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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)


August 2018 - Taiwan Special Weapons News

  • Navy proposes NT$31.6 billion for fast attack missile boats CNA 31 Aug 2018 -- The Navy has submitted a request for NT$31.6 billion (US$1.02 billion) to build 50-ton fast attack missile boats, as part of the national annual defense budget which was submitted for legislative review on Friday.
  • AIDC to deliver 66 advanced jet trainers by 2026 CNA 31 Aug 2018 -- Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. (AIDC) is scheduled to deliver 66 advanced trainer aircraft to the government by 2026, the Ministry of National Defense said Friday.
  • Taiwan to strive for nation to be heard at U.N.: foreign minister CNA 29 Aug 2018 -- The main goal in Taiwan's bid for greater participation at the United Nations this year is to ensure the nation's voice is heard internationally, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) said Wednesday.
  • Taiwan's military modernization not yet tackled: Japanese paper CNA 28 Aug 2018 -- Taiwan's defense budget has been relatively stagnant over the last 20 years and its military modernization program still remains an issue that has not been tackled, Japan's annual defense review said Tuesday.
  • Taiwan will not seek U.N. membership this year: source CNA 27 Aug 2018 -- Taiwan will not seek membership in the United Nations this year but will continue to ask its diplomatic allies and friendly countries to speak up at the general assembly in support of its meaningful participation, a diplomatic source said Monday.
  • Guatemala envoy affirms ties with Taiwan CNA 27 Aug 2018 -- Taiwan's Central American ally Guatemala reaffirmed Monday its government's commitment to maintaining diplomatic relations with Republic of China (Taiwan), a week after neighboring El Salvador announced that it was switching allegiance from Taipei to Beijing.
  • Bargaining Chip or Not, Taiwan Keeps Improving Prized Relations with US VOA 27 Aug 2018 -- Taiwan and the United States are showing signs of growing a solid relationship that goes beyond U.S. President Donald Trump's widely suspected use of Taipei as a bargaining chip in his administration's talks with China, analysts say.
  • Upcoming war games to assess reactions of allies: sources CNA 26 Aug 2018 -- Computerized war games will be held this week to test Taiwan's readiness to handle a major crisis, such as an attack on its critical infrastructure, involving simulated possible reactions to a range of scenarios by the country's allies, sources said Sunday.
  • Possible worst-case scenario assessed: Presidential Office CNA 24 Aug 2018 -- As Taiwan still needs to overcome the bad feelings caused by El Salvador's switch of diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing, Presidential Office spokesman Alex Huang (黃重諺) admitted Friday that the government must assess the worst-case scenario if Taiwan is left with no diplomatic allies.
  • Presidential Office thanks U.S. for speaking out for Taiwan CNA 24 Aug 2018 -- The Presidential Office thanked the United States Friday for speaking out for Taiwan following El Salvador's switch of diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing earlier in the week.
  • U.S. to review relations with El Salvador CNA 24 Aug 2018 -- The United States said Wednesday it was gravely concerned about El Salvador's decision the previous day to shift diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing, and as a result will reexamine its relations with the Central American country.
  • Taiwan will not bow to China's plundering: MAC CNA 24 Aug 2018 -- Taiwan will never bow to China's bullying and plundering, and what China has done will also not alter the fact that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign country, Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said Friday.
  • Eyeing China, US Scolds El Salvador, Warns Others on Cutting Taiwan Ties VOA 24 Aug 2018 -- The Trump administration says it is re-examining relations with El Salvador after the Central American nation broke diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favor of China. In a statement, the White House criticized the country's decision as well as Beijing's diplomatic outreach that led to the move.
  • Statement from the Press Secretary on El Salvador The White House 23 Aug 2018
  • Live-fire exercise at Taiping Island does not endanger others: CGA CNA 23 Aug 2018 -- Routine annual live-fire exercises carried out at Taiping Island in the Spratly Island chain in the South China Sea do not endanger the ships of other countries, the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) said Thursday.
  • Premier reiterates Taiwan's non-nuclear goal CNA 23 Aug 2018 -- Premier Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said Wednesday that the government remains committed to its goal of making Taiwan a non-nuclear homeland by 2025 and that there is no need for the public to worry about a resulting power shortage.
  • Honduras, Nicaragua envoys affirm ties with Taiwan CNA 23 Aug 2018 -- Ambassadors from two of Taiwan's Central American allies reaffirmed Thursday their respective governments' commitment to maintaining diplomatic relationship with the Republic of China (Taiwan), two days after neighboring El Salvador announced its change of allegiance from Taipei to Beijing.
  • Tsai marks anniversary of Kinmen bombardment, vows to safeguard Taiwan CNA 23 Aug 2018 -- President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) released a recorded statement Thursday to mark the 60th anniversary of the bombardment of Kinmen Island by Chinese communist forces, saying her administration was committed to safeguarding Taiwan and calling for unity among the people.
  • U.S. relies on Taiwan in regional peace and stability: AIT head CNA 23 Aug 2018 -- The United States relies on Taiwan to promote regional peace and stability and will continue to support the country as it expands its significant global contributions and as it resists efforts to constrain its participation on the world stage, the de facto U.S. ambassador to Taiwan said Thursday.
  • China rejects US criticism of El Salvador's decision People's Daily 23 Aug 2018 -- Beijing said on Wednesday that there is no reason for anyone to interfere with El Salvador's decision to establish diplomatic ties with China, and it urged Washington to refrain from sending the "wrong signals" to pro-independence forces in Taiwan.
  • China won't cease bullying Taiwan: president CNA 22 Aug 2018 -- China will not stop its bullying of Taiwan as year-end local elections approach, but the ruling party will spare no efforts to safeguard the sovereignty of the Republic of China (Taiwan), President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said Wednesday.
  • U.S. response to El Salvador switch shows Taiwan-U.S. cooperation CNA 22 Aug 2018 -- A U.S. expression of disappointment over El Salvador's decision to switch diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing shows close cooperation between Taiwan and the U.S., experts said Wednesday.
  • U.S. lawmakers reaffirm support for Taiwan CNA 22 Aug 2018 -- A number of U.S. senators and congressmen expressed their support for Taiwan following the termination of diplomatic ties between the nation and El Salvador Tuesday, as El Salvador decided to switch ties to China, allegedly for financial aid.
  • U.S. 'disappointed' in El Salvador's cutting of ties with Taiwan CNA 22 Aug 2018 -- The U.S. Department of State was disappointed by El Salvador's decision to switch diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing and will review the United States' relationship with the Central American country, a spokesperson said Tuesday.
  • Kingdom Of Eswatini Will Not Switch Allegiance From Taiwan To China - Minister Sputnik 22 Aug 2018 -- Taiwan, which China continues to call a wayward province, now has ties with only 17 countries, almost all of them in Central America and the Pacific.
  • Taiwan Leader's US Visit Gives Boost at Home, Enrages China VOA 22 Aug 2018 -- The Taiwanese president's unusually high-profile trip to the United States this month boosted her image at home but enraged Beijing, sparking China's boycott of a Taiwanese-owned coffee shop chain and possibly the latest loss of a diplomatic ally.
  • Taiwan cuts ties with El Salvador CNA 21 Aug 2018 -- Taiwan is cutting diplomatic ties with El Salvador after the Central American nation asked Taiwan for an "astronomical sum" of financial aid, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) announced Tuesday.
  • Taiwan denounces China for taking its allies, brutish suppression CNA 21 Aug 2018 -- The Mainland Affairs Council lodged a strong protest Tuesday over China, which it denounced for constantly brutally wresting allies away from the Republic of China (Taiwan) in an attempt to press Taiwan into submitting to its political stance.
  • China's suppression of Taiwan leaves no room for appeasement: Tsai CNA 21 Aug 2018 -- China's many actions to suppress Taiwan have implications for not only Taiwan but the world because they demonstrate Beijing's ambition to challenge and replace the existing international order, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said Tuesday.
  • Taiwan summons El Salvador envoy to protest break in ties CNA 21 Aug 2018 -- Vice Foreign Minister Jose Maria Liu (劉德立) on Tuesday summoned El Salvador's ambassador to Taiwan to lodge a protest over her country's decision to change allegiance to Beijing.
  • China's luring of allies infringes on Taiwan sovereignty: Tsai CNA 21 Aug 2018 -- President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said Tuesday that the way China has been pressuring the allies of the Republic of China (Taiwan) into switching diplomatic allegiance to Beijing is tantamount to "infringement on our sovereignty."
  • Taiwan vents anger after losing another ally to China Press TV 21 Aug 2018 -- Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen has voiced anger at Beijing's "increasingly-out-of-control" behavior following El Salvador's move to sever ties with her self-proclaimed government in favor of China.
  • El Salvador Establishes Diplomatic Relations With China, Breaks Ties With Taiwan Sputnik 21 Aug 2018 -- The government of El Salvador announced on Tuesday the establishment of diplomatic relations with China after breaking official ties with Taiwan.
  • Taiwan hoping for further cooperation with U.S. in space exploration CNA 20 Aug 2018 -- President Tsai Ing-wen's (蔡英文) visit to the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) space center in Houston, Texas Saturday has sparked hope in Taiwan for further collaboration with the United States in the field of space exploration.
  • MAC slams China over its criticism of Tsai's overseas tour CNA 20 Aug 2018 -- Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) bashed China on Monday over its criticism of President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and her recent trip overseas, saying that such a reaction will not help improve cross-Taiwan Strait relations.
  • President Tsai thanks U.S. for transit arrangements CNA 18 Aug 2018 -- President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), who is at the final stop of her nine-day overseas trip, said on Friday that she was grateful to the United States for arranging her stopovers in two U.S. cities.
  • China never renounced use of force against Taiwan: MAC CNA 18 Aug 2018 -- China has never renounced the use of force against Taiwan, which is a "fact" rather than an "assumption," Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said Saturday.
  • Taiwan's military advantages vs. China waning: U.S. report CNA 17 Aug 2018 -- Taiwan's military advantages are on the wane as Beijing continues to modernize its armed forces and reinforce preparations for a possible conflict in the Taiwan Strait, the United States said in a report on China's military power.
  • Beijing urged to cherish peace in Taiwan Strait CNA 17 Aug 2018 -- Taiwan called on Beijing Friday to cherish the hard-earned peace and stability between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait and in the region.
  • Policy on Taiwan unchanged by Tsai's public address: U.S. official CNA 15 Aug 2018 -- Heather Nauert, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said Tuesday that Washington's policy toward Taiwan has not changed, after being asked to comment on a public address made by President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) Monday during a stopover in Los Angeles en route to Paraguay.
  • US says won't change 'One China' policy after Tsai's speech Press TV 15 Aug 2018 -- The Trump administration has said it will not change its "One China" policy following a political speech by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen in the US.
  • Taiwan thanks U.S. for defense bill signing CNA 14 Aug 2018 -- President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and Taiwan's defense authorities have expressed gratitude to the United States after U.S. President Donald Trump signed the national defense authorization for fiscal 2019 Monday, which includes provisions supporting the strengthening of Taiwan's armed forces.
  • Websites of US airlines re-evaluated People's Daily 11 Aug 2018 -- The Civil Aviation Administration of China said on Friday that it is evaluating how the websites of four United States-based airlines refer to Taiwan.
  • China's military drills closely monitored: MND CNA 10 Aug 2018 -- With China set to stage military drills in the Yellow Sea, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Friday that all military movements in that area have been and will continue to be closely monitored to safeguard Taiwan's safety.
  • As China Bears Down, Taiwan's President Turns to the Americas VOA 10 Aug 2018 -- Taiwan's president will travel to North, Central and South America this month to renew support from two of her government's few remaining foreign allies and tighten informal ties with the United States, both steps crucial to resisting increased pressure from China.
  • Taiwan sees no room for talks with China on proposed undersea tunnel CNA 08 Aug 2018 -- Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said Wednesday that under the current circumstances, there can be no bilateral discussions on China's proposal to build an undersea railway between the two sides.
  • Taiwan Positions Land-Attack Cruise Missile Toward Mainland China Sputnik 08 Aug 2018 -- Satellite imagery published by Kanwa Defense Review shows that Taiwan has positioned a land-attack cruise missile toward mainland China that is capable of targeting several cities along the country's southeast coast.
  • S-70C choppers to make last public appearance Aug. 11 CNA 07 Aug 2018 -- The aging S-70C helicopters of Taiwan's Air Force will likely make their last appearance in public at an open base event at Chiayi Air Base on Aug. 11 before being replaced by the more modern UH-60M Black Hawks in 2019.
  • Prosecution probes sources of pro-China party's funds CNA 07 Aug 2018 -- Prosecutors searched the office of the Chinese Unity Promotion Party and the home of party head Chang An-le (張安樂) Tuesday on suspicion that the party has violated the law pertaining to organized crime.
  • Taiwan allocates 21.3% of proposed defense budget to indigenous arms CNA 06 Aug 2018 -- Taiwan will spend more than one-fifth of its defense budget next year on the development of indigenous weapons, in line with the government's policy of strengthening national security, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said Monday.
  • International cooperation leading to submarine breakthroughs: Tsai CNA 06 Aug 2018 -- Taiwan has been making breakthroughs in resolving bottlenecks encountered in the design and manufacturing of submarines through international cooperation and other efforts at home, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said Monday.
  • Taiwan still mulling countermeasures to name change by airlines: MOTC CNA 06 Aug 2018 -- The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) said Monday that the government is considering its next move in response to the recent decision by a number of international airlines to change the way they refer to Taiwan on their websites due to pressure from China.
  • Taiwan will not yield an inch to Chinese pressure: president CNA 05 Aug 2018 -- China has assumed an even more overbearing manner toward Taiwan aimed at undermining the morale of the Taiwanese people and causing disruption to society, but Taiwan will not yield an inch, no matter how great the pressure, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said Sunday.
  • Taiwan willing to participate in talks over South China Sea: MOFA CNA 03 Aug 2018 -- Taiwan has the capacity and is willing to participate in multilateral negotiations in a joint effort to promote peace and stability in the South China Sea, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Friday.
  • U.S. defense act backs strengthening Taiwan's combat readiness CNA 02 Aug 2018 -- The U.S. Senate passed an annual defense policy bill Wednesday for fiscal year 2019, which includes provisions supporting the strengthening of Taiwan's armed forces.
  • Returning to nuclear energy 'specious,' 'outworn': president CNA 02 Aug 2018 -- President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) rebuffed Thursday the argument that Taiwan should continue to use nuclear energy until the renewable energy industry matures, saying that Taiwan will not face power shortages after it goes nuclear-free by 2025.



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