The situation in the Taiwan Strait continues to escalate. On Aug. 31, another PLA fighter jet broke into the Taiwan Air Defense Identification Zone and spy on Taiwan’s air defense from off the Kaohsiung coast. To strengthen air defense and respond to the evolving situation in the South China Sea, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) is considering adding a fixed radar station in the Pingtung Mountains, while incorporating all naval ships and ground-based air defense missile weapons into the air defense system, so that the missile force can launch air defense missiles to destroy the enemies’ aircraft at the best timing, without any possible loopholes, should future situation calls for it. MND claimed in its “China Military Power Report 2020” published yesterday that the CCP is sending aircraft and ships to provoke the Taiwan Strait every day, but still lacks the military power to wage an all-out war against Taiwan.

Callsign: CANUK78, a Twitter account that shares the status of military aircraft globally, pointed out that a CCP fighter jet flew from the southernmost end of the Taiwan Strait towards Bashi Strait, then moved toward the air above the sea off Kaohsiung, before returning to the south where it had started. Officials of the Taiwan Air Force confirmed the incident and stressed that the Taiwan military has full control of the dynamics of the sea and airspace around the Strait, and is ready for any changes in the enemy’s side, and will deploy appropriate handling to ensure the safety and security of Taiwan.

Speaking to a national defense veteran, Apple Daily Taiwan reports at the constant provocation of the PLA’s military aircraft in the southwest corner of Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone, coupled with training conducted in the Bashi Strait and the South China airspace, there are blind spots to Taiwan’s radar station in the area. To mend the loophole, the veteran said that Taiwan’s military has to rely on mobile radar vehicles, E-2T airborne early warning aircraft to monitor nearby warships and fighter jets. As to whether a fixed radar station will be added to the existing Dahanshan station to enable an all-time reconnaissance in the South China Sea, the veteran revealed that the plan is currently being evaluated by the MND.

In the past, the PLA air force often conducted flight training in the sea and air of Senkaku, or Diaoyu, Islands. A special radar station is set up by the Taiwan Air Force in Dong’aoling, Su’ao, Yilan, with the purpose of conducting reconnaissance and surveillance in the northern and northeastern airspace. It is the most important surveillance radar station between the Japan Aviation Identification Zone to the eastern airspace of Taiwan, and mainly conducts reconnaissance and searches in the southern air space of Taiwan. The station was built based on the recommendations and plans of the U.S. military in 1968 by the Taiwan military. Its establishment has been very important as a monitoring point for air defense of the sea for both the navy and air force.

All information detected in Dong’aoling and Dahanshan radar stations, as well as the long-range early warning radar in Leshan, Hsinchu, will trickle into the Air Force’s “encompassing” system to calculate the PLA fighter aircraft’s future trajectory and speed, to provide the best interception and early warning methods for the Air Force combat command’s reference. The Air Force is upgrading the encompassing system to a newly formed arms battalion to include all naval ships and ground-based air defense missile weapons for the best, timely responses to the enemy’s attacks.

Moreover, in the same Report published yesterday by the MND, it stated that the CCP’s military standards are centered on attacking Taiwan, and has added new fighter jets and drones at the air force airports in Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guang Dong in order to gain advantages, increase pressure on Taiwan’s airspace and air defense, and as a response to the U.S. military aircraft. At the same time, through the annual planned combat training, joint landing exercises, long-distance voyages, the CCP’s military aircraft have intentionally crossed the centerline of the Taiwan Strait and used hackers to attack Taiwan’s military in order to accumulate combat energy against Taiwan. Readying the strategies against Taiwan, the PLA seeks the legitimacy and rationality of an “armed reunification”.

Former President Ma Ying-jeou recently called the possible mainland-Taiwan battle as “the first of the last battles”. MND’s Report, however, stated that although the PLA continues to strengthen joint training, build new combat forces, and develops and researches emerging military and weapon technology, the use of tactics and strategies against Taiwan is still limited by the demanding geographical environment of the Taiwan Strait, and that it is still lacking the landing vehicles and logistics required to launch an incursion into Taiwan through the Strait. It said that the CCP still lacks the capability to wage an all-out war against Taiwan. Its combat plans right now could take the form of military intimidation, firepower strikes, blockades, and landing operations, the report states.

As to highly concerning “joint battalions” by the PLA, the Report stated that the PLA troops can quickly seize important ports and airports, use the rapid deployment of small troops to the desired regions and carry out important assaults on targets. Currently, the joint operation is limited due to issues around transportation and logistical support, and therefore not fully equipped at the stage for a large-scale operation. It does not rule out that the joint landing operations can be carried out by amphibious warfare ships equipped with military managed freighter system.

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