The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) likely increased incursions into waters and airspace around Taiwan last week to normalize its military activities in the region and demonstrate its capabilities ahead of next month’s China Victory Day Parade, experts said on Saturday.
Sixty-three Chinese incursions into waters and airspace around Taiwan were detected in the 24 hours to 6am Friday, with 38 craft crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entering the nation’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern air defense identification zones, the Ministry of National Defense said.
From 6am on Friday to 6am on Saturday, 54 PLA warplanes or drones were detected, with 47 flights crossing the median line of the Strait and entering Taiwan’s northern and southwestern airspace, ministry data showed.
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of National Defense
Additionally, six warships and two other vessels also engaged in such “gray zone” activities in the Strait over the same period, it showed.
Lin Ying-yu (林穎佑), an associate professor of international affairs and strategic studies at Tamkang University, said that the PLA’s joint combat readiness patrols last week were part of normalizing military drills against Taiwan.
Such joint maritime and aerial drills, which are part of preparations to blockade Taiwan, are designed to make Taiwanese feel the constant presence of Chinese military aircraft and vessels, Lin said.
The deployment of Chinese warplanes presented in defense ministry data showed that the PLA attempted to surround Taiwan from all sides, he added.
Although China would likely continue pressuring Taiwan with combat readiness drills leading up to the Sept. 3 parade in Beijing to mark 80 years since the surrender of Japanese forces in World War II, the PLA would probably not hold large-scale drills such as the “Strait Thunder” or “Joint Sword” military exercises, he said.
China has in the past few years normalized its military harassment of Taiwan that regularly places the country under maximum pressure, Taiwan Security Association deputy secretary-general Ho Cheng-hui (何澄輝) said.
It is also probably trying to maintain a dominant presence by showing its “military muscles” ahead of important political rallies — such as the parade — to stabilize its internal political situation, Ho said.
Given that Washington continues to monitor the cross-strait situation, Beijing would not on its own initiative escalate tensions, but would instead focus on “gray zone” tactics, he said.
Aftershocks from a magnitude 6.2 earthquake that struck off Yilan County at 3:45pm yesterday could reach a magnitude of 5 to 5.5, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Seismological Center technical officer Chiu Chun-ta (邱俊達) told a news conference that the epicenter of the temblor was more than 100km from Taiwan. Although predicted to measure between magnitude 5 and 5.5, the aftershocks would reach an intensity of 1 on Taiwan’s 7-tier scale, which gauges the actual effect of an earthquake, he said. The earthquake lasted longer in Taipei because the city is in a basin, he said. The quake’s epicenter was about 128.9km east-southeast
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The New Taipei City Government today warned about the often-overlooked dangers of playing in water, and recommended safe swimming destinations to cool off from the summer heat. The following locations in the city as safe and fun for those looking to enjoy the water: Chienshuiwan (淺水灣), Baishawan (白沙灣), Jhongjiao Bay (中角灣), Fulong Beach Resort (福隆海水浴場) and Sansia District’s (三峽) Dabao River (大豹溪), New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Department Director-General Yang Tsung-min (楊宗珉) said. Outdoor bodies of water have variables outside of human control, such as changing currents, differing elevations and environmental hazards, all of which can lead to accidents, Yang said. Sudden
Tropical Storm Podul has formed over waters north-northeast of Guam and is expected to approach the seas southeast of Taiwan next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. The 11th Pacific storm of the year developed at 2am over waters about 2,660km east of Oluanpi (歐鑾鼻), Pingtung County — Taiwan's southernmost tip. It is projected to move westward and could have its most significant impact on Taiwan on Wednesday and Thursday next week, the CWA said. The agency did not rule out the possibility of issuing a sea warning at that time. According to the CWA's latest update, Podul is drifting west-northwest
RSS