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

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

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

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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Defense ministry sends out new year message, video: advancing bravely into 2021

As 2020 comes to an end, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) released a video on Facebook, along with a press release, assuring the public that the three branches of the military will bravely advance into 2021, and continue to build a solid combat strength in the face of the “severe regional situation.” The message posted to the MND @MilitarySpokesman Facebook page noted that while 2020 has been a difficult year for many, the harder the times, the stronger the

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Ministry of Defense confirms multiple incursions of Taiwan airspace by PLA aircraft

Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense (MOD) confirmed this afternoon that PLA aircraft flew multiple sorties into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone this morning. The MOD press release said that Chinese PLA aircraft included SU-30 and J-10 fighters as well as multiple other types of aircraft. The MOD said that the air force closely monitored the flights and responded effectively to the incursions. The MOD also denied that PLA forces had encircled the Dongsha (Pratas) Islands, saying that it was falsely reported

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Defense Ministry Ramps-up Production of ‘Carrier-killer’ Ships

[Cover picture: Ministry of National Defense.] The Ministry of National Defense announced today that it will speed up production of the domestically designed and produced Tuo Chiang class stealth missile corvettes. Defense Minister Yen De-fa (嚴德發) told the Legislative Yuan’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee that the MND will not wait until the first batch of three ships are completed before starting work on the second batch of eight. Construction of both orders will proceed concurrently beginning around 2

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Army Parachutists Land in Taipei City

In the lead up to an event to be held by the Ministry of Defense July 8, parachutists landed in the square of Chiang Kai Chek Memorial Hall this morning. Weather permitting, parachutists will make the same drop July 5,6,7 and 8. The parachutists belonging to the Army Shenlong Squadron leaped from a CH-47 helicopter at 4,500 feet to practice a precision landing to be made during a national high school drill team contest to be held on Saturday. The

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