Tag: Taiwan

  • Taiwan Detects 25 Chinese Aircraft, Seven Vessels Around Its Territory | world news

    Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) detected 25 Chinese PLA aircraft, along with seven PLAN vessels and two official ships around the country from 6 am Thursday up until 6 am on Friday, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry stated. Seventeen of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s southeastern and southwestern Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), Taiwan’s MND said.

    In a post on , central, southwestern, and southeastern ADIZ.”

    Meanwhile, Taiwan had also detected 13 Chinese PLA aircraft, along with eight PLAN vessels and two official ships around the country from 6 am Tuesday up until 6 am on Wednesday.

    Ten of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s southeastern and southwestern Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), MND said.

    This adds to a series of similar provocations by China in recent months. Reportedly, China has increased its military activities around Taiwan, including regular air and naval incursions into Taiwan’s ADIZ and military exercises near the island.

    Earlier on Wednesday, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) criticized China for violating other countries’ sovereignty and disrupting regional peace, Taiwan News reported.

    According to the Taiwan MoFA statement, China’s continued use of military aircraft and warships to intrude into Taiwan and Japan’s air defense identification zones and exclusive economic zones has increased regional tensions, according to Taiwan News report.

    Notably, Taiwan has been governed independently since 1949. However, China considers Taiwan part of its territory and insists on eventual reunification, by force if necessary.

  • Taiwan Reports Chinese Military Incursions Into Air Defense Identification Zone | world news

    TAIPEI: Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) said that it detected 7 Chinese military aircraft and 15 naval vessels between 6 am (local time) on Saturday to 6 am (local time) on Sunday. According to the MND, of the 7 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 3 crossed the Taiwan Strait median line and entered Taiwan’s northern and southeastern air defense identification zone (ADIZ).

    In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor PLA activity. In a post on have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.”

    On Saturday, MND detected 13 Chinese military aircraft and 7 naval vessels. Further, 12 Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s northern, southwestern, and eastern Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

    This latest incident adds to a series of similar provocations by China in recent months. China has increased its military activities around Taiwan, including regular air and naval incursions into Taiwan’s ADIZ and military exercises near the island.

    Notably, Taiwan has been governed independently since 1949. However, China considers Taiwan part of its territory and insists on eventual reunification, by force if necessary.

    So far this month, Taiwan has tracked PLA aircraft 279 times and Chinese ships 150 times. Since September 2020, China has increased its use of gray zone tactics by incrementally increasing the number of military aircraft and naval vessels operating around Taiwan.

    Gray zone tactics are defined as “an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one’s security objectives without resort to direct and sizable use of force.”

  • Taiwan Reports Chinese Military Activity Near Its Territory, Detects 17 PLA Aircraft, 11 Naval Vessels | world news

    TAIPEI: Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) has reported Chinese military activity near its territory. Taiwan MND said that 17 Chinese military aircraft and 11 naval vessels were operating near Taiwan from 6 am (local time) on Thursday to 6 am (local time) on Friday. Of the 17 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 14 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s southwestern Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), according to Taiwan’s MND. In response to China’s action, Taiwan sent aircraft, and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor PLA activity.

    In a post on monitored the situation and responded accordingly.” Earlier on Thursday, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said that 29 Chinese military aircraft and 10 naval vessels were detected operating around the nation from 6 am (local time) on Tuesday to 6 am (local time) on Wednesday.

    Of the 29 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 13 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwest, and eastern Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor China’s military activity.

    In a post on We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.”

    This latest incident adds to a series of similar provocations by China in recent months. China has increased its military activities around Taiwan, including regular air and naval incursions into Taiwan’s ADIZ and military exercises near the island. The Taiwan Strait, separating Taiwan from mainland China, has been a frequent area of ​​contention, with Beijing considering Taiwan as its part and insisting on eventual reunification, by force if necessary.

    On July 30, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te accused the Chinese government of misinterpreting a United Nations resolution to justify its military activities against Taiwan, the Central News Agency (CNA) reported. He condemned China for its inaccurate interpretation of UN Resolution 2758, including drawing an inappropriate linkage to its “One China” principle.

    While addressing the annual summit of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) in Taipei on Tuesday, Lai said that this move is aimed to not only “construct a legal basis for China’s military aggression against Taiwan” but also to obstruct Taiwan’s efforts to participate in international organizations.

    According to CNA report, China claims that the UN resolution confirmed its one-China principle, which implies that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China.

  • Taiwan Hit By Strongest Earthquake In 25 Years; Tsunami Warnings Issued In Japan | world news

    Taipei: A powerful earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter Scale rocked Taiwan’s eastern shores on Wednesday leaving residents rattled and authorities on high alert. The US Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed the quake’s magnitude, describing it as a “notable quake” with its epicentre located in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 25.0 kilometers south-southeast of Hualien County Hall.

    Notable quake, preliminary info: M 7.4 – 18 km SSW of Hualien City, Taiwan https://t.co/G7yLg1BGyO — USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_Quakes) April 3, 2024


    The quake’s depth was measured at 15.5 kilometers, according to the Seismology Center of Taiwan’s Central News Agency.


    An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 hit Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, on Wednesday morning, reports Reuters, citing the Taiwan central weather administration — ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2024


    Tsunami Warnings Issued Across Japan

    Japan’s Meteorological Agency swiftly issued tsunami warnings for remote Japanese islands, including the Miyakojima island, in the wake of the earthquake off Taiwan’s coast. Residents were cautioned to prepare for waves as high as three meters (10 feet), heightening concerns for coastal communities in the affected regions.


    #WATCH | A very shallow earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.5 struck in the ocean near Taiwan. Japan has issued an evacuation advisory for the coastal areas of the southern prefecture of Okinawa after the earthquake triggered a tsunami warning. Tsunami waves of up to 3… pic.twitter.com/2Q1gd0lBaD — ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2024

    Alert Across Taiwan

    Reports of the earthquake’s impact varied across Taiwan, with intensity levels of 5+ reported in Yilan County and Miaoli County, and 5- in several northern and central regions including Taipei City, New Taipei City, and Taichung City. The seismic event prompted the suspension of metro systems in major cities like Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung, disrupting daily routines for commuters.

    In Japan, anticipation gripped coastal areas as authorities warned of potential tsunami surges. Tsunami alerts were issued for southwestern Japan’s Miyakojima and Yaeyama regions, along with Okinawa Prefecture’s main island. Residents were urged to evacuate promptly to higher ground or secure locations to ensure their safety.

    Echoes Of Past Tragedies

    For many in Taiwan, memories of past seismic disasters resurfaced. Wu Chien-fu, director of Taipei’s Central Weather Administration’s Seismology Center, noted the quake’s significant impact, recalling it as the ”strongest” since the devastating earthquake of 1999. The tragic event claimed thousands of lives, serving as a stark reminder of the island’s vulnerability to natural disasters.

    “The earthquake is close to land and it’s shallow. It’s felt all over Taiwan and offshore islands,” said Wu Chien-fu, director of Taipei’s Central Weather Administration’s Seismology Center. “It’s the strongest in 25 years since the (1999) earthquake,” he told reporters.

    Heightened Vigilance Amidst Uncertainty

    As the situation unfolds, both Taiwan and Japan remain on high alert, bracing for potential aftershocks and assessing the extent of damage. With forecasters predicting tsunami waves of up to three meters in height, vigilance and precautionary measures are paramount to safeguarding lives and minimizing the impact of this natural disaster.

    A 7.6-magnitude quake hit Taiwan in September 1999, killing around 2,400 people in the deadliest natural disaster in the island’s history.

  • ’32 Aircraft, 5 Naval Ships In 24 Hours’: Taiwan Tracks Increased Chinese Military Activity Around Nation | world news

    New Delhi: The Taiwan Ministry of National Defense (MND) has been closely monitoring an uptick in military activity in the region, with 32 Chinese military aircraft and five naval vessels of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) detected from 6 am on Wednesday ( March 20) to the same time on Thursday (March 21). Notably, 20 of these aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, breaching Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) from various directions.

    In response to these incursions, Taiwan’s Armed Forces have deployed Combat Air Patrol (CAP) aircraft, navy vessels, and coastal missile systems to track and respond to the activities identified within their jurisdiction.

    This increase in military presence follows a similar pattern observed the previous day, where the MND tracked 15 Chinese military aircraft and 10 naval vessels. Of these, six aircraft entered the southwest corner of Taiwan’s ADIZ. However, unlike the recent incidents, no aircraft had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait during that period.

    The MND’s reports align with observations by Taiwan News, which has highlighted China’s growing use of gray zone tactics since September 2020. These tactics involve a series of efforts to achieve security objectives without engaging in open conflict, marked by a gradual increase in the number of military aircraft and naval ships operating in the vicinity of Taiwan.

    In a related incident earlier in the week, the MND reported tracking ten Chinese naval vessels and nine military aircraft near Taiwan. Among these, a Chinese drone violated the southwest sector of Taiwan’s ADIZ, and a PLA helicopter was observed in the southeast sector.

    The consistent monitoring and response by Taiwan’s Armed Forces underscore the ongoing tensions and the delicate balance of power in the region.

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  • Taiwan Detects Seven Chinese Military Planes, Four Naval Vessels Around Nation | world news

    TAIPEI: Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) has detected seven Chinese military aircraft and four naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 am (local time) on Tuesday and 6 am (local time) on Wednesday, Taiwan News reported. Following China’s action, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed air defense missile systems to keep a watch on the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) activity, Taiwan’s MND said. According to Taiwan’s MND, no PLA aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line or entered Taiwan’s southwest air defense identification zone (ADIZ) during that time.

    Meanwhile, one Chinese balloon was detected crossing the median line at 10:30 am (local time) on Tuesday, 119 km (64 NM) northwest of Keelung. The balloon flew east and disappeared at 12:15 pm (local time), according to Taiwan News report. So far in January, Taiwan detected 298 Chinese military aircraft and 136 naval ships. Since September 2020, China has intensified its use of gray zone tactics by incrementally increasing the number of military aircraft and naval ships operating around Taiwan, the report said.

    Gray zone tactics is an “an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one’s security objectives without resort to direct and sizable use of force,” Taiwan News reported. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Marine Corps on Wednesday held a maritime drill at the Zuoying Naval Base in Kaohsiung, featuring a mine-laying ship and a domestically built assault boat that carried out maritime surveillance and combat operations to simulate defending against a Chinese invasion, Focus Taiwan reported. citing Central News Agency (CNA).

    The manoeuvres, which took place in waters around Zuoying Harbour, were designed to test the Marine Corps’ ability to identify Chinese military movements quickly as well as their combat preparedness and capability, according to CNA report.

    During the exercise, the Taiwan Navy made an emergency departure from the harbor with a minelayer and an indigenous M109 assault boat and performed a variety of actions, including surveillance and the use of radar and drones to alert battleship systems to approaching hostile forces, the report said.

  • Lai Ching-te, Seen As ‘Troublemaker’ By China, Wins Taiwan Presidential Polls | world news

    Taipei: In a historic win, Lai Ching-te, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate, has triumphed in the highly anticipated Taiwanese presidential polls, securing his position as the nation’s next leader. This marks the third consecutive victory for the DPP, following Tsai Ing-wen’s two terms as Taiwan’s President since 2016.

    Dominant Victory For Lai Ching-te

    According to the Central Election Commission report, Lai garnered over 5 million votes, securing more than 40 per cent of the vote share, based on counts from over 90 per cent of polling stations as of 7:45 pm (local time). The previously undecided voters split three ways, giving Lai a substantial seven-point lead over Kuomintang candidate Hou Yu-ih, who received 33 per cent of the total votes. Taiwan People’s Party candidate Ko Wen-je secured third place with 26 percent of the national vote, surpassing expectations.

    Lai’s Pledges For The Future

    Former Tainan Mayor Lai, in his election speech, pledged to prioritize national defense, economic growth, and collaboration with democratic allies. Emphasizing his commitment to maintaining the cross-strait status quo, he vowed to form a government based on individuals’ capabilities rather than party affiliations. This, he believes, will enable an effective response to challenges, fostering unity among the Taiwanese people.

    Comprehensive Policy Initiatives

    Lai outlined a comprehensive agenda, focusing on value-based diplomacy, cross-strait stability, defense self-sufficiency, economic upgrading, energy transition, youth investment, housing justice, and educational equality. He envisions shaping Taiwan into “a stable and indispensable force in the international community.”

    Beijing’s Expected Disapproval

    Anticipating Beijing’s displeasure, Lai’s victory is likely to spark protests from China, which favored the China-friendly Kuomintang (KMT) and candidate Hou Yu-ih in power. The Taiwan Affairs Office in China has labeled Lai as an “obstinate Taiwan independence worker,” predicting “cross-strait confrontation and conflict.”

    Taiwan’s Defiance Against Chinese Intimidation

    With China increasing military activities around Taiwan in recent years, including frequent incursions into the air defense identification zone (ADIZ) and naval presence near maritime borders, Lai’s presidency signals a clear stance against Chinese intimidation.

    Elections In Taiwan

    Earlier in the day, outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen encouraged citizens to cast their ballots, emphasizing the importance of the democratic process. The voter turnout, described as positive, reached 70 per cent in major cities, despite minor incidents reported at several polling stations.

    Global Attention On Taiwan

    As Taiwan witnesses a change in leadership amid escalating tensions with China, the world is closely watching the election results and anticipating Taiwan’s response to its authoritarian neighbor’s increasing threats. The upsurge in rail and road traffic as citizens returned home to cast their votes underscores the significance of this election on the international stage.