Latest news with #ChineseNavy
The Sun
13 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Raging China slams Britain after Royal Navy warship sails through Taiwan Strait in defiant message to Xi
CHINA has slammed the UK after a Royal Navy warship cruised through the Taiwan Strait in a defiant message to Xi Jinping. Beijing blasted HMS Spey's patrol through the passage, branding it a disruptive act of "intentional provocation" that "undermines peace and stability". 5 5 5 The British Royal Navy said the route was part of a long-planned deployment and in accordance with international law. The bold patrol was the first by a Brit naval vessel in four years. A Chinese navy spokesperson hit back at HMS Spey's route, and blasted the UK for "publicly hyping up" the journey. They added the UK's claims were "a distortion of legal principles and an attempt to mislead the public". And in a chilling threat, they said that Chinese troops would respond and "resolutely counter all threats and provocations" made by HMS Spey. Meanwhile, Taiwan praised the patrol as an act that safeguarded the freedom of navigation in the highly disputed strait. US warships regularly conduct freedom of navigation exercises in the strait. But the last time a British naval vessel made a journey like this was in 2021 when HMS Richmond was deployed from Japan to Vietnam. China, much like this time round, condemned the transit and sent troops to monitor the ship. HMS Spey is one of two British warships permanently on patrol in the Indo-Pacific region. China floods sea bases with nuke bombers, terrifying satellite pics show - as US warns Xi could SEIZE Taiwanese islands China slammed the route as a means of aggression amid the ongoing simmering tension between Taipei and Beijing. Taiwan insists it is an independent nation after splitting from mainland China amid civil war in 1949. But China claims Taiwan remains a part of its territory with which it must eventually be reunified - and has not ruled out the use of force to take the island and place it under Beijing's control. The island, which is roughly 100 miles from the coast of south-east China, sees itself as distinct from the Chinese mainland, with its own constitution and democratically-elected leaders. Beijing has ramped up military pressure on Taiwan and held multiple large-scale exercises around the island, often described as preparations for a blockade or invasion. China also claims almost the entire disputed waterway in the South China Sea - through which more than 60 per cent of global maritime trade passes. This is despite an international ruling that Beijing's assertion has no merit. In April, Xi Jinping launched a fresh round of army, navy and rocket force exercises encircling Taiwan. 5 5 Beijing described their concerning movements, which included 19 warships and 50 aircraft, as a "stern warning" and a "powerful deterrent against Taiwanese independence". And in May, satellite pictures showed that China had deployed its most dangerous nuke bombers to a tiny but vital island sea base. Aerial photos showed two hulking H-6 bombers on an airfield on Woody Island in the South China Sea, taken on May 19. Taiwan's economy is another factor in China's desperation to reclaim the land. If China takes the island, it could be freer to project power in the western Pacific and rival the US, thanks to much of the world's electronics being made in Taiwan. This would allow Beijing to have control over an industry that drives the global economy. China insists that its intentions are peaceful, but President Xi Jinping has also used threats towards the small island nation. In this years New Year's address, President Xi even said that the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family. He has previously called the independence of Taiwan a futile effort and that annexation by Beijing is a "historical inevitability". It comes as a UK carrier strike group arrives in the Indo-Pacific region as part of Operation Highmast which is set to last several months. Keir Starmer said it was aimed at "sending a clear message of strength to our adversaries, and a message of unity and purpose to our allies". Total blockade, air blitz & island grab… Three ways China could seize Taiwan By Sayan Bose, Foreign News Reporter WITH an overwhelming military force, advanced warfare techniques and a fragmenting West, Xi Jinping will likely feel more confident than ever to seize Taiwan, experts warn. And if China does decide to attack, it's feared it will go in with "full force" using three major military strategies that would wreak havoc on the island. Defence experts say it's the "perfect moment" for Xi's long-standing ambition to reunify Taiwan with the Chinese mainland - and it could launch an attack as soon as 2027. Professor Ashok Swain, a peace and security expert at Uppsala University in Sweden, says that China could look to attack Taiwan with full force. He said: "The global politics has changed dramatically in the last couple of months... the way Ukraine is being handled by the United States gives a certain comfort level to Xi. "It is the perfect moment for China to attack Taiwan if it plans to do so." Swain suggests they could invade through a devastating air blitz to disable Taiwan's defences as naval forces also encircle the island. This coordinated approach would aim to prevent Taiwan's forces from mounting an effective response and limit the time available for Western intervention, the expert argues. China could also seize all or some of the islands surrounding Taiwan's mainland to gauge a reaction from the West. Any response short of military support would embolden Xi to go further - like Putin annexing Crimea in 2014. The third attack route could be a total blockade. Military experts say China will start with an ever-tightening squeeze on Taiwan using naval blockades around the island - something very similar to the war drills Beijing has been conducting for years. An effective sea and air blockade would halt valuable exports and cut off help from the US and Japan. The island could be crippled financially, economically and operationally if Beijing extended military exercises for a longer period.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chinese navy drill near Japan sparks concern and protest
A Chinese naval drill near Japan has sparked concern from Tokyo, which in recent days lodged a protest with Beijing and made the rare decision to publicly disclose Chinese military movements. In the last few weeks China's two aircraft carriers, the Shandong and the Liaoning, have been conducting simultaneous drills in the Pacific, in an unprecedented move. Chinese fighter jets have done hundreds of landings and take-offs from the carriers. A few came close to Japanese surveillance planes, prompting Tokyo to convey its "serious concerns" to Beijing. China has said its activities are consistent with international law and accused Japan of conducting "dangerous moves". On Tuesday, the Japanese defence ministry released a map tracing the Chinese aircraft carriers' daily positions since 25 May. Japan does not usually disclose details of foreign militaries' movements. It shows both carriers coming close to Japanese islands, and at times sailing through Japan's exclusive economic zone. The exclusive economic zone is an area beyond a country's territorial waters where that country has exclusive rights to explore and exploit marine resources, but other countries are allowed freedom of navigation through it. The map also shows the Liaoning sailing past the "second island chain", a line of defence outlined in US foreign policy doctrine that connects Japan to Guam. This makes it the first Chinese aircraft carrier to do so , according to Japanese news outlets. Japan's defence ministry also said they had observed more than 500 landings and take-offs of Chinese fighter jets and helicopters during the drills. On 7 June, a Chinese fighter jet took off from the Shandong and followed a Japanese surveillance aircraft for about 40 minutes, according to Tokyo. The next day, a Chinese fighter jet flew close to a Japanese plane for twice that duration, and crossed in front of it. Japan's chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said last week that they relayed to Beijing their concern about these "abnormal approaches" which could have caused accidental collisions. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said that their "activities in relevant waters and air space are consistent with international law and international practices", and that the two countries were communicating through existing channels. "Let me point out that it is the close-in reconnaissance of Japan's vessels and airplanes on China's normal military activities that has caused maritime and air security risks. China urges Japan to stop those dangerous moves," he said. As its two carriers continue to sail through the Pacific, China's military gave an update on Tuesday on its newest carrier, the Fujian. It said sea trials were on track and the carrier is expected to enter service later this year. The Fujian will be their first carrier that will employ electromagnetic catapults to launch their planes - a technology that currently only American aircraft carriers possess. The technology allows a carrier to launch a wider range of aircraft, and launch fighter jets much faster. China's fighter jets will also be able to take off with their full fuel and weapon loads from the Fujian, noted a Global Times report, and the carrier would enable a "significantly higher" number of sorties compared to its predecessors. This month's drill follows February's much-scrutinised naval exercise in the Tasman Sea that prompted concern from Australia and New Zealand. Canberra and Wellington had complained Beijing had given insufficient notice of the drill, and some commercial planes had to be diverted last minute. Australia's defence minister Richard Marles later acknowledged that the naval exercise was in accordance with international law, while at the same time urging China to be more transparent about the reasons for what he called an "extraordinary military build-up". China's latest moves come as the US promises to maintain its presence in the Indo-Pacific while balancing other commitments. Last month US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasised the US's solidarity with the region, saying the US would not be pushed out of Asia nor allow its allies to be intimidated. China in response accused the US of being the "biggest troublemaker" in Asia. But on Monday the US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz left the South China Sea. Multiple outlets have reported it is moving to the Middle East, as the war between Israel and Iran deepens.
Japan Forward
2 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Forward
What Was That Lame Response to Chinese Fighter Jets' Reckless Behavior?
Recently, a Chinese Shenyang J-15 fighter jet launched from China's Shandong aircraft carrier made abnormal approaches towards a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) P-3C patrol aircraft on a routine surveillance mission over the Pacific Ocean. Two encounters occurred west of Japan's Okinotorishima Island. First, a Chinese fighter jet tracked the MSDF patrol aircraft for approximately 40 minutes on June 7. Then, a J-15 repeated the aggression by tracking Japan's MSDF plane for roughly 80 minutes on June 8. On each day, the Chinese fighters came within about 45 meters of Japan's patrol plane. Moreover, on June 8, the Chinese jet cut across the path of the MSDF aircraft about 900 meters ahead of it. These Chinese military flight maneuvers were extremely dangerous and unusual and are totally unacceptable. All monitoring and surveillance activities by the MSDF aircraft complied with international rules. They presented no threat or problem whatsoever. China should admit and apologize for its wrongdoing in flying its fighter jets in an aggressive and hazardous manner near the Japanese propeller patrol plane. Chinese Navy aircraft carrier "Shandong" (Provided by the Ministry of Defense Joint Staff Office) Chinese Navy aircraft carrier "Liaoning" (Provided by the Ministry of Defense Joint Staff Office) Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Takehiro Funakoshi conveyed Japan's serious concerns about the incidents to Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao. He also called for China to prevent any recurrence of such incidents. However, it was a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson who responded. For the ministry, the spokesperson asserted China's activities were fully consistent with international law and practices and called on Japan to stop its "dangerous behavior" of "close-range reconnaissance." It goes to prove the old adage, "A thief is by nature defiant." Moreover, an unrepentant Chinese military will likely repeat its provocations. Yoshihide Yoshida, Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff of Japan's Self-Defense Forces, directly responded to the matter. At a press conference, he stated: "We will be implementing even stricter vigilance and surveillance. We recognize that [the approach] was intentional. If we relax our vigilance and surveillance, it will only encourage. We will firmly maintain our will and capability to deter , " Yoshida's statement evinces his strong determination to defend the country. We look to him and the SDF to fulfill their mission. Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya The reactions of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, however, have been pathetic. Such an aggressive approach by foreign combat aircraft is a problem comparable to an airspace violation. Why didn't the Prime Minister and foreign minister lodge firm protests with Beijing rather than just expressing "serious concern?" Remonstrations were made to the Chinese side at levels below the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs from June 10. That was two days after the second incident. Yet, the vice minister himself did not make a request for another two days, until June 12. That was five days after the first incident. It was also the day after the Ministry of Defense made the incidents public. Any national leader who cannot express the nation's rightful anger is not fit to represent the country. That includes the Prime Minister and the foreign minister. United States Ambassador to Japan George Glass wrote about the incident on the social media platform X. The recent dangerous maneuver by a Chinese fighter jet that put Japanese crewmembers' lives in peril must be another of Beijing's "good neighbor" efforts. Whether it's harassing Philippine ships, attacking Vietnamese fishermen, or firing flares at Australian aircraft, Beijing… — ジョージ・グラス駐日米国大使 (@USAmbJapan) June 12, 2025 He outright stated that the dangerous maneuvers by the Chinese fighter "put Japanese crewmembers' lives in peril." Moreover, he labeled the Chinese aircraft's actions "reckless aggression." It is high time that Japan's Prime Minister, Cabinet members, and other politicians speak out so forthrightly. This incident occurred while two Chinese aircraft carriers, the Shandong and Liaoning, were deployed simultaneously in the Western Pacific. It was the first time for such a joint mobilization. The Liaoning was also the first Chinese aircraft carrier to operate east of the Second Island Chain, which stretches from Japan's Ogasawara Islands to the US territory of Guam. Unless it puts more effort into Pacific Ocean defense, Japan will be putting itself at risk. (Read the editorial in Japanese .) Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Chinese state media says Fujian aircraft carrier may be commissioned by end of year
The Fujian , China's most advanced aircraft carrier, is expected to be commissioned by the end of the year, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Advertisement In a feature broadcast on Tuesday, the third anniversary of the ship's launch, Wei Dongxu, a CCTV military commentator, said: 'The sea trials of the Fujian have made very good progress and it is expected to enter service this year.' On Monday state media dropped another hint that the ship would soon be entering service by referring to an 'era' when the Chinese navy would have three carriers Satellite images of the ship circulating on social media over the weekend showed 36 newly painted spaces on the flight deck for warplanes, a higher capacity than the country's two existing carriers. Song Zhongping, a military commentator and former PLA instructor, said the new markings suggested that the Fujian 'is getting prepared to be commissioned'. Advertisement 'The aircraft carrier will [then] enter trial service to continue testing the adaptability and coordination between the carrier and aircraft or other weapon systems,' he said.
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- South China Morning Post
China hints Fujian aircraft carrier may soon be commissioned
The Fujian , China's most advanced aircraft carrier, is expected to be commissioned soon based on new images circulating on social media. On Monday state media dropped another hint that the ship would soon be entering service by referring to an 'era' when the Chinese navy would have three carriers New satellite images of the ship circulating on social media showed 36 newly painted spaces on the flight deck for warplanes, a higher capacity than the country's two existing carriers. Song Zhongping, a military commentator and former PLA instructor, said the new markings suggested that the Fujian 'is getting prepared to be commissioned'. 'The aircraft carrier will [then] enter trial service to continue testing the adaptability and coordination between the carrier and aircraft or other weapon systems,' he said. Song said it was possible that more sea trials would be conducted before the Fujian formally entered service by the end of the year, as more take-off and landing tests and carrier group coordination exercises were needed. But they could also be conducted during the trial service period, he added.
