After new footage appeared showing Chinese unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) compromising Taiwanese military facilities, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) declared on Sunday that soldiers would shoot down intruding Chinese drones that failed to take the warnings seriously.
Photo and video evidence of Chinese drones invading Taiwanese airspace and taking close-up footage of Taiwanese soldiers, who were seen throwing rocks at a drone, has surfaced recently on Chinese social media. A Chinese drone obtained images of Taiwanese soldiers stationed in a lookout post in Kinmen County’s Lieyu Township on Aug. 27.
According to the Kinmen Defense Command, the troops fired warning flares at the drone and maintained surveillance and a higher level of alert by standard operating protocols. It then vowed that if future drone incursions occur, the Army will take the required countermeasures to “drive away” the drones, such as blowing whistles, broadcasting radio warnings, and firing signal flares. Still, if the UAV does not depart, it will be “shot down.”
Moreover, MND said that remote-controlled anti-drone defensive systems will be built at 45 facilities around Taiwan from 2022 to 2026 to increase base, aviation safety, and wartime defence capabilities. According to reports, more than NT$4.3 billion (US$141 million) has been set aside for this purpose.
The MND will buy five drone defence systems and 232 jammer guns by 2023, with military sites on distant islands being a priority. And before implementing the drone defensive systems, a review of the military’s existing resources would be conducted to establish a contingency plan.
Also on Sunday, the MND posted a photo on its Facebook page stating that it will take “appropriate countermeasures” to protect national security. In addition, the Armed Forces will “take the necessary actions, including driving them away,” regarding drones and other aircraft that threaten national security and aviation safety.