Military Affairs

Navy sailor jumps ship off northern Taiwan, swims to shore

Cheng Gong class missile frigate ROCN Ming Chuan
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Military police are questioning a Taiwanese navy sailor after he jumped off his ship as it left the Port of Keelung last night, and swam to shore. Keelung Port police received a report from a security guard at Taiwan Ship Building Company on Heping Island at around 1:30 am this morning, June 17, saying that an unidentified man was seeking help after landing on shore wearing a life jacket. Police and ambulance personnel took the man to hospital for a

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Chinese man arrives in Taipei on a speedboat, sparking security concerns

coast guard officers on board speedboat
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment , , , ,

An investigation has been launched into the possible dereliction of duty of coast guard and naval personnel after a Chinese man in a speedboat breached an “Iron Defense Triangle,” and landed at the mouth of the river that leads to the nation’s capital. According to reports, coast guard officers arrested a Chinese national at Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf following reports that a speedboat had collided with a ferry as it was berthing at around 11:00 am, yesterday, June 9. Taiwan’s National

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China launches military drill around Taiwan as punishment for electing pro-independence President

PLA military drill map
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

China launched a major military drill in waters surrounding Taiwan this morning as “a strong punishment” against “Taiwan independence forces” three days after the inauguration of Taiwan’s new President, William Lai. The Chinese Communist Party People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command announced that it will start joint exercises around Taiwan at 7:45 am today, May 23. The exercise areas include the Taiwan Strait, Kinmen Island, Matsu Island, Wuqiu Island, Dongyin Island, and sea areas north, south, and east of Taiwan.

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US Navy ship conducts routine transit of Taiwan Strait

USS Halsey Taiwan Strait transit
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

A US Navy destroyer sailed through international waters in the Taiwan Strait yesterday, May 8, and China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) accused the US of “hype and provocation.” According to a press release by the US 7th Fleet Public Affairs, the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97) conducted a routine transit through international waters “through a corridor in the Strait that is beyond the territorial sea of any coastal state,” Wednesday. “Halsey’s transit through the Taiwan Strait

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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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