Taiwan flags Chinese civilian car carriers as threat to national security

May 25, 2023May 25, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment China expansionism, coast guard, defense, navy, PLA, Taiwan Strait

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

composite picture showing map of Taiwan and Japanese islands in the Miyako Strait

Military Affairs Regional

May 8, 2023May 8, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Japan, Miyako Strait, Patriot III missile, Yonaguni Island

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

Military Affairs

May 4, 2023May 4, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment air-force, UAV

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

composite image showing BZK-005 uav and flight path around Taiwan

Military Affairs

May 3, 2023May 3, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment China expansionism, drone, ministry of defense, PLA, UAV

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

composite image showing Chinese TB-001 drone and flight path around Taiwan

Military Affairs

April 28, 2023April 28, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment China expansionism, defense, UAV, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

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

Military Affairs

April 19, 2023April 19, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment army, Hsinchu City, military exercises, military march, ROC military

Members of Taiwan’s reserve military force embarked on a 10 kilometer march in Hsinchu City today as part of a 14-day refresher training course designed to keep them up to date and physical ready should they be needed for disaster relief or defense of the country. Hsinchu City Mayor Kao Hung-an paid tribute to the soldiers today, expressing gratitude for their service and providing refreshments for the troops. Mayor Kao said that in order to maintain peace and stability across

mobile missile launchers in southern Taiwan

Military Affairs

April 10, 2023April 10, 2023 Phillip Charlier 1 Comment China expansionism, military exercises, ROC Marines, ROC military, ROC Navy

Tourists visiting a popular scenic spot on Hengchun Peninsula in southern Taiwan’s Pingtung County today were confronted with a large mobile missile unit deployed in the carpark, as Taiwan’s military responded to Chinese air and sea maneuvers around the island. According to media reports, the anti-ship missiles were deployed at the location yesterday evening, April 9, and in the past have only been deployed on military bases and military training grounds. The fact that the missiles are deployed in such

Taiwan military anti-aircraft gun juxtaposed with 101 building, Xinyi District, Taipei City

Military Affairs

April 9, 2023April 10, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment China expansionism, chinesenavy, PLA, ROC Navy

Taiwan’s military forces are on the alert and actively responding to provocative actions by the Chinese military as China lays siege to the island in a “rehearsal” for an encirclement and possible invasion of the island nation, but no international friends have come forward in any significant way to deter the aggressive act. On the first day of a three-day exercise dubbed “United Sword” by People’s Republic of China, Chinese warships and aircraft crossed the once-respected center line of the

composite image showing army troops on shore and naval vessel during military exercise

Military Affairs

March 9, 2023March 9, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment army, military exercises, ROC Navy, Taoyuan City

A Taiwan ROC Navy Tank landing ship maneuvered close to a beach in Taoyuan City identified as a key strategic landing beach if the PLA were to launch an invasion, during joint army-navy combat drills yesterday, March 8. Zhuwei Beach, adjacent to Zhuwei Fishing Port, is one of 14 beaches labeled as “red beaches” in Ian Easton’s 2017 book, The Chinese Invasion Threat: Taiwan’s Defense and American Strategy in Asia. The beaches mentioned in Easton’s book include Jinshan (North), Jinshan

early warning aircraft after emergency belly landing

Military Affairs

November 25, 2022November 25, 2022 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment air-force, aviation-accident, emergency landing, Pingtung County

All crew members are safe after an emergency belly-landing of E-2K early warning aircraft in Pingtung County this morning, November 25, Taiwan’s Air Force Command said in a press release. According to reports, the E-2K belonging to the Early Warning Aircraft 2nd Squadron of the Electronic Warfare Brigade departed at 9:50 am on a routine training mission. When preparing to land shortly after 11:00 am, an abnormality in the landing gear was reported. Flight officer, Major Chang Wei-ye, landed the

Military Affairs

October 7, 2022October 7, 2022 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment China expansionism, defense, Lee Hsi-ming, ROC military

Taiwan’s former defence chief (Chief of General Staff), Admiral Lee Hsi-ming, said that if Taiwan had a civilian territorial defence force it would make the Chinese Communist Party think twice about launching an invasion of the country, citing the example of Ukraine, in an interview with Liberty Times Network today, October 7. Lee, who currently serves as a senior research fellow of the Washington-based Project 2049 Institute, said that Russia invaded Ukraine in February this year, and Russian troops in

Military Affairs

Taiwan flags Chinese civilian car carriers as threat to national security

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

Taiwan may convert retired fighter jets into drones

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

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

Military reservists on 14-day refresher training course amid rising threats

Tourist hotspot transformed into missile launch pad as Taiwan counters Chinese military threat

What response as Chinese military surrounds and harasses Taiwan?

Army, Navy joint military exercises at key strategic beach on Taiwan’s northwest coast

Air Force plane makes emergency belly landing in southern Taiwan

Former defence chief touts civilian defence force: Ukraine’s will to resist the enemy a lesson for Taiwan