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Taiwan Shoots Down Chinese Drone

Sept. 1, 2022 (EIRNS)—Taiwan’s military said this morning that it had shot down a Chinese drone flying over an islet near Kinmen Island (just off the mainland coast, about 10 km from the city of Xiamen). The defense command for Kinmen said in a statement released by Taiwan’s defense ministry that the drone entered restricted air space over Lion Islet just after midday, reported Reuters. Troops on the islet tried warning it away but to no effect, so they shot it down, with the remains landing in the sea, it reported. This occurs after the Taiwanese military said it had fired warning shots at a drone, two days earlier.

Speaking to the armed forces earlier on Sept. 1, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said the mainland was continuing to use drone intrusions and other “gray zone” tactics to try to intimidate Taiwan, her office cited her as saying in a statement. Tsai again emphasized that Taiwan would not provoke disputes, but that that did not mean it would not take countermeasures, according to the statement. “She has also ordered the Ministry of National Defense to take necessary and strong countermeasures in a timely manner to defend national security,” the statement said.

Beijing considers Taiwan as an integral part of China, whereas the Democratic Progress Party (DDP) of President Tsai is pro-independence. Moreover a central feature of U.S. relations with China also recognize Taiwan as part of China, the Aug. 3 visit of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan was an affront to the One China policy.

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