China to set up no-fly zone north of Taiwan for 'aerospace activities' next week
Taipei (Taiwan), April 13: Following a three-day series of military drills near Taiwan, China has informed Taipei that a no-fly zone will be implemented north of Taiwan the following week, NHK World reported.
On Tuesday, China reportedly informed Taiwan's northern flight information zone of the upcoming airspace closure, enabling aerospace activities in the area. China claimed the duration would be five hours every day from April 16 to 18. Nevertheless, due to a complaint filed by Taiwan's ministry, it will only be reduced to around half an hour on April 16.
The transportation ministry warned that the shutdown was inappropriate and would pose considerable and unnecessary safety risks in its complaint against China.
According to Taiwan's defence minister, China intends to block airspace over the high seas north of Taiwan. Defence authorities will closely monitor Beijing's aerospace activities, which could include a satellite launch.
As tensions between Taiwan and China rise, Taiwan recently detected 91 People's Liberation Army aircraft and 12 navy ships from 6 a.m. on Monday (April 10) to Tuesday (April 11).
Taiwan's Defense Ministry claimed in an official announcement, "91 PLA aircraft and 12 PLAN vessels around Taiwan were detected by 6 a.m.(UTC 8) today. 54 of the detected aircraft had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwest and southeast ADIZ."
"Yesterday, China completed the third day of live-fire drills but still, there are 8 vessels that are operating in the waters surrounding Taiwan," Taiwan's Defence Ministry added.
The armed forces of the island nation were monitoring the situation and tasked CAP planes, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond in the case of an emergency.
Chinese fighter jets and warships simulated strikes on Taiwan over the weekend. Protests broke out in Taiwan as a result of Beijing's activities.
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- ANI
