A Chinese BZK-005 reconnaissance drone circled Taiwan in a clockwise direction on Thursday as a Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong was sailing through waters south of Taiwan and into the Western Pacific the same day, the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday.
According to flight path information released by the ministry, the BZK-005 reconnaissance drone flew in a northeasterly direction north of Taiwan, then followed the perimeter of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) southwards and then southeast.
Once it reached the airspace directly south of Taiwan, it changed course to head back toward China in a northwesterly direction.
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of National Defence
The drone’s flight path was part of the daily surveillance data of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) activities in waters and airspace in Taiwan’s general vicinity released yesterday, covering the 24-hour period from 6am on Thursday to 6am yesterday.
Before the tracking data came out, the ministry reported on Thursday night on the navigation of one of China’s aircraft carriers, the Shandong, through the Bashi Channel and into the Western Pacific.
The Shandong also participated in Chinese military drills around Taiwan in April, sailed through the Taiwan Strait in June, and carried out drills in the Western Pacific last month.
The ministry did not comment on the purpose of the Shandong’s most recent movements.
It was unclear whether the mission was related to the joint drills, dubbed “Resolute Dragon,” that are being conducted on Kyushu, Okinawa and Hokkaido from Oct. 14 to Tuesday next week by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and the US military, as reported by Japanese broadcaster NHK.
In addition to the BZK-005 reconnaissance drone, a Z-9 anti-submarine warfare helicopter was spotted over waters east of Taiwan. The ministry believed the helicopter took off from the Shandong and was on an anti-submarine warfare training mission.
A total of 35 PLA aircraft and 15 vessels were detected around Taiwan during the 24-hour period, with 23 of the detected aircraft crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait or entering its ADIZ, the ministry said.
An ADIZ is airspace declared by a country, enabling it to identify, locate and control approaching foreign aircraft, but it is not part of a country’s territorial airspace as defined by international law.
In response to media queries for comment regarding the Chinese warships, Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) yesterday said that both sides across the Taiwan Strait should agree to maintain freedom of navigation as a common goal.
“Beijing’s actions are unacceptable to the international community and China is urged to put a stop to this behavior,” he said.
The Taiwanese political mainstream firmly supports the government’s efforts toward safeguarding stability and facilitating peaceful interactions across the strait, which Beijing should acknowledge and respect, Chen said, citing Mainland Affairs Council polls.
It is the government’s hope that Taiwan and China could coexist in peace and prosperity, he added.
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