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
The defence ministry said it had detected 47 mainland Chinese warplanes near Taiwan in the 24 hours to 6am on Tuesday – the largest number since the PLA simulated a blockade of the island on October 14 in an exercise dubbed Joint Sword-2024B. The PLA sent 153 warplanes for that drill. In the latest exercise, … Read more
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
Taiwan changed its air raid warning threshold to respond to the PLA’s tactics, the island’s defence minister said on Monday, amid concerns that the decision leaves the public with less time to take shelter during a cross-strait conflict. In the past, the island would issue an air raid alert if People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft … Read more
Taiwan is exploring the possibility of acquiring F-35 fighter jets and other advanced US weaponry, but pundits doubt the plan will get past Washington’s long-held concerns about military technology leaking into the hands of the People’s Liberation Army. According to a recent Financial Times report, Taipei has reached out to president-elect Donald Trump’s team about … Read more
Taiwan has signed contracts to purchase nearly 1,000 killer drones from the United States, bolstering its asymmetric warfare capabilities amid rising cross-strait tensions. According to a government procurement website, the Taiwanese army signed two contracts with the American Institute in Taiwan, Washington’s de facto embassy in Taipei, on Tuesday. The contracts, valued at a total … Read more
In the last of a four-part series on China’s universities and campus life, Alcott Wei investigates why army life has become an attractive option for many of the country’s young people in their quest for a university degree. Read the third part here. For Alan Yuan, joining China’s military wasn’t so much about the lofty … Read more
Taiwan’s air force is investigating the cause of a Mirage 2000 fighter jet crash off the island’s northwest coast during a nighttime training mission. The single-seat, French-built warplane from the air force’s second tactical fighter wing took off at 8.05pm on Tuesday from Hsinchu Air Base in northwest Taiwan for routine training manoeuvres. However, it … Read more
Cabinet spokesman Chen Shih-kai said the submarines would be built between 2025 and 2038 as part of the Indigenous Defence Submarine Programme. “The government is committed to maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, continually enhancing national defence capabilities, and implementing policies such as indigenous vessel and aircraft production to build a resilient Taiwan … Read more
Since the severing of ties with the Alila brand in June 2020, the old mill has been run independently by Chan and Yang, but they have now earmarked it as the launch property of a heritage-focused hospitality brand built around “nature, terroir, presence and aura” – Aurua. Danny T.T. Chan (centre) by the Sugar House … Read more
