ABSTRACT
According to the recent Republic of China (ROC) Defense White Paper 2002, the downsized Taiwan Air Force (ROCAF) “shall defend the airspace over land, territorial water, and protect the (nation’s) sovereignty, together with Army and Navy through joint operations.” To protect the national sovereignty, the ROCAF has to flex its muscles to cover the disputed islets of Senkaku Retto and Spratly, though the latter is too far away to be covered from the air. The more practical mission for ROCAF, therefore, is to protect Taiwan’s airspace – Taiwan-ADIZ (21N to 27N and 117.5E to 123E)1 – and to acquire and retain air superiority therein during times of crisis.
