According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND), a Long March rocket carrying a surveillance satellite was observed over Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ) on Thursday morning after being launched from China.
The MND states that the PLA’s rockets were launched from China’s Xichang Satellite Launch Centre. The Defence Ministry stated that the rocket’s flying height was above the atmosphere and therefore “poses no harm to Taiwan.”
The MND reports that the rocket’s trajectory took it above the southwestern tip of Taiwan’s ADIZ.
It went on to say that it has activated its joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system to monitor the ballistic dynamics, trajectories, and other data in order to enable a proportionate response.
The People’s Daily of China reports that the Yaogan-39 “remote sensing satellite” was launched into space by a Long March 2D. Taiwan News cited the print and digital publication Space News based in Virginia, which reports on business and political news in the space and satellite industry, as evidence that these satellites are for “military purposes,” despite China’s lack of transparency regarding the Yaogan series.
According to security experts quoted in The Eurasian Times, the Yaogan series of surveillance satellites are outfitted with “optical and radar payloads intended to boost the Chinese anti-access and area-denial capabilities by augmenting the Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile system (ASBM).”
In recent years, tensions between Taipei and Beijing have been high due to China’s increased military aggression, economic pressure, and threats against its neighbour.
While China insists that Taiwan is an integral component of the country, Taiwan maintains its independence and believes it is a sovereign republic.
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