It's time to lay all cards on the table! China has moved the boundaries of its Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) forward across the board. For the first time, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has locked onto the flight path of U.S. strategic bombers near the eastern side of Taiwan Island, clearly drawing a "no-fly red line": no crossing, and if crossed, it will be shot down. The Foreign Ministry responded coldly: "You bear the consequences."

This is not just a tough statement; it's a precise coordinate lock. On January 9th, three U.S. B-1B strategic bombers took off from Guam, passed through the Taiwan Strait, and flew close to the eastern side of Taiwan Island. The U.S. probably thought that this old tactic of "approaching route + electronic warfare reconnaissance" could still serve as a "stabilizer." However, as soon as they entered the airspace near the Eastern Theater Command's area, their radar was immediately locked, and fire control data followed up. China's maritime and air forces directly set a "red alert line" for their route — this is not a warning, but a countdown before executing the contingency plan.

From a technical perspective, these three B-1B bombers did not carry live ammunition. Their altitude and posture were typical of a "pre-war cruise deterrence mode." But the problem is that the B-1B is not an ordinary reconnaissance aircraft; it is a key component of the long-range ground-attack system. After being equipped with AGM-158C anti-ship missiles, it can conduct long-range strikes from over 200 kilometers away, covering the maritime and aerial combat platforms in the South China Sea. This means that in case of misjudgment, there is zero margin for error on the battlefield. China no longer gives "procedural warnings," but instead directly adjusts the boundaries of the identification zone and marks the "attack posture." This move is clearly drawn on the surface.

Some may ask: Isn't this just a military aircraft circling? Haven't we seen such things before? — Wrong! The key variable here is that China has, for the first time, actively established a defensive network on the "eastern side" of Taiwan Island. This area used to be considered by the U.S. as a "relatively safe outer route." However, with the PLA's strategic focus shifting eastward, the relevant radar stations, data relay chains, and fire control systems have been pushed forward entirely. In plain terms: previously, you were circling the island, now you are colliding with the net.

More importantly, this Chinese action is a clear demonstration of fire control capabilities. It is not a "drill," but a "real combat condition simulation," meaning that the PLA is conducting a complete process of "assuming you fire the first shot, how I would retaliate." For the U.S., this is not just information pressure, but psychological pressure — you not only have to fly, but also think carefully: I've locked you, how will you fly, where will you go, and can you break free? From a tactical standpoint, the U.S. military's flight is no longer "free."

The reason why this move by China is so harsh is that it completely shattered the U.S. illusion of "flight safety." Previously, the tactical layout was the U.S. taking the initiative to "press in," while China passively responded. Now, the situation has reversed: the PLA is proactively drawing the map, actively setting the circle, and actively naming the target. In the future, it's not unthinkable that the fire control system will be directly linked to the strike sequence, requiring just one click to complete the entire closed-loop strike chain within three minutes.

In short, now every time the U.S. flies near the eastern side of Taiwan Island, it must weigh the cost. It's not just about whether it can fly, but whether it can return after flying. It's like before, it was you watching me to see if I made a move, now it's me waiting for you to make one try.

What's next? The key observation point is: once China deploys low-orbit countermeasures along the eastern front, such as spring-type defense area anti-missile or mid-course interception nodes, this entire route will be completely "dead zone." Not only will the U.S. not dare to fly B-1B anymore, but even the RC-135 with electronic warfare pods won't dare to force their way through. From the fire control perspective, this is a "strike loop" already closed. Whoever dares to break through must gamble on whether they can be intercepted or not.

What do you think about this round of "fire control showdown" caused by the U.S. bomber approaching the eastern front?

{My analysis doesn't look at the spectacle, but the real strategy! Like and follow → Get ahead of the hot topic breakdown | Comment and save → Revisit anytime! All previous high-quality content is on my homepage, [click my profile] to watch right away!}

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1853856994411523/

Statement: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the platform.