navy

Russian submarine spotted near Taiwan

Russian Kilo-class submarine and escort, courtesy of Japan Ministry of Defense
Military Affairs Regional 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

A Russian submarine was spotted off the coast of a Japanese island near Taiwan, Tuesday, according to Japan’s Ministry of Defense. Japanese Joint Staff said a Russian Kilo-class submarine was sighted 50 kilometers south of Yonaguni Island at around 8:00 am, December 3. The submarine was accompanied by a Russian naval ship and moving northeast between Yonaguni and Iriomote Island. It was the first time a Russian submarine has been spotted in those waters, the military said. Japan’s military dispatched

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Taiwan Navy releases details of submarine accident: search for 3 missing sailors continues

Submaring 794 "Hai Hu" of Taiwan Navy
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment , ,

Taiwan navy officials revealed details of the events leading to six crew members falling overboard from the deck of a submarine, December 21, as a search for three of the crew who remain missing entered the sixth day, today, Tuesday, December 26. Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Wu Li-ping said at a press briefing today that the crew of the Hai Hu (Sea Tiger) submarine were on a training mission in waters off the southwestern coast of Taiwan, December

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Russian warships appear off Taiwan’s east coast

Russian navy frigate off east coast of Taiwan
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment ,

Two Russian navy ships were seen just 26 nautical miles from Taiwan’s east coast yesterday, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense confirmed last night. Fisherman reported seeing the two Russian frigates while working east of Dong’ao in Yilan County yesterday. It is quite rare for Russian ships to appear in the area, especially so close to Taiwan’s 24-mile contiguous zone. The Ministry of National Defense confirmed the reports, saying the the ships sailed north to south and left Taiwan’s response area

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Taiwan flags Chinese civilian car carriers as threat to national security

roll-on/roll-off ship with ramp on dock
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , , , ,

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

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Two new rapid minelaying boats inaugurated at Zuoying Naval Base

Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

President Tsai Ing-wen presided over the inauguration ceremony for two new rapid minelaying boats at Zuoying Naval Base in Kaohsiung City today, December 14. The two boats will form the 1st and 2nd Mine Boat Squadrons of the 192nd Fleet (Minesweeper Fleet) of the ROC Navy. The navy spent NT$917.7 million to commission four of the vessels which were all delivered by Longteh Shipbuilding Company in 2021. President Tsai said that the shipbuilding program demonstrates Taiwan’s achievements in promoting the

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Regional defense news: US sub re-homed to West Pacific, missile launch site development near Taiwan

composite image of naval and defense activity in northwest Pacific and South China Sea
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , , , ,

In moves resembling a game of geostrategic chess, the US has forward-deployed a nuclear submarine to “the tip of the spear” in Guam, Japan’s development of a missile launch site on Ishigaki Island, near Taiwan, is advancing, China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier has sailed through the Miyaki Strait into the West Pacific, and a German naval vessel is in the South China Sea for the first time in 20 years. USS Jefferson City forward-deployed to new home base Guam The Los

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

rapid mine-laying boat docking at Su'ao Harbor
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

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

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China launches third 075 class amphibious assault ship: could be used for military invasion of Taiwan

Type 075 amphibious assault ship
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

The People’s Republic of China launched its third 075 class amphibious assault ship today, January 29, and the ships may be part of a plan to eventually carry out a military assault on Taiwan, according to some sources. Beijing’s communist mouthpiece Global Times reported today that the third 075 amphibious assault ship was launched from the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai, noting that the three warships launched so far were manufactured at “an astonishing speed.” “The country has cleared technical difficulties

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Taiwan Navy Accidentally Fires Missile: 1 Killed, 3 injured

Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

A fishing boat captain was killed and 3 crew injured when a Taiwan Navy crew accidentally fired a Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missile during a drill in the Taiwan Strait this morning July 1, 2016. Around 8:10am crew on a 500-ton Chinchiang-class corvette were testing equipment when they accidentally fired the missile. The missile with a range of 300 kilometers fell into waters near Penghu. An explosion on a fishing boat was reported around the same time but it was

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