PLA

Chinese warships appear off Taiwan’s east coast ahead of Pelosi visit

PLA type 055 missile destroyer
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A Chinese missile destroyer and a missile frigate were detected 45 nautical miles southeast of Taiwan’s Orchid Island this morning, as tensions rise ahead of speculation that US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi will arrive later today and meet with Taiwan’s parliamentary body tomorrow. A visit by Pelosi, second-in-line to the American Presidency would mark the highest level visit of an American official since then House Speaker Newt Gingrich visited Taiwan in 1997. While Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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Foreign pilot spotted after Chinese air force jet crash suspected to be Russian

composite image showing plane wreckage, Chinese pilot, foreign pilot
Regional 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Pictures circulating on Chinese social media sites show that one of two pilots who parachuted from a People’s Liberation Army Air Force jet that crashed in Henan Province, China, two days ago, is a foreigner suspected to be of Russian nationality. The L-15 Falcon advanced trainer aircraft allegedly crashed in Caolou Village, Zhangji Township, Yucheng County on April 23. However, some sources report that the crash occurred in Huoshan County, Lu’an City, Anhui Province. Video footage of the incident showed

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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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Chinese fighter jet rumored to have crash-landed on river in Henan Province

crashed J-10S fighter aircraft Henan China
Regional 
Phillip Charlier 2 Comments , ,

A People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) J-10S two-seater fighter aircraft crash landed on a river in Henan Province, yesterday, October 22, according to a video circulating on Chinese social media. Reports in Taiwan’s United Daily News and Liberty Times say that the J-10S crashed on the bank of the Jialu River after the pilots ejected and parachuted into the river. The jet aircraft appeared mostly intact, but had a damaged nose according to video and photographic evidence. The pilots

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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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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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An intense day of Chinese-US military maneuvers around Taiwan

USS Theodore exercises in the South China Sea
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

US and Chinese military activity around Taiwan intensified April 7, with a US aircraft carrier group exercising in the South China Sea, a Chinese aircraft carrier group operating in waters east of Taiwan, a US destroyer transiting the Taiwan Strait, and Taiwan fighters scrambled against 15 Chinese aircraft entering Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). The Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning, accompanied by a type 055 destroyer, two type 052 destroyers, a type 054 frigate, and a supply ship sailed though

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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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US Aircraft Carrier group entered the South China Sea same day as Chinese military sent 13 aircraft into Taiwan ADIZ

USS Theodore Roosevelt Pacific Ocean
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

The US Navy announced today that the USS Theodore Roosevelt entered the South China Sea yesterday, the same day that Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) said that jets had been scrambled in response to incursions into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) by 13 Chinese military planes. US Indo-Pacific Command said today, Sunday, January 24, that the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) entered the South China Sea, January 23, to conduct “routine operations.” “The TRCSG is on a

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PLA Navy, Air Force “expels trespassing” US Navy ship in the South China Sea

USS John S. McCain
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) announced that it had deployed naval and air forces to expel an American guided-missile destroyer that had “trespassed” into Chinese territory near the Spratly Islands today, December 22. PLA Air Force Colonel Tian Kai-jun, spokesperson for the Southern Theater of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army made the announcement on Chinese social media site WeChat this afternoon. Tian wrote that the USS John S. McCain had trespassed into waters adjacent to China’s Nansha Islands and

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Taiwan scrambles jets 17 times as China buzzes island in anger at US official’s visit

map showing incursions by PLA aircraft
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Jets were scrambled from air bases around Taiwan at least 17 times this morning after multiple incursions into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) by Chinese military aircraft. The Chinese Communist Party has expressed its anger over the visit of US Undersecretary for Economic Affairs, Keith Krach, marking the highest level official to visit Taiwan since the US broke diplomatic relations in 1979. China’s Defense Ministry spokesperson Ren Guoqiang announced this morning that combat drills would be carried out in

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