Tensions continued rising in the Taiwan Strait over the Mid-Autumn Festival long weekend. People's Liberation Army aircraft again intruded upon Taiwan's air defense identification zone. The PLA has sent 51 aircraft into Taiwan's ADIZ in the past 16 days. An expert said the PLA is surveiling US military activity in the Bashi Channel and adopting new strategies.


On the 2nd, People's Liberation Army aircraft were again spotted in Taiwan's air defense identification zone along with a KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft circling outside the zone. The previous day, the ROC Ministry of National Defense said eight PLA anti-submarine aircraft left from the Guangdong-Fujian area for Taiwan's ADIZ. The ROC military sent personnel to meet them and ordered them to leave. It also employed anti-aircraft missiles to follow them.

This is the Republic of China Air Force. The PLA military aircraft currently flying at 3,000 meters in Taiwan's southwestern air space: You have entered our ADIZ and are affecting aviation safety. Turn around and leave immediately.

Former ROC Air Force Deputy Commander Chang Ting-yen says the PLA had several goals: to provoke Taiwan, surveil US military activity in the South China Sea and Bashi Channel, and as a diversionary tactic to shift focus away from the northern end of Taiwan's ADIZ.

We have anti-aircraft missiles in the north but no military aircraft. This is a major strategic breach. Hsinchu Airport is at least a 10-minute flight from Taipei. Other airports are over 20 minutes away. If we are attacked by air, 20 minutes could make a huge difference.

PLA aircraft have intruded upon Taiwan's ADIZ 51 times in 16 days. This is up 20 percent from the same period last year. Chang says from a logistical standpoint, the Air Force should designate the southwestern area a "training air space" to reduce aircraft damage and familiarize personnel with a combat environment.

We have to be used to making training runs in the southwestern area and, make it a "traditional" training area. Once it is, we will be able to have the flying techniques we need, make our presence felt, and gather intelligence.

Chang also says the ROC has a strategic advantage in the southwestern area and the Air Force needs to take advantage of this. After a troop inspection, National Defense Minister Yen De-fa said the military needs to be prepared for all eventualities and communication between the different branches is key. Chief of the General Staff Huang Shu-kuang, meanwhile, called for improved combat and battlefield operation training.



中秋連假，解放軍沒有停止擾台動作，2號派軍機侵入我西南空域，遭空軍廣播驅離，另外，一架空警500預警機也在空域外巡弋。不過，早在前一天，國防部公布，解放軍運8反潛機，1號從中國廣東、福建兩省交界處的外海，侵擾我西南防空識別區，國軍除了派遣空中巡邏兵力應對、廣播驅離、也用防空飛彈追監。

空軍廣播：「中華民國空軍廣播，位於台灣西南空域，高度3000公尺的中共軍機注意，你已進入我ADIZ，影響我飛航安全，立即迴轉脫離。」

解放軍選在中國國慶當天，派遣軍機擾台，前空軍副司令張延廷分析，除了例行性的挑釁台灣、監控美機出沒南海，在巴士海峽活動，還可能採取聲東擊西戰術，企圖疲憊我西南空防，導致我北部空防出現重大戰略缺口。

前空軍副司令 張延廷表示：「北部我們一向有防空飛彈，沒有戰機，這有彈無機，是我們戰略很大的戰略缺口，新竹機場，距離台北飛行距離，至少10分鐘。如果距離北部空域，那更遠，那要20分鐘。20分鐘，對於一個空權威力運用，那20分鐘非常寶貴。」

面對解放軍16天內，派遣51架次軍機擾台，空軍疲於奔波反制，國防部長嚴德發坦言，跟去年同時期相比，空軍增加20%的飛行架次與時數，顯示解放軍加大施壓力道，張延廷認為，空軍應在後勤整備，超前部署，甚至將西南空域，部署為訓練空域，不只可以減少軍機額外耗損，還能熟悉作戰環境。

前空軍副司令 張延廷表示：「我們也要習慣，在西南空域，做飛行訓練。那個變成我們傳統的空域，傳統的訓練場所之後，我們在用兵上面，更能夠應付自如，得到了飛行的技術；第二個，我們也在那邊站崗做打卡；第三個我們也可以做情蒐，對中共那邊做情蒐。」

張延廷強調，國軍在西南空域享有戰略優勢，必須好好把握，另外，國防部長嚴德發跟參謀總長黃曙光，兩人一南一北分別視導駐軍。嚴德發要求部隊須因應敵情變化，跟防區三軍部隊密切聯繫，黃曙光則向部隊強調戰力保存，要求平時強化戰備訓練及落實戰場經營。