Tensions in the Taiwan Strait have prompted Kinmen Island’s Defense Command to state it would shoot down Chinese drones if warnings are ignored when drones intrude onto it territory, according to a report by International Business Times.
The article says that a Chinese civilian drone intruded into Taiwanese territory and recorded visuals of two soldiers manning a guardhouse. These visuals were later widely circulated on Chinese social media Sina Weibo. Taiwanese military sources then claimed it fired warning flares to repel Chinese drones while refraining from more aggressive measures such as shooting aircraft down to avoid further escalating cross-strait tensions.
Taipei Times reported that the Taiwanese military aims to avoid escalating such situations but would take countermeasures to prevent incursions into the country’s airspace by drones and other airborne objects.
The incident has prompted the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense to strengthen its drone defence system, which it expects to deploy next year.
Among proposed defence systems, Lo Cheng-fang, the CEO of Taiwanese drone manufacturer GEOSAT Aerospace & Technology said standard drone jammers are sufficient to counter the Chinese drone incursions at present, but Taiwan might need to o respond with more than a drone defense system and develop high-powered microwave jammers to counter drone attacks if Chinese intrusions intensify. Lu Li-shih, a former navy lieutenant commander, too believes the army should try to set up a virtual perimeter known as a geofence around a no-fly zone between the offshore counties and China to stop drones from entering, reports International Business Times.
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