Taiwan President: "China's Threat Increasing Daily"... Attack Helicopters Deployed

Official Acknowledgment of US Military Presence in Taiwan

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] As China's military threats toward Taiwan increase daily, it has been confirmed that the Chinese military deployed attack helicopters in an incursion into Taiwan. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen officially acknowledged the presence of U.S. troops in Taiwan, stating that Taiwan is engaging in extensive cooperation with the United States to enhance its defense capabilities.

According to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense on the 28th, seven Chinese military aircraft violated the ADIZ on the 26th. The aerial show of force included one Y-8 command and control aircraft, one Y-8 reconnaissance aircraft, one Y-8 electronic warfare aircraft, two J-16 fighter jets, one WZ-10 attack helicopter, and one Mi-17 transport helicopter.

The WZ-10 is a Chinese military attack helicopter designed to counter the U.S. AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, capable of being equipped with various armaments such as machine guns, rockets, anti-tank missiles, and air-to-air missiles.

Since August, China has expanded the types of military aircraft deployed in the Taiwan Strait, including the first deployment of the Z-9 anti-submarine helicopter into Taiwan's ADIZ. On the 27th, the Chinese military also sent two J-11 fighter jets and one Y-8 anti-submarine patrol aircraft into the ADIZ.

As the Taiwan issue has emerged as a sharp conflict front between the U.S. and China, China continues its military provocations against Taiwan. Analysts suggest that China is conducting practical training for an attack on Taiwan by deploying almost all types of air power, including fighter jets, early warning aircraft, reconnaissance planes, anti-submarine aircraft, and attack helicopters.

According to Central News Agency, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense reported to the Legislative Yuan (Parliament) on the 27th that approximately 680 Chinese military aircraft have violated the ADIZ so far this year.

Meanwhile, in an interview with CNN on the same day, President Tsai said, "Dialogue with Chinese President Xi Jinping remains open," but added, "I believe the United States will defend Taiwan if China's military actions escalate."

She added, "Democratic countries, including Japan, Australia, and South Korea, will help support Taiwan." She also stated, "When authoritarian regimes (China) show expansionist tendencies, democratic countries must unite to counter them. Taiwan is at the forefront of this."

Furthermore, she officially acknowledged for the first time the presence of U.S. troops in Taiwan, saying, "We are engaging in extensive cooperation with the United States to enhance Taiwan's defense capabilities," and that U.S. forces remain in Taiwan for training purposes.

President Tsai did not specify the number of U.S. troops in Taiwan but said, "It is not as many as people think," and "We are cooperating extensively with the United States to improve our defense capabilities."

Although U.S. forces officially left Taiwan in 1979, rumors of U.S. military presence have persisted. Early last year, the U.S. Army Special Forces posted and then deleted a video showing them training local soldiers in Taiwan. Later, in November of the same year, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense acknowledged to local media that U.S. troops were training soldiers in Taiwan but quickly denied it.