China is investigating senior military official Miao Hua. Will it affect the PLA?

China is investigating senior military official Miao Hua. Will it affect the PLA?

In 2017, Admiral Miao Hua was a rising general when he became a member of China’s powerful Central Military Commission (CMC) and director of its political work department. Taking over the party-building, ideology and personnel work of the world’s largest army would give Miao a significant say in senior appointments in the People’s Liberation Army … Read more

Taipei-Shanghai forum goes ahead, with calls for ‘olive branches’ and exchanges

Taipei-Shanghai forum goes ahead, with calls for ‘olive branches’ and exchanges

An annual forum that brings together officials and business representatives from Shanghai and Taipei went ahead on Tuesday after Taiwan denied entry to some mainland Chinese attendees. Speaking at the 15th Taipei-Shanghai Twin-City Forum at a Taipei hotel, Shanghai’s vice-mayor Hua Yuan pledged to encourage people from his city to go on group tours to … Read more

Taiwan’s new M1A2T tanks expected to boost defences against PLA amphibious tactics

Taiwan’s new M1A2T tanks expected to boost defences against PLA amphibious tactics

Taiwan has received its first M1A2T Abrams tanks from the United States, which are expected to drastically improve the island’s ability to counter potential amphibious operations by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). A total of 38 of the armoured vehicles, known as the “world’s most powerful tanks”, arrived in Taipei on Sunday night and were … Read more

Face corruption head-on to stop interest groups ‘preying’ on party, says Chinese leader

Face corruption head-on to stop interest groups ‘preying’ on party, says Chinese leader

He made the comments in a speech in January, but some of the contents were only made public on Sunday in an article published in the Central Committee’s theoretical magazine Qiushi. Xi was speaking at January’s plenary session of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), the top anti-corruption body, where he said all party … Read more

Shanghai vice-mayor Hua Yuan to touch down in Taipei on cross-Taiwan Strait mission

Shanghai vice-mayor Hua Yuan to touch down in Taipei on cross-Taiwan Strait mission

Officials from Shanghai will visit Taipei for the first time in six years to take part in a forum meant to encourage cross-strait communication. Shanghai vice-mayor Hua Yuan will head a mainland delegation taking part in the two-day Shanghai-Taipei City Forum, Taipei city government spokesman Yin Wei said on Wednesday morning. Taipei mayor Chiang Wan-an, … Read more

Senior PLA ideology official Miao Hua under investigation for ‘serious discipline violations’

Senior PLA ideology official Miao Hua under investigation for ‘serious discipline violations’

Miao Hua, one of the top generals in charge of Communist Party work at China’s powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), has been placed under investigation for suspected “serious violations of discipline”, the defence ministry said on Thursday. Miao is director of the political work department of the CMC, which oversees China’s People’s Liberation Army. The … Read more

‘Groundless’: China dismisses report of corruption probe into Defence Minister Dong Jun

‘Groundless’: China dismisses report of corruption probe into Defence Minister Dong Jun

China’s foreign ministry has described a report that Defence Minister Dong Jun is under investigation as “groundless”. The Financial Times reported on Wednesday morning, citing current and former US officials, that Dong was the third consecutive serving or former Chinese defence minister to be investigated for alleged corruption. On Wednesday, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning … Read more

Taiwan’s military uses Taipei university for urban warfare training, sparking outcry

Taiwan’s military uses Taipei university for urban warfare training, sparking outcry

In a rare move, Taiwan’s military is using a Taipei university campus to train reservists to prepare for the possibility of urban warfare against the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), prompting concerns and criticism. Taiwan’s defence minister, however, defended the decision, emphasising the need to consider frontline conditions to deter PLA attacks. National Chengchi University (NCCU) … Read more

Why Donald Trump’s win could mean a defence budget nightmare for Taiwan

Why Donald Trump’s win could mean a defence budget nightmare for Taiwan

US president-elect Donald Trump made Taiwan a focal point of his 2024 campaign, advocating increased defence spending by the island and casting a critical eye on its semiconductor dominance. While some Taiwanese officials have dismissed these statements as campaign rhetoric, Trump’s repeated calls for Taiwan to pay “protection fees” and increase its defence spending to … Read more

Mysterious buoys: China’s top spy agency crowdsources help to track foreign devices at sea

Mysterious buoys: China’s top spy agency crowdsources help to track foreign devices at sea

China’s top spy agency has called on the public to identify and report oceanic buoys that may be in use by a foreign military and could be used against submarines. Oceanic buoys are versatile marine observation devices mainly used to monitor oceanographic conditions, water quality and weather data. They play a critical role in maritime … Read more