PLA Fighters Spotted Near Strait Median Line: Reuters 共軍南海.黃海軍演 外媒:共機接近中線

According to Reuters, China is sending military aircraft to the midline of the Taiwan Strait as it holds military exercises in the South China Sea and Yellow Sea. Military experts say China's show of arms is a warning to Taiwan and the U.S. ahead of Nancy Pelosi's visit. Taiwan's military has not raised its combat preparedness alert level but will be stepping up combat preparations for the next three days.

China has announced air defense drills off the coast of Fujian Province ahead of Nancy Pelosi's arrival in Taiwan. This video released by China's Eastern Theater Command shows enemy forces being buried. Apart from the live-fire drills, China is also holding live-fire military exercises in the South China Sea, Bohai Sea and Yellow Sea. Military experts in Taiwan say China's show of arms is a warning to Taiwan and the U.S. not to engage in political and military exchanges. The experts also say while there are no signs of an imminent invasion of Taiwan, misfires and accidents must be avoided.

Chieh Chung, Researcher, Association of Strategic Foresight: “There are no signs China is planning to take Taiwan by force, but we must rally the troops and make large-scale preparations for supplies and soldiers. Once we're fully prepared, we can turn our attention to (guarding against) accidents.”

In response to the PRC threat and ostensibly to protect Pelosi's aircraft, the USS Ronald Reagan is currently sailing in the South China Sea. Taiwan's military and Chihhang Air Base in Taitung are also standing by. The Air Force has scrambled eight armed Mirage fighters to the base and the Navy has sent two anti-submarine helicopters to the base as well.

Chang Yen-ting, Former Deputy Air Force Commander: “The Mirages will be responsible for defending the air, while IDFs taking off from Tainan Airport can provide support. This will provide adequate air defense in the Bashi Channel.”

According to Reuters, several PLA aircraft have been spotted near the midline of the Taiwan Strait. The military has not raised its combat preparedness alert level but will be strengthening combat preparedness in the next three days. Chang Yen-ting says the military should be prepared for further harassment from China.

砲聲隆隆，共軍東部戰區2日上午，發布福建省軍區在閩南某海域演練防空實彈射擊，時機敏感，因為美國眾議院議長裴洛西傳出同一天會訪台，踩到中國紅線。東部戰區先是以重磅發布的聳動標題，發表埋葬一切來犯之敵的威嚇影片，劍指台灣意味濃厚，共軍更接連在南海、渤海、黃海實施軍演，進行實彈射擊。軍事專家分析，中共透過高強度的武力展示，嚴正警告台美雙方不要有進一步的政治、軍事交流，目前沒有跡象顯示共軍會犯台，但要慎防擦槍走火的意外發生。

中華戰略前瞻協會研究員揭仲分析：「目前似乎沒有出現武力犯台之前，必須要有的大規模的部隊集結前推，物資人力動員的這種情形，比較該擔心的是做好準備要擔心意外事件的發生。」

為了應對共軍威脅，美國航母雷根號打擊群已進入南海，外界解讀護駕裴洛西的座機，而國軍早已全面戒備，空軍台東志航基地日前進入全面戰備狀態。空軍也緊急調派8架幻象戰機，全數掛彈進駐志航基地，另外海軍2架反潛直昇機，也飛抵志航基地，配合海面戒護船艦進行搜尋任務。

前空軍副司令張延廷指出：「空中戒護，空中警戒的任務，就交給幻象戰機，還有台南機場起飛的經國號戰機，他們可以做任務上的搭配，這樣的話在巴士海峽空防這一方面就可以得到適度的保障。」

此外，外媒路透社指出，數架中共軍機接近海峽中線，國軍仍沒有提升戰備等級，但宣布一連3天進行「強化戰備整備」，張延廷分析，共軍接下來可能會有一連串軍事擾台行動，國軍提前做好準備。