Navy takes delivery of two more rapid mine-laying ships, increasing asymmetric combat power

rapid mine-laying boat docking at Su'ao Harbor

December 17, 2021December 17, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment defense, navy, ROC Navy

Taiwan’s ROC Navy officially took delivery of two rapid mine-laying ships at a ceremony yesterday, December 16, marking an upgrade in national defense research and development, and the improvement of naval mine-laying capability. The two vessels, FMLB-2 and FMLB-3 are the second and third of four rapid mine-laying ships to be built by domestic shipbuilder Lungteh Shipbuilding. The first of the tentatively-named “Minjiang” Class mine-laying ships was launched August 4, 2020. According to the Ministry of National Defense, the ships

composite image showing paratroopers jumping and landing

Military Affairs

December 15, 2021December 15, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment army, aviation, parachutists

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense today said that a paratrooper who landed bodily on a public road adjacent to a landing field after becoming entangled in his parachute cords, Monday, had not been injured in the incident. The official military statement said that the soldier was properly qualified, there was no problem with the standard operating procedures, and although landing on the asphalt road was “not ideal,” the soldier was not injured. Members of the public watching the aerial activities

composite image of Y-20U and Taiwan ADIZ incursions

Military Affairs

November 28, 2021November 28, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment air-force, defense, PLA

A recently developed aircraft designed to extend the range China’s air combat forces was detected flying in airspace southwest of Taiwan today, November 28. The Y-20U aerial tanker was one of 27 aircraft to draw a response from Taiwan’s air defence forces by flying into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) today. Fifteen of the sorties continued through the Bashi Channel to into airspace over the Philippine Sea southeast of Taiwan. According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, among the

Military Affairs

October 8, 2021October 8, 2021 Phillip Charlier 3 Comments geo-strategy, US-navy

US Navy secretary Carlos Del Toro provided a preview of his new strategic guidance earlier this week and revealed that one aim is to deter China from invading Taiwan, reported Defense News. Del Toro previewed the new strategic guidance during a lecture at the U.S. Naval Academy Tuesday night, October 5. “The desired goal, quite frankly, is not to fight China. No one wants to enter into a conflict. … It’s our ultimate responsibility to deter them from what they’re

Military Affairs

October 6, 2021October 6, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment China expansionism, defense, ministry of defense

As of October 5, Chinese military planes had flown 600 sorties into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone since the beginning of the year, up from a total of 380 in 2020, the Ministry of National Defense told lawmakers in Taiwan’s parliamentary body, the Legislative Yuan, yesterday. The MND revealed the information in a report ahead of deliberations today, October 6, by the Legislative Yuan’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee on a draft sea and air combat power enhancement special

PLA H-6 bomber shadowed by ROC Airforce F-16

Military Affairs

October 3, 2021October 3, 2021 Phillip Charlier 3 Comments air-force, China expansionism, defense, PLA

China sent 39 military aircraft into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone Saturday, October 2, one more than the previous record set just one day earlier. Ministry of National Defense officials said Saturday evening that the PLA Air Force had flown 20 sorties, including 14 J-16 fighters, 4 Sukai-30 fighters, and 2 Yun-8 anti-submarine aircraft into the southwest section of Taiwan’s ADIZ during the day. At midnight, the MND announced that a further 19 sorties had been flown after nightfall, including

F-16 nose down off runway Pingtung Air Base

Military Affairs

August 31, 2021August 31, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment air-force, aviation-accident, f-16

An air force F-16 fighter aircraft left the runway, and ended up nose-down at Pingtung Air Base this morning, according to reports today, Tuesday, August 31. Pilots were rehearsing for the upcoming Han Kuang military exercises when the fighter jet overran the runway after landing at around 6:30 am. Witnesses reported seeing several firetrucks and ambulances rush to the scene of the incident. The Ministry of National Defense said that the pilot is uninjured but has been sent to hospital

US navy and coast guard vessels pass each other in the Taiwan Strait

Military Affairs

August 28, 2021August 28, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment coast guard, Taiwan Strait, US-navy

A US Navy warship, and a US Coast Guard vessel transited the Taiwan Strait simultaneously, but in opposite directions yesterday, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense confirmed today, August 28. The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100) and legend-class U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter Munro (WMSL 755) conducted routine Taiwan Strait transits Aug. 27 (local time) through international waters in accordance with international law, US Naval Institute reported. The US Navy ship’s transit marked the eighth passage by

F-16V involved in cockpit canopy incident

Military Affairs

August 12, 2021August 12, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment air-force, aviation, f-16

A pilot was forced to make an emergency landing yesterday after the cockpit canopy flew of an air force F-16V, and an investigation into the incident is moving in the direction of human negligence, according to a senior air force official. The F-16 was one of four fighters to take off from Chiayi Air Force Base on a routine training mission at 7:29 am yesterday, August 11. However, shortly after the aircraft’s wheels left the tarmac, the cockpit canopy suddenly

Military Affairs

June 15, 2021June 15, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment air-force, China expansionism, PLA, Taiwan Strait

The People’s Republic of China made 28 military aircraft incursions into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) today, June 15, a record number that follows an ‘unprecedented’ communique from the Group of Seven that highlighted the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait just two days ago. The G7 communique issued June 13 reiterated the importance of maintaining a free and open Indo Pacific, and mentioning Taiwan for the first time in the group’s history, stated “We underscore

Military Affairs

June 3, 2021June 3, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment air-force, Ching Chuan Kang Air Base, mirage2000

A Mirage 2000 fighter jet left the runway after the pilot aborted takeoff due to a malfunction warning light at Taichung Ching Chuan Kang Air Base this afternoon, and both pilot and aircraft are reported safe. Air Force Command confirmed by press release earlier this evening that a Mirage 2000-5 single-seater fighter performing a routine combat training mission was scheduled to take off at 2:00 pm, but when accelerating on the runway, a malfunction warning light suddenly lit up. The

Military Affairs

Navy takes delivery of two more rapid mine-laying ships, increasing asymmetric combat power

Paratrooper uninjured after entangling in ropes and landing on road

Chinese air force’s new aerial tanker seen flying in Taiwan ADIZ for first time

Newest US Navy strategic guidance aims at deterring China from invading Taiwan

China’s gray war tactics seriously affect Taiwan’s security: MND report

China intensifies gray-zone warfare with record-breaking 39 flights into Taiwan defence zone in single day

F-16 slips off runway on landing at Pingtung Air Base

US Navy, Coast Guard cross-transit Taiwan Strait

F-16 makes emergency landing after canopy flies off: suspected human error

China sends record 28 military flights into Taiwan ADIZ in one day: a response to G7 summit statement?

Mirage fighter slips off runway after aborting takeoff