Ministry of National Defense Press Release

Time: April 15^th, 2019 at 15:30 p.m.

Ministry of National Defense has stated today (15^th) that various types of aircrafts from the People’s Liberation Army including the KJ-500, Xian H-6, Shaanxi Y-8, Sukhoi Su-30, and Shenyang J-11 were transported out to the sea successively from southern China this afternoon and flew towards Western Pacific in the southeast direction through the Bashi Channel to execute the blue water and long flight training exercise; all aircrafts flew back to the station from the original route afterwards apart from Xian H-6, which flew westward and returned to the station through the Miyako Strait.

Ministry of National Defense pointed out that the “Verbal Intimidation, Saber Rattling” conducted by the People’s Liberation Army through military operation and media warfare for the purpose of attempting to change the current status of the Taiwan Strait does not contribute to the peacefulness of the Taiwan Strait, but rather impacts regional stability and safety.

The Ministry of National Defense emphasized that citizens can be reassured that during the entire training activity of the People’s Liberation Army aircrafts, the Armed Forces utilized joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance in accordance with the regulations, and dispatched aircrafts and warships to closely monitor, grasp, and correspond to the situation in order to ensure the safety of the airspace and sea area in Taiwan.