Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Myanmar quake strikes China’s belt and road heartland: how bad is it? The impact on a key Chinese energy corridor is being closely monitored after a deadly earthquake hit…
Most young people in Taiwan would choose not to fight in a potential cross-strait conflict despite growing military threats from Beijing, according to informal interviews by the South China Morning Post. In several interviews, Taiwanese youth revealed a reluctance to fight that stemmed mainly from concerns about the life-threatening nature of war and Taiwan’s military…
Japan plans to deploy long-range missiles in its southwestern island of Kyushu near the East China Sea, amid growing fears of conflict in the Taiwan Strait, according to a Japanese media report. Japanese news agency Kyodo reported on Sunday that the missile deployment under consideration would strengthen “counterstrike capabilities” in the event of an emergency….
China held new military exercises around Taiwan, linking them to recent US moves backing the self-ruled archipelago. A total of 42 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait on Monday, the Ministry of National Defense in Taipei said in statements. The planes entered sensitive zones around the main island and trained with naval…
BEIJING/TAIPEI -Chinese military exercises near Taiwan on Monday were punishment for Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s continued promotion of “separatism”, according to a stern statement out of Beijing, as Taiwan hit back by calling China a troublemaker. China says military exercises near Taiwan punishment for ‘separatism’ China, which has never renounced the use of force to…
The Chinese military remains on high alert – “ready to fight at all times and able to fight at any time” – to thwart any attempt at Taiwan independence, according to the commander of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) unit overseeing the Taiwan Strait. The warning from Lin Xiangyang, who heads the PLA’s Eastern Theatre…
Taiwan, a self-governed island threatened by China, has recently developed and tested a supersonic missile for sinking invading vessels that can be launched by fighter aircraft. Newsweek has emailed the Chinese and Taiwanese defense ministries for comment. Why It Matters The Chinese communist government has claimed that Taiwan, which is a democracy and a security…
WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday reaffirmed Washington’s opposition to attempts to alter Taiwan’s status through force or coercion. The pledge comes amid growing concerns about the military threat China poses to the democratically ruled island and worries that Taiwan may be sidelined as Washington looks to make deals with Beijing….
Taiwan said Thursday it detected 45 Chinese aircraft near the self-ruled island, the highest number this year and a tally that comes a day after Taipei condemned China’s “live-fire” drills off the south. A day after Taipei denounced China’s “live-fire” operations off the south, Taiwan reported Thursday that it had spotted 45 Chinese aircraft close…
Mainland China’s military appeared to have stepped up manoeuvres near Taiwan during the country’s extended Lunar New Year holiday, usually a quiet period for defence and exercise activity. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) sent an average of 13 aircraft and six navy vessels near Taiwan during the 15-day holiday period, compared with nine aircraft and…