Drone activity at Qingquangang base caused eight fighter jets to be diverted, and lawmakers called for strengthening anti-drone combat capabilities
Quick Look
- Qingquangang base suspended takeoffs and landings due to drone activity detected around the airport, affecting 2 civil aviation sorties and forcing 8 IDF fighter jets performing night flight training to divert to the Hsinchu base.
- Zhou Yonghong, chief convener of the Democratic Progressive Party's Taichung City Council caucus, pointed out that this incident highlights the real threat that low-altitude drone intrusion poses to military bases and aviation safety.
- He criticized the Kuomintang's decision in the Legislative Yuan to delete the budget for portable drone countermeasures systems in the special national defense regulations, emphasizing that the need for the Ministry of National Defense to build anti-drone combat capabilities is very clear.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Qingquangang Base is an important air force base and an airport shared by both military and civilians. The Ministry of National Defense once proposed a 1.25 trillion yuan special defense regulation, including commercial purchases and commissioned projects. However, in May, the Legislative Yuan approved a 780 billion yuan version by the Kuomintang and the Kuomintang majority, excluding commercial purchases and commissioned projects, including portable drone countermeasures systems.
The Qingquangang base suspended aircraft takeoff and landing operations yesterday (8) night due to drone activity around the airport, affecting 2 civil aviation flights. In addition, 8 IDF fighter jets performing night flight training were forced to land at the Hsinchu base. The Democratic Progressive Party's Taichung City Council caucus general convened Zhou Yonghong pointed out that exposing the possible impact of low-altitude drone intrusion has made it very clear that the Ministry of National Defense needs to build anti-drone combat capabilities. "The Kuomintang can delete anti-drone equipment, but it cannot delete the reality that drones have threatened military bases and aviation safety."
Zhou Yonghong pointed out that the drones that appeared at the Qingquangang base yesterday and are still under investigation can affect the takeoff and landing of military and civilian aircraft in Qingquangang, and even diverted eight fighter planes. The threat of drones has appeared next to the military base in Taichung. This is not a hypothetical situation in the Ministry of National Defense report.
Please read on...
He said that the 1.25 trillion yuan special defense regulations originally proposed by the Ministry of National Defense included commercial purchases and commissioned projects. However, in May this year, the Legislative Yuan, with a majority of the Kuomintang and the Kuomintang, passed a 780 billion version that excluded commercial purchases and commissioned projects. The key combat capabilities excluded include the "portable UAV countermeasure system", which is the detection and countermeasures force that military bases need when facing drones.
Zhou Yonghong pointed out that Qingquangang is an important air force base and an airport shared by the military and civilians. This incident specifically demonstrates the possible impact of low-altitude drone intrusion. The source, model and operator of the drones are still under investigation. Yesterday, 8 IDFs in Qingquangang were forced to land, which is the most direct warning signal. If what they face next time is not one, or even an ordinary civilian drone, how can the national army detect, interfere and intercept it.
Zhou Yonghong said that the necessity for the Ministry of National Defense to build anti-drone combat capabilities has been very clear. The Kuomintang talked about the drone industry and national defense independence in Taichung, but when it came to the Legislative Yuan, it excluded portable drone countermeasures systems and the defense budget can be monitored. "The Kuomintang can delete anti-drone equipment, but it cannot delete the reality that drones have threatened military bases and aviation safety."
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The Ministry of National Defense will step up its efforts to promote the procurement of anti-drone systems, or make up for legislative deletions through special budget allocations
Likely · Within months
The Legislative Yuan will revisit the need for portable drone countermeasures systems in future defense budget deliberations
Possible · Within months
Open Questions
- What is the origin, model and operator of the drone?
- Was this drone activity an intentional test or provocation?
- Does the Department of Defense have backup plans to deal with similar low-altitude drone threats?
