Military Affairs

Paratrooper uninjured after entangling in ropes and landing on road

composite image showing paratroopers jumping and landing
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

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

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

composite image of Y-20U and Taiwan ADIZ incursions
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

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

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

US Navy secretary Carlos Del Toro
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 3 Comments ,

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

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

map of Taiwan missile defenses
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

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

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

PLA H-6 bomber shadowed by ROC Airforce F-16
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 3 Comments , , ,

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

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

F-16 nose down off runway Pingtung Air Base
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

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

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US Navy, Coast Guard cross-transit Taiwan Strait

US navy and coast guard vessels pass each other in the Taiwan Strait
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

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

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

F-16V involved in cockpit canopy incident
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

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

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

Chinese J-11 fighter jet.
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

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

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Mirage fighter slips off runway after aborting takeoff

Mirage 2000 Taiwan ROC Air Force
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

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

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Body of fighter pilot found 27 days after crash

body of missing pilot found on rocks in intertidal zone
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

The remains of a pilot who was missing for 27 days after the collision and crash of two air force F-5E fighter jets were found just 100 meters from Nanren Fishing Port in Pingtung County this morning, April 18. Captain Pan Ying-chun (潘穎諄) was one of two pilots who ejected after the two planes collided during a change in formation off the coast of Pingtung County, March 22. See previous story: One fighter pilot dead, one missing after mid-air collision

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