BEIJING: China successfully launched its Fengyun 3G weather satellite on Sunday amidst heightened tensions with Taiwan. The launch, which was conducted by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, took place at 9:36 a.m. local time from the northwestern province of Gansu. The satellite was placed in a low-earth orbit and is designed to track rainfall.
The launch took place despite the imposition of a no-fly zone by China to the north of Taiwan. Taiwan’s transport ministry confirmed that Beijing had initially informed Taipei of the no-fly zone from Sunday to Tuesday.
However, after Taiwan protested, China reduced the period to just 27 minutes on Sunday morning. The announcement of the no-fly zone came after China conducted new war games around Taiwan, which Beijing regards as a part of its sovereign territory.
The Long March 4B rocket carrying the satellite did not disclose its flight path, but it coincided with China’s previous announcement about the no-fly zone. Taiwan’s defence ministry confirmed that some debris from the rocket launch fell into the warning zone off the island’s northern coast. However, this did not pose any threat to Taiwan’s territorial safety.
China reroutes civilian flights to avoid no-fly zone over Taiwan
Several civilian flights between Taiwan and China, Taiwan and South Korea, and Taiwan and Japan were rerouted to avoid the no-fly zone. Flights resumed their normal paths shortly after 10 a.m. local time.
During the one-hour period starting from 9 a.m. local time, 33 flights had to alter their routes, adding an extra five to ten minutes of flying time, according to Taiwan’s Civil Aeronautics Administration.
China has dismissed what it has called hype around its space activities and an attempt to escalate confrontation across the Taiwan Strait. Nevertheless, the no-fly zone and war games around Taiwan have raised concerns in the region, with several countries urging restraint and peaceful resolution of disputes.
The launch of the Fengyun 3G weather satellite comes as China seeks to enhance its space capabilities and become a major player in the global space race. The country has made significant progress in recent years, with successful missions to the moon and Mars.
