DefenceTalkChinese president Xi Jinping has set a timeline for his nation’s military to be capable of taking Taiwan by 2027 — just five years from now. Recent events in the Taiwan strait have some questioning the strategic situation and prospects of a near-term invasion.  Colin H. Kahl, the undersecretary of defense for policy, said that […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-may-draw-lessons-from-russian-failures-in-ukraine-79362/

DefenceTalkPresident Vladimir Putin attended large-scale military exercises on Tuesday involving China and several other Russia-friendly countries, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told local news agencies. Putin was meeting with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and military chief of staff Valery Gerasimov at the Sergeevski military range and could observe the final phase of the military exercises later, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/putin-attends-military-exercises-with-chinese-forces-kremlin-79329/

DefenceTalkGermany said Monday it would keep two nuclear plants on standby beyond the end of the year in a policy U-turn, as the shut-off of Russian gas supplies sends Europe scrambling for energy sources. Following a new network stress test, two of the three remaining power plants would “remain available until mid-April 2023 in case […]https://www.defencetalk.com/germany-puts-two-nuclear-plants-on-standby-in-energy-u-turn-79341/

DefenceTalkAround a hundred German soldiers arrived in Lithuania on Sunday, after Germany pledged to bolster its presence on NATO’s eastern flank following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The troops drove off the ferry in the port city of Klaipeda. They were to make up the command unit of a new brigade, a group usually made up […]https://www.defencetalk.com/more-german-troops-begin-arriving-in-lithuania-79320/

DefenceTalkSoldiers from several countries have arrived in eastern Russia for joint military drills that China will take part in, Russia’s defence ministry said Monday, amid tensions between Moscow and Western capitals. Servicemen from Kremlin-friendly countries including close ally Belarus, India, Mongolia and Syria will participate in the drills. The exercises will take place between September […]https://www.defencetalk.com/foreign-forces-arrive-for-military-drills-in-eastern-russia-79260/

DefenceTalkRussia’s defence ministry said Thursday that its forces did not have heavy weapons deployed at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, accusing Kyiv of preparing a “provocation” at the station. “Russian troops have no heavy weapons either on the territory of the station or in areas around it. There are only guard units,” the ministry said […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-says-no-heavy-weapons-deployed-at-ukraine-nuclear-plant-79220/

DefenceTalkChinese troops will travel to Russia to take part in joint military drills, Beijing’s defence ministry said. Beijing and Moscow have close defence links and China has said it wants to push bilateral relations “to a higher level,” even as Moscow faces international sanctions and widespread condemnation over its war in Ukraine. China’s defence ministry […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-to-send-troops-to-russia-for-joint-military-drills-79209/

DefenceTalkRussian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday accused Washington of seeking to prolong the conflict in Ukraine and of fueling conflicts elsewhere in the world, including with the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan. “The situation in Ukraine shows that the US is trying to prolong this conflict. And they act in exactly […]https://www.defencetalk.com/putin-lashes-out-at-us-over-ukraine-taiwan-79203/

DefenceTalkThe Philippines has scrapped an order for 16 Russian military helicopters, an official confirmed Wednesday, following reports former president Rodrigo Duterte decided to cancel it due to US sanctions on Moscow. Manila — a longtime Washington ally — agreed in November to pay 12.7 billion pesos ($228 million) for the Mi-17 helicopters, as it seeks […]https://www.defencetalk.com/philippines-cancels-russia-helicopter-deal-over-us-sanctions-79196/

DefenceTalkUkraine on Wednesday accused Russia of rocket strikes that killed 13 civilians in areas near a Russian-held power plant, where renewed fighting has raised fears of a nuclear disaster. The overnight strikes in the Dnipropetrovsk region in central Ukraine also injured 11 people, with five reported to be in a serious condition. “It was a […]https://www.defencetalk.com/13-killed-in-russian-strikes-near-nuclear-plant-79190/