CHINESE AIR FORCE SPREADS NEW WINGS
Asian Military Review|February/March 2021
China’s military aviation industry has evolved from reverse engineering to indigenous design and development.
JR Ng
CHINESE AIR FORCE SPREADS NEW WINGS

Chinese airpower took centre stage in the Asia Pacific in the latter part of 2020, asthe People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) repeatedly entered the Republic of China’s (ROC, commonly Taiwan’s) air defence identification zone (ADIZ). This clearly amounted to a show of force intended to erode not just Taiwanese resolve in resisting Beijing but also the smaller and less well-resourced Republic of China Air Force’s (RoCAF’s) ability to generate airpower.

The PLAAF show of force reached its peak on 18 September midway through a three-day official visit by US Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, Keith Krach. As many as 18 aircraft – including Xian H-6 strategic bombers, singleengine Chengdu J-10 and twin-engine Shenyang J-11 and J-16 multirole combat aircraft – split into five groups which then carried out sorties to the northwest of Taiwan and in the southwest portion of the ADIZ, with some crossing over the median line in the Taiwan Strait.

The next day, another 19 PLAAF aircraft – comprising bombers, combat and patrol aircraft – flew six sorties to an area off Taiwan’s northwest and the southwest section of its ADIZ, with several aircraft again flying over the median line.

According to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), China has perpetrated more than 4,400 intrusions into the ADIZs of Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan since 2013, with Chinese military aircraft often flying routes that consecutively transgress the ADIZs of those countries and pressure their respective air forces.

This story is from the February/March 2021 edition of Asian Military Review.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the February/March 2021 edition of Asian Military Review.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM ASIAN MILITARY REVIEWView All
SMART MUNITIONS INCREASE MARKET SHARE
Asian Military Review

SMART MUNITIONS INCREASE MARKET SHARE

Top attack munitions are now widely developed for different artillery calibers with varied ranges.

time-read
10 mins  |
June/July 2021
NEXT GEN NVGS - A CLEAR IMPROVEMENT
Asian Military Review

NEXT GEN NVGS - A CLEAR IMPROVEMENT

Fused and enhanced night-vision technology will make the difference to soldiers fighting at night.

time-read
8 mins  |
June/July 2021
MILITARY ROTORCRAFT DEVELOPMENT - NO MORE ‘STOVEPIPES'
Asian Military Review

MILITARY ROTORCRAFT DEVELOPMENT - NO MORE ‘STOVEPIPES'

New rotorcraft are going to come with new abilities founded on open systems that provide easier upgrade paths and cheaper through life costs.

time-read
8 mins  |
June/July 2021
INDO PACIFIC UAV DIRECTORY 2021
Asian Military Review

INDO PACIFIC UAV DIRECTORY 2021

The development of unmanned aerial vehicles is growing apace, especially in China. New longer range ISR platforms are also on the procurement list of several nations.

time-read
10+ mins  |
June/July 2021
TIME TO RESET TRILATERAL RELATIONS
Asian Military Review

TIME TO RESET TRILATERAL RELATIONS

United States President Joe Biden has made it a top priority of his Administration to repair and re-energize global alliances during its first year in power. This is a necessary strategic and political calculus made in light of growing global security, public health, and environmental challenges that will require cooperation and multilateral contributions. President Trump’s ‘America first’ policy did much to undermine confidence in such relationships over his time in office.

time-read
3 mins  |
June/July 2021
SOCPAC KEEN TO SHARE JOINT DOCTRINE AND TRAINING
Asian Military Review

SOCPAC KEEN TO SHARE JOINT DOCTRINE AND TRAINING

The return of Great Power competition means that US SOCPAC is more than ever seeking joint training opportunities with regional special forces.

time-read
9 mins  |
June/July 2021
MARINE ENGINE POWER - NOT JUST ABOUT KNOTS
Asian Military Review

MARINE ENGINE POWER - NOT JUST ABOUT KNOTS

Navies not only want more engine power, there are also coming under increasing pressure to become environmentally conscious.

time-read
9 mins  |
June/July 2021
AMPHIBIOUS FORCES
Asian Military Review

AMPHIBIOUS FORCES

New amphibious concepts are re-shaping marine forces to break the A2AD defensive line.

time-read
9 mins  |
June/July 2021
SPACE V AIRBORNE ISR OR MIX AND MATCH
Asian Military Review

SPACE V AIRBORNE ISR OR MIX AND MATCH

Owning satellite based ISR for military use is still an exclusive ‘club’, but airborne ISR still provides that most countries need.

time-read
9 mins  |
April/May 2021
SHIPBUILDING - A NUMBERS GAME
Asian Military Review

SHIPBUILDING - A NUMBERS GAME

While experience grows among Indo-Pacific naval designers, order numbers remain crucial to keeping costs down and yards in business.

time-read
10+ mins  |
April/May 2021