Latest news with #Liaoning
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Business Standard
8 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Taiwan prez instructs military to boost surveillance to counter China
Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te has instructed the Taiwanese military to bolster its security surveillance amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran, Focus Taiwan reported on Thursday. Notably, the order comes amid the rising Middle East tensions. Focus Taiwan reported that while speaking in a routine meeting with military officials on Thursday, the Taiwanese President observed that the conflict in the Middle East has not deterred China from continuing its pressure along the First and Second Island Chains, according to a statement released by the Presidential Office. It reported that on the contrary, the Chinese aircraft carriers, the Shandong and Liaoning, have recently been active in nearby waters, the President said. He added that Taiwan must remain in close contact with its allies to ensure it can respond swiftly under all circumstances. As per Focus Taiwan, President Lai said the United States Indo-Pacific Command has raised its Force Protection Condition level across the region. He directed the Ministry of National Defence and the national security team to monitor the situation and its impact on regional security closely. The frequent incursions and maritime operations reflect rising tensions between Taiwan and China, a relationship long fraught with geopolitical strain. Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), governs itself independently with its own political and economic systems. However, China continues to claim Taiwan as part of its territory under the "One China" principle, insisting there is only one China with its capital in Beijing. The dispute's roots trace back to the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949, when the ROC government fled to Taiwan after the Communist Party, led by Mao Zedong, took control of mainland China. Since then, Beijing has maintained its goal of reunification, using military, diplomatic, and economic means to apply pressure on Taiwan and diminish its international space. Despite these efforts, Taiwan maintains its de facto independence with strong public support and continues to assert its sovereignty amid ongoing external pressures. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
China builds next-gen amphibious barges to flood Taiwan's beaches with tanks, troops
China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has quietly begun sea trials of its new Shuiqiao-type landing barges, according to state-linked military channels. These amphibious vessels, now battling civilian cars and trucks in logistical tests, are raising alarms in Taiwan as they appear designed to land troops and heavy vehicles on contested islands. Satellite imagery and public domain media confirm that the barges were recently worked on at Guangzhou Shipyard before being trialed offshore. Each vessel deploys a jack-up platform and a Bailey bridge-style ramp capable of spanning 120 meters (393 feet), enabling direct vehicle transfer from ship to shore over otherwise impassable terrain. While Chinese commentators highlight these as dual-use platforms, ideal for natural disaster relief, their scale and configuration closely mirror multipurpose invasion barges likened to the London Mulberry systems of WWII fame. Taiwanese defense officials worry these could bypass fortified beaches and enable rapid PLA landings on offshore islands, such as Kinmen or Matsu, well before the main island defenses can react. The barge tests occur amid increasingly robust PLA drills. In late April, the Eastern Theater Command conducted the major 'Strait Thunder‑2025A' exercises, featuring air, sea, naval, and rocket units around Kinmen and Matsu. Early June saw China's two carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, operate together near Japan and the second island chain, prompting warnings in Tokyo and Taipei. Today's civilian war game in Taipei saw former US, Japanese, and Taiwanese officials simulate a PLA invasion by 2030. Participants noted Taiwan's coastal islands as the likely initial targets, underscoring Beijing's amphibious strategy. China, too, appears sharply aware: the PLA staged amphibious landings 1.5 km offshore Fujian Province, with Type‑05 armored vehicles attacking mock beaches. Taipei's defenders remain anxious. A South China Morning Post report notes growing fear that PLA drills could escalate into real action with 'no time to respond.' US analysts echo these concerns: Beijing aims to be operationally ready for a Taiwan strike by 2027, known as the 'Davidson window,' according to CIA projections. The Shuiqiao barges exemplify China's civil‑military fusion model, blending civilian roll‑on/roll‑off ship designs into the PLA amphibious force structure. That strategy mirrors broader modernization; PLA's Type‑075/076 landing helicopter docks and carrier formations form a triad of increased littoral power. Analysts warn that the barges open new landing options across Taiwan's coast, especially in under-defended areas and estuaries. Their agility and civilian guise complicate Taipei's defensive grid and could pose asymmetric threats to local military calculators. China's amphibious upgrades come as Beijing ratchets up multi-domain drills surrounding Taiwan, and islands like Kinmen and Matsu are repeatedly overflown and blocked. This persistent pressure aims to erode Taiwan's buffer zones while familiarizing PLA units with invasion protocols and integration at sea, air, missile, and cyber levels. For Taiwan, it means tightening island defense, investing in sea-drone swarms, and upgrading missile systems. Taipei's recent self-led war game revealed brittle interior coherence under pressure, fuelling urgent calls for international backing. These new amphibious barges, tested with trucks today and tanks tomorrow, are emblematic of Beijing's evolving posture: flexible, covert, and ready for rapid deployment. As PLA naval and carrier power grows, these floating causeways are a subtle but potent signal. This illustrates how China intends to choke Taiwan's defenses at the periphery before making grander claims for the island. Given the high frequency of air incursions, maritime drills, naval carrier group passages, and growing US concerns, the timing of this barge patrol is no accident. They are the architectural blueprints of potential cross-Strait operations in the near future. Especially as China's defense machinery backs up rhetoric with amphibious architecture, the question for Taipei and its allies isn't if but when and how swiftly the PLA might act.
Hindustan Times
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Taiwan on alert over China's military activities in Pacific
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te on Thursday ordered defence and security units to step up their monitoring and intelligence efforts in response to China's military activities, which he said have not abated even as tensions rise in the Middle East. Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, has, along with Japan, been tracking the movement of two Chinese aircraft carriers conducting simultaneous operations in the Pacific for the first time. Lai, in a statement released by his office after meeting with defence officials, said the conflict between Israel and Iran has led to a "chain of global security challenges." "From the perspective of our country and even the Indo-Pacific region, it is worth paying special attention to the fact that China's military pressure in the entire region of the first and second island chains has not slowed due to the situation in the Middle East," he said. Also Read | China heightens military activity around Taiwan "The actions of the two aircraft carrier groups of the Shandong and Liaoning in the relevant waters of the first and second island chains in the past few days have posed considerable risks for the Indo-Pacific region and have aroused the heightened concern of the international community." The first island chain refers to an area that runs from Japan southeast to Taiwan, the Philippines, and Borneo, while the second island chain spreads further out into the Pacific to include places such as the U.S. territory of Guam. Also Read | Taiwan calls for 'peace' with China; Beijing agrees but under 'One-China' principle Lai said he had asked the defence and security teams to strengthen their monitoring of regional developments and enhance their "intelligence gathering and research capabilities." At the same time, Taiwan should maintain close coordination with its "friends" to ensure a swift response to any "emergencies," he added. China's Defence Ministry did not respond to a request for comment outside of office hours. China's navy, which has been honing its abilities to operate farther from the country's coast, said last week the carrier operations were "routine training" exercises that did not target specific countries or regions. China operates two carriers, with a third undergoing sea trials.
Saudi Gazette
a day ago
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Chinese navy drill near Japan sparks concern
SINGAPORE — 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 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 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 defense ministry also said they had observed more than 500 landings and take-offs of Chinese fighter jets and helicopters during the 7 June, a Chinese fighter jet took off from 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 chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said last week that they relayed to Beijing their concern about these "abnormal approaches," which could have caused accidental 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 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 Fujian will be their first carrier that will employ electromagnetic catapults to launch their planes - a technology that currently only American aircraft carriers technology allows a carrier to launch a wider range of aircraft, and launch fighter jets much 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 month's drill follows February's much-scrutinised naval exercise in the Tasman Sea that prompted concern from Australia and New and Wellington had complained Beijing had given insufficient notice of the drill, and some commercial planes had to be diverted last defense 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 month US Defense 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 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 and the US contemplates entering the Suzuki, a professor at the Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Tokyo, said China's latest naval exercise was Beijing "testing the waters" of the US-Japan military alliance at a moment when the US is shifting its attention to the Middle East."With US assets concentrating in the Middle East, China sees this as an opportunity to escalate... so it's a sort of cunning way for China to raise the level of attention," he he added, was "not an exponential, but step-by-step, gradual escalation" as it "seeks any holes in Japan's coastal and maritime defence... they are testing the patience of Japan." — BBC
Yahoo
a day 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.
