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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)


December 2019 - Taiwan Special Weapons News

  • Taiwan's military raises alert status for upcoming elections CNA 31 Dec 2019 -- Taiwan's military is on "focused alert" for the Jan. 11 presidential and legislative elections, which puts the troops on guard against possible external threats and any internal contingencies, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Tuesday.
  • Anti-infiltration bill passes legislature amid protests CNA 31 Dec 2019 -- An anti-infiltration bill which criminalizes political activities backed by hostile foreign forces such as China, was pushed through the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-controlled legislature Tuesday, despite protests from the opposition that the bill could be used to suppress those who hold different political views to the government.
  • Taiwan's 'anti-infiltration bill' signals DPP hostility to cross-Straits ties Global Times 31 Dec 2019 -- The island of Taiwan's "anti-infiltration bill," which was passed on Tuesday by Taiwan legislative authority, is a move of "green terror" by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and will hurt the interests of Taiwan people, the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office said on Tuesday, adding that the bill is a bid to score political brownie points.
  • Taiwan Passes Law Banning Political Infiltration by Foreign Powers Radio Free Asia 31 Dec 2019 -- Taiwan on Tuesday passed an anti-infiltration law in a bid to counter Chinese interference in its democratic process ahead of a general election next month.
  • Tsai Ing-wen far ahead in final opinion polls before Taiwan vote CNA 31 Dec 2019 -- President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) is a virtual shoo-in to be re-elected as Taiwan's president on Jan. 11, 2020 if the final polls released before a 10-day poll blackout period are to be believed.
  • Business group, opposition blast DPP over anti-infiltration bill CNA 31 Dec 2019 -- A business group and opposition parties blasted the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government Tuesday for pushing through an anti-infiltration bill earlier in the day which they fear could be used by the government to suppress those who hold different political views and hinder cross-strait exchanges.
  • Taiwan procures more TOW 2B anti-tank missiles from U.S. CNA 30 Dec 2019 -- Taiwan's military is procuring anti-tank missiles and launching platforms worth NT$11.3 billion (US$373 million) from the United States, a government notice of award posted online showed Monday.
  • Law amended to protect and attract Taiwan investment Global Times 29 Dec 2019 -- The National People's Congress Standing Committee on Saturday approved an amendment to a law on Taiwan compatriots' investment to protect and welcome more investment from the island of Taiwan.
  • U.S. responds to Chinese aircraft carrier transit in Taiwan Strait CNA 27 Dec 2019 -- The U.S. State Department urged China to "abstain from coercion" on Thursday, following the transit of a Chinese aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Strait earlier that day.
  • US Warns China Against 'Coercion' of Taiwan After Beijing's Carrier Passes Island Sputnik 27 Dec 2019 -- Washington has issued a warning to Beijing and is calling for the government to engage in dialogue with Taipei following the recent passage of the People's Liberation Army Navy's newest aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Strait.
  • China's domestically built warship sails through Taiwan Strait Press TV 27 Dec 2019 -- China has dispatched its first domestically-made aircraft carrier into the Taiwan Strait, in a move which Taipei described as an "intimidation" tactic ahead of the islands presidential election.
  • Shandong sails through Taiwan Straits Global Times 27 Dec 2019-- China's second aircraft carrier Shandong reportedly sailed through the Taiwan Straits on Thursday in its apparent first-ever mission after joining the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy last week.
  • China's first indigenous aircraft carrier transits Taiwan Strait CNA 26 Dec 2019 -- China's first domestically-built aircraft carrier "Shandong" is sailing through the Taiwan Strait as of Thursday evening, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) said in a statement.
  • China Sails Carrier Through Taiwan Strait VOA 26 Dec 2019 -- Taiwan's Defense Ministry said Thursday that China had sailed its newest aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Strait for a second time.
  • Policies to benefit Taiwan compatriots People's Daily 26 Dec 2019 -- As the Democratic Progressive Party of erects barriers to cross-Straits exchanges, the mainland is concerned about the interests and well-being of the island's residents, the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office said on Wednesday.
  • Mainland implements measures to benefit Taiwan compatriots Global Times 26 Dec 2019 -- A total of 102 local governments in the Chinese mainland have implemented preferential policies for Taiwan residents on housing, education, and travel, officials announced during a press conference at the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office on Wednesday.
  • Taiwan slams China over criticism of anti-infiltration bill CNA 25 Dec 2019 -- Taipei berated Beijing Wednesday for its criticism of a proposed anti-infiltration bill that Taiwan's ruling party has vowed to push through the Legislature before the end of the year.
  • Strong defense, not compromise, key to defending R.O.C.: Tsai CNA 24 Dec 2019 -- Strong and unwavering national defense, not making compromises, is the key to defending the country, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said Tuesday as she promoted 20 senior military personnel in Taipei.
  • Taiwan Envoy Act risks jeopardizing China-US relations: analysts Global Times 24 Dec 2019 -- The US bill that seeks to grant the director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) the rank and status of an ambassador risks stepping on the red line of China-US relations, making it unlikely to pass neither in the House nor the Senate, Chinese mainland analysts said on Tuesday, after the bill was introduced in the US House of Representatives.
  • Taiwan Charges Military Colonel With Spying, Developing Intelligence Network for Beijing Sputnik 24 Dec 2019 -- A retired Taiwanese air force colonel was charged by the New Taipei City District Prosecutor's office Tuesday for spying and assisting in the development of an intelligence network for Beijing in Taiwan.
  • Analysts: Xi's Praise of Loyal Macau Won't Appeal to Hong Kong, Taiwan VOA 24 Dec 2019 -- In his address to the 20th Handover Ceremony in Macau last Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping seemingly committed a gaffe that appeared to reveal his intention of setting the implementation of "one country, two systems" in Macau as a good example for neighboring Hong Kong and even Taiwan.
  • M1A2 tanks to serve as last line of defense: scholar CNA 22 Dec 2019 -- The addition of U.S-made M1A2 Abrams battle tanks will serve as the last line of defense should enemy forces land on Taiwan, a military expert said Sunday.
  • New F-16Vs to deter Chinese from east: experts CNA 22 Dec 2019 -- The upcoming addition of 66 F-16 C/D Block 70 fighter jets, commonly known as the F-16Vs, to Taiwan's air force, will be posted in eastern Taiwan to boost the military's defense capability against Chinese aircraft carriers, defense specialists told CNA Saturday.
  • Forum debates Taiwan options Global Times 22 Dec 2019 -- Experts and former officials reflected on methods to win the hearts of Taiwan residents and to handle the US messing with the Taiwan question after a retired lieutenant general warned the door to peaceful reunification "had been closed" and called for military action to solve it as soon as possible.
  • U.S., Taiwan seal arms deals CNA 21 Dec 2019 -- Taiwan has signed letters of offer and acceptance (LOAs) with the United States for the procurement of F-16V fighter jets and other advanced military equipment, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) confirmed Saturday.
  • Taiwan thanks U.S. for signing defense bill CNA 21 Dec 2019 -- Taiwan thanked U.S. President Donald Trump Saturday for signing the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes a resolution that calls for the enhancement of defense and security cooperation between Taiwan and the U.S.
  • Experts have heated discussion over reunification with Taiwan Global Times 21 Dec 2019 -- Focusing on whether 2020 is a crucial year for the reunification of the Chinese mainland and Taiwan and if this will be realized via a peaceful process or armed conflict, many experts across the board from both the mainland and Taiwan had an ardent and erudite discussion, during the annual Global Times forum on Saturday.
  • Reunification only acceptable option for Taiwan question: experts Global Times 21 Dec 2019 -- China's reunification is an irreversible trend and the only acceptable option for the Taiwan question, but it is not necessary that it will be achieved in a peaceful way, experts said at the annual forum of the Global Times in Beijing on Saturday.
  • Support For Taiwan's Opposition KMT Plummets in Wake of Hong Kong Protests Radio Free Asia 20 Dec 2019 -- Support for the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), a party that fled to Taiwan in 1949 and still wants it to be part of a "unified" China some day, is at a new low on the democratic island ahead of presidential elections in 2020.
  • US bill mandates report on Chinese interference in Taiwan election CNA 18 Dec 2019 -- The U.S. Senate on Tuesday gave final passage to the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a provision of which mandates a report on any Chinese interference in Taiwan's elections.
  • US defense bill interferes in Taiwan, slammed as thief crying 'Stop thief!' Global Times 18 Dec 2019 -- The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) showcases blatant US interference in the upcoming election on the island of Taiwan, Chinese experts said on Wednesday, and warned the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that pulling closer to the US would backfire.
  • AIDC, Lockheed Martin MOU good for both sides: premier CNA 17 Dec 2019 -- An agreement signed between a state-run aircraft builder and a U.S. defense contractor Tuesday to turn Taiwan into a maintenance hub for F-16 fighter jets will be a win-win for both parties, according to Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌).
  • Taiwan, U.S. companies to ink pact on F-16 maintenance center CNA 16 Dec 2019 -- Taiwan's state-owned Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. (AIDC) and U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp. are to sign a strategic partnership agreement Tuesday to promote the establishment of an F-16 fighter jet maintenance center in Taiwan, according to AIDC.
  • Trump, Hong Kong Protests, Boost Taiwan President's Approval Rating VOA 16 Dec 2019 -- Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, a thorn in the side of China, saw her approval rating plunge to 24% about a year ago. Now the leader who continues to resist Beijing enjoys a more than 55% approval rating – a month before she stands for reelection.
  • Nauru president reaffirms ties with Taiwan CNA 14 Dec 2019 -- Nauru President Lionel Aingimea, who is currently in Taiwan for his first foreign visit after assuming office in August, reaffirmed Nauru-Taiwan relations on Saturday amid ongoing Chinese expansion in the South Pacific region.
  • New law stiffens jail terms for spying CNA 13 Dec 2019 -- The Legislative Yuan passed an amendment Friday that increases jail terms for Taiwanese caught spying and expands the scope of counterintelligence provisions to bolster Taiwan's security against espionage and infiltration activities.
  • Senior official expounds on peaceful reunification Global Times 13 Dec 2019 -- A senior Chinese mainland official responsible for Taiwan affairs published an article in the flagship newspaper of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Thursday to expound on plans to realize reunification, the same day the US House of Representatives passed the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act which includes parts related to the Taiwan question.
  • Remembering The Formosa Incident in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 40 Years On Radio Free Asia 12 Dec 2019 -- Democratic Taiwan, which was itself once ruled by a one-party authoritarian state under the nationalist Kuomintang (KMT), has been vocal in support of protesters in Hong Kong and their demands for freedom and democracy in the face of growing interference from Beijing.
  • China says Taiwan intimidating people, inciting hostility Press TV 11 Dec 2019 -- China says a proposed bill in Taiwan purportedly aimed at combating Chinese influence is spreading alarm among the Taiwanese business community in China and inciting hostility.
  • Recognizing Beijing imperils Taiwan allies' sovereignty: US official CNA 10 Dec 2019 -- A U.S. State Department official warned Monday that allies of Taiwan who switch recognition to Beijing could be imperiling their sovereignty, citing risks such as debt and Chinese influence in domestic policymaking.
  • Bill asks Pentagon to form US-Taiwan cybersecurity group CNA 10 Dec 2019 -- A conference agreement version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal 2020 suggests the U.S. government should study the feasibility of forming a U.S.-Taiwan working group to coordinate responses to cybersecurity issues, among other recommendations designed to enhance defense and security cooperation between the two countries.
  • China's Cutting-Edge PCL191 Multiple Launch Rocket System in Strategic Proximity to Taiwan – Reports Sputnik 09 Dec 2019 -- The new PCL191 system is understood to be capable of destroying multiple strategic targets such as airports, command points, and supply bases. One of the locations it is reportedly stationed at now is Xiamen in Fujian Province, just a stone's throw away from Taiwan.
  • EU foreign and security policy highlights support for Taiwan CNA 05 Dec 2019 -- The European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday approved a resolution on its annual foreign and security policy, part of which highlighted the European Union's (EU) support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations and activities.
  • Retired military officer and his father indicted on spying charges CNA 04 Dec 2019 -- Retired Army Lt. Col. Cheng Chih-wen (鄭智文) and his father, Cheng Chao-ming (鄭昭明), chairman of the Taiwan Labor Party, were indicted Tuesday for spying and trying to recruit military personnel to work for China in violation of the National Security Act.
  • Ex-defense chief calls for swift passage of anti-infiltration law CNA 02 Dec 2019 -- A former defense minister of Taiwan on Monday called on lawmakers to swiftly pass an anti-infiltration law to prevent Chinese interference in the nation's politics.
  • Tsai authority exploits 'China spy' farce Global Times 01 Dec 2019 -- The Tsai Ing-wen administration attempted to manipulate the Chinese spy farce to affect the Taiwan regional 2020 election, Deputy Secretary-General of the Nationalist Party of China (or Kuomintang) Tsai Cheng-Yuan said in an exclusive interview with the Global Times on Sunday amid the Western media's continuous hyping of the Wang Liqiang spy story.



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