Recent satellite images showed that China deployed fighter jets designed for electronic warfare to airbases near Taiwan. This is not the first time China has done such as the country has been expanding their airbases. It also sent 148 warplanes to Taiwan’s air defense identification zone in the past week.
What The Satellite Images Showed
Independent said that the latest satellite images showing the fighter jets of China at an airbase near Taiwan were released by a Canada-based magazine called Kanwa Defence Review. The satellite image showed a J-16D fighter jet housed at an airbase in Jiangxi province, China. Another satellite image in January showed an airbase in Changxing county, Zhejiang province, and they expanded such airbase with new hangars that can accommodate fighter jets.
Independent quoted Andrei Chang, editor-in-chief of the Kanwa Defence Review magazine, saying, “All the airbases along the southeast coast are being expanded and upgraded to house more fighter jets as more and more large-scale air incursions are in the pipeline.
On Monday, the deployment of 52 aircraft [in the first sortie] shows the PLA’s aviation combat strength. I expect more types of PLA aircraft will be sent in future, with the biggest sorties involving more than 100 [planes].”
A source in Beijing from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) confirmed that such fighter jets were being deployed to an eastern airbase near Taiwan. The source noted that such military activity is part of combat-readiness training.
Taiwan Releases Statement About Recent Fighter Jets
After 56 Chinese warplanes intruded into Taiwan’s airspace, Taipei’s defense ministry released a statement. Independent reported that Taiwan described the latest incursions as irresponsible provocative actions. Monday’s incursion is the fourth-day aircraft belonging to the PLA displayed such intimidation.
Some countries like the United States, Australia, and Japan urged China to end its military threats. Independent reported that U.S. President Joe Biden already talked to Chinese President Xi Jinping about Taiwan, and it is unclear what they talked about.
Taiwan’s Defense Minister, Chiu Kuo-Cheng, shared with Independent that tensions with China are now at their worst in the past 40 years. They believe That China can start a full-scale invasion of Taiwan by 2025.
