Taiwan latest to deploy military personnel to intercept Chinese operations

Taiwan has become the latest Asian state to scramble aircraft in response to Chinese military operations in the waterways dividing the region. China’s first and only aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, as well as accompanying naval vessels, entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone on Wednesday, prompting the Taiwanese Defense Ministry to send a Naval Frigate and […]

South China Sea nation-building courtesy of Beijing

Over the past several years, the Chinese government has been not-so-quietly building what they term “defensive outposts” by claiming uninhabited reefs across the South China Sea. This area includes a vast network of tiny underwater reefs and small islands called the Spratlys and the Paracels. These areas have long been in dispute among China, Vietnam […]

Watch: China Sails 1st Aircraft Carrier Past Taiwan – Performs Live Fire Exercises

In a show of force, China announced that their only aircraft carrier, the Liaoning has successfully carried out live fire exercises and is combat ready. Accompanied by multiple ships, the Liaoning launched their J-15 fighters and participated in a variety of exercises which included airborne attacks. China moved the carrier into the contested South China Sea on […]

Watch: China Sails 1st Aircraft Carrier Past Taiwan – Performs Live Fire Exercises

In a show of force, China announced that their only aircraft carrier, the Liaoning has successfully carried out live fire exercises and is combat ready. Accompanied by multiple ships, the Liaoning launched their J-15 fighters and participated in a variety of exercises which included airborne attacks. China moved the carrier into the contested South China Sea on […]

Taiwan, Trump, and foreign entanglements

Americans dangerously underestimate the complexity and ambiguous nature of Taiwan’s feelings about the mainland, and the emotional force this issue arouses on both sides…“ In his farewell address, George Washington warned the country to avoid entangling foreign alliances. In the Cold War era following the end of World War Two, Washington’s wise advice seems to […]

Trump’s phone call with Taiwan was reportedly months in the making

President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial phone call with Taiwan’s president on Friday was the work of Trump staffers and Taiwan specialists that had been months in the making,The Washington Post reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. Stephen Yates, a national security official under President George W. Bush, told the Post that Taiwan was on the […]

Taiwan Asks Google to Blur Images of Its New Military Facilities

“Under the pre-condition of protecting military secrets and security,” a Taiwan official said. Taiwan‘s Defense Ministry said it was asking Google to blur satellite images showing what experts say appear to be new military installations on Itu Aba, Taipei’s sole holding in the hotly disputed South China Sea. The disclosure of new military-related construction could raise tensions […]

Update: Explosion on Taiwan train injures 24 people with homemade bombs

The explosion on the train in Taiwan that engulfed the car in fire appears to have been intentional and evidence suggests it was from homemade bombs. Initially, reports indicated the explosion might have been from fireworks. According to AP, Police bomb squad chief Lee Tzu-wen told local television networks that investigators found “a 15 centimeter-long, […]

Explosion reported at a subway station in Taiwan

Developing Story: There are reports of an explosion at the Songshan station in Taipei City, Taiwan. According to Staits Times 21 people after a device that looked like a firecracker exploded, “At least 21 people were injured in an explosion last night in a commuter train cabin in Taipei’s Songshan Railway Station, in what is believed to […]

DOD: China’s Military Presence Becomes Increasingly More Formidable

China’s military in 2015 became more assertive in the South China Sea, projected a greater global presence and underwent nascent reforms intended to make it deadlier and more loyal to the ruling political party, according to an annual U.S. Defense Department report. The report, mandated by Congress, highlights China’s defense strategy and developments. “China continues […]

China to Increase Military Exercises and Patrols in South China Sea

China’s military will carry out more military exercises in the South China Sea this month involving advanced warships and submarines, state news agency Xinhua said on Wednesday, terming the drills routine. China claims almost all of the energy-rich waters of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of maritime trade passes each […]