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| US Advanced Reconnaissance Planes Are Detected Flying Around Taiwan (pict of illustration) |
Taipei - On Friday, August 5, 2022, seven US surveillance aircraft were detected flying around Taiwan. The seven aircraft included a U-2 and six tankers. Beijing-based think-tank South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI) tweeted about this.
Quoted from Taiwan News, it is known that the aircraft included one measuring aircraft and a typical US Air Force (USAF) Boeing RC-135S intelligence aircraft.
In addition, there is also one USAF RC-135V Rivet Joint electronic reconnaissance aircraft, three US Navy P-8A Poseidon patrol and reconnaissance aircraft.
Then, a USAF Boeing E-3G Sentry airborne early warning and control aircraft and a Lockheed U-2S high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft. They were known to be on a flight near Taiwan at the time.
The Chinese think-tank also reported the presence of six Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers. On the SCSPI map, reconnaissance aircraft can be seen in the north, northeast, east, southeast, and south of Taiwan at various distances and directions. Allegedly, this has something to do with how China acted when Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, came to Taiwan.
Quoted from the Eurasian Times, China's military has announced a new exercise. It also includes sea raids and anti-submarine drills to be held near Taiwan. During the exercises, Chinese warships, fighter jets and drones carried out extensive maneuvers around the island.
In addition, China also fired 11 ballistic missiles. In this regard, Air Force Officer Zhang Zhi also raised his voice. Quoted from the Xinhua news agency, he said that the exercise tested the system's warfare tactics under information-based conditions and honed and enhanced the ability to destroy important island targets with precision strikes.
Even so, this still raises concerns for Taiwan. On August 7, Taiwan's Ministry of Defense reported that it had seen 66 aircraft and 14 warships engaged in naval and air training.
Because of this, Taiwan finally reacted by activating its military. The country then deployed ships and planes and monitored Chinese drones, aircraft and ships that "simulate an attack on the island of Taiwan." This includes the deployment of F-16 Viper fighter jets with the latest Harpoon missiles they carry.