CHINA MAY SEND ITS CHENGDU J-20 STEALTH FIGHTERS TO CONDUCT PATROLS OVER TAIWAN

CHINA MAY SEND ITS CHENGDU J-20 STEALTH FIGHTERS TO CONDUCT PATROLS OVER TAIWAN – MEDIA

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In an interview to the CCTV, a military scholar with the China National Defense University Wang Mingliang said that Beijing could send its Chengdu J-20 stealth fifth-generation fighter aircraft for patrols over Taiwan, the Asia Times reported on May 21.

Mingliang stressed that Taiwan’s F-16 fighter aircraft and Dassault Mirage 2000 jet fighters would not be able to counter the Beijing force.

Mingliang also pointed out that the Taiwanese military is not well acknowledged with the J-20 fighter aircraft and it is concerned about the capability of “precision strikes on the leadership or key targets.”

This allegation comes after the successful May 9 exercise of the China’s Chengdu J-20 stealth fifth-generation fighter jets in sea areas for the first time.

On May 23, the Pentagon officially announced that China is uninvited from a major naval drill Rim of Pacific (RIMPAC) 2018 after it criticized China’s “continued militarization” on May 19, Reuters reported.

The Pentagon spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Logan stated that China’s deployment of bombers, surface-to-surface and anti-ship missiles in the disputed Spartly and Paracel Islands in the South China Sea is a reason of the refusal:

“While China has maintained that the construction of the islands is to ensure safety at sea, navigation assistance, search and rescue, fisheries protection and other non-military functions, the placement of these weapon systems is only for military use.”

Logan emphasized that the decision to disinvite China is just an “initial response” to the Chinese militarization in the region.

China’s State Councilor Wang Yi told reporters that this US measure is “a very unconstructive move.” Wang justified Beijing’s activity in the South China Sea as self-defense.

“We hope that the U.S. will change such a negative mindset,” Wang stated.

On May 24, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang stated that China has “inherent rights” to “carry out normal construction activities and normal military training on its own territory”, Chinese news agency Xinhua reported.

“The activities and training are necessary measures for China to safeguard its sovereignty and maintain regional peace and stability, and they have nothing to do with so-called militarization,” Lu Kang said.

“Whether having such military exercises or not, whether inviting China or not, will never change China’s will to maintain regional peace and stability in the South China Sea, or shake China’s firm resolution to safeguard its own sovereign rights and security interests.”

On May 18, a Chinese newspaper People’s Daily posted a video revealing that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) air force of China had carried out the first landing of the strategic bomber H-6K in the islands of the South China Sea.

According to May 2 media reports, China deployed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missiles in three outposts of the South China Sea. According to CNBC, missile systems were moved to the Spratlys within the past 30 days to Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef and Mischief Reef, which is 216 km from the Philippines.

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