Taipei Times
Date: Sep 01, 2017
By: Staff writer, with CNA

China has demonstrated that it has the ability to seize air supremacy over areas west of the first island chain and is gradually gaining the ability to take control of the Taiwan Strait, a report published yesterday by the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said.

The Chinese military’s intelligence, monitoring and reconnaissance capabilities cover areas west of the second island chain in the western Pacific, and is enough to support all sorts of military actions within the region, the ministry said in its five-year military development plan submitted to the legislature.

Chinese bombers and fighter jets have regularly been crossing the first island chain into the western Pacific, which constitutes a direct challenge to the US’ military presence in the Asia-Pacific region and demonstrates China’s ability to achieve air supremacy in areas west of the island chain, the report said.    [FULL  STORY]