A warplane of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) takes off during joint combat training exercises around the Taiwan Island, Aug. 7, 2022.Photo:Xinhua

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in Taiwan island reportedly began a series of live-fire missile tests starting on Thursday, with an E-8C command aircraft of the US military reportedly flying over the Bashi Channel before the tests, a move Taiwan-based media claimed was a "deterrent" to the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). However, Chinese mainland military experts said that the remarks were ignorant, as neither the island's missiles nor the US aircraft pose credible threats to the PLA.

According to Taiwan-based media outlet udn.com, citing observers, the US Air Force's E-8C Joint STARS flew over the Bashi Channel on Wednesday, the day before the Taiwan authorities' planned missile test-firings with the highest trajectory altitude of "infinity" starting from Thursday to August 26, as well as on September 7 and 8. The media outlet said the authorities didn't disclose more detailed information.

The E-8C Joint STARS is the US Air Force's primary platform for battle management and tracking of ground targets. It can be used to detect relevant military targets of the PLA, whether on the ground, in the air or at sea. It is an important part of the entire US reconnaissance system, Song Zhongping, a Chinese mainland military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Thursday.

But Taiwan media outlets are ignorant to believe the US aircraft can deter the PLA, as the PLA has already dealt with many US reconnaissance aircraft like it, Song said.

The US has its own considerations as it might want to collect some reconnaissance data during the tests, and potentially protect the secrets of US weapons and equipment it has provided to the island of Taiwan as well, according to Song. The US aircraft could also assume control of Taiwan's armed forces if a conflict breaks out, he said.

The DPP authorities' action of test-firing missiles was aimed at delivering a "show" to the island's residents, as they have spent a lot of money to purchase weapons, Song believed.

In response to the moves by DPP authorities, the PLA should be prepared in raising the reconnaissance intensity on the island as well as enhancing regular military drills, according to Song.

Taiwan's defense authorities said on its Twitter that as of 5 pm on Thursday, 51 PLA aircraft and six PLA vessels had been detected in the surrounding regions of the Taiwan island.

As pointed out in the white paper titled "The Taiwan Question and China's Reunification in the New Era" released on August 10, Taiwan belongs to all the Chinese people, including the 23 million Taiwan compatriots. "Relying on external forces will achieve nothing for Taiwan's separatists, and using Taiwan to contain China is doomed to fail."