China began three days of drills in the seas and skies around Taiwan starting Aug. 4. On Aug. 3, a drone suspected to be sent by China was discovered in Kinmen. Meanwhile, fighters carrying bombs took off from Taitung Air Force Base.
A Mirage 2000 fighter loaded with bombs takes off from Taitung Air Force Base. The Air Force was on high alert due to China's live-fire military exercises, which started on Aug. 4. They will take place over three days in six areas around Taiwan, effectively blockading Taiwan.
CCTV Report: “Launch early warnings, suppress interference, deploy troops, etc.”
Feng Zongbin, PLA Navy Captain: “My warship was ordered to sail to waters to the east of the island of Taiwan and has already arrived. We have completed the maritime security and control deployment, and are currently jointly carrying out training on maritime blockades and air interception with the Air Force. ”
China's military exercises encircle Taiwan, and some are taking place in waters that overlap with Taiwan's territorial waters. On Aug. 3, a drone suspected to be sent from China was discovered above Kinmen's Beiding Island. The Kinmen Defense Command launched a signal flare to drive it away. Meanwhile, statistics compiled by a Facebook page showed that Chinese military aircraft have buzzed Taiwan's airspace on three days this month and the Air Force issued 21 broadcasts asking them to leave.
ROC Air Force Broadcast: “This is a Republic of China Air Force broadcast directed at the Chinese military aircraft located at an altitude of 6,900 meters in Taiwan's northern airspace. You have already entered into our airspace and are affecting our flight safety. Turn around and leave immediately.”
Military experts were asked if there is the possibility that China will cross the strait's median line and fire missiles through Taiwan's airspace. They said the median line never had any legal basis and was only a tacit understanding between different countries as a buffer zone. As for missiles, they should pass through the atmosphere and land in waters to the east of Taiwan, and this is not defined by international law as territorial airspace. The tactics will probably be more focused on psychological warfare.
Su Tzu-yun, Director, Div. of Defense Strategy & Resources, INDSR: “Under international law, territorial airspace does not extend to the outer space of the atmosphere. I think what's most important, what China most wants to attack, is Taiwan's sentiments and morale.”
Lu Li-shih, Military Expert: “Based on the definition of blockade in international law, the six areas where they're conducting exercises do not constitute a blockade. It can only be considered as a gesture.”
Experts say Taiwan's current sentiments and morale are tougher than in 1996. The military's hardware includes Patriot 2 and 3 missiles and Sky Bow II and III missiles, and Taiwan has one of the highest air defense missile densities in the world. Taiwan should respond rationally to China's exercises.
幻象2000戰機掛彈升空，空軍台東志航基地全面戒備，因為中國解放軍4日起一連3天，將在台灣周邊6個海域進行封鎖性軍演。
中國央視報導片段：「開展預警指揮 干擾壓制 兵力進壓等」
東部戰區海軍某艦艦長馮宗彬表示：「我艦已依令抵達台島以東預定海域，完成海上警戒封控布勢，正與空中兵力聯合開展海上封鎖，對空攔截等課目訓練。」
這次中國軍演範圍完繞台灣海域，部分地區甚至與台灣領海重疊。高空侵擾頻率則持續升溫，3日晚間金門北碇地區上空，首度發現疑似中國無人機侵擾，金防部射擊信號彈示警驅離，而根據「台灣西南空域」粉絲專頁記錄，中共空軍本月已累計進入我空域3天，廣播驅離紀錄已達21次。
中華民國空軍廣播：「位於台灣北部空域，高度6900公尺的中共軍機注意，你已進入我空域，影響我飛航安全，立即迴轉脫離。」
至於中國會不會藉此機會取消海峽中線，並發射導彈飛越台灣領空，軍事專家表示，海峽中線本就無法律規範，是各國間對於緩衝區的默契，至於發射導彈應該會經過大氣層落在台灣東部海域，不算國際法定義的領空，心理戰層面居多。
國防院國防戰略與資源研究所長蘇紫雲表示：「依照國際法相關規範，領空不及於大氣層外圍的太空，因此我覺得最重要的是，共軍他要打擊的是台灣的心理與民心士氣。」
軍事專家呂禮詩說：「以國際法上面有關於封鎖的定義來講，他的這6個操演區，其實並不算封鎖，只能算是一種姿態而已。」
軍事專家強調，台灣民心士氣比96年時還要堅韌，國防硬體則包括愛國者二、三型飛彈，國造天弓二、三型飛彈，搭建起世界數一數二的防空飛彈密度，中國軍演鎖台，台灣應把握住國際輿論的制高點，冷靜應對。
