Taiwan has fired warning shots at three unidentified drones that travelled near its outlying islands.
It is not clear who was flying the drones, but all three were seen flying back towards the Chinese language mainland, said Taiwan’s defence ministry.
It comes as Taipei has over the past days complained of Chinese language drones flying close to Taiwan-controlled islets near the Chinese coast.
It is the first time caution shots have been fired at such drones.
The Kinmen Defense Command stated three civilian drones were spotted on Thursday evening in Dadan, Erdan plus Shiyu – three Kinmen County islets that are just a few kms away from the Chinese city of Xiamen.
It added it fired warning flares, before eventually shooting a live circular at a returning drone. The drones ultimately headed towards Xiamen.
There was no immediate response through China, though Beijing had earlier dismissed complaints from Taiwan about repeated harassment by Chinese drones.
“Chinese drones traveling over China’s area, what’s there to be surprised at? inch said foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on Monday.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry expressed anger at his comments, saying “uninvited people are called thieves”.
Previously last week, Taiwan unveiled a record defence spending budget – proposing an elevated budget of T$586. 3bn ($19bn; £16bn).
Taiwan’s Leader Tsai Ing-wen had earlier said Taiwan would take “appropriate” measures against what she called grey zone tactics, including they would not “provoke disputes, and we will physical exercise self-restraint, but it does not mean that we will not counter”.
In mid-August, leaked out drone footage associated with Taiwanese soldiers tossing rocks at the devices in a bid to operate a vehicle them back, has been widely circulated online. The video stoked common ridicule and mockery on Chinese social media.
Tensions between Taiwan and China stay at a near all-time high after ALL OF US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the self-governing island at the begining of August.
China carried out its biggest-ever military exercises in the oceans around Taiwan following the visit.
Tiongkok saw the go to as a challenge to its claims of sovereignty over Taiwan, which sees by itself as distinct.
China and Taiwan: The basics
- Why do China and Taiwan have poor relations? Cina sees the self-ruled island as a part of its territory and demands it should be unified with all the mainland, by drive if necessary
- How is Taiwan governed? The island has its very own constitution, democratically chosen leaders, and about 300, 000 active troops in its armed forces
- Who acknowledges Taiwan? Only a few countries identify Taiwan. Most identify the Chinese govt in Beijing rather. The US has no established ties with Taiwan but does have the law which needs it to provide the island with the means to defend itself
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