Taiwan unveiled its first portable attack drone on Tuesday, a model similar to the US one used in Ukraine’s war against Russia, as China steps up its military pressure on the island and with rumors of a possible invasion of the giant increasingly latent Asian.
The single-use armed drone was unveiled by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology and was designed to be carried in a backpack and has the ability to hover for 15 minutes.
“Because it’s light and portable, it’s like a big flying grenade”said Chi Li-pin, head of the institute’s Aviation Systems Research division. The apparatus is similar to the US-made Switchblade 300 used by Ukrainian soldiers.
“It is effective for attacking targets close to our shores”Chi added, noting that its maximum flight capability is 10km.
Taiwan’s 23.5 million people live under the constant threat of invasion from China, which considers the democratically ruled island part of its territory and has vowed to one day take it, even by force.
Threats from Beijing have intensified in recent years under President Xi Jinping and some forecasts date the possible Chinese invasion to the next few months.
Taiwan is also developing the next generation of strike drones, Chi said, including versions that can be used for long-range strikes.
Yesterday, he exhibited these military developments in the midst of an escalation that every day sees intrusions of warplanes and small ships into the limits of the Taiwan Strait.
Without going far in time, just one day before the presentation of the drone there were 28 aircraft and 4 ships who turned on the lights of alamar in the village.
Honduras begins relations with China and Taiwan questions it
In this context, Taiwan received bad news in diplomatic terms yesterday when the President of Honduras, Xiomara Castro, announced that he will try to establish diplomatic relations with China, which would imply a break with the government of the Democratic Republic of China (ROC). , official name of Taiwan.
The president stressed on her Twitter account that she had instructed Foreign Minister Eduardo Reina to start negotiations and added that by doing so she seeks “expand the borders with freedom in the concert of the nations of the world”.
Honduras was one of the few countries maintaining diplomatic relations with Taiwan and Castro’s announcement represents a change of position.
If the announcement is made, only 13 countries worldwide will recognize the Taiwanese government: Belize, Guatemala, Haiti, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Vatican, Swaziland, Tuvalu and Paraguay.
Following Xiomara Castro’s warning, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan has expressed to the Government of Honduras its “serious concern” before the announcement that the Central American country intends to establish diplomatic relations with China and the Taiwanese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alexander Yuithe Honduran ambassador to Taipei, Harold Burgos, summoned this Wednesday to convey Taiwan’s concerns on the matter.
In a statement, the Taiwanese Foreign Ministry assured that it would not consider breaking off relations with Honduras before President Castro’s announcement and would remain open to dialogue with that “allied” country.
Taipei is”a true friend and partner who has assisted Honduras for decades“, underlines the note.
Moreover, it warns him Beijing makes ‘false promises’ to Taiwan’s allies with the sole intention of reducing the international presence of the island.
“Our government has asked its Honduran counterpart to consider the situation carefully and not fall into China’s trap of making a wrong decision that would jeopardize our decades-long bilateral friendship,” the statement added.
For its part, the Chinese government has welcomed the declaration of the president of Honduras Xiomara Castro on his intention to establish diplomatic relations with the Asian giant.
“China is willing to develop friendly relations with other countries, including Honduras, based on the ‘One China’ principle,” Chinese foreign affairs spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a news conference on Thursday.
“The fact that 181 countries have established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the ‘one China’ principle shows that this is a right and up-to-date choice,” he added.
Source: agencies
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.