Taiwan shooting down drone near China was ‘appropriate’, premier says

TAIPEI: Taiwan’s shooting lower of a drone off the Chinese coast that buzzed a Taiwanese-controlled tropical isle was the most “appropriate” thing to do after recurring warnings, and The far east should exercise constraint, Taiwan Premier Tu Tseng-chang said on Friday (Sep 2).

Taiwan’s military for the first time photo down an mysterious civilian drone that will entered its airspace near an islet that sits next door to China’s Xiamen city on Thursday night, after the government promised to take tough actions to deal with an increase in such intrusions.

The incident came right after Taiwan had frequently complained of harassment by drones coming from China and flying right up near to the Kinmen islands, which have been taking place as Beijing stages military drills around Taiwan.

Speaking to reporters, Su said Taiwan had repeatedly issued alerts and “asked them not to encroach on our doorstep”.

“They repeatedly ignored our own warnings to depart and we had simply no choice but in order to exercise self-defence and shoot. This is the most appropriate reaction after recurring restraint and alerts. ”

The particular drone was chance down after entering restricted air space near the tiny Lion islet, and crashed to the sea, according to Taiwan’s military.

Chinese forces have been working out near Taiwan since early last month, following the visit to Taipei of US House Loudspeaker Nancy Pelosi, which usually infuriated Beijing.

China views democratically-governed Taiwan as its very own territory, despite the solid objections of the govt in Taipei.