What a helicopter’s flight in the Taiwan Strait says about Beijing’s war plans

AI Summary

A People's Liberation Army helicopter and UAV conducted a prolonged flight crossing the median line in the Taiwan Strait, raising concerns in Taipei about Beijing potentially rehearsing operations for a cross-strait conflict. Taiwan's defense ministry monitored four PLA aircraft in the area over two days.

A People’s Liberation Army helicopter’s unprecedented flight in the Taiwan Strait has raised concerns in Taipei that Beijing is rehearsing a new kind of operation for a potential cross-strait conflict. Taiwan’s defence ministry said it detected four PLA aircraft, including a helicopter and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), operating around the island on July 20 and the following morning. The helicopter and drone crossed the median line and remained east of it for nearly 9.5 hours in the “R9”...