China flies drone into Taiwan’s airspace for first time
Financial Times • • world
Key Points:
- China’s military conducted its first drone incursion into Taiwan-controlled airspace by flying a WZ-7 surveillance drone over the Pratas (Dongsha) Islands for four minutes, flying at an altitude beyond Taiwan’s air defense reach.
- The incursion underscores Taiwan’s challenges in countering China’s advanced drone capabilities and allows Beijing to assert pressure without immediate retaliation, raising concerns over Taiwan’s sovereignty and defense posture.
- Pratas Islands, strategically located in the South China Sea, have become frequent targets of Chinese maritime and coastguard harassment, with Taiwan maintaining only minimal defenses and cautious about escalating conflicts.
- Taiwan’s defense policy treats unauthorized Chinese military entries into its airspace or waters as potential “first strikes,” but detailed rules for frontline counterstr
