Taiwan Media: "Chinese Drones Cross Taiwan Median Line for Joint Operations"

Taiwan "Important Indicator for Future Joint Operation Direction"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Taiwan media outlet United Daily News reported on the 11th (local time), citing military experts' analysis, that the reason Chinese military drones cross the median line of the Taiwan Strait is for the Chinese military's joint operations.

Su Ziyun, a researcher at the National Defense Safety Research Institute, a think tank under Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense, said, "The Chinese military is attempting systematic long-range training with drones," adding, "It is an important indicator gradually moving toward joint operations."

Since a large unmanned reconnaissance aircraft TB-001 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait along with Chinese military aircraft on the 8th, drones have been continuously crossing near the median line.

Researcher Su explained that since the TB-001 was first revealed in 2016, it appeared in Japan's Air Defense Identification Zone last May, and this year it has continued to appear near Okinawa's Miyako Island and the waters near Taiwan.

He added that the drone's maximum payload is 1.2 tons and its operational radius is 3,000 km, allowing it to fly as far as the US territory of Guam.

The Chinese military's TB-001 is known to have a top speed of 280 km/h, a maximum altitude of 8,000 meters, and a maximum takeoff weight of 2.8 tons, capable of flying for more than 35 hours even while carrying equipment weighing over 1 ton.

Researcher Su claimed, "In response to the threat posed by such Chinese military drones, the Taiwanese military can use air-to-air missiles and 'soft kill' methods such as jamming the frequency signals of drones to cause them to crash."

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