China Says Incursions Into Taiwan May Be Rehearsal For Invasion
Beijing - After China's most recent large scale incursion into Taiwan airspace, the largest intrusion that has ever before occurred to date, China's state controlled media stated that the incursion 'could be' a rehearsal for a full scale attack on Taiwan in order to reunify Taiwan with mainland China.
On April 13th the Chinese state run Global Times stated, "The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducted an exercise near the island of Taiwan on Monday with the largest number of warplanes ever recorded, which could be a rehearsal of a reunification-by-force operation".
This after China sent 25 military aircraft into Taiwan's ADIZ (Air Defense Identification Zone) on April 12th which included 14 J-16 fighter jets, 4 H-6k bombers, 2 KQ-200 anti-submarine warfare aircraft and a KJ-500 third-generation airborne early warning and control aircraft (AEW&C).
Song Zhongping, who is a Chinese military expert stated "The exercise could be a rehearsal of its [the PLA’s] combat plan over the Taiwan island, and it could feature air superiority seizure, and attack on land and maritime targets, including warships of interfering foreign countries."
Meanwhile, the United States continues to strengthen 'unofficial' relations with Taiwan and reaffirms its support for the nation, sending a US ambassador to Taiwan for the first time in over 40 years which has angered China.