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
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
Beijing has sanctioned Taiwanese businessman Robert Tsao Hsing-cheng and Taiwanese lawmaker Puma Shen for supporting what it says are “violent” pro-Taiwan independence sentiment and activities. Under the sanctions, Shen and Tsao, as well as their families, are barred from entering mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau. All businesses associated with them are also prohibited from … Read more
Executives from US drone manufacturers – including Switchblade maker AeroVironment – are visiting Taiwan to explore potential partnerships aimed at establishing a secure supply chain for the uncrewed systems. Representatives of 26 American drone companies, along with officials from the Department of Commerce and the Department of Defence innovation unit, arrived in Taipei on Sunday … 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
The mainland Chinese and Taiwanese coastguards have been involved in a tense stand-off near Quemoy, the latest flare-up near the Taiwan-controlled island also known as Kinmen. The incident came after four coastguard ships from mainland China were patrolling in waters just 5 nautical miles from the island’s defence outpost, according to the Taiwanese coastguard. It … Read more
The report said private contractors will provide second-generation short-range uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), as well as miniature, target acquisition, surveillance, ship-based and land-based drones for military use. The acquisition of these seven drone types “has already factored in existing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies”, the report said. Capabilities will include one-button take-off, … Read more
The 60-year-old man, identified by his last name Ruan, told authorities that he left the port city of Ningde in Fuzhou province last Saturday, sailing around 250km (155 miles) in 15 hours before he was apprehended at around 11am the next day. Lawmakers raised grave concerns that the man – who claimed to be an … Read more
