Taiwan reports new large-scale Chinese air force incursion

[blue-wave]

Source: Reuters

Taiwan on Sunday reported the largest incursion since October by China's air force in its air defence zone, with the island's defence ministry saying Taiwanese fighters scrambled to warn away 39 aircraft in the latest uptick in tensions.

Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained for more than a year of repeated missions by China's air force near the democratically governed island, often in the southwestern part of its air defence identification zone, or ADIZ, close to the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands.

Taiwan calls China's repeated nearby military activities "grey zone" warfare, designed to both wear out Taiwan's forces by making them repeatedly scramble, and also to test Taiwan's responses.

The latest Chinese mission included 34 fighters plus four electronic warfare aircraft and a single bomber, the Taiwan ministry said.

The aircraft flew in an area to the northeast of the Pratas, according to a map the ministry provided.


Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-reports-new-large-scale-chinese-air-force-incursion-2022-01-23/

---

Are the Russians and Chinese preparing a one-two punch?

[RockRaven]

1. Even if it isn't a coordinated plot in advance, they probably don't want to miss any opportunities

[left-of-center2012]

2. Maybe China will invade Taiwan ...

at the same time Russia invades the Ukraine?

That would keep the United States busy.

[Pachamama]

6. Strategically - that would be smart of China

And the scariest alliance would be Russia and China

Great - WW3 would be a 2 front war in Europe and the Pacific Rim

[Sapient Donkey]

8. From everything I've read/seen/listened to, I don't think China wants to actually invade Taiwan.

Of course there are hawks in China that wouldn't mind playing with their toys, but it seems like they believe Taiwan will eventually get closer and closer to the mainland until it becomes one.

Although, I'm sure China would welcome a busy US and a weakened Russia. After all, China is continuing to make moves in places that have long been considered in Russia's sphere of influence. All those belt and road initiative projects and funds being pumped in to gain influence and access to resources. I know it was popular amongst the anti-west crowd to attempt to blame the US/west for the upheaval in Kazakhstan, but it seems far more likely that if there was outside influences then it was a lot closer to home.

[EastMeetsWest]

13. China absolutely wants to take over Taiwan

Whether it's by assimilation or invasion, China doesn't care, China wants unrestricted access to the Pacific Ocean, which Taiwan can provide. China is already bribing several small Pacific countries (Kiribati, Solomon Islands, etc) to provide China with port facilities and other infrastructure, against the wishes of local residents. 60 Minutes Australia has many videos about this on Youtube.

The Kazakhstan demonstrations were originally against higher fuel prices, but Kazakhstan has been selling itself out to China's Belt and Road Initiative without any real benefit to local people, and has been living under the thumb of a Russian-supported dictator.

[Sapient Donkey]

23. But is an actual military conflict to take it something they want to do in the near future?

That seems like it would run counter to their current methods of securing power, and they would much prefer to play the long game and bring Taiwan in through the use of soft power.

[EastMeetsWest]

31. Taiwan has nothing to gain by joining China

Taiwan and China have diametrically opposed political systems, and more and more people in Taiwan are looking upon themselves as "Taiwanese" rather than as "Chinese". Taiwan will not willingly join China, especially after seeing what has been happening in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, China has been building the world's largest navy, and sees Taiwan as a way to get clear access to the Pacific Ocean, and to a string of Pacific island nations where it has been securing access to ports and minerals. Xi has made "re-unification" with Taiwan one of his top priorities, and the man appears to be growing tired of "playing the long game".

[EastMeetsWest]

16. A lot of people over in this part of the world (East Asia)

think that's a distinct possibility. China won't try anything while the Olympics are going on, but afterward? Some people here remember 1984 Sarajevo, which became a hell-hole after the Winter Olympics ended.

[NCDem47]

3. Doesn't North Korea want get in on the action?

Geez.

[left-of-center2012]

9. I've read nothing about North Korea being involved with Taiwan

[marie999]

12. No, but if Russia invades Ukraine and China threatens Taiwan,

North Korea might invade South Korea. Just to be clear, I don't have any idea what any of them are going to do.

[EastMeetsWest]

15. That is definitely a possibility,

Last edited Wed Jan 26, 2022, 06:22 AM - Edit history (1)

having a war where America has to fight on 3 fronts.

[EX500rider]

34. They missed their chance for that awhile ago

South Korean annual defense spending is more than a third larger than the total annual GDP of North Korea.

During the last few years, the only ones receiving much fuel for training were the front-line tank and mechanized corps that barely received enough fuel to maintain minimal skills for the drivers. These three units consist of five armored and ten mechanized infantry brigades and a lot of support units. Although North Korea has over 4,000 tanks and 2,000 other armored vehicles, most of them are decades old models with obsolete protection and weapons.

South Korea believes that most North Korea armored vehicles are either not capable of operating, or at least not for long. The crews, especially drivers, have little training in operating vehicles they are assigned to. It used to be that about ten percent of the million men in the military were well supplied and trained. Those units have received less of everything over the last decade, especially food and fuel. Most units improvise by growing some of their own food and stealing from local farms

[EastMeetsWest]

35. そうりゃそうだけど, there is still the possibility of a two-front assault

Russia invades Ukraine, while China invades Taiwan, and perhaps Japanese islands. If South Korea goes to help Taiwan/Japan, then that might leave it vulnerable to an invasion from the North. Things are getting hairy over here.

[Bayard]

4. Can't we have peace for just a little while?

Somebody is always trying to stir up shit.

[usonian]

5. Russia and China are colluding.

To make Biden unpopular for standing up to them.

Just look how he struggled to get a tiny defense funding bill passed. ( You got it: )

With any luck, Russia and China will collide rather than collude.

[EastMeetsWest]

17. If only that were the case

Last edited Wed Jan 26, 2022, 06:29 AM - Edit history (1)

But I have a horrible pain in my stomach that says that today's Russia-China alliance is something like the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. USSR gets Ukraine, China gets Taiwan. Damn.

[AngryOldDem]

18. Thanks for adding to my anxiety.

But really, good point.

These simultaneous moves can’t be coincidental, even if it is muscle-flexing in the case of China.

[EastMeetsWest]

19. Things are getting "hairy" around here

East Asia. China has been playing with Taiwan like a cat plays with a mouse. Japan is very concerned about China's plans. Japan and Australia have recently signed a kind of mutual defense pact, the first such pact Japan has signed with a non-USA country in the post-war era. Japan, Australia, India and the US have formed a "Quad" partnership. There is also the AUKUS pact that was recently signed among the US, Australia and the UK, and which Japan wants to, and will probably, join. We have to protect each other over here.

[usonian]

37. Maybe it's simpler than that.

I suspect that Russia and China have had monstrous covid problems that their controlled press covers up, and are saber-rattling as a diversion from internal disasters.

[Sapient Donkey]

7. The air defense identification zone is pretty large

The last few times they did this the maps of it showed it was a pretty far away from Taiwan. It's literally like a little corner that they crossed. Obviously it would be nice if this stuff didn't happen, but that seems to be how the world works.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

10. It's in international air space. More fake alarm so American military can pretend it's important to

waste near a trillion dollars each year.

Unaffordable.

[EastMeetsWest]

14. You have absolutely no idea

Taiwan is a DEMOCRACY. China is a DICTATORSHIP. China is acting like a "cat" toying with a Taiwanese "mouse". China claims that Taiwan is a "renegade province", but Taiwan has NEVER been part of the PRC. Taiwan suffered from the "white terror" until the late 1980s, but has since been able to become a free, democratic society, and wants to stay that way. The people of Taiwan have fought long and hard to become a free and democratic country, and they should be allowed to stay that way. PERIOD.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

20. There is no danger to Taiwan, it's a military created illusion. Give me some more cash, say

The Generals, and Congress forks it over, few questions asked.

I m just asking the questions.

[EX500rider]

25. "There is no danger to Taiwan" said no one ever.

China has about a 1,000 short range missiles aimed at Taiwan and keeps sending fighters and bomber at them, I don't think the Taiwanese agree with you.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

26. America has 1000 nuclear weapons aimed at Russia and China.

That’s my point. War talk and war loving and military loving endangers us all.

Ukraine president tells world to stfu and calm down after western media and military gets orgasmic over possible war…that’s happening right now.

[EX500rider]

28. How many nuclear weapons the US has..

.. won't help Taiwan much if they get invaded.
And of course the president of the Ukraine is trying to keep panic down in his country. That doesn't mean 100,000 Russian troops on his borders aren't a serious and imminent possible threat

[Alexander Of Assyria]

29. I trust the Ukrainian President to know what is near his border with Russia

[EX500rider]

32. Yes and he knows there are 100,000+ Russian troops there + in Belarus + in Crimea + Donbas

[Javaman]

11. Russia and China just exceeded their largest trade ever with 140 billion dollars.

of course they are colluding.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

21. Trade is collusion? Then America and China are r the worlds greatest colluders, using trade as

the standard.

[Javaman]

22. really?

you don't think the two go together?

then you have much history to read.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

27. More trade then means more collusion? What collusion r u defining?

[Calista241]

24. I'm surprised they sent electronic warfare aircraft.

I'd be even more surprised if they actually turned them on. Every second you run those systems provides your opponent data on how they can be defeated.

[Red Mountain]

30. Meh...

Taiwan should send up a single fighter with an upraised middle finger painted on the side.

Maybe a Cessna with a banner.

Give them as little electronic warfare info as possible.

[BlueWavePsych]

33. How Taiwan Could Hold off A Chinese Invasion ...

[EastMeetsWest]

36. If China tries to invade Taiwan,

I'd want to see the Chinese invasion boats sunk to the bottom of the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan is a fellow democratic country. Taiwan went through an authoritarian period which it calls the "White Terror", but Taiwan finally cast off those shackles and became a democratic, freedom-loving nation. I just watched an Australian video about the pioneer of Taiwan's freedom. She went through so much, including spending 12 years in jail for her views. And now her goal has been achieved, but it's being threatened by Xi's Communist China.