Military Affairs

Taiwan air force to increase late night flight training to counter CCP aggression

F16V of Taiwan air force on night mission
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , , ,

Taiwan’s air force apologized to the public as it announced that it would conduct late-night flight training to counter the increasing threat level posed by the Chinese military in Taiwan’s air and sea space. In a press release issued yesterday evening, March 5, Air Force Command said that it would comply with instructions from the Ministry of National Defense (MND) to increase nighttime combat skills and tactical execution experience for pilots of various types of aircraft to enhance preparedness and

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Taiwan Navy releases details of submarine accident: search for 3 missing sailors continues

Submaring 794 "Hai Hu" of Taiwan Navy
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment , ,

Taiwan navy officials revealed details of the events leading to six crew members falling overboard from the deck of a submarine, December 21, as a search for three of the crew who remain missing entered the sixth day, today, Tuesday, December 26. Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Wu Li-ping said at a press briefing today that the crew of the Hai Hu (Sea Tiger) submarine were on a training mission in waters off the southwestern coast of Taiwan, December

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US, Canadian warships exercise in the South China Sea following Taiwan Strait transit

small boat operations in the South China Sea
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

Ships from the US and Canadian navies are currently conducting joint exercises in the South China Sea after passing through the Taiwan Strait four days ago, according to a press release by the US Navy. The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson (DDG114) is operating alongside the Royal Canadian Navy’s HMCS Ottawa (FFH 341) as part of an exercise dubbed “Noble Wolverine.” The exercise is described as a wide-ranging exercise involving sustained Surface Action Group operations intended to

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“Hold your own elections, don’t interfere with ours,” foreign minister tells Beijing as Chinese military launches combat drills around Taiwan

composite image showing Chinese fighter aircraft and naval vessel
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , , ,

Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu accused Beijing of trying to interfere with an upcoming national election in Taiwan, after the Chinese military launched military exercises in sea and airspace around the island nation today, August 19. China’s People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command announced the drills on the PLA’s official Weibo account this morning, saying that it was carrying out joint naval and air combat readiness patrols around Taiwan focusing on ship-aircraft coordination to test seizing control of

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Mortar blast at ammunition depot leaves 9 soldiers injured, two seriously

paramedic attends to injured soldiers at ammunition depot with live mortar rounds still scattered on the ground
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , , ,

Nine soldiers were injured, two seriously, when a mortar round exploded while being handled at an army ammunition depot in northern Taiwan today, July 24. According to a press statement by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, a 120 mm mortar round exploded during an inspection by technical personnel at the Hsiang Feng army base in Keelung City at around 3:00 pm. Fire Department paramedics risked their own lives to attend to the two seriously injured soldiers, who lay beside several

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Russian warships appear off Taiwan’s east coast

Russian navy frigate off east coast of Taiwan
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment ,

Two Russian navy ships were seen just 26 nautical miles from Taiwan’s east coast yesterday, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense confirmed last night. Fisherman reported seeing the two Russian frigates while working east of Dong’ao in Yilan County yesterday. It is quite rare for Russian ships to appear in the area, especially so close to Taiwan’s 24-mile contiguous zone. The Ministry of National Defense confirmed the reports, saying the the ships sailed north to south and left Taiwan’s response area

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Taiwan flags Chinese civilian car carriers as threat to national security

roll-on/roll-off ship with ramp on dock
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , , , ,

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense is cooperating with the National Coast Guard Administration and National Police Agency to jointly monitor the movements of Chinese commercial car carriers docking in Taiwan, and vehicle ferries operating in and around the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan’s top military intelligence unit, the National Security Bureau, reported to the Legislative Yuan May 23 on the potential risks of the roll-on/roll-off ships to Taiwan’s security, saying that the MND is cooperating with the coast guard and police to

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Japan deploys Patriot III anti-aircraft missiles on islands close to Taiwan

composite picture showing map of Taiwan and Japanese islands in the Miyako Strait
Military Affairs Regional 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

Japan will deploy Patriot III anti-aircraft missiles on Yonaguni Island, just 111 kilometers from Taiwan’s east coast, purportedly in response to North Korea’s long-range ballistic missiles, according to reports in Japanese media outlets today, Monday, May 8. Major Japanese media outlet Jiji Press reported that Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno announced today that the Japan Air Self-Defense Force will deploy Patriot III (PAC-3) anti-aircraft missiles at the Air Self-Defense Miyako Base in Miyakojima City, Okinawa Prefecture. In addition, PAC-3 missiles

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Taiwan may convert retired fighter jets into drones

Taiwan air force F-5
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Taiwan’s defense industry is considering converting its aging F-5 fleet into Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) as constant provocations by the Chinese military puts pressure on air force manpower, it was revealed in Taiwan’s legislature today. Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng met with the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee of the Legislative Yuan today, May 4, to report on a range of issues, including the Naval and Air Combat Power Enhancement Plan and F-16V(Block 70) procurement progress. Democratic

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“The new normal:” Chinese drone circles Taiwan for second time in a week

composite image showing BZK-005 uav and flight path around Taiwan
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , , ,

The Chinese military flew a drone around Taiwan yesterday, May 2, just six days after it made the first encirclement using a bomber drone on April 27, rapidly escalating the maneuver from unprecedented to “new normal.” According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, a People’s Liberation Army Air Force BZK-005 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flew eastwards from the Chinese coast, crossing the center line of the Taiwan Strait in the north, then passing between Yonaguni Island, Japan, and Taiwan’s east

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New level of threat-posture: Chinese jumbo bomber drone flies around Taiwan for the first time

composite image showing Chinese TB-001 drone and flight path around Taiwan
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense reported that in the 24 hours up to 6:00 am this morning, April 28, a total of 38 sorties by Chinese military aircraft were recorded in Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone, including 19 that crossed the center line of the Taiwan Strait, and one that completely encircled Taiwan. A TB-001 UAV flew via the Bashi Channel, south of the island, and traveled north, returning to China via the Miyako Strait in what appears to be

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