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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)


December 2017 - Taiwan Special Weapons News

  • President vows to increase Taiwan's military spending CNA 29 Dec 2017 -- Amid tensions heightened by Chinese military drills near Taiwan and the situation on the Korean peninsula, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) vowed Friday to develop Taiwan's own indigenous defense systems and make a reasonable year-on-year increase in military spending.
  • Taiwanese President Announces Defense Spending Boost to Counter China Sputnik 29 Dec 2017 -- Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen announced on Friday that the military aggression of the mainland has reached new heights and that her country would increase its military spending to meet the intensifying security challenge.
  • Tsai issues directive for close monitoring of China military activity CNA 28 Dec 2017 -- President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said Thursday that Taiwan's armed forces must keep a close watch on China's military movements and take the necessary measures to ensure national security and regional peace and stability.
  • Delivery of upgraded F-16s scheduled for 2018 CNA 27 Dec 2017 -- Four upgraded F-16 fighter jets are scheduled to be delivered to the Air Force in 2018 by a state-owned aviation firm, Ministry of National Defense (MND) sources said Wednesday.
  • Taiwan speaks out against China military drills Press TV 26 Dec 2017 -- Taiwan's military officials claim China's reportedly frequent and growing military drills near the island are an "enormous threat."
  • Taiwan Develops 'Asymmetric Warfare Plan' Amid Increased Chinese Drills - Report Sputnik 26 Dec 2017 -- China has intensified its drills near Taiwan in the wake of the adoption of the US National Defense Authorization Act that lays out the groundwork for future mutual naval visits between Taipei and Washington.
  • President promotes 31 generals CNA 25 Dec 2017 -- President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) has approved the promotion of 31 senior military personnel, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced Monday.
  • China's Military Flybys Raise Alarm in Taiwan VOA 25 Dec 2017 -- Taiwan is facing a new source of pressure from rival China as the communist government increasingly often sends military aircraft to skirt the island, a challenge to the local armed forces.
  • President Tsai says China's drills have affected regional stability CNA 22 Dec 2017 -- President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) took to Facebook on Friday to point out that China's increasingly frequent military drills near Taiwan have affected regional stability, while motivating the military to stay vigilant in safeguarding the country against security threats.
  • Chinese military activity near Taiwan no longer to be reported CNA 21 Dec 2017 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) will no longer issue reports on movements of Chinese military aircraft or naval vessels near Taiwan unless something unusual occurs, Defense Minister Feng Shih-kuan (馮世寬) said Thursday.
  • Taiwan moves to upgrade 'three mini links' with China CNA 20 Dec 2017 -- The National Immigration Agency (NIA) said Wednesday that from next year, it will streamline the process for Chinese nationals traveling via the "three mini links," between mainland China and Taiwan's two offshore counties.
  • China's military aircraft spotted again near Taiwan: MND CNA 20 Dec 2017 -- Several Chinese military aircraft were seen flying near Taiwan again on Wednesday, passing through the Bashi Channel to the south then going north before flying over the Miyako Strait that lies between two Japanese islands, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said.
  • China Again Holding Drills Near Disputed Territory of Taiwan Sputnik 20 Dec 2017 -- China has intensified its drills around Taiwan, which it considers part of its territory, after US President Donald Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act, paving the way for mutual naval visits between Washington and Taipei.
  • Taiwan able to respond as Chinese military activity rises CNA 19 Dec 2017 -- Taiwan will scramble jets armed with missiles if necessary in response to China's increased military activity near Taiwan, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Tuesday.
  • Taiwan received prior briefing on U.S. national security strategy CNA 19 Dec 2017 -- The Presidential Office on Tuesday expressed thanks to the United States for briefing Taiwan in advance on its latest national security strategy report and for reiterating its commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act in the document.
  • U.S. reaffirms Taiwan Relations Act in national security strategy CNA 19 Dec 2017 -- The United States reaffirmed its commitment to providing defensive weapons to Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act, in a new national security strategy (NSS) unveiled on Monday by U.S. President Donald Trump.
  • China military aircraft fly over Sea of Japan, around Taiwan as part of drills Press TV 18 Dec 2017 -- China's air force has conducted another round of long-range drills, sending its fighter jets and bombers into international waters in the Sea of Japan and around self-ruled Taiwan.
  • China Holds Drills Near Taiwan for Second Time in Row - Reports Sputnik 18 Dec 2017 -- China has intensified its drills in the region amid growing tensions over Taiwan after the US president signed the National Defense Authorization Act that lays the grounds for future mutual naval visits between Taipei and Washington.
  • Chinese military aircraft again fly over seas east of Taiwan CNA 18 Dec 2017 -- A Chinese military transport plane was observed flying over the Western Pacific Ocean east of Taiwan Monday, the second consecutive day Chinese military aircraft were seen undertaking a similar mission, an Air Force official said that day.
  • Taiwan Sends Aircraft, Ships to 'Monitor and Deal With' Chinese Transport Plane Sputnik 17 Dec 2017 -- The issue of Taiwan has repeatedly been the reason for tensions between the Trump administration and Beijing since the election of the US president.
  • Chinese military reconnaissance and tactical aircraft circle Taiwan CNA 17 Dec 2017 -- Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) military reconnaissance and electronic warfare aircraft circled Taiwan Sunday, flying through the Bashi Channel, which separates Taiwan from the Philippines, and then through the Miyako Strait, between Japan's Miyako and Okinawa Islands, according to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND).
  • China opposes Taiwan-related military clauses signed into U.S. law act People's Daily 15 Dec 2017 -- China on Thursday opposed Taiwan-related terms in the National Defense Authorization Act of the United Statesfor the 2018 fiscal year, which was recently signed into law by President Donald Trump.
  • Taiwan will respect U.S. decision on port calls: foreign minister CNA 14 Dec 2017 -- Foreign Minister David Lee (李大維) said during a legislative hearing Thursday that his ministry is thankful for the support of the U.S. Congress in passing a piece of legislation that would facilitate port calls between the U.S. Navy and the Taiwan Navy.
  • US military, govt ties with Taiwan opposed People's Daily 14 Dec 2017 -- The Chinese mainland resolutely opposes any exchanges between militaries or government officials of the United States and Taiwan, a Chinese mainland spokesman said on Wednesday.
  • China Outraged as US Plans Navy Visits to Taiwan Sputnik 14 Dec 2017 -- US President Donald Trump has touched another sensitive issue, when he signed a law which de facto paves the way for military cooperation between the US and Taiwanese Navies. The move sparked fury in China, which claims the island is its own territory.
  • China Accuses US of Meddling Over Potential US Navy Visits to Taiwan VOA 14 Dec 2017 -- China submitted an official protest with the United States Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump signed into law a measure that could result in U.S. naval warships visiting self-ruled Taiwan.
  • Navy to review options for minesweeper project: naval source CNA 13 Dec 2017 -- It will take the Navy about six months to assess and make a decision about how to proceed with its plan to build six minesweepers, now that the contract with Ching Fu Shipbuilding Co. (CFS) has been terminated, an unnamed naval official said Wednesday.
  • Defense Ministry cancels warship contract with Ching Fu CNA 13 Dec 2017 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) has, as expected, terminated a multi-billion dollar contract with financially troubled Ching Fu Shipbuilding Co. to build minesweeper ships because the company has breached the contract.
  • Trump unlikely to authorize U.S.-Taiwan navy port calls: scholars CNA 13 Dec 2017 -- Although United States President Donald Trump has signed into law a defense policy bill, which includes clauses that would facilitate port calls between the U.S. navy and the Taiwan navy, several U.S. experts on Taiwan affairs have said it is unlikely the president will allow such visits in practice.
  • China Cautions Taiwan Against Relying on Foreign Powers for Security Sputnik 13 Dec 2017 -- Tensions between Beijing and Taipei continue to escalate following a controversial US-Taiwan deal that seeks to enhance cooperation in the security sphere.
  • Air Force planes fly patrols across strategic waterways People's Daily 13 Dec 2017 -- Chinese Air Force bombers and fighters conducted a regular patrol exercise over two strategic channels near Taiwan on Monday in an effort to further strengthen maneuverability and combat capability during far sea missions.
  • Beijing Bombers, Fighter Jets Encircle Taiwan in Drill Sputnik 13 Dec 2017 -- A group of People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) H-6K bombers and Su-30 and J-11 fighter jets conducted a mission Monday "that circled the island of Taiwan, further improving their ability to protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity," a PLAAF spokesman said this week, according to a fact sheet obtained by China Daily.
  • U.S. senator reiterates need for military cooperation with Taiwan CNA 12 Dec 2017 -- U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) took to his website and Facebook page on Monday to urge the U.S. government to accelerate military cooperation with Taiwan in the face of threats of violence from a Chinese diplomat.
  • Senator: US Must Accelerate Sale of Defensive Weapons to Taiwan to Counter China Sputnik 12 Dec 2017 -- US President Donald Trump and Congress must speed up the sale of defensive weapons to Taiwan to counter the threat of invasion from China, US Senator Tom Cotton said in a statement.
  • Taiwan formally commissions Black Hawk combat team CNA 11 Dec 2017 -- Taiwan's Army on Monday officially commissioned its UH-60M Black Hawk combat team after completing the verification of the helicopter fleet's initial combat capability.
  • Chinese Diplomat: Expect War if US Sends Navy Ships to Taiwan Sputnik 11 Dec 2017 -- One of China's top diplomats to the US warned Washington that Beijing would invade Taiwan should the US ever send a Navy ship to the island nation, which China considers to be a wayward province.
  • Chinese military aircraft conducts exercise near Taiwan CNA 11 Dec 2017 -- China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has carried out another airborne military exercise near Taiwan, flying its aircraft over the Miyako Strait into the Western Pacific, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said in a statement on Monday.
  • Taiwan responds to Chinese diplomat's threat with call for peace CNA 09 Dec 2017 -- Taiwan's government wants peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Strait, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Saturday in the wake of a comment by a Chinese diplomat that threatened military action by China if U.S. Navy ships are allowed to call at Taiwan ports.
  • Chinese military aircraft conduct drill near Taiwan CNA 09 Dec 2017 -- A fleet of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft carried out an exercise early Saturday near Taiwan, flying over the Miyako Strait into the Western Pacific, according to a statement from Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense.
  • Taiwan will act to defend airspace, borders: defense ministry CNA 07 Dec 2017 -- The Ministry of National Defense said Thursday that the military will act appropriately to defend Taiwan's airspace and borders, after it was reported that several aircraft from China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) were seen conducting drills near Taiwan.
  • NCSIST, private sector form company for defense technology transfers CNA 04 Dec 2017 -- The National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) and the private sector have formed a joint venture company to transfer technological know-how from NCSIST to the commercial market, Ministry of National Defense (MND) spokesman Chen Chung-ji (陳中吉) said Monday.
  • Salvage mission for missing Mirage-2000 fighter plane to continue CNA 02 Dec 2017 -- A salvage mission to locate and retrieve the black box of a missing Mirage-2000 fighter jet will resume next week pending good weather after poor weather conditions rendered an attempt this week unsuccessful, an unnamed Air Force official said Saturday.
  • U.S. defends Japan's control of Diaoyutai Islands CNA 01 Dec 2017 -- U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in August voiced the opposition of the U.S. and Japan to any unilateral action that seeks to undermine Japan's administration of the Diaoyutai Islands, known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan.
  • President vows to build sound self-defense capabilities CNA 01 Dec 2017 -- President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) reiterated her resolve at a military ceremony Friday to build strong self-defense capabilities for Taiwan.



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