Taiwan

Taiwan stays on high alert as Chinese ships pull back after massive drills

Taiwan remained on high alert on Wednesday after China staged massive military drills around the island the previous day, keeping its emergency maritime response centre running as it monitored Chinese…

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China fires rockets towards Taiwan in war games

China fired rockets toward Taiwan on Tuesday and deployed new amphibious assault ships alongside bomber aircraft and warships to encircle the island on the second day of its most extensive…

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China launches war games around Taiwan

China staged live-fire drills around Taiwan on Monday, deploying troops, warships, fighter jets and artillery for its "Justice Mission 2025" exercises, as the island scrambled soldiers and showcased U.S.-made hardware…

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Taiwan’s deputy foreign minister made secret trip to Israel

Taiwan's high-profile Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Wu made a previously unpublicised visit to Israel recently, three sources familiar with the trip told Reuters, at a time when Taiwan is looking…

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Taiwan, Japan voice concern over Chinese military movements

Taiwan and Japan voiced concern on Friday over Chinese military activities in the region, after Reuters reported that Beijing had deployed a large number of vessels across East Asian waters…

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China’s military warns Japan will pay ‘painful price’ if steps out of line over Taiwan

China's defence ministry said on Thursday that Japan will have to pay a "painful price" if it steps out of line over Taiwan, responding to Japanese plans to deploy missiles…

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Taiwan Warns: Be Combat-Ready by 2027, Citing Rising Risk of Force from China

Taiwan will prepare itself for combat within the next two years amid "intensifying" threats from China, the nation's president has declared. Lai Ching-te held a news conference on Wednesday morning…

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‘Return’ to China not an option for Taiwan’s people, premier says

Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-tai said on Tuesday that a "return" to China is not an option for the island's 23 million people, after Chinese President Xi Jinping pressed his country's…

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Taiwan to distribute security handbook to all households as China threat rises

Taiwan will begin distributing millions of civil defence handbooks to households across the island this week, in an unprecedented effort to prepare residents for potential emergencies, including the possibility of…

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Taiwan does not want China’s ‘one country, two systems’, president says

Taiwan does not want China's "one country, two systems" and must uphold its freedom and democracy, and resolve to defend itself, President Lai Ching-te said on Friday, rejecting Beijing's latest…

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China says it ‘absolutely will not’ rule out use of force over Taiwan

China "absolutely will not" rule out using force over Taiwan, a government spokesperson said on Wednesday, striking a much tougher tone than a series of articles in state media this…

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China accuses Philippines of ‘playing with fire’ on Taiwan

China accused the Philippines on Friday of "playing with fire" after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said the Southeast Asian nation would be drawn into any conflict between China and the…

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Taiwan says it will not provoke confrontation with China

Taiwan does not seek conflict with China and will not provoke confrontation, but Beijing's "aggressive" military posturing is counterproductive, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim said on Friday. China considers democratic Taiwan…

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Taiwan says it is determined to defend itself as China vows to boost combat readiness

Taiwan is determined to defend itself and protect its free way of life, the island's defence minister said on Thursday discussing next month's annual exercises, as China's military vowed to…

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China angered by British warship sailing as Taiwan raises alert level

China's military criticised on Friday the sailing of a British warship through the Taiwan Strait as a deliberate attempt to "cause trouble", while Taiwan's president ordered monitoring stepped up in…

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Taiwan wants peace and talks with China

Taiwan wants peace and dialogue with China as war has no winners, but the government must continue to strengthen the island's defences, President Lai Ching-te said on Tuesday as he…

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China conducts long-range live-fire drills in the East China Sea amid Taiwan tensions

China's military held long-range live-fire drills in the East China Sea on Wednesday in an escalation of ongoing drills around Taiwan, saying it was practicing precision strikes on port and…

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Chinese military launches large-scale military drills around Taiwan

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said it had tracked 19 Chinese navy vessels in the waters surrounding the island in a 24-hour period from 6am Monday until 6am Tuesday. The…

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China vows ‘reunification’ push as it holds ‘shooting’ drills off Taiwan’s coast

China's military held "shooting training" on Wednesday off Taiwan's southwest coast in a move Taipei described as provocative and dangerous, while a senior Chinese leader vowed unswerving efforts to bring…

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U.S. warns China’s war games near Taiwan could be used to conceal attack

China’s military exercises around Taiwan have become so extensive that they can soon be used as a “fig leaf” to conceal an attack on the island, according to the top…

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Taiwanese President calls for dialogue with China for peace

Taiwan and China need to talk to each other to achieve peace given the “multifold changes” in the international situation, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te said on Monday, calling for dialogue…

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Taiwan reports first Chinese ‘combat patrol’ of the New Year

Taiwan's defence ministry said on Thursday that Chinese warplanes and warships had carried out the first "combat patrol" around the island of the New Year, after Taiwan President Lai Ching-te…

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China says it takes ‘necessary measures’ to defend sovereignty over Taiwan

China's government said on Wednesday that it takes "necessary measures" to defend the country's sovereignty and will not tolerate "separatist" activities, as Taiwan reported another rise in Chinese warplanes near…

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China sends largest naval fleet in decades to region, threat level severe, Taiwan says

China is deploying its largest navy fleet in regional waters in nearly three decades, posing a threat to Taiwan that is more pronounced than previous Chinese war games, the Taiwanese…

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UPDATED: Taiwan raises alert as China deploys 90 ships in likely exercises

Taiwan raised its alert level on Monday, saying China had reserved airspace and deployed naval and coast guard vessels in what a security source called the first military drills across…

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Taiwan holds air defence drill ahead of president’s Pacific trip

Taiwan's military held an early morning air defence drill on Thursday to test its response and engagement procedures, ahead of a trip by President Lai Ching-te at the end of…

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What is ‘Taiwan independence’ and is Taiwan already independent?

Chinese President Xi Jinping asked U.S. President Joe Biden last year to toughen the language the United States uses when discussing its position on Taiwanese independence, according to two U.S.…

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Taiwan warns Chinese blockade would be act of war,

A real Chinese blockade of Taiwan would be an act of war and have far-reaching consequences for international trade, Defence Minister Wellington Koo said on Wednesday after drills by China…

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China building capacity to rapidly strike Taiwan

China is building its capacity to rapidly turn military drills into a full-out attack, a senior Taiwan security official said, providing the Taipei government's assessment of the strategic intent behind…

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China says it will not renounce use of force over Taiwan

China will not promise to renounce the use of force over Taiwan but this is aimed at external interference and a small minority of separatists, China's Taiwan Affairs Office said…

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Taiwan details record surge in planes in China’s war games, flags risk to region

Taiwan's defence ministry said on Tuesday it had detected a record number of 153 Chinese military aircraft participating in China's war games around the island the previous day, detailing a…

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China launches war games around Taiwan

China's military launched a new round of war games near Taiwan on Monday, saying it was a warning to the "separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces", drawing condemnation from the…

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Most Taiwanese believe China unlikely to invade in coming five years

Most Taiwanese believe China is unlikely to invade in the coming five years but do see Beijing as a serious threat to the democratic island, a poll by Taiwan's top…

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Taiwan reports surge of Chinese warplanes off its coast

Taiwan's defence ministry said on Thursday it had detected a surge of Chinese warplanes flying off its east, west and south coasts in what a security source said was China…

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German navy makes rare transit of sensitive Taiwan Strait

Two German navy ships sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait on Friday in the first such transit in two decades, demonstrating Berlin's resolve to stand with Western allies at a…

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China holds 2nd day of talks on Taiwan, fentanyl with top Biden aide

U.S. President Joe Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan started his second day of meetings with top Chinese officials in Beijing on Wednesday, aimed at quieting tensions between the two…

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German warships await orders on crossing Taiwan Strait

Two German warships await orders from Berlin, their commander said, to determine whether next month they will be the first German naval vessels in decades to pass through the Taiwan…

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Taiwan starts annual war games

Taiwan started its annual Han Kuang war games on Monday, which this year aim to be as close as possible to actual combat with no script and simulating how to…

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Taiwan must rely on itself for defence, foreign minister responds to Trump

Taiwan must rely on itself for defence and is likely to keep increasing spending and modernising its military given the threat it faces from China, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said…

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Trump says Taiwan should pay for defence

Taiwan should pay the United States for its defence as it does not give the country anything, U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said, sending shares of Taiwanese chip manufacturer…

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The few can beat the many, Taiwan president says ahead of annual war games

There are many examples in history of smaller militaries beating larger opponents, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te told air force officers in comments released on Tuesday, offering encouragement ahead of annual…

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Taiwan reports more Chinese military activity

Taiwan on Friday reported renewed Chinese military activity nearby with another "combat patrol" as the government called on Beijing not to escalate tensions after the seizure of a Taiwanese fishing…

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Taiwan warns against travel to China

Taiwan's government raised its travel warning for China on Thursday, telling its citizens not to go unless absolutely necessary, following a threat from Beijing last week to execute those deemed…

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Taiwan reports Chinese ‘combat patrol’

Taiwan's defence ministry said on Wednesday that China had carried out another "joint combat readiness patrol" near the island, as Beijing said it would track down and punish "diehard" independence…

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Democracy is not a crime, autocracy is the real “evil” says Taiwan president

Democracy is not a crime and autocracy is the real "evil", Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said on Monday after China threatened to impose the death penalty in extreme cases for…

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Taiwan keeping watch after Chinese submarine surfaces in Taiwan Strait

Taiwan's defence minister said on Tuesday that they have a "grasp" of the situation after pictures appeared online of a Chinese nuclear submarine surfacing in the sensitive Taiwan Strait near…

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Taiwan is not seeking war with China, defence minister says

Taiwan is not seeking war with Beijing, and its policy is to build up a defensive, multi-level deterrence capability to make it harder for China to capture the island, Taiwan…

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US lawmaker tells Taiwan weapons are coming, China drills show deterrence need

A senior U.S. lawmaker visiting Taipei said on Monday that weapons Taiwan had ordered are finally on their way, and that China's "intimidating" war games last week underscored the need…

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China’s second day of war games around Taiwan tests ability to ‘seize power’

China's military carried out a second day of war games around Taiwan on Friday, with drills to test their ability to "seize power" and control key areas, exercises it has…

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Taiwan mobilises forces after China starts ‘punishment’ drills

Taiwan's military mobilised its forces and said it was confident it could protect the island, after China started two days of "punishment" drills around Taiwan on Thursday in what it…

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China military incursions inch closer to Taiwan

China's military has sailed and flown closer to Taiwan in recent weeks than it has before, and staged mock attacks on foreign vessels ahead of the inauguration of the island's…

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Taiwan says Chinese planes crossed median line, China carries out landing drills

Taiwan's defence ministry said on Friday it had detected a renewed incursion by Chinese military aircraft across the sensitive Taiwan Strait, as China reported its navy had carried out combat…

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China should have confidence to talk to us, Taiwan’s president-elect says

China should have the confidence to talk to Taiwan's legally elected government, President-elect Lai Ching-te said on Thursday as he appointed his new national security and diplomacy team amid what…

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Congress clears $95bn aid package for Ukraine, Taiwan and Israel

The US Senate has approved a $95bn (£76bn) foreign aid package that includes military support for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the legislation into…

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Taiwan rattled by dozens of quakes, but no major damage

Taiwan's quake-hit eastern county of Hualien was rattled by dozens of aftershocks late on Monday and early on Tuesday, but only minor damage was reported and no casualties and major…

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Taipei replica in remote Chinese province fans Taiwan invasion fears

China seems to have created a mock-up of Taipei’s presidential district to use the site as a training ground to prepare for a future invasion of Taiwan. Satellite images verified…

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Earthquake of 6 magnitude strikes off east coast of Honshu, Japan; Taiwan earthquake injuries top 1,000

An earthquake of magnitude 6 struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on Thursday, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre said. The quake was at a depth of 32 km (19.88…

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