DefenceTalkChina on Saturday will hold live-fire military drills in the Taiwan Strait, the government announced via state media, raising the stakes ahead of a possible trip to the self-governing island by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The maneuvers will be limited in scope and will take place off the island of Pingtan in Fujian province, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-announces-taiwan-strait-drills-ahead-of-possible-pelosi-trip-79153/

DefenceTalkChinese President Xi Jinping warned his US counterpart Joe Biden not to “play with fire” over the self-ruled island of Taiwan during a lengthy phone call Thursday that the White House said aimed to steady the superpowers’ rocky relationship. A statement relayed by Chinese state media said the call, lasting two hours and 17 minutes […]https://www.defencetalk.com/xi-warns-biden-not-to-play-with-fire-over-taiwan-79144/

DefenceTalkChina warned Wednesday that Washington would “bear the consequences” if US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan, with tensions soaring ahead of an expected phone call between the two countries’ leaders. Beijing has hit back hard against the United States after reports emerged last week that Pelosi, a Democrat who is second in line to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-says-us-will-bear-all-consequences-if-pelosi-visits-taiwan-79141/

DefenceTalkTaiwan simulated intercepting Chinese attacks from the sea in annual war games on Tuesday, with President Tsai Ing-wen hailing the military’s “determination” as she watched from onboard a destroyer. Democratic Taiwan lives under constant threat of being invaded by China, which views the self-ruled island as part of its territory to be seized by force […]https://www.defencetalk.com/taiwan-simulates-repelling-chinese-sea-invasion-in-war-games-79133/

DefenceTalkTwenty-nine Chinese warplanes entered Taiwan’s air defence zone on Tuesday in its third-largest daily incursion this year, the island’s government said. Taiwan lives under the constant threat of invasion by China, which sees the self-ruled, democratic island as part of its territory to eventually be retaken, by force if necessary. On Tuesday, 29 Chinese aircraft […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-made-third-largest-air-incursion-this-year-says-taiwan-79000/

DefenceTalkOn Taiwan’s tiny Penghu islands, the missile bases that sit next to white-sand beaches and bustling fish markets are a visceral reminder of the constant threat of attack from China. Despite the huge military discrepancy between the two sides, many analysts believe Taiwan’s location, inhospitable terrain and US support mean China would find a full-scale […]https://www.defencetalk.com/a-chinese-invasion-of-taiwan-too-costly-to-countenance-78984/

DefenceTalkChina will “fight to the very end” to stop Taiwanese independence, the country’s defence minister vowed Sunday, stoking already soaring tensions with the United States over the island. The superpowers are locked in a growing war of words over the self-ruled, democratic island, which Beijing views as part of its territory awaiting reunification. Frequent Chinese […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-vows-fight-to-the-end-to-stop-taiwan-independence-78958/

DefenceTalkTaiwan on Thursday welcomed US approval of a $120 million sale of naval equipment that the two allies said would bolster the island’s “combat readiness” and ability to work with American forces. Self-ruled, democratic Taiwan lives under constant threat of invasion by authoritarian China, which views the island as part of its territory to be […]https://www.defencetalk.com/taiwan-welcomes-fourth-us-arms-sale-under-biden-78927/

DefenceTalkChina has made the second largest incursion into Taiwan’s air defence zone this year with Taipei reporting 30 jets entering the area, including more than 20 fighters. Taiwan’s defence ministry said late Monday it had scrambled its own aircraft and deployed air defence missile systems to monitor the latest Chinese activity. In recent years, Beijing […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-makes-second-largest-taiwan-defence-zone-incursion-this-year-78847/

DefenceTalkTaiwan has opted out of purchasing anti-submarine helicopters from the United States because they are too expensive, its defence minister said Thursday. The island was planning to buy up to 12 Seahawk choppers but the deal has been scrapped as Taipei prioritises lower cost, more mobile weaponry to counter any threat from China. Local media […]https://www.defencetalk.com/taiwan-scraps-deal-to-buy-us-anti-submarine-helicopters-78780/