13 people including CDS Rawat and his wife Madhulika died in an Air Force helicopter crash in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. The whole country is shocked by this incident. The mortal remains of General Rawat, his wife and others have reached Delhi. Experts and experts are giving their opinion regarding this accident. In this case, Brahma Chelani, an expert on international security and arms control issues, also made a tweet, after which Chinese media Global Times got angry and said that America was behind this crash.
What Brahma Chelani tweeted?
Professor Brahma Chelani had made several tweets regarding the helicopter crash of CDS Rawat. Through his tweets, he pointed out similarities in the helicopter crash of CDS Rawat and Taiwan’s Chief of General Staff Shen Yi Ming. Seven people, including Shen Yi Ming, were killed in this accident in 2002. Chinese media Global Times got furious after General Rawat described the incident of helicopter crash as similar to the helicopter crash of Taiwan’s General Chief.
Who was Shen Yi-Ming?
January 2 last year, Taiwan’s top military chief was killed in a helicopter crash. According to the Defense Ministry statement then, the incident happened a few days before the election of the new President. The 62-year-old general and his crew were on a routine mission to meet soldiers in north-eastern Yilan County when the incident occurred. Shen Yi-Ming was considered an excellent ‘commander’ who helped increase the country’s air power.
Shen Tried to modernize the Air Force
62-year-old Shen had served as Taiwan’s Air Force Chief and Deputy Defense Minister before being appointed as Chief of the General Staff. They attempted to modernize the island’s air force with plans to upgrade their fighter jets and purchase state-of-the-art F-16V aircraft from the UAS. He participated in a covert mission to Yemen as the Chief of Air Staff and later played a key role in strengthening the fighter jet fleet.
Shen was increasing Taiwan’s military power because China claims self-ruled Taiwan and threatens to use force. Taiwan says it will not succumb to pressure from China. However, the self-declared name of the island is ‘Republic of China’ which was given by its rulers.
China does not want any foreign interference
The US sells military equipment to Taiwan to protect it, including the Black Hawk helicopter. The Obama administration approved the sale of 60 Black Hawks to Taiwan in 2010 as part of a $6.4 billion arms deal. In response, China temporarily severed some military ties with the US. The conflict between Taiwan with the US has been going on since 1996. China does not want any foreign interference in the Taiwan issue.
Why does China claim Taiwan?
China was ruled by the Qing dynasty in 1644. Taiwan was then a part of China. In 1895, China ceded Taiwan to Japan. It is said that the dispute started from here in 1949. During the civil war in China, the Communists led by Mao Zedong defeated the nationalist Comingtang Party led by Chiang Kai-shek. After the defeat, the Comingtang Party reached Taiwan and formed its government there. Meanwhile, when Japan was defeated in World War II, it handed over control of Taiwan to Comingtang. The dispute began over whether the Communists had a right over Taiwan when they had won.
While the Comingtang argued that they had lost in parts of China, they were the only ones representing China from official Russia, so they had a right over Taiwan. China wants to regain control of this strategically and symbolically important island. Chinese President Xi Jinping strongly advocates the reunification of Taiwan and China. However, Taiwan considers itself a sovereign nation.
