As Chinese PLA drones fly closer to Taiwan, observers warn of airspace incursions

Beijing has launched unprecedented large-scale drills around Taiwan in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit

Zero troop loss risks and greater flexibility should make drones Beijing’s first choice for Taiwan airspace forays, weapons expert says

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A TB-001 “twin-tailed scorpion” armed reconnaissance drone was among UAVs spotted off Taiwan on Thursday, Japanese authorities said. Photo: CCTV

Published: 10:00pm, 5 Aug 2022Updated: 11:27pm, 5 Aug 2022

The People’s Liberation Army might fly drones over Taiwan on reconnaissance and strike missions to exhaust the island’s anti-aircraft missiles, some Chinese military observers believe.

This comes as Beijing conducts unprecedented large-scale drills around Taiwan, in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the self-governed island which the mainland had repeatedly warned against.

Two types of drones – identified as a BZK005 reconnaissance and a TB-001 reconnaissance/attack drone – were spotted flying over waters off the northeastern coast of Taiwan on Thursday, the Japanese defence ministry said.

Another unidentified unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), presumed to be a PLA drone, flew in from the East China Sea to circle the high seas off Taiwan’s northeastern coast, it said.

The BZK-005 high-altitude, long-range UAV is a reconnaissance aircraft with an estimated range of 2,400km (1,490 miles) and a maximum endurance – or capacity to stay in flight – of 40 hours.

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