A video released by the PLA's Eastern Theatre Command during the “Justice Mission 2025” joint military exercises shows a J-20 fighter flying near a landscape resembling Taiwan's Pingtung airbase in the south, sparking debate. Some observers say the background matches the Pingtung area, but analysts are sceptical. Former Taiwanese navy lieutenant commander Lu Li-shih shared a comparison image on social media, exclaiming “J-20 fighter jets in Pingtung!”
The PLA's Eastern Theatre Command released the video on Tuesday, the second day of the “Justice Mission 2025” joint military exercises around Taiwan. It shows a J-20 fighter flying near an unidentified landscape that some observers say resembles the area surrounding the Pingtung airbase in southern Taiwan. Pingtung county hosts many of Taiwan’s critical military installations, including the Jiupeng base, Taiwan’s primary missile and rocket research and testing facility, as well as the Joint Operations Training Base Command, the mechanised infantry brigade barracks, and the Dahanshan radar station, which provides early warning.
Former Taiwanese navy lieutenant commander Lu Li-shih posted a picture on social media on Wednesday, comparing a screenshot from the PLA video with the Pingtung area. “J-20 fighter jets in Pingtung!” he wrote.
However, some analysts are sceptical about whether the footage truly depicts a J-20 approaching the Pingtung base. They note that landscape similarities do not necessarily confirm an actual incursion into Taiwanese airspace. The exercises are taking place around Taiwan to demonstrate China's sovereignty claims, but the video's specifics remain unverified.
Pingtung's military significance lies in its strategic location near the Taiwan Strait. This incident highlights the ongoing tensions in the region, though the authenticity of the approach is debated.