According to the Global Times of China, a US military EP-3E electronic reconnaissance plane has flown a weird track and is suspected of taking off from the main island of Taiwan. This has aroused many concerns. The “South China Sea Strategic Situational Awareness” program platform recorded the flight trajectory of the reconnaissance aircraft, which provided a basis for the above questioning. The Taiwan authority have not yet confirmed or denied this statement.
The official media of China suggests that if Taiwan and the United States have already made arrangements for the take-off and landing of US military planes in Taiwan, this is a very serious incident, and it has stepped on the mainland’s red line of safeguarding national unity. If the mainland has conclusive evidence, it could destroy the relevant airport and the US military aircraft that landed there, and the Taiwan Strait war would begin.
“We want to warn the Tsai Ing-wen authorities and Washington again: Don’t play with fire! The mainland’s will to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity are very firm. We don’t want to fight, but the mainland will resolutely fight back against acts that openly create the reality of splitting the country.”
Global Times proposes “to declare the sky over Taiwan Island as cruising airspace of the People’s Liberation Army, and the People’s Liberation Army’s reconnaissance aircraft and fighter jets will go to perform missions over the Taiwan Island”.
“These military planes will not only declare sovereignty over Taiwan, but also check whether there are US military planes landing at Taiwan’s airports and whether there are US warships docking at various ports. If the Taiwan army dared to open fire on the PLA aircraft and shoot the first shot, it would mean provoking a war. The PLA should immediately destroy Taiwan’s military forces and achieve military reunification.”
Global Times thinks that “the U.S. has regarded Taiwan as a prominent pawn in its strategic suppression of China, and the Tsai Ing-wen authorities have made great efforts to rely on the U.S. strategy toward China, thus forming a long-term negative impact on the situation in the Taiwan Strait. We must defeat this American chess piece and do a fundamental tame to the Taiwan authorities. The DPP rejects the “1992 Consensus”, thinking that “Taiwan independence” can be safely achieved by holding the thigh of the United States. Without a heavy lesson, they cannot turn back.”
“The risk of PLA fighter jets patrolling over Taiwan is not only for mainland China but also for the Taiwan military and the DPP authority, as well as the United States. It will be a contest of will and a test of strength. The mainland should find an appropriate time to announce this decision and implement the maiden flight of PLA fighter planes over Taiwan Island. That timing could be when we get the evidence of the landing of a US military plane in Taiwan, or a higher-level US official visited Taiwan, etc. At that time, it is more logical for the mainland to send fighters to declare sovereignty, and it will also gain more understanding of the international public opinion.“