Chinese rocket launch sends debris into sea, reports Taiwan

A Chinese rocket launch has sent some debris falling in the sea near the island country of Taiwan.
According to Focus Taiwan, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence claimed that while some rocket debris fell into a “no-fly zone” off the coast of northern Taiwan after China launched a satellite into orbit, it did not represent a threat to public safety.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence issued a statement claiming that the forces had used joint intelligence and surveillance to track the whole rocket launch procedure. On April 11, NHK World cited Taiwan’s transportation ministry as saying that China notified Taiwan that a no-fly zone will be established in the nation’s northern region the following week.

Due to the potential for falling rocket debris, a no-fly zone was established within the Taipei Flight Information Region, 85 nautical miles north of Taiwan, on Sunday for a 27-minute period between 9:30 and 9:57 a.m. China apparently informed Taiwan’s northern flight information zone beforehand of the impending closure of the airspace and encouraged the conduct of aeronautical operations in the region.

China stated that it would last for five hours each day from April 16 to 18. However, it will only last for around 30 minutes starting on April 16 due to a protest made by Taiwan’s ministry, according to NHK World. Taiwan’s no-fly zone is located 85 miles to the north of the island and lies within Taipei Flight Information Region, which was marked for a 27-minute window between 9:30 and 9:57 on Sunday morning due to the potential for rocket debris to fall, as per the reports from FocusTaiwan.

China apparently forewarned Taiwan’s northern flight information zone beforehand of the impending closure of the airspace for conducting aeronautical operations in the region. As per NHK World, China stated that the duration of the launch would be five hours every day from April 16-18. However, it was reduced to only half an hour on April 16, after Taiwan’s ministry lodged a complaint.

In its complaint against China, the transportation ministry said that the stoppage was inappropriate and would present severe and unnecessary safety dangers. In the words of Taiwan’s defence minister, who said that defence authorities will closely watch Beijing’s aerospace activity, which may include a potential satellite launch since China has plans to restrict airspace over the high seas north of Taiwan.

The tensions between Taiwan and China continue to escalate as Beijing recently conducted a military drill where People’s Liberation Army used 18 planes and 4 naval ships from 6 am Monday to Tuesday as Taiwanese authorities closely monitored the development.

Consequently, a statement from Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said “18 PLA aircraft and 4 PLAN vessels around Taiwan were detected by 6 a.m.(UTC+8) today. 4 of the detected aircraft had entered Taiwan’s southwest and southeast ADIZ. R.O.C. Armed Forces have monitored the situation and tasked CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond to these activities.”