The presence of Ilyushin Il-78 aerial refueling planes in the formations of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft that approached the waters off Taiwan on Wednesday and Thursday suggests not only an increase in PLA activity, but also that it is likely to simulate attack missions, political observers said.
The addition of Il-78 to the regular Xian H-6 bombers, Shaanxi Y-8 electronic-warfare aircraft and Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets would extend the flight durations, allowing the Su-30s to escort the formation beyond the first island chain.
China has conducted long-distance navigation exercises since 2015, but the frequency has increased from several times a year to several times a month, with a record nine flypasts between July and August.
The exercises were halted during the Chinese Communist Party’s 19th National Congress last month, but have now resumed, with four flypasts this month.
In a departure from previous practice in which the bases of aircraft participating in long-distance drills was kept secret, PLA Air Force spokesman Shen Jinke (申進科) on Thursday said that multiple H-6 bombers took off from “an airbase in the Guanzhong area,” suggesting that personnel based in inland areas were also required for long-distance missions.
H-6 bombers are able to fly 6,000km, but Su-30s can only reach 3,000km, so the inclusion of the Ukrainian Ilyushin Il-78 can increase the flight distance of Su-30s, said Chieh Chung (揭仲), a senior assistant research fellow at the National Policy Foundation, a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT)-affliated think tank.
This suggests that the Chinese air force is developing the capacity to conduct more attack exercises, observers said.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Tsai Shih-ying (蔡適應) said it would be difficult for Taiwan’s early warning system to detect H-6 bombers departing from bases in inland China.
Mid-air refueling capability gives PLA Air Force flight groups the ability to reach Guam, Hawaii and other locations with major US military bases, Tsai said.
The PLA is also seeking to boost coordination between military aircraft by increasing training resources and flight hours, he said, adding that Taiwan must closely monitor the situation.
With the commission of China’s second aircraft carrier, the 001A, the PLA’s “sea-bound” strategy is to stay the same, Taiwan Thinktank consultant Tung Li-wen (董立文) said, adding that it is seeking to break through the first island chain to achieve this goal.
The incorporation of the refueling aircraft not only increases the flight distance of Su-30s, but boosts the jet fighters capacity to protect naval formations and helps integrate offensive and defensive operations in the air and at sea, Tung said.
The Ministry of National Defense said the military has measures in place to protect the nation’s security.
It said it would scramble fighter jets and warships in response to approaches by PLA aircraft.
LOUD AND PROUD Taiwan might have taken a drubbing against Australia and Japan, but you might not know it from the enthusiasm and numbers of the fans Taiwan might not be expected to win the World Baseball Classic (WBC) but their fans are making their presence felt in Tokyo, with tens of thousands decked out in the team’s blue, blowing horns and singing songs. Taiwanese fans have packed out the Tokyo Dome for all three of their games so far and even threatened to drown out home team supporters when their team played Japan on Friday. They blew trumpets, chanted for their favorite players and had their own cheerleading squad who dance on a stage during the game. The team struggled to match that exuberance on the field, with
Whether Japan would help defend Taiwan in case of a cross-strait conflict would depend on the US and the extent to which Japan would be allowed to act under the US-Japan Security Treaty, former Japanese minister of defense Satoshi Morimoto said. As China has not given up on the idea of invading Taiwan by force, to what extent Japan could support US military action would hinge on Washington’s intention and its negotiation with Tokyo, Morimoto said in an interview with the Liberty Times (sister paper of the Taipei Times) yesterday. There has to be sufficient mutual recognition of how Japan could provide
UPDATED TEST: The new rules aim to assess drivers’ awareness of risky behaviors and how they respond under certain circumstances, the Highway Bureau said Driver’s license applicants who fail to yield to pedestrians at intersections or to check blind spots, or omit pointing-and-calling procedures would fail the driving test, the Highway Bureau said yesterday. The change is set to be implemented at the end of the month, and is part of the bureau’s reform of the driving portion of the test, which has been criticized for failing to assess whether drivers can operate vehicles safely. Sedan drivers would be tested regarding yielding to pedestrians and turning their heads to check blind spots, while drivers of large vehicles would be tested on their familiarity with pointing-and-calling
A Taiwanese man apologized on Friday after saying in a social media post that he worked with Australia to provide scouting reports on Taiwan’s team, enabling Australia’s victory in this year’s World Baseball Classic (WBC), saying it was a joke and that he did not hold any position with foreign teams or Taiwan’s sports training center. Chen Po-hao (陳柏豪) drew the rage of many Taiwan baseball fans when he posted online on Thursday night, claiming credit for Australia’s 3-0 win over Taiwan in the opening game for Pool C, saying he worked as a physical therapist with the national team and
RSS