Taiwan's defence ministry said on Tuesday it is watching the movements of a Chinese aircraft carrier and assessing China's military activities as security sources said Beijing could launch new war games as soon as this weekend.
Taiwan's defence ministry said on Tuesday it is watching the movements of a Chinese aircraft carrier and assessing China's military activities as security sources said Beijing could launch new war games as soon as this weekend.
China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has held two rounds of war games around the island so far this year, and its forces operate nearby on a daily basis.
China has a strong dislike of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, whom it calls a "separatist", and sources have told Reuters it could launch new drills to coincide with his trip to the Pacific this week which includes visits to Hawaii and Guam.
Speaking at a regular news briefing, Taiwan Defence Ministry spokesperson Sun Li-fang said Taiwan knew where Chinese aircraft carrier the Liaoning was, but could not give details. The Liaoning was involved in the last Chinese war games in October.
"The Ministry of National Defence takes a serious view of the enemy situation and handles this matter very seriously. We have very solid preparations and are not afraid of any threats," he said.
Asked whether Chinese war games could start this weekend given Lai returns to Taiwan late on Friday, Sun declined direct comment.
"We have a very thorough judgment of the enemy situation, and there are a lot of indicators here that we use to make appropriate judgments to deal with the situation."
China's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China's government has expressed anger at the U.S. for allowing Lai to visit.
Lai rejects China's sovereignty claims but says he wants peace with Beijing and has repeatedly offered talks, but been rebuffed.
Three Taipei-based security sources, speaking on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the matter, said that based on latest intelligence assessments, chances of war games starting this weekend were high.
One source described a "busier" than usual scene in the waters around Taiwan which might be China positioning itself for the possible drills.
A north bound Russian naval fleet, which included three frigates and one supply vessel, on Monday approached close to Taiwan's contiguous zone 24 nautical miles (45 km) off its southeastern coasts and conducted joint simulated attacks on "foreign vessels and aircraft" with a Chinese destroyer nearby, the source said.
The Russian fleet entered the East China Sea early on Tuesday, and the source said it was expected to continue joint military manoeuvres with its Chinese counterparts as it heads north.
Meanwhile, China has deployed close to 40 vessels in the region, including a Chinese aircraft carrier group led by Liaoning in the East China Sea as well as other naval and coast guard boats in the South China Sea.
"The assessments show that China might be making deployment for the drills after the visit," the source said, referring to Lai's Pacific trip.
A second source told Reuters that what would be unusual winter drills for China's military would be the kind of practice they would need to be able to attack Taiwan should the need come at any time of the year.
"China has been honing their ability to operate at night, and being able to fight in bad weather is another skill they need to get right," the source added.
China has pledged stronger support to Pacific Island nations in combating climate change, offering new investments and infrastructure projects, as it looks to expand its regional influence while U.S. aid remains stalled.
China’s development centered on digital resources is gaining momentum under a new three-year plan aimed at boosting information use to support economic and social growth.
Alashankou Port in Xinjiang continues to play a vital role in global trade, with freight train traffic to Europe and Central Asia surpassing 3,000 trips this year alone.
All eight people reported missing in a sudden mountain torrent in Guangxi, south China, have been confirmed dead, with the last body found 25 kilometres downstream, authorities said.
China has taken a major step in deep space exploration with the launch of Tianwen-2, aiming to become the third nation to return samples from an asteroid.
Fourteen years after President Barack Obama asked Steve Jobs what it would take to manufacture iPhones in the United States, President Donald Trump is pressing Apple CEO Tim Cook with the same question — but under more aggressive terms.
Russia will send the same delegation to the second round of negotiations with Ukraine, scheduled for June 2 in Istanbul, according to a diplomatic statement on Thursday.
The next five years are likely to be the warmest in recorded history, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), as rising global temperatures push the planet closer to surpassing key climate thresholds with wide-ranging consequences.
A U.S. federal trade court delivered a significant blow to President Donald Trump’s trade policy on Wednesday, ruling that his administration exceeded presidential authority when it imposed sweeping tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners.
Brazil’s economy is expected to have regained momentum in the first quarter of 2025, driven by a surge in household spending and private investment, according to a Reuters poll of economists conducted from May 21–26.
AnewZ takes to the streets of Yerevan and Baku to ask a simple yet deeply complex question: How do you see peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan? In the first part of our special report, we hear the hopes, doubts, and scars still shaping people’s perspectives on both sides.
On May 28, the inauguration ceremony of Lachin International Airport was held.
A car drove into crowds of Liverpool fans celebrating the club’s Premier League title in the city centre on Monday evening, injuring dozens including 4 children. A 53-year-old man believed to be the driver was arrested at the scene.
EU ministers have greenlit a massive €150 billion defense investment fund—dubbed the Security Action for Europe (SAFE)—as the bloc ramps up its military readiness in response to Russia’s aggression and growing uncertainty over U.S. security guarantees.
Kyiv faced a large-scale Russian drone and missile assault overnight, with explosions and gunfire echoing throughout the city, forcing residents to shelter in subway stations.
Fourteen years after President Barack Obama asked Steve Jobs what it would take to manufacture iPhones in the United States, President Donald Trump is pressing Apple CEO Tim Cook with the same question — but under more aggressive terms.
Russia will send the same delegation to the second round of negotiations with Ukraine, scheduled for June 2 in Istanbul, according to a diplomatic statement on Thursday.
A U.S. federal trade court delivered a significant blow to President Donald Trump’s trade policy on Wednesday, ruling that his administration exceeded presidential authority when it imposed sweeping tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners.
Brazil’s economy is expected to have regained momentum in the first quarter of 2025, driven by a surge in household spending and private investment, according to a Reuters poll of economists conducted from May 21–26.
A 53-year-old man has been charged after a car was driven into a crowd during Liverpool FC’s trophy parade celebration.
Fourteen years after President Barack Obama asked Steve Jobs what it would take to manufacture iPhones in the United States, President Donald Trump is pressing Apple CEO Tim Cook with the same question — but under more aggressive terms.
Russia will send the same delegation to the second round of negotiations with Ukraine, scheduled for June 2 in Istanbul, according to a diplomatic statement on Thursday.
The next five years are likely to be the warmest in recorded history, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), as rising global temperatures push the planet closer to surpassing key climate thresholds with wide-ranging consequences.
A U.S. federal trade court delivered a significant blow to President Donald Trump’s trade policy on Wednesday, ruling that his administration exceeded presidential authority when it imposed sweeping tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners.
Brazil’s economy is expected to have regained momentum in the first quarter of 2025, driven by a surge in household spending and private investment, according to a Reuters poll of economists conducted from May 21–26.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment