Taiwan says China deployed 2 aircraft carrier groups, dozens of ships
TAIPEI: China deployed two aircraft carrier groups and dozens of ships in waters north and south of Taiwan last month, a Taiwanese security official said on Monday (Jun 2), as Beijing keeps up military pressure on the self-ruled island.
Up to 70 Chinese ships, including navy vessels, were monitored from the Yellow Sea to the South China Sea from May 1 to May 27, a security official said on the condition of anonymity.
Beijing has ramped up the deployment of fighter jets and warships around Taiwan in recent years as it pressures Taipei to accept its claims of sovereignty over the island.
China has refused to rule out using force to bring Taiwan under its control, leaving the island to face the constant threat of invasion.
"Its military actions and grey-zone activities have included large-scale deployments across the entire island chain, involving comprehensive maximum pressure," the security official said in remarks released on Monday.
"On average, there have been between 50 to 70 naval vessels and government ships as well as hundreds of sorties by various military aircraft continuously conducting harassment operations."
Some of the ships passed through the Miyako Strait to the Western Pacific Ocean for "long-distance training, including combined air-sea exercises", the official said.
Another 30 Chinese vessels with no name, documentation or port of registry were detected near Taiwan's Penghu archipelago in the Taiwan Strait on May 19 and had been "deliberately sent to harass", the official said.
And a total of 75 Chinese aircraft were involved in three "combat readiness patrols" near the island during the month, Taiwan's defence ministry figures show.
Asia-Pacific's so-called first island chain links Okinawa, Taiwan and the Philippines, while the Yellow Sea is west of South Korea – all partners of the United States and critical to its influence in the region.
"MORE PROVOCATIVE"
The Taiwanese security official said China's activities in May were "more provocative than previously observed".
In one incident, Tokyo and Beijing exchanged diplomatic protests each accusing the other of "violating" national airspace, after a Chinese helicopter and coast guard vessels faced off with a Japanese aircraft around disputed islands.
The Chinese actions were a demonstration of "military expansion" and were aimed at controlling the "entire island chain and improving their capabilities", the official said.
China's deployment coincided with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's speech on May 20 marking his first year in office and came ahead of an annual security forum in Singapore at the weekend.
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth told the Shangri-La Dialogue that China was "credibly preparing" to use military force to upend the balance of power in Asia.
Beijing, which did not send its Defence Minister Dong Jun to the summit, warned Washington "should not play with fire".
"It felt like they were in a state where they could announce something at any moment, trying to seize on some opportunity or excuse to act," the Taiwanese official said of the Chinese.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
US forces strike Iran nuclear sites, Trump says Fordow gone
WASHINGTON: US forces struck three Iranian nuclear sites in a "very successful attack", President Donald Trump said on Saturday (Jun 21), adding that the crown jewel of Tehran's nuclear program, Fordow, is gone. After days of deliberation and two weeks before his self-imposed deadline, Trump's decision to join Israel's military campaign against its major rival Iran represents a major escalation of the conflict. "This was an amazing success tonight," Trump told Reuters in a telephone interview. "They should make peace immediately or they'll get hit again." He had earlier posted on Truth Social that all US planes were safely on their way home, and he congratulated "our great American Warriors." He was due to deliver a televised Oval Office address at 10pm local time (10am Singapore time, Sunday). CBS News reported that the US reached out to Iran diplomatically on Saturday to say the strikes are all the U.S. plans and it does not aim for regime change. In his late-night address, NBC News said, Trump is expected to say he is not currently planning more strikes inside Iran. Trump said U.S. forces struck Iran's three principal nuclear sites: Natanz, Esfahan and Fordow. He told Fox News six bunker-buster bombs were dropped on Fordow, while 30 Tomahawk missiles were fired against other nuclear sites. US B-2 bombers were involved in the strikes, a US official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. "A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow," Trump posted. "Fordow is gone." "IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR," he added. Reuters had reported earlier on Saturday the movement of the B-2 bombers, which can be equipped to carry massive bombs that experts say would be needed to strike Fordow, which is buried under a mountain south of Tehran. An Iranian official, cited by Tasnim news agency, confirmed that part of the Fordow site was attacked by "enemy airstrikes". Israel's public broadcaster Kan cited an Israeli official saying the country was "in full coordination" with Washington on the US attack. A White House official said Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the strikes. The strikes came as Israel and Iran have been engaged in more than a week of aerial combat that has resulted in deaths and injuries in both countries. DIPLOMACY UNSUCCESSFUL Israel launched the attacks on Iran saying that it wanted to remove any chance of Tehran developing nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. Diplomatic efforts by Western nations to stop the hostilities have been unsuccessful. In recent days, Democratic lawmakers and some Republicans have argued that Trump must receive permission from the US Congress before committing the US military to any combat against Iran. Republican Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker of Mississippi applauded the operation but cautioned that the US now faced "very serious choices ahead." Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch, a Republican, said that despite the heavy U.S. bombings over Iran, "This war is Israel's war not our war." He added, "There will not be American boots on the ground in Iran." One Republican lawmaker, Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, simply said, "This is not constitutional." Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia said the US public "is overwhelmingly opposed to the US waging war on Iran" and accused Trump of displaying "horrible judgment". Israel launched attacks on Jun 13, saying Iran was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons. Israel is widely assumed to possess nuclear weapons, which it neither confirms nor denies. At least 430 people have been killed and 3,500 injured in Iran since Israel began its attacks, Iranian state-run Nour News said, citing the health ministry. In Israel, 24 civilians have been killed by Iranian missile attacks, according to local authorities, in the worst conflict between the longtime enemies. More than 450 Iranian missiles have been fired towards Israel, according to the Israeli prime minister's office.
CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
US forces bomb Iran nuclear sites, Trump says Fordow gone
WASHINGTON: US forces struck three Iranian nuclear sites in a "very successful attack", President Donald Trump said on Saturday (Jun 21), adding that the crown jewel of Tehran's nuclear program, Fordow, is gone. After days of deliberation, Trump's decision to join Israel's military campaign against its major rival Iran represents a major escalation of the conflict. "All planes are safely on their way home," Trump said in a post on Truth Social, and he congratulated "our great American Warriors." He was due to deliver a televised Oval Office address at 10pm local time (10am Singapore time, Sunday). CBS News reported that the US reached out to Iran diplomatically on Saturday to say the strikes are all the US plans and that regime change efforts are not planned. Trump said US forces struck Iran's three principal nuclear sites: Natanz, Esfahan and Fordow. He told Fox News six bunker buster bombs were dropped on Fordow, while 30 Tomahawk missiles were fired against other nuclear sites. US B-2 bombers were involved in the strikes, a US official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. "A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow," Trump posted. "Fordow is gone." "IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR," he added. Reuters had reported earlier on Saturday the movement of the B-2 bombers, which can be equipped to carry massive bombs that experts say would be needed to strike Fordow, which is buried under a mountain. An Iranian official, cited by Tasnim news agency, confirmed that part of the Fordow site was attacked by "enemy airstrikes". Israel's public broadcaster Kan cited an Israeli official saying the country was "in full coordination" with Washington on the US attack. A White House official said Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the strikes. The strikes came as Israel and Iran have been engaged in more than a week of aerial combat that has resulted in deaths and injuries in both countries. Israel launched the attacks on Iran, saying that it wanted to remove any chance of Tehran developing nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. Diplomatic efforts by Western nations to stop the hostilities have been unsuccessful. In recent days, Democratic lawmakers and some Republicans have argued that Trump must receive permission from the US Congress before committing the US military to any combat against Iran. Israeli military officials said earlier on Saturday that they had completed another series of strikes in southwestern Iran, having targeted dozens of military targets. Israel launched attacks on Jun 13, saying Iran was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons. Israel is widely assumed to possess nuclear weapons, which it neither confirms nor denies. At least 430 people have been killed and 3,500 injured in Iran since Israel began its attacks, Iranian state-run Nour News said, citing the health ministry. In Israel, 24 civilians have been killed by Iranian missile attacks, according to local authorities, in the worst conflict between the longtime enemies. More than 450 Iranian missiles have been fired towards Israel, according to the Israeli prime minister's office.
CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
Trump says US bombs nuclear sites in Iran
The United States attacked nuclear sites in Iran, President Donald Trump annnounced on Saturday (Jun 21). This comes more than a week after Israel began strikes on Iran. Follow live updates: Iran Israel
