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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)


December 2018 - Taiwan Special Weapons News

  • Mass production of armored vehicles to be completed by 2023 CNA 31 Dec 2018 -- Taiwan will begin mass production of its indigenous CM-34 "Clouded Leopard" eight-wheeled armored vehicles next year and is scheduled to complete the production of 284 of the vehicles by 2023, a Ministry of National Defense (MND) official said Monday.
  • Cross-strait stability a shared responsibility: President Tsai CNA 28 Dec 2018 -- President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said Friday that maintaining stability in relations across the Taiwan Strait is a shared responsibility to be borne by both sides, and she called on China to make an effort, with Taiwan, to achieve the objective.
  • Taiwan ends conscription NHK 26 Dec 2018 -- Taiwan ended its compulsory military service on Wednesday. Defense officials say they are on track to an all-volunteer military.
  • China wants to wipe out Republic of China with '1992 consensus': MAC CNA 24 Dec 2018 -- The "1992 consensus" China wants Taiwan to adhere to does not acknowledge that the two sides can interpret the meaning of "one China" based on their own definition but is meant to wipe out the Republic of China (Taiwan), the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) warned Monday in a statement.
  • Taiwan reiterates claim over Diaoyutais amid Japan protest CNA 20 Dec 2018 -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) reiterated Thursday Taiwan's claim over the disputed Diaoyutai Islands in the East China Sea after the Japanese government issued a protest to the ministry as it found a record number of Taiwanese fishing vessels operating near the islands that are claimed by both countries.
  • Presidential Office thanks U.S. Congress for passing Asia policy bill CNA 20 Dec 2018 -- The Presidential Office on Thursday thanked the U.S. Congress for passing the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018, which includes a section reaffirming U.S. commitment to Taiwan, particularly regarding arms sales.
  • Taiwan's former President Ma says independence not possible CNA 20 Dec 2018 -- Taiwan's options for the future lie only between maintaining the status quo tied to the "1992 consensus," a formula endorsing the one China principle, and unifying with China, while independence was not possible, former President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said Thursday.
  • U.S. senators urge action against CCP meddling in Taiwan elections CNA 19 Dec 2018 -- Six American senators have asked U.S. government agencies to help Taiwan investigate China's alleged meddling in its elections and take action to prevent Beijing from interfering in future elections in democracies around the globe.
  • China Resumes Bomber Flights Around Taiwan, Ending Six-Month Hiatus Sputnik 20 Dec 2018 -- On Tuesday, Taiwan's air defenses detected Chinese bombers and other aircraft flying near the island for the first time in six months.
  • China's military actions around Taiwan 'irresponsible' CNA 18 Dec 2018 -- The Presidential Office said Tuesday that any military actions that escalate tension in the region and damage relations between Taiwan and China are irresponsible and are not welcomed by the international community.
  • Military aware of PLA aircraft, vessel operations near Taiwan CNA 18 Dec 2018 -- Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Tuesday it was aware that a number of Chinese aircraft and military vessels were operating near Taiwan during the day and that it was closely monitoring their movements.
  • U.S. think tank lists U.S.-China risks over Taiwan for 1st time CNA 18 Dec 2018 -- The Council on Foreign Relations included a possible crisis between the United States and China over Taiwan for the first time in its annual Preventive Priorities Survey, the latest version of which was issued Monday.
  • Taiwan thanks U.S. Congress for passing Asia policy bill CNA 18 Dec 2018 -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Tuesday thanked the U.S. Congress for passing the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act, which is aimed at enhancing U.S. leadership in Asia and strengthening cooperation with regional partners, Taiwan included.
  • Taiwan Relations Act annoyed Deng Xiaoping, declassified files show CNA 17 Dec 2018 -- When the United States Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) nearly four decades ago, then Chinese Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping (鄧小平) was annoyed about it, saying that would make the Taiwan president "very cocky," according to declassified U.S. government files.
  • Amid military reform, China unlikely to attack Taiwan soon: report CNA 13 Dec 2018 -- China is unlikely to flex its muscles on a large scale in the Taiwan Strait any time soon as its military reform is still in progress, a local think tank said in a report Thursday.
  • European Parliament calls for resumption of cross-strait talks CNA 13 Dec 2018 -- The European Parliament (EP) adopted a resolution Wednesday that includes a provision encouraging the two sides of the Taiwan Strait to resume their dialogue and reiterating the European Union's support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations.
  • Air Force to take delivery of first four F-16Vs in March CNA 12 Dec 2018 -- The Air Force is scheduled to take delivery of its first four upgraded F-16 fighter jets at the end of March next year, a military official said Wednesday during a legislative session.
  • Tsai will not sacrifice Taiwan's dignity for ties with China: aide CNA 12 Dec 2018 -- President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) will not sacrifice Taiwan's sovereignty and dignity for economic benefits while pursuing the policy of peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Strait, Presidential Office Secretary-General Chen Chu (陳菊) said Wednesday at a legislative committee meeting.
  • China engaged in spreading fake news in Taiwan: NSB official CNA 10 Dec 2018 -- Although there is no evidence China meddled in Taiwan's Nov. 24 local elections, Beijing and foreign-based forces frequently spread fake news in Taiwan, a National Security Bureau (NSB) official said Monday.
  • Taiwan to upgrade Navy ships' self-defense system against air threats CNA 09 Dec 2018 -- Taiwan plans to spend nearly NT$2 billion to upgrade the electronic warfare system on its four Kidd-class destroyers in response to China's missile threats and to enhance surface-to-air combat capability, according to the Ministry of National Defense (MND).
  • Asia Reassurance Initiative Act clears U.S. Senate CNA 06 Dec 2018 -- The United States Senate on Tuesday passed the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018, which includes a section reaffirming U.S. commitment to Taiwan, particularly arms sales.
  • Ex-president Ma envisions peaceful, democratic unification with China CNA 05 Dec 2018 -- Former President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said Wednesday that any unification between Taiwan and China must be peaceful and democratic, and that his recent "three noes" proposal is in line with the terms of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Constitution.
  • Taiwan Expected to Adjust Its Hands-Off Stance Toward China after Elections VOA 05 Dec 2018 -- Taiwan is expected to adjust its largely hands-off stance toward political rival China by 2020, following losses for the ruling party in local elections last month, while still holding a middle ground between independence and unification.
  • Air Force finds debris from missing Mirage-2000 CNA 04 Dec 2018 -- The Air Force Command Headquarters confirmed Tuesday that it has found debris from a Mirage 2000 fighter that went missing during a flight training sortie last November.



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