Taiwan is the closest to the airbase and the J-20s can be active in the air over Taiwan for a long period of time without being detected. The J-20s are the ‘Swords of Damocles’, the Taiwanese leadership will have no clue when it will fall, separating their heads from the necks, claimed a former PLA General
@Kunal_Chonkar
New Delhi: After attempting to rattle Taiwan by repeatedly intruding into its air defense identification zone, China has played another move. In order to issue a warning to Taipei’s leadership, Beijing has tactically lined its J-20 stealth warplanes at the Quzhou airbase. This shocking tactic was construed by retired Chinese lieutenant-general Wang Hongguang. He deciphered the move as a direct threat issued by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to Taiwan in one of his interviews on a social media channel, a couple of days ago.
Hongguang observed that ‘the Quzhou Airport was built early in the War of Resistance against Japan. This airbase has always been an important military base for the Chinese Air Force. This is because the region of western Zhejiang not only connects to the four seas from the ground, also speaking in regard to aerial navigation, but is also merely 200-plus kilometers away from the coastline.’
Highlighting the topographical importance of the region, he said that ‘prior to the early period of the liberation, this location was categorized as the campaign depth by China. The western bombers flew from aircraft carriers, Guam, and from islands in the South Pacific to bomb Tokyo. Then if there was not enough fuel to return, they would turn and land at Quzhou.’
The airbase of Quzhou is around 1,600 km from Tokyo, about 1,200 km from Korea, nearly 1,000 km from Okinawa, and merely 500 km from Taipei. As the flight range of modern warplanes has increased, this place has already transformed into being in the tactical depths of the Chinese military.
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The former PLA General said that ‘the airbase (Quzhou) is under dense protection of the Chinese coastal air defense network. A J-20 fighter with a full load of fuel and weaponry has an operational radius of approximately 2,000km. Tokyo as well as central and southern Japan, all of Korea, the Ryukyu Islands, the entire island of Taiwan, are all within the threat of stealth attacks by the J-20. Since Taiwan is the closest, the J-20 can be active in the air over Taiwan for a long period of time without being detected.’
Referring to the J-20 warplanes as ‘Swords of Damocles’, Hongguang said that ‘they (J-20s) are hanging over the heads of Taiwan independence heads like Tsai Ing-wen. They (Taiwanese leadership) will have no clue when it will fall, separating the heads from the necks.’
Adding further he claimed that ‘based on the ultra-long-distance range of the J-20, being stationed at and flying from an airport in the rear for activities around Taiwan is also quite easy. In secrecy without being detected, whether it flew to Taiwan or did not, this would not be disclosed to the proponents of Taiwan.’
In the concluding minutes of his stream, Hongguang discussed the reason behind China flying the J-20s into the Quzhou airbase during daylight hours, which allowed local residents to click photographs and post it online. He claimed that if the J-20s flew into the airbase during the night to be stationed there, then no one would know about it.
‘The intention here, I don’t need to explain it, yet everyone will understand. This is for people in Taiwan to understand that Taiwanese independence forces are under the threat of our (Chinese) military power at all times. All of their air defense forces, whether based on the ground, sea, or air are just toys, displaying items all within the strike of the J-20s. If Taiwanese independence forces walk the road into darkness, do not blame the J-20s for not warning them,’ directed Hongguang.
