TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Defense analyst Chieh Chung (揭仲) said Tuesday that China appeared to test two new gray-zone tactics near Taiwan, CNA reported.
Chieh, an analyst at Tamkang University, said one involved a helicopter making an extended flight east of the Taiwan Strait median line. The other was a possible joint exercise involving a helicopter and drone.
The Ministry of National Defense detected four Chinese military aircraft, five naval vessels, and six government ships around Taiwan between 6 a.m. Monday and 6 a.m. Tuesday. The aircraft operated near the Taiwan Strait median line and in Taiwan’s northern and southeastern air defense identification zones.
Chieh said one helicopter crossed the median line and remained for an extended period inside the R9 restricted flight zone, which lies east of the line. Instead of passing through quickly, it flew roughly parallel to the median line.
He said it was likely the first Chinese military helicopter to cross the line in the narrower central and northern parts of the Taiwan Strait since August 2022. It was also the first known Chinese helicopter to make a prolonged flight through a restricted zone east of the line.
Available information did not show whether the helicopter took off from a Chinese warship or a land base, Chieh said. He added that its point of origin would affect how Taiwan assesses the operation.
A land-based helicopter would raise concerns that China is preparing air assault training for a possible attack on Taiwan, Chieh said. Such missions could involve helicopters carrying troops and equipment across the Taiwan Strait.
Chieh said China has increasingly trained helicopters and drones to operate together in cross-sea missions. In such operations, drones could conduct surveillance or strikes before helicopters transport additional forces.
A drone was operating east of the median line at the same time as the helicopter, Chieh said. He said the activity may have been China’s first helicopter-drone joint exercise in that area.
Chieh said the operation could mark a further expansion of China’s pressure on Taiwan without direct military conflict. Taiwan should closely monitor whether similar flights become routine, he added.
