Latest news with #militaryexercises
Al Arabiya
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Taiwan Begins 10-Day Military Drills to Counter Chinese Threats
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — 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 Defense 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 kilometers (100 miles) off the Chinese coast. 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 Defense Ministry spokesperson Col. 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 Defense 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 Defense Ministry said 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 defense industry. The aerospace and shipbuilding companies added to an export control list by China's Commerce Ministry include defense 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 Defense Ministry spokesman, Chiao Fu-chun, shrugged-off the action, saying the island's defense 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.
Associated Press
a day ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Taiwan begins 10-day military drills to counter Chinese threats
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — 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 unmanned 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 Defense 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 kilometers (100 miles) off the Chinese coast. 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 criticisms that past exercises have veered on the performative. 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 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 Defense Ministry spokesperson Col. 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 Defense 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 Defense Ministry said Tuesday.
Bloomberg
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Lithuania Eyes Troops Visit Pact With Philippines, Slams China
Lithuania will consider a visiting forces agreement with the Philippines, as it builds security ties with the Southeast Asian nation while criticizing Beijing's actions in the South China Sea. The Baltic state aims to join in the annual flagship military exercises between the Philippines and the US, and an agreement on visiting forces may be needed so it can participate, Lithuania's Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene told reporters on Wednesday as she wrapped up her trip to Manila.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
UK aircraft carrier in Indo-Pacific on rare deployment
A British aircraft carrier has docked in Singapore on a rare Indo-Pacific deployment which will see it call on Australia, Japan, Korea and take part in several multinational exercises. HMS Prince of Wales' visit comes weeks after two Chinese aircraft carriers concluded simultaneous drills in the region, in an unprecedented move prompting Japan's protest. The carrier strike group's commander James Blackmore says he does not expect conflict with Chinese counterparts, noting the UK and China each "has every right to sail its ships in international sea space". "I almost expect they'll want to come and want to watch what we're doing... Lots of other parties will wish to witness what we're doing," he tells the BBC. "But I do recognise it will be safe and professional. That's the way we operate in the maritime." Just last week, China had criticised another British warship HMS Spey's passage through the Taiwan Strait as an act of "intentional provocation" that "undermines peace and stability". HMS Spey is one of two British warships - the other being HMS Tamar - permanently on patrol in the Indo-Pacific. HMS Prince of Wales, which docked in Singapore on Monday, is one of the UK Navy's largest ships with a flight deck large enough to fit three football pitches. During its eight-month deployment, HMS Prince of Wales will be supported by ships from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and Spain, among others. The deployment begins with around 2,500 military personnel and will grow to over 4,500 for some key exercises. The warship's presence in the Indo-Pacific also comes at a time when Washington has become more unpredictable, which introduces uncertainty to military alliances in the region. For instance, it is now reviewing its multi-billion dollar submarine deal with the UK and Australia. Asked how crucial the Aukus pact is to his carrier strike group's mission, Commodore Blackmore declined to comment, noting that the deal is "being entirely dealt with at a government to government level". The group is headed down under next month to participate in an Australia-led exercise which will involve the US and other regional militaries. It will then sail through the Philippine Sea to Japan, where it will support Japanese authorities in developing the country's F-35 capability, Commodore Blackmore says. HMS Prince of Wales' deployment demonstrates the UK's commitment to the region, he adds. "It's about upholding a rules-based international order and recognising the importance of trade between a free and open Indo-Pacific and the European theatre," he says. On its way home in September, HMS Prince of Wales will take part in the annual warfighting exercise of the Five Power Defence Arrangements - referring to defence pacts between Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the UK established in 1971. The last time a UK aircraft carrier joined these drills was in 1971.
South China Morning Post
10-06-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
China's Liaoning and Shandong aircraft carriers sail beyond second island chain
In an unprecedented show of strength, the Chinese aircraft carriers Liaoning and Shandong have been exercising in the western Pacific Ocean beyond the second island chain , according to the Japanese defence ministry. In a statement on Monday, the ministry said the Shandong strike group was spotted earlier that day, conducting take-off and landing operations of its jet fighters and helicopters about 500km (311 miles) southwest of Iwo Jima and north of Okinotori. It followed the ministry's statement on Sunday that the Liaoning group had been located on Saturday 300km (186 miles) southwest of Minamitori Island. It was seen again on Sunday, a little further away. The carrier was also reported to be operating its ship-borne air wings. All of the isles mentioned are in Japan's Ogasawara Islands, also known as the Bonins. Alongside Guam and the rest of the Marianas, as well as the western Carolines and other small Pacific archipelagos, they form a strategic band known as the second island chain. Most notably, the Liaoning group travelled further east than Guam, the most fortified US military base in the band, marking the first time a Chinese navy carrier has reached beyond the second island chain. Previous deployments – by the Liaoning in December 2022 and the Shandong in April 2023 – were some distance northwest of Guam. The Liaoning's easternmost recorded location this time was about 3,200km (1,990 miles) from Midway Atoll and 5,500km (3,420 miles) from Hawaii. The two 60,000-tonne Kuznetsov-class vessels – the PLA Navy's only active carriers, with the Fujian still undergoing sea trials – were escorted by warships of significant size, representing China's most powerful maritime strike forces to date.
