This is the largest since Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense began daily reporting on Chinese military flights last year.

China has conducted shows of force whenever the U.S. and Taiwan show close cooperation. In March, in response to Taiwan and the U.S. publicly signing a memorandum of understanding on coast guard cooperation, China sent 20 military aircraft into Taiwan's ADIZ.

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