US scrambles to Taiwan as China deploys battle group as tensions rise.
- 7 months ago
US scrambles to Taiwan as China deploys battle group as tensions rise.
TAIWAN has spotted Chinese drones circling the Taipei-controlled Pratas Islands in the South China Sea and may shoot them down if they stray too close, a government minister said.
Speaking at Parliament, Lee Chung-wei, who heads the Ocean Affairs Council under whose purview the Coast Guard falls, said that they had recently spotted Chinese drones circling the Pratas, though they have not flown over the islands. "They have never entered our restricted waters and airspace, they've just flown around them at a certain distance," Lee said. While China recognises no Taiwanese claims of sovereignty, its aircraft and ships generally stay outside Taiwan's restricted zone, which extends 6 km from its coast.
Sky News Australia's Alan Jones said: "Another day, another aggressive manoeuvre by China as it ramps up threats to take control of Taiwan.
"This is not some tiny routine flyover which we saw at the beginning of the year, China gathered together a battle group including its aircraft carrier in waters right next to Taiwan.
"In response, the US Navy has sent in one of its carriers into the South China Sea to conduct what they also call routine operations.
"Japan as well has deployed a destroyer in the area.
"The hostility and intimidation is building each week in that region and Australia needs to be extremely vigilant."
China has showcased increasingly hostile behaviour towards Taiwan, with whom tensions have been high since the creation of the Republic of China in 1949.
In recent month, Taiwan has complained of repeated Chinese air force activity near the islands, which Taiwan's Coast Guard only lightly defends though there are periodic deployments of marines. There is no permanent civilian population, only occasional visiting scientists.
In October, Hong Kong air traffic controllers warned off a Taiwanese civilian flight flying to the Pratas on a routine weekly supply run, forcing it to turn back.
The Pratas, the closest Taiwan-controlled territory to Hong Kong, have also taken on extra significance since anti-government protests began in the Chinese-run city.
Taiwan has intercepted at least one boat close to the Pratas carrying people fleeing from Hong Kong trying to make their way to Taiwan.
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TAIWAN has spotted Chinese drones circling the Taipei-controlled Pratas Islands in the South China Sea and may shoot them down if they stray too close, a government minister said.
Speaking at Parliament, Lee Chung-wei, who heads the Ocean Affairs Council under whose purview the Coast Guard falls, said that they had recently spotted Chinese drones circling the Pratas, though they have not flown over the islands. "They have never entered our restricted waters and airspace, they've just flown around them at a certain distance," Lee said. While China recognises no Taiwanese claims of sovereignty, its aircraft and ships generally stay outside Taiwan's restricted zone, which extends 6 km from its coast.
Sky News Australia's Alan Jones said: "Another day, another aggressive manoeuvre by China as it ramps up threats to take control of Taiwan.
"This is not some tiny routine flyover which we saw at the beginning of the year, China gathered together a battle group including its aircraft carrier in waters right next to Taiwan.
"In response, the US Navy has sent in one of its carriers into the South China Sea to conduct what they also call routine operations.
"Japan as well has deployed a destroyer in the area.
"The hostility and intimidation is building each week in that region and Australia needs to be extremely vigilant."
China has showcased increasingly hostile behaviour towards Taiwan, with whom tensions have been high since the creation of the Republic of China in 1949.
In recent month, Taiwan has complained of repeated Chinese air force activity near the islands, which Taiwan's Coast Guard only lightly defends though there are periodic deployments of marines. There is no permanent civilian population, only occasional visiting scientists.
In October, Hong Kong air traffic controllers warned off a Taiwanese civilian flight flying to the Pratas on a routine weekly supply run, forcing it to turn back.
The Pratas, the closest Taiwan-controlled territory to Hong Kong, have also taken on extra significance since anti-government protests began in the Chinese-run city.
Taiwan has intercepted at least one boat close to the Pratas carrying people fleeing from Hong Kong trying to make their way to Taiwan.
IMPORTANT!
-None of these images, music & video clips were created/owned by us. -This video is purely fan-made, if you (owners) have seen your content and want to remove this video, please message us privately or mail us
JustFor12345xyz@gmail.com
before doing anything. We will respectfully remove it immediately.
-COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER UNDER SECTION 107 OF THE COPYRIGHT ACT 1976
- Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or p