China's Y-8 Aircraft Is Back Near Taiwan Two Months After Alleged Crash

Two months after it suffered a fatal crash in the South China Sea, China's most advanced Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft is back to business. The Chinese state media has announced that the Y-8 has been deployed near Taiwan for maritime patrol duties from Tuesday.

PLA Y-8 anti-submarine warfare aircraft entered Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) Tuesday and Wednesday, flying between the island of Taiwan and Taiwan-administered Pratas Islands, reported Chinese-state backed Global Times, quoting Taiwan's Ministry Of Defense.

The report, quoting unnamed military observers, added that the presence of the aircraft hinted that the Y-8 was "well prepared to carry out missions, at a time when external forces have been provocatively sending warships and submarines to the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea."

This was probably the second time a Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft was reported by Taiwan since March, after it allegedly came down in the disputed waters in March.

Though Global Times has brushed aside the crash as "speculation," Taiwan’s intelligence authorities confirmed the incident, claiming the PLA announced navigation restrictions in the adjacent waters to carry out search and rescue operations in the name of "military training."

A month later, an aviation regiment attached to the PLA Southern Theater Command Navy reportedly organized flight training for the Y-8 anti-submarine warfare aircraft, which according to analysts is "another sign that the aircraft is indeed active."

According to Chinese military aviation expert Fu Qianshao, more Y-8s are expected to appear near the island of Taiwan in the future. "The PLA is commissioning more Y-8 anti-submarine warfare aircraft, and patrols and drills by this type of aircraft have become routine," Fu told Global Times.

Military analysts consider Y-8s to be one of the most important aircraft with the PLA, and is used for military and commercial operations." It has many variants and the Y-8 geophysical survey aircraft features a magnetic anomaly detector in the tail section for identifying mines, while the Y-8 gunship is a target acquisition aircraft equipped with three heavy machine guns and two heavy cannons.

Not only is it used for transporting troops, dropping supplies, and functioning as an air ambulance but is also capable of operating in all weather conditions. The highlight is that it can take off and land on unprepared airstrips or runways, including grass, snow and mud.