Latest news with #defenseMinistry
CNA
12 hours ago
- Politics
- CNA
Taiwan detects 50 Chinese military aircraft around island
TAIPEI: Taiwan detected 50 Chinese military aircraft around the island, the defence ministry said on Friday (Jun 20), days after a British naval vessel sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait. China insists that democratic, self-ruled Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring the island under its control. Beijing has ramped up the deployment of fighter jets and naval vessels around Taiwan in recent years to press its claim of sovereignty, which Taipei rejects. Taiwan also accuses China of using espionage, cyberattacks and disinformation to weaken its defences. Along with the 50 aircraft, six Chinese naval vessels were also detected in the 24 hours to 6:00 am (2200 GMT Thursday), the defence ministry said. It said in a separate statement that an additional 24 Chinese aircraft including fighters and drones were spotted since 08.50am on Friday. Among them, 15 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait in conducting air-sea joint training with Chinese naval vessels, the ministry said, adding it "monitored the situation and responded accordingly". The latest incursion came after British Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Spey sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Jun 18, Taiwan's foreign ministry said on Thursday. The United States and other countries view the 180km Taiwan Strait as international waters that should be open to all vessels. The last time a British Navy ship transited the Taiwan Strait was in 2021, when the HMS Richmond, a frigate deployed with Britain's aircraft carrier strike group, sailed through from Japan to Vietnam. China strongly condemned Britain at the time and deployed its military to follow the vessel. In April, Taiwan detected 76 Chinese aircraft and 15 naval vessels around the island, when Beijing conducted live-fire exercises that included simulated strikes aimed at the island's key ports and energy sites. The highest number of Chinese aircraft recorded was 153 on Oct 15, after China staged large-scale military drills in response to Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te's National Day speech days earlier.
Arab News
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Taiwan detects 50 Chinese military aircraft around island
TAIPEI: Taiwan detected 50 Chinese military aircraft around the island, the defense ministry said Friday, days after a British naval vessel sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait. China insists democratic, self-ruled Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring the island under its control. Beijing has ramped up the deployment of fighter jets and naval vessels around Taiwan in recent years to press its claim of sovereignty, which Taipei rejects. Taiwan also accuses China of using espionage, cyberattacks and disinformation to weaken its defenses. Along with the 50 aircraft, six Chinese naval vessels were also detected in the 24 hours to 6:00 a.m. (2200 GMT Thursday), the defense ministry said. It said in a separate statement that an additional 24 Chinese aircraft including fighters and drones were spotted since 08:50 am Friday. Among them, 15 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait in conducting air-sea joint training with Chinese naval vessels, the ministry said, adding it 'monitored the situation and responded accordingly.' The latest incursion came after British Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Spey sailed through the Taiwan Strait on June 18, Taiwan's foreign ministry said Thursday. The United States and other countries view the 180-kilometer Taiwan Strait as international waters that should be open to all vessels. The last time a British Navy ship transited the Taiwan Strait was in 2021, when the HMS Richmond, a frigate deployed with Britain's aircraft carrier strike group, sailed through from Japan to Vietnam. China strongly condemned Britain at the time and deployed its military to follow the vessel. In April, Taiwan detected 76 Chinese aircraft and 15 naval vessels around the island, when Beijing conducted live-fire exercises that included simulated strikes aimed at the island's key ports and energy sites. The highest number of Chinese aircraft recorded was 153 on October 15, after China staged large-scale military drills in response to Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te's National Day speech days earlier.
LBCI
3 days ago
- Politics
- LBCI
Russia says hit 'military-industrial' sites near Kyiv in overnight strike
Russia's army said Tuesday it hit "military-industrial" sites near Kyiv, after Ukrainian officials said at least 14 people were killed in one of the largest drone and missile attacks on the Ukrainian capital. Russia "launched a group strike with high-precision air, ground, and sea-based weapons, as well as strike drones on military-industrial facilities in the Kyiv region," the defense ministry said in a statement, which was similar to those it puts out after most major attacks. AFP
Sky News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News
The bodies of more than 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers returned to Kyiv after prisoner swap
Why you can trust Sky News More than 1,000 Ukrainian bodies have been handed back to Kyiv after a prisoner-of-war exchange - as Volodymyr Zelenskyy renews calls for sanctions. The Ukrainian president said on social media that many of those released by Russia had been "held captive since 2022". "It is our absolute duty to free them all," he added. "And we are working toward exactly that - to leave no one behind in the enemy's hands. I thank everyone who is helping." Russia's defence ministry said it had handed over the bodies of 1,200 dead Ukrainian soldiers on Friday, but state media reported on Saturday that Moscow had not received any of its war dead back from Kyiv. The ministry added that its soldiers are in Belarus, where they are receiving medical treatment before being transferred back to Russia. It comes after both sides agreed to exchange those held captive at talks in Istanbul earlier this month. However, the talks failed to lead to a ceasefire. In a post on X, Mr Zelenskyy renewed calls for sanctions on Russia, saying that "no one has been able to stop Putin" and that "he must lose money" to end the war. "Capping the price of Russian energy is critical, because oil is their main source of income," Mr Zelenskyy added. " What happens in the Middle East is now driving oil prices up, and that, in turn, affects Europe's security. "That's why oil price caps are such a powerful tool." He went on to say talks between the US and Russia "feels too warm", adding: "Putin must understand clearly: America will stand with Ukraine, including by imposing sanctions and supporting our army. "Any signals of reduced aid, or of treating Ukraine and Russia as equals, are deeply unfair. Russia is the aggressor. They started this war. They do not want to end it." It comes as the Ukrainian president dismissed claims that Russian troops had crossed into the central Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk - which had remained under Ukrainian control since the war started in February 2022. Mr Zelenskyy also said Ukrainian troops had stopped Russian troops from advancing in the northeastern Sumy region, and are fighting to regain control of the border. He said: "You should understand that the enemy has been stopped there. And the maximum depth at which the fighting takes place is 7km from the border."
Associated Press
12-06-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Indian authorities attempt to tow container ship on fire with dangerous cargo off southern coast
NEW DELHI (AP) — The Indian Coast Guard was attempting to tow a container ship that caught fire off the coast of Kerala in southern India earlier this week to prevent a potential ecological disaster, Indian authorities said Thursday. The Singapore-flagged MV Wan Hai 503 was on its way to Mumbai, India's financial capital, from the Sri Lankan port of Colombo on June 7 when it reported multiple explosions and a subsequent fire some 88 nautical miles from the coast of Beypore in Kerala on Monday. Indian authorities have not yet given a reason for the explosions and fire. Officials were focused on firefighting and preventing the vessel from drifting towards the Indian coastline. The 890-foot vessel carried 2,128 metric tons of fuel and hundreds of containers, including hazardous cargo, India's defense ministry said in a statement on Wednesday night. 'With the fire yet to be fully extinguished, efforts to establish a towline to pull the vessel away from the coast are underway,' the ministry said. 'The situation remains critical and is being monitored continuously.' The firefighting efforts have significantly reduced visible flames, but the fire remains active on the ship's inner decks and near the fuel tanks, the ministry added. Around 40% of the fire onboard the ship has been brought under control and the vessel remains afloat, according to a situation report by India's Directorate General of Shipping. The coast guard launched an aerial firefighting operation Thursday morning using a helicopter from the Indian air force, Commandant Amit Uniyal, a spokesperson for the coast guard, said. The helicopter dispersed 1,000 kilograms of dry chemical powder onto the core fire areas of the ship, he added. Shipping official Captain Harinder Singh told The Associated Press the vessel was carrying a total of 1,754 containers, including 143 with cargo deemed dangerous by the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, such as flammable liquids, toxic substances and solid hazardous materials. The explosions and subsequent fire caused dozens of the ship's containers to fall into the Arabian Sea. The coast guard on Wednesday airdropped five people onboard the unaffected stern of the ship to coordinate towing operations and assess the overall fire situation. The coast guard successfully established a towline from the vessel to a coast guard ship to control its drift. Singh, who is closely coordinating the operation, said authorities were working to establish a second towline with Offshore Warrior, a more powerful offshore supply ship with greater towing capabilities. Towing is expected to commence later Thursday. The salvage master onboard the ship observed hydrocarbon vapors which indicates possible heat transfer near fuel tanks, the report said. The vessel is managed by Singapore-based Wan Hai Lines. Of the 22 crew members onboard, 18 abandoned the ship with assistance from the navy and coast guard. Four are still missing. The navy and coast guard have launched a search operation for the missing, aided by two Dornier aircrafts. The navy uses Dornier aircraft primarily for maritime surveillance, search and rescue operations. Five ships have also been sent to help put out the fire. Last month, a container vessel sank in another accident off the Kerala coast, releasing 100 cargo containers into the Arabian Sea, and leaving authorities in the state scrambling to contain an oil spill.
