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

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

International

April 26, 2023April 26, 2023 Phillip Charlier 1 Comment

The Republican Party released a video advertisement yesterday featuring AI-generated images of a Chinese attack on Taipei City, along with scenes of economic and social disaster, warning Americans against voting for the Joe Biden in the next presidential election. The ad, titled “Beat Biden,” opens with images of a victorious Biden and Kamala Harris, and the question “What if the weakest President we’ve ever had were re-elected?” The scene then cuts to images of a Chinese warplane, and Taipei 101

Aviation

April 26, 2023April 26, 2023 Phillip Charlier 1 Comment bomb threat

A China Air passenger plane landed at Taoyuan International Airport this morning, but remained parked on taxiway after airport administrators received a report that explosives were aboard the aircraft today, Wednesday, April 26. China Air flight CA185 departed Beijing at 8:25 am and was scheduled to land at Taoyuan International Airport at 11:45 am. However, at around 11:00 am the Taoyuan Airport Company received a report that there was a bomb on the plane. The airport company informed the Aviation

Fire

April 25, 2023April 25, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Changhua County, factory fire

Seven people died and three are critically injured after a fire at a food company factory in Changhua County this morning, Tuesday, April 25. The Changhua County Fire Department received a report of a fire at the Lian Hwa Foods factory in Beidou Township at 6:45 am. The fire department dispatched 31 fire trucks, 21 ambulances, and a total of 106 personnel from fire stations in Beidou, Erlin, Xizhou, Yuanlin, and other districts. Firefighters deployed water lines and the fire

train driver telling off scooter rider at level crossing

Odd News

April 24, 2023April 24, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment scooter, Taiwan Railway Administration, Yilan County

The driver of an express train stopped his train and opened the window to berate a woman on a motor scooter who had stopped inside the boom gates at a level crossing in northeastern Taiwan yesterday, April 23. Video footage uploaded to Facebook showed the driver of a Taroko Class express train (No.417) traveling northbound from Zhiben to Shulin Station stopped at the crossing on Donggang Road in Yilan City at 1:52 pm. The train driver slid the window open,

gunman fires submachine gun in front of shocked onlookers

Crime and Criminals

April 20, 2023April 20, 2023 Phillip Charlier 2 Comments Bamboo Union, gang violence, New Taipei City, organized crime, shooting, Taipei City

A dispute between two factions of the Bamboo Union saw 11 shots fired in anger in Banqiao District yesterday, and 42 shots blasted into a pawn shop door using a submachine gun in Tucheng District this morning, April 20. In the early hours of the morning Wednesday, April 20, a teenage suspect, named Wu, and a 24-year-old man, named Lin, met to negotiate with a 20-year-old man, named Hsu, and a 19-year-old, named Hsueh, in a parking lot in Zhongshan

A college student is helped by guard after losing footing on flooded road

Weather

April 20, 2023April 20, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment floods, landslide, Miaoli County, rockfall, Taichung City

Heavy rain brought by a frontal system pounded northern and central parts of Taiwan from late Wednesday (April 10) to early Thursday (April 20), causing landslides in some mountain districts, and flooding in low lying areas. In Miaoli County’s Dahu Township, a man escaped with slight injuries after his car was hit by rocks that fell onto County Road 62 at 6:20 am. Police responding to reports of the accident found the car partially crushed and the driver, named Zhang

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

Weather

April 19, 2023April 19, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment drought, rain front, weather

Municipal leaders in southern cities and counties inspected drainage channels and flood mitigation facilities today, as Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau warned of heavy rain expected to be generated by a front which will pass over the island from Wednesday (April 19) to Friday (April 21). It is hoped that the rain will help alleviate water shortages caused by the worst drought in a century. The CWB said that rain will start to affect the northwest Wednesday afternoon, while increasing and

Wingtip of Airbuss A321-200 embedded in nose of Boing 777-300R at Taoyuan International Airport

Aviation

April 17, 2023April 18, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment aviation-accident, EVA Air, Taoyuan International Airport

Two Eva Airways planes were damaged after an Airbus A321-200 under tow collided with a Boeing 777-300R parked on the tarmac, yesterday evening, April 16. Both planes were empty at the time of the accident. According to pictures published by Taiwanese media outlets, the wingtip of the A321 was embedded in the 777’s fuselage under the cockpit. Eva Air confirmed the incident today, April 17, saying that they had suspended the employees responsible for the accident. Eva Air made a

Paramedics tend to injured cyclists who tumbled into streambed

Traffic Accidents

April 17, 2023April 17, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment bicycle accident, cycling, New Taipei City, Wanli District

Two Belgian men were injured after crashing their bicycles on a downhill section of a mountain road in Wanli District, New Taipei City, yesterday, Sunday, April 16. According to Taiwanese media outlet SETN, the two men were part of a group of four cyclists riding on a downhill section of the Pingding Mountain Road when they crashed into a bridge pier. One of the men flew over the guardrail and fell into a streambed around 4 meters below the road.

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

Republican Party Biden attack ad features attack on Taiwan

Runway closed after Taoyuan International Airport receives report of bomb on plane

At least 7 dead after factory fire in Changhua County

Driver stops express train to scold motorist who breached level crossing barrier

Gunman opens fire with submachine gun in broad daylight in New Taipei City: rival gang factions in dispute

Heavy rain brings landslides, flooding to parts of Taiwan

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

Drought-parched southern Taiwan prepares for possible flooding as rain front approaches

Two Eva Air planes damaged after ground handling accident at Taoyuan Airport

Two Belgian tourists injured in cycling accident in north coast mountain district