Taiwan’s armed forces (AF) shot down an unidentified civilian drone that intruded into the airspace of the island near the Kinmen archipelago off the Chinese coast
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Taiwan’s defense ministry said the drone entered restricted airspace over Lion Island just after noon. The military tried to warn the drone, but in the end they had to shoot it down. Parts of the drone fell into the sea.
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Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen commented on the situation. China will continue to use drones and other tactics to try and intimidate Taiwan, she said. She also ordered the Ministry of National Defense to take the necessary and decisive countermeasures in a timely manner to protect national security.
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Earlier, White House National Security Council strategic communications coordinator John Kirby accused Beijing of trying to consolidate the change in the status quo on the situation around Taiwan. The politician pointed out that the actions of the Chinese authorities before the visit of the Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to the island, during her visit and after it, are confirmation of Beijing’s attempt to permanently change the situation in the region.
