On Sunday, April 6, China launched a new weather satellite amid rising tensions with Taiwan.
Nikkei Asia reports that the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation successfully launched the Fengyun 3G satellite, which is designed to track rainfall, from the northwestern province of Gansu.
Civilian Flights Avoid No-Flight Zone
On the other hand, civilian flights had to reroute to avoid a no-fly zone imposed by China to the north of Taiwan. According to Taiwan's transport ministry, Beijing initially informed Taipei that it would impose a no-fly zone from Sunday to Tuesday.
However, after Taiwan objected, China reduced the time limit to 27 minutes on Sunday morning.
The no-fly zone area is in the East China Sea, slightly northeast of Taiwan, and sees a lot of civilian traffic. Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration confirmed that 33 flights were diverted, adding five to ten minutes to their flight time, but normal flight paths resumed shortly after 10 a.m. (0200 GMT).
China Downplays No-Fly Zone Alert
Reuters reports that China has denied that it is a no-fly zone, instead describing it as "airspace blocked due to aerospace flight activity." The move comes in the wake of China's recent staging of new war games around Taiwan, which Beijing considers to be Chinese territory.
The Long March 4B rocket carrying the Fengyun 3G satellite launched at 9:36 a.m. (0136 GMT), but no confirmation of its flight path was provided, which coincided with the time of the no-fly zone.
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Although Taiwan's defense ministry confirmed that some rocket launch debris fell into a "warning zone" off the island's northern coast, it did not pose a territorial threat to Taiwan.
China-Taiwan Tension
China has dismissed the "hype" surrounding its space activities, accusing the West of attempting to escalate tensions across the Taiwan Strait. China-Taiwan tensions have risen recently, with Beijing conducting several military drills in the Taiwan Strait.
Just last week, China increased military pressure on Taiwan by sending 70 warplanes into the country's air defense identification zone, including fighter jets, reconnaissance planes, and refuellers.
According to The Guardian, the drills were in response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with the US House during her brief visit to the US.
Taiwan's defense ministry closely monitored China's missile forces' movements, and the US said it was also on high alert. China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) carried out these three-day exercises.
Taiwan has had its government and economy since 1949, but China regards it as a renegade province that must be reunited with the mainland, using force if necessary. The US has recently increased its support for Taiwan, much to Beijing's chagrin.
China's latest move to impose a no-fly zone has alarmed many in the region, especially given the increased military activity around Taiwan. It remains to be seen whether tensions will rise further or whether both sides will try to reduce tensions in the coming weeks.
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