Reuters:
TAIPEI, Sept 2 – Taiwan’s shooting down of a drone off the Chinese coast that buzzed a Taiwanese-controlled island was the most “appropriate” thing to do after repeated warnings, and China should exercise restraint, Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang said on Friday.
Taiwan’s military for the first time shot down an unidentified civilian drone that entered its airspace near an islet that sits next door to China’s Xiamen city on Thursday, after the government vowed to take tough measures to deal with an increase in such intrusions.
The incident came after Taiwan had repeatedly complained of harassment by drones coming from China and flying right up close to the Kinmen islands, which have been taking place as Beijing stages military drills around Taiwan.
Speaking to reporters, Su said Taiwan had repeatedly issued warnings and “asked them not to encroach on our doorstep”.
“They repeatedly ignored our warnings to leave and we had no choice but to exercise self-defence and shoot. This is the most appropriate reaction after repeated restraint and warnings,” he added.
China should exercise restraint, Su said.
“We will never provoke, and we will do the most appropriate thing to protect our land and our people.”
Taiwanese media cited China’s Taiwan Affairs Office as saying in response to the downing that Taiwan’s attempt to “hype up confrontation between the two sides is extremely ridiculous”.
The drone was shot down after entering restricted air space near the tiny Lion islet, and crashed into the sea, according to Taiwan’s military.
