Latest news with #AbramsM1A2T
Fox News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Taiwan conducts live-fire drills with US-made tanks as president looks on
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te oversaw the island's military performing live-fire drills with U.S.-made Abrams M1A2T tanks Thursday, part of annual exercises aimed at sharpening its defenses against China. Lai watched as four of the tanks fired individually, in pairs, and as a group at a testing ground south of Taipei on the second day of the 10-day Han Kuang exercises – Taiwan's longest ever. The tanks fired on the move and from fixed positions, hitting both stationary and moving targets with 100% accuracy, according to the army. Lai described this year's exercises as "large-scale, realistic combat drills." "When our military has greater strength, the nation, society, and people will be safer. Once our country becomes secure, the Indo-Pacific region will be more peaceful and stable," the president told troops and reporters at the base in Hsinchu county. Taiwan agreed to buy 108 of the tanks from the U.S. for $1.45 billion in a major upgrade to the island's arsenal training practices, which now include F-16V jet fighters, HIMARS missile defenses and stealthy unmanned vehicles. China has threatened to use force to bring Taiwan under its control, harassing the island nation on a near-daily basis with balloons and military ships in nearby waters. Beijing has derided the war exercises as a farce that will have no effect on its determination to take over the island, whose population overwhelmingly rejects unification with China. The U.S. is Taiwan's largest supplier of imported defensive weaponry and is bound by law to consider threats to the island a matter of "major concern," although it remains deliberately unclear whether it would deploy forces to counter a Chinese attack.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Taiwan begins 10-day military drills to counter Chinese threats
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te waves after an offshore anti-terrorism drill (Image: AP) TAIPEI: Taiwan on Wednesday launched annual military exercises intended to guard against Chinese threats to invade, including using so-called "gray zone tactics" deployed by China that stop just short of open warfare. This year's 10-day live-fire Han Guang drills are the longest yet and follow the delivery of a range of new weaponry from tanks to waterborne drones. The drills in Taiwan come as regional tensions and harassment by China and its people's liberation army (PLA) are increasing. China claims Taiwan as its territory to be annexed by force if necessary, while the vast majority of Taiwanese wish to become fully independent or retain their current status of de-facto independence. The drills began with exercises to counter the actions of Chinese coast guard and maritime militia ships that have been harassing Taiwanese ships around offshore island groups close to the Chinese coast, the defence ministry said. Concerns are that China could launch an invasion under the guise of petty harassment, and the drills will include fortifying ports and possible Chinese landing points on an island lying 160 kilometres (100 miles) off the Chinese coast. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Đây có thể là thời điểm tốt nhất để giao dịch vàng trong 5 năm qua IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo The drills will later focus on simulated anti-landing exercises, with regular forces from all the services backed up by 22,000 reservists, the ministry said. Exercises will continue around the clock for 10 days under realistic conditions taking into account all possibilities, the ministry said, in a possible attempt to counter criticism that past exercises have veered on the performative. Troops in the drills will use Abrams M1A2T tanks and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System acquired from the US, Taiwan's closest partner and source of defensive arms despite the sides not having diplomatic ties at Beijing's insistence. The ministry called on the public to show patience with any disruptions to flights or traffic and not to believe false information distributed about the exercises. China responded to the exercises' announcement in a typically acerbic fashion. "The Han Guang exercise is nothing but a bluffing and self-deceiving trick by the DPP authorities, attempting to bind the Taiwanese people to the Taiwan independence cart and harm Taiwan for the selfish interests of one party," Chinese defence ministry spokesperson Colonel Jiang Bing said at a news conference on Tuesday. The DPP stands for Taiwan's independence-leading ruling democratic progressive party. "No matter how they perform or what weapons they use, they cannot resist the PLA's anti-independence sword and the historical trend of the motherland's inevitable reunification," Jiang said. China appears also to have taken actions to disrupt preparations for the drills, with the Taiwanese defence ministry saying PLA planes and ships on Tuesday "conducted harassment operations around Taiwan's air and sea domains under the pretext of a so-called joint combat readiness patrol.'" Taiwan's armed forces "employed joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance measures to closely monitor the situation and dispatched mission aircraft, vessels, and shore-based missile systems to appropriately respond," the Taiwanese defence ministry said on Tuesday. China imposed export controls Wednesday on eight enterprises tied to Taiwan's military. China has used such tactics before, including sanctioning American companies aiding Taiwan's burgeoning domestic defence industry. The aerospace and shipbuilding companies added to an export control list by China's Commerce Ministry include defence supplier Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation, drone maker Jingwei Aerospace Technology Co, and CSBC Corporation, Taiwan's largest shipbuilding company. The new rules, effective immediately, prohibit the export to the companies listed of "dual-use items," which can be used for both civilian and military purposes, the ministry said. A Taiwan defence ministry spokesman, Chiao Fu-chun, shrugged-off the action saying the island's defence industries have excluded any Chinese-made parts in their supply chains and sought to have all manufacturing performed on the island. "This Chinese ministry's action is in complete accordance with the policies of our (main arms developer)," Chiao said.
Toronto Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Taiwan's president watches live-fire drills with new US-made tanks
HSINCHU, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te watched live-fire drills with U.S.-made Abrams M1A2T tanks Thursday, as part of major annual exercises aimed at boosting the island's ability to fend off threats from China. Four of the tanks fired individually, in pairs and as a group at a testing ground south of Taipei on the second day of the Han Kuang exercises that this year are the longest ever at 10 days. The tanks fire both while on the move and in a stationary position and at both stationary and moving targets, achieving 100% accuracy, according to the army.
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Taiwan's president watches live-fire drills with new US-made tanks
HSINCHU, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te watched live-fire drills with U.S.-made Abrams M1A2T tanks Thursday, as part of major annual exercises aimed at boosting the island's ability to fend off threats from China. Four of the tanks fired individually, in pairs and as a group at a testing ground south of Taipei on the second day of the Han Kuang exercises that this year are the longest ever at 10 days. The tanks fire both while on the move and in a stationary position and at both stationary and moving targets, achieving 100% accuracy, according to the army. Taiwan has contracted to buy 108 of the latest-model tanks from the U.S. for $1.45 billion, allowing it to retire its aged tanks and significantly boosting defenses, especially for the northern part of the island, where most of its high-tech industries are based. They are part of far-reaching upgrades to Taiwan's arsenal and training practices, with F-16V jet fighters, HIMARS missile defenses and stealthy unmanned vehicles now entering use. Lai said this year's Han Kuang exercises were being conducted on the basis of 'large-scale, realistic combat drills.' 'When out military has greater strength, the nation, society, and people will be safer. Once our country becomes secure, the Indo-Pacific region will be more peaceful and stable,' the president told troops and reporters at the base in Hsinchu county. China considers Taiwan a renegade province and threatens to use force to bring it under control. The ruling Communist Party's military branch, the People's Liberation Army, sends ships, balloons and military ships into waters near Taiwan on a near-daily basis . The U.S. is Taiwan's largest supplier of imported defensive weaponry and is bound by law to consider threats to the island a matter of 'major concern,' although it remains deliberately unclear as to whether it would deploy forces to counter a Chinese attack. Taiwan is also stepping up civilian participation in national defense and Thursday evacuated a food mart and moved customers to a bomb shelter equipped with medical and other facilities. Tanks were also dispatched to one of Taiwan's international airports in the center of the capital Taipei to guard against an imaginary Chinese air landing operation. In its unusual fashion, Beijing has derided the war exercises as a farce that will have no effect on its determination to take over the island, whose population overwhelmingly rejects unification with China. Taiwan earlier in the week accused China's coast guard and maritime militia of harassing Taiwanese boats near Taiwan-held islands off the Chinese coast and on Wednesday sanctioned eight Taiwanese companies it said were aiding Taiwan's defense industry. Taiwan responded that the move aligned perfectly with the military's efforts to purge any Chinese elements from its supply chains. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
San Francisco Chronicle
4 days ago
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Taiwan's president watches live-fire drills with new US-made tanks
HSINCHU, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te watched live-fire drills with U.S.-made Abrams M1A2T tanks Thursday, as part of major annual exercises aimed at boosting the island's ability to fend off threats from China. Four of the tanks fired individually, in pairs and as a group at a testing ground south of Taipei on the second day of the Han Kuang exercises that this year are the longest ever at 10 days. The tanks fire both while on the move and in a stationary position and at both stationary and moving targets, achieving 100% accuracy, according to the army. Taiwan has contracted to buy 108 of the latest-model tanks from the U.S. for $1.45 billion, allowing it to retire its aged tanks and significantly boosting defenses, especially for the northern part of the island, where most of its high-tech industries are based. They are part of far-reaching upgrades to Taiwan's arsenal and training practices, with F-16V jet fighters, HIMARS missile defenses and stealthy unmanned vehicles now entering use. Lai said this year's Han Kuang exercises were being conducted on the basis of 'large-scale, realistic combat drills.' 'When out military has greater strength, the nation, society, and people will be safer. Once our country becomes secure, the Indo-Pacific region will be more peaceful and stable,' the president told troops and reporters at the base in Hsinchu county. China considers Taiwan a renegade province and threatens to use force to bring it under control. The ruling Communist Party's military branch, the People's Liberation Army, sends ships, balloons and military ships into waters near Taiwan on a near-daily basis. The U.S. is Taiwan's largest supplier of imported defensive weaponry and is bound by law to consider threats to the island a matter of "major concern," although it remains deliberately unclear as to whether it would deploy forces to counter a Chinese attack. Taiwan is also stepping up civilian participation in national defense and Thursday evacuated a food mart and moved customers to a bomb shelter equipped with medical and other facilities. Tanks were also dispatched to one of Taiwan's international airports in the center of the capital Taipei to guard against an imaginary Chinese air landing operation. In its unusual fashion, Beijing has derided the war exercises as a farce that will have no effect on its determination to take over the island, whose population overwhelmingly rejects unification with China. Taiwan earlier in the week accused China's coast guard and maritime militia of harassing Taiwanese boats near Taiwan-held islands off the Chinese coast and on Wednesday sanctioned eight Taiwanese companies it said were aiding Taiwan's defense industry. ___ Bodeen reported from Taipei, Taiwan.
