China increases military operations near Taiwan amid rising tensions
Taiwan's ministry of national defence (MND) on Tuesday reported a sharp uptick in Chinese military operations in the vicinity of the island, with a total of 61 sorties of People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft and several Chinese naval vessels detected within a few hours.
According to the MND, between early morning and 8:15 a.m. local time, 27 PLA aircraft including J-16 fighters and KJ-500 early warning planes entered Taiwan's Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). Eighteen of these aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and approached Taiwan's northern, central, eastern, and southwestern sectors as part of joint air-sea training exercises. In parallel, several Chinese naval vessels were operating near the island.
— MoNDefense (@MoNDefense)
Earlier the same morning, Taiwan reported the detection of 34 PLA aircraft, nine Chinese warships, and one Chinese government vessel around its periphery, with all aircraft also crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait.
On Monday, the MND observed a smaller scale of Chinese activity, noting the presence of four PLA aircraft, eight naval vessels, and two official ships near Taiwan.
In response, Taiwan's armed forces have been on heightened alert, closely monitoring the situation and responding with defensive measures where necessary.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Free P2,000 GCash eGift
UnionBank Credit Card
Apply Now
Undo
The island's defence posture has focused heavily on preparedness and deterrence, with the government reaffirming its commitment to maintaining regional stability.
According to the Focus Taiwan report, Defence Minister Wellington Koo outlined reforms in Taiwan's military training programs, designed to bolster combat readiness amid the rising frequency of Chinese operations. These reforms include adjustments for both conscripts and senior officers, emphasizing asymmetric warfare tactics, the deployment of drones, and the integration of mobile radar systems.
Taiwan's extension of compulsory military service to one year from January 2024 reflects a broader shift in national defence strategy.
President Lai Ching-te underscored the need for vigilance, citing the risk of potential escalations and the importance of readiness. 'As we are situated on an island, we need to stockpile military supplies in case China launches multiple assaults. We may even need to prepare for a war of endurance,' he said.
The Han Kuang military exercises, Taiwan's largest annual drills, are scheduled to take place from July 9 to 18 this year. These exercises aim to test the island's combat readiness and identify potential weaknesses in Taiwan's defence strategy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
34 minutes ago
- India Gazette
India needs to reverse-engineer imports and invest in deep-tech to reduce dependence on China: GTRI
New Delhi [India], July 4 (ANI): India needs to urgently take steps to reduce its growing dependence on Chinese imports, according to a recent report by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI). The report recommends reverse-engineering of low- to mid-tech imports, stronger domestic production incentives, and long-term investment in deep-tech manufacturing to strengthen India's economic resilience. It also added that the need for this shift has become even more critical as geopolitical tensions with China rise. GTRI said 'India must nurture firms that can design and fabricate advanced components, and back them with targeted fiscal and regulatory support'. Over the past year, China has restricted exports of key raw materials and engineering support to other countries, including India. Since mid-2023, China has imposed export curbs on critical minerals such as gallium and germanium, which are essential for India's electronics, electric vehicle (EV), and defense industries. These actions have been seen as a clear warning to New Delhi. The GTRI report revealed that India's trade deficit with China has now hit USD 100 billion. While India's imports from China surged in FY2025, Indian exports to China dropped sharply. Currently, Chinese companies supply over 80 per cent of India's requirements in key sectors like laptops, solar panels, antibiotics, viscose yarn, and lithium-ion batteries, significantly increasing India's strategic vulnerabilities. Additionally, Beijing has pulled out Chinese engineers from Foxconn's India unit, disrupting local production. China has also placed export restrictions on graphite, another crucial material for electronics and clean tech. To reduce these risks, the report suggested that India must nurture domestic firms capable of designing and manufacturing advanced components. These companies should receive targeted fiscal and regulatory support from the government. The report also called for a reassessment of Chinese firm involvement in India's sensitive sectors such as telecom networks, power equipment, fintech infrastructure, and critical logistics. Unlike Japan or South Korea, China is a strategic rival, and its role in these sectors should be carefully reviewed. If necessary, restrictions must be put in place, and India should partner with trusted global players like Japan, Taiwan, and the European Union to build alternative supply ecosystems. GTRI concluded that India's dependence on Chinese imports is not unavoidable. With a focused approach based on rapid import substitution, strategic investment in deep-tech, and strong screening of foreign involvement, India can move toward self-reliance while maintaining balanced global partnerships. The goal is not isolation, but a calibrated economic autonomy. (ANI)
India Gazette
38 minutes ago
- India Gazette
Srinagar: Senior police officials distribute water among Shia mourners participating in Muharram procession
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 4 (ANI): Senior police officials of the Jammu and Kashmir police distributed water bottles among the Shia mourners who participated in the Muharram procession on Friday. According to IGP Kashmir Zone, Vidhi Kumar Birdi, the J-K police and officials have made security-related arrangements to ensure that the 'Azadars' do not face any kind of problem. He informed that traffic regulations were also imposed as the procession was being held in the main area of the city. 'For the 8th of Muharram, the Jammu and Kashmir police and civil authorities have made various security-related arrangements, ensuring that the Azadars visiting here do not face any problems. Apart from this, because a procession is taking place in the Main area, traffic advisories were also issued', VK Birdi told reporters. Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir police are in contact with the organisers and other officials to ensure all security and traffic arrangements are made for the Azadars and the public. 'Regarding the 10th of Muharram, in various locations, all the organisers, J&K Police, and the District Superintendent of Police are in contact to ensure the entire facility and all security and traffic arrangements are made for the Azadars and the public', VK Birdi said. People gathered in large numbers on the roads of Srinagar ahead of the traditional Muharram procession on Friday. Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri said, 'This is the third consecutive year when Muharram is being observed. The District Administration has made all necessary arrangements for the 'azadaars'. Police arrangements have been made keeping safety and security in mind... I urge everyone to keep the procession limited to its religious significance... Amarnath Yatra is also going on simultaneously...' Muharram holds significant religious importance for Shia Muslims. In India, the 7-8 crore Shia Muslim community, along with people of different religions, participate in large processions and tazias. (ANI)
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Brics bigger than G7: Expansion boosts global clout but Trump, China pose challenge
Brics has expanded from initial four to eleven members and has sought a greater say in the world's affairs in recent years, but the group has faced a challenge to its relevance from US President Donald Trump's direct threats and attempts by China to turn the group into an anti-West bloc to take on the United States. read more Over the past two decades, Brics has evolved from a forum of four emerging economies to a group of 11 nations that its supporters say is ushering true multilateralism in the world. Critics, however, say that the bloc is just a Chinese tool to unseat the United States to become the world's foremost superpower. The idea of Brics emerged in 2001 when then-Goldman Sachs Chief Economist Jim O'Neill argued that Brazil, Russia, India, and China had the potential to reshape the global economic landscape by 2050 due to their large populations, rapid economic growth, rising global influence, and rapid upward social mobility. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In 2006, the four countries came together to form Bric — South Africa joined in 2010. With the expansion in 2024, the group has 11 members. Brics has positioned itself as a non-Western alternative for supporting economic growth and cooperation. Even though the group's influence has risen, challenges have also risen and the group now finds itself as a critical juncture. Brics is bigger than G7 but faces tough challenges In 2015, Brics launched New Development Bank (NDB) to fund infrastructure and development projects in developing countries. With initiatives like the NDB and the Russia-led grain exchange, and collaboration in other areas of emerging technologies and economies, Brics has positioned itself as an alternative to Western-dominated financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank. But, even as Brics continues to attract new members, the group is far from replacing IMF or World Bank and stares at formidable challenges — both internally and externally. Internally, the very purpose of Brics is under question as China has sought to become the leader of the group and turn it into an anti-Western bloc. Russia has supported China to the hilt in this quest. The two countries are already part of an anti-Western alliance also comprising Iran and North Korea (the so-called CRINK bloc) and want to make Brics an extension of that bloc — while the CRINK bloc clashes with the West militarily, Brics takes on the West economically. Externally, Brics has faced strong opposition from US President Donald Trump, who has dubbed any move by the group to dethrone the US Dollar as a red line. He has threatened Brics members with 100 per cent tariffs if they move towards a Brics currency or dedollarisation. With such challenges that put the very basis of the group in question, Brics stands as a unique blend of opportunities, aspirations, and challenges, and India as a founding member and a competitor of China has its own share of challenges. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A non-Western group or an anti-Western group? India has gone to great lengths to explain to the West that Brics is not an anti-Western group and that it supplements Western institutions like the IMF and World Bank and does not seek to replace them. But China and Russia continue to push the group as an anti-Western bloc. Brics is definitely a China-dominated group as China is the largest economy and contributes to 40 per cent of the bloc's gross domestic product. Moreover, NBD is headquartered in Shanghai even as five initial members —Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa— are equal shareholders of the bank. The presence of ironclad partners Russia and China (and Iran as well) in Brics further adds to the anti-Western impression of the bloc. However, India's presence in the group and, more importantly, its status as a founding member counterbalances the China-Russia influence. India has so far prevented the bloc from turning into an anti-Western bloc. In March, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar dismissed fears of Brics trying to replace the US Dollar. Instead, India considers the strength of the US Dollar essential for global stability, said Jaishankar. 'I don't think there's any policy on our part to replace the dollar. As I said, at the end of the day, the dollar as the reserve currency is the source of international economic stability. And right now, what we want in the world is more economic stability, not less,' said Jaishankar. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India has also used its status as an equal shareholder at NDB to prevent the bank from turning into an extension of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). As China is not just working to dethrone the United States, but is also looking forward to suppress India's rise, India's continued presence and assertion of its role as a founding member in Brics is a must. Anushka Saxena, a China researcher at the Takshashila Institution, previously told Firstpost that India's involvement in Brics and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a must to ensure these institutions work for stated purposes and not become China's tools. 'In Brics, India's priorities lie in making sure that principled guidelines are laid out to set benchmarks for membership, in creating space for consensus-building against the possibility of China's influence-peddling, and in attempting to retain the image and brand value of Brics as a community of developing market economies demanding more voice in global governance,' she said Saxena. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Similarly, in the SCO, India's role as a disruptor is vital. If China and Russia continue to propagate the idea that these groupings are anti-West, India's presence becomes necessary to maintain the balance and act as a bridge with the West,' Saxena further said.
