Chinese air force activities increase across Taiwan Strait
ROC Central News Agency
2008-01-15 19:20:22
Taipei, Jan. 15 (CNA) China's Air Force has been increasingly active over the sea area on the western side of the Taiwan Strait's median line over the past few years, said a spokesman for the Republic of China Air Force Command Headquarters Tuesday.
Lt. Gen. Liu Chieh-tsen, director general of the Political Warfare Office, made the revelation while hosting a group of foreign and domestic media journalists at an Air Force missile base in Sanzhi township of Taipei County.
The media was visiting the military base at the invitation of the Ministry of National Defence.
In response to the visitors' inquiries, Liu indicated that Beijing began performing more frequent drills in their air space after obtaining new types of fighter jets over the years, including Sukhoi 30 and J10 fighters.
Following the rise in training operations, Chinese military pilots were found to have improved in terms of battle skill and mobility, Liu added, and noted that because of the frequent military activities, Taiwan's military has acted to reinforce Air Force training programs and to purchase upgraded F-16 C/D fighters.
It is the first time the Sanzhi base has been opened to the media. Locally-developed surface-to-air Tien Kung (Sky Bow) I and II missiles, with a range capable of reaching southeastern China's coastal areas, are deployed at the facility, according to the Anti-air Artillery Headquarters.
(By Elizabeth Hsu)
ENDITEM/jnc
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