Beijing's Calculated Risks in the Taiwan Strait The recent helicopter flight by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in the Taiwan Strait has sent shockwaves through Taipei, sparking concerns that Beijing is rehearsing a new kind of operation for a potential cross strait conflict.
On July 20 and the following morning, four PLA aircraft, including a helicopter and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), were detected operating around Taiwan by the island's defense ministry.
The helicopter and drone crossed the median line and lingered east of it for nearly nine and a half hours in the "R9" area, which Taiwan has designated as restricted.