The military of the self-ruled island fired warning shots at Chinese drones flying over its outposts located on the Chinese coast, emphasizing the strained relations between the two forces and the island's determination to retaliate against fresh provocations, according to a report by ABC News.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 15: In this photo illustration, a DJI Mavic 2 Pro and DJi Mavic Mini made by the Chinese drone maker fly near each other on December 15, 2021 in Miami, Florida. Reports indicate that the world’s leading drone maker, DJI, is among eight Chinese companies expected to be placed on a U.S. government blacklist that prohibits businesses operating in the United States from exporting technology to companies.
Warning Shots Fired
The drones were discovered hovering over the Kinmen island group on Tuesday, according to a statement from Taiwan's military. A drone was sighted over the island of Dadan, which is located around 15 kilometers (9 miles) off the Chinese shore.
Taiwan had traditionally only used flares as warnings but stated in a statement on Wednesday that the drones were of "civilian use" and had returned to the adjacent Chinese city of Xiamen after the rounds were fired.
After China launched missiles into the sea and moved planes and ships beyond the line separating them in the Taiwan Strait earlier this month, tensions have been high ever since.
This comes after Beijing expressed anger over House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, the highest-ranking American dignitary to do so in the previous 25 years.
Recent Chinese actions have been interpreted as a practice run for a potential blockade or invasion because China claims Taiwan as its territory.
The United States, Taiwan's main ally, and other regional democracies like Australia and Japan strongly condemned China's drills. Early in August, a few of China's missiles landed in the exclusive economic zone of Japan.
Taiwan still controls several islands in the Kinmen and Matsu groups in the Taiwan Straits as a result of Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists' effort to retain a foothold after being expelled by Mao Zedong's Communists during the 1949 civil war.
Read also: Apple Tells Taiwanese Suppliers to Avoid 'Made in Taiwan' Labels, In Compliance to China Law
"Not Intimidated"
The 23 million residents of Taiwan were not intimidated by China's activities, according to Taiwan's Defense Ministry; rather, they simply strengthened support for the armed forces and the country's de facto independence.
A 12.9% rise in the Defense Ministry's annual budget for the following year, according to officials, would include stronger anti-drone defenses. A total of 415.1 billion NTD ($13.8 billion) will be spent by the government this year, which is an increase of 47.5 billion NTD ($1.6 billion).
A $1.1 billion military package for Taiwan, which would include anti-ship and air-to-air missiles to thwart any prospective Chinese invasion attempts, is also said to be on the U.S.'s agenda for approval.
The U.S. sent two warships through the Taiwan Strait after the Chinese drills, which China has attempted to claim as its territorial seas. Foreign delegations from the United States, Japan, and Europe have kept coming to Taipei to provide economic and diplomatic support.
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Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla
