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Image source, fake images
Taiwan Air Force F-16 fighter jet (illustration)
The most reported report from the Taiwan Air Force said the F-16, flown by a colonel, “fell 2,133 meters in 20 seconds” on November 17.
General Hung Hau Co, commander of the Taiwan Air Force, told reporters on November 18, 2020 that some details of the accident that occurred the previous day led to the “disappearance” of the sole F-16 pilot.
According to General Hung, just over a minute after the plane took off from Hualien Air Base, “the pilot was likely to get lost” flying into the clouds, according to Focus Taiwan.
The “spatial disorientation” syndrome occurs when the aircraft operator is unaware of direction and positioning in their own space and on the aircraft.
The Taiwan Air Force said it also found a possible signal from the aircraft at sea and sent several ships and planes to the search site.
Mr. Tuong Chanh Chi, 44, has over 2300 flying hours and is an experienced pilot.
The Taiwanese Air Force suspended all F-16s after an accident on November 17 for a technical inspection.
The aircraft had a new accident through technical inspection in September 2019.
CNN said the incident occurred less than three weeks after a Taiwan Air Force plane crashed and killed the driver.
Focus Taiwan says that since 1998, there have been seven serious accidents involving Taiwan’s F-16s and two planes have been killed. Another five are “missing, presumed dead.”
Additionally, in January 2016, a Taiwanese pilot was killed in an F-16 crash while practicing at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, USA.
Currently, Taiwan has 140 US-bought F-16s.
Image source, LOCKHEED WEBSITE
American military experts say that these planes are crucial to improving Taiwan’s defenses.
Tensions in the region
Also on November 17, the United States sent two B-1B long-range bombers from Guam to the China Air Defense Identification Area (ADIZ) in the East China Sea to show strength after the China and navy air exercises in the region.
On November 17, 2020, two Chinese military aircraft flew into the ADIZ area of Taiwan. Taiwanese media reported that the Chinese fleet consisted of a Y-8 that was not Shaanxi and was carrying electronic reconnaissance equipment and a hunting submarine of the same type.
On October 27, Taiwanese newspapers published an analysis that China’s electronic warfare technology and cyber attack capabilities against Taiwan “increased rapidly” and posed a threat to Taiwan. .
China regularly sends aircraft with electronic attack capabilities to the ADIZ area of Taiwan.
Most Taiwanese reject the ‘more dual nation’
Also according to Focus Taiwan (November 12, 2020), more than 90% of Taiwanese oppose the military threat from China, and 80% believe that the governments of both sides are responsible for keeping the peace across the Strait. Taiwan, according to an opinion poll by the Continental Council, the Taiwan agency specializes in relations with China.
At the same time, the vast majority of Taiwanese support the dialogue with China, while rejecting the principle of “One country, two regimes” that Beijing has set out to bring Taiwan “back to the homeland.”
Up to 74.4% of the respondents no longer liked the “One China” principle, 75.9% rejected “The duality of one country” and wished Taiwan had autonomy over its future.
