&w=3840&q=100)
Taiwan sees 15 sorties of Chinese aircraft, eight vessels in its territory
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) has said that it detected 15 People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, eight People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels and one official ship operating around Taiwan until 6 am (local time) on Wednesday.
According to Taiwan's MND, 15 out of the 15 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ).
"15 sorties of PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 15 out of 15 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly," the MND stated on X.
This incident follows a recent pattern of escalated manoeuvres by China around Taiwan, sparking concerns over regional stability.
Taiwan has been governed independently since 1949. However, China considers Taiwan part of its territory and insists on eventual reunification, by force if necessary.
Earlier on Tuesday, the MND had detected six PLA aircraft, eight PLAN vessels and three official ships operating around Taiwan until 6 am (local time).
According to the MND, six sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern and eastern ADIZ. In response to Chinese action, Taiwan's armed forces deployed aircraft, naval ships, and coastal missile systems to monitor the situation.
"6 PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN vessels and 3 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 6 out of 6 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern and eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded," the MND stated on X.
Earlier, Taiwan conducted a series of test firings of several Land Sword II and HIMARS systems to bolster air defence preparedness.
As per the MND, Land Sword II possesses the capability of countering varied aerial threats, thereby significantly enhancing the protection of the force.
"Land Sword II makes its live fire debut. This SAM system is capable of countering diverse aerial threats and significantly enhances force protection for #ROCArmy," MND wrote in a post on X on May 13.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
As India and Pakistan eye each other, this superpower eyes the whole map
Beijing's close ties with Islamabad give it a level of influence over dealings with Delhi The recent terrorist attack in India's Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, which originated in Pakistan and resulted in the death of 26, mostly Hindu, civilians, has triggered another wave of heightened tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad. While public discourse has focused on terrorism and hostilities between the two nuclear-powered nations, a deeper analysis reveals the unmistakable imprint of another key actor - China's strategic calculus in the region. The relationship between Islamabad and New Delhi has evolved significantly in recent decades. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar travelled to Beijing days after the military standoff with Delhi and met his counterpart Wang Yi. The Chinese Foreign Minister called Pakistan an " iron-clad friend" and " all-weather strategic partner." China is pursuing a strategy that aligns with its regional interests - including economic engagement, defense cooperation, and influence-building. This strategy, logically, includes efforts to slow down India's rise. Pahalgam incident thus cannot be seen an isolated terrorist attack, but as a signal within a larger geostrategic landscape that is shaping Asia's future. Strategic Timing The flareup in South Asia has come at a time of major geopolitical developments. With the mass shift of Western companies like Apple away from China to India, India is poised to become the next big manufacturing hub. As global businesses explore alternatives to rising operational costs and geopolitical uncertainties in China, India is increasingly seen as a competitive option. Additionally, the proposed US tariffs may add pressure to China's manufacturing sector, which is already adapting to evolving global supply chains. For the strongman leader, Xi Jinping, sustaining economic growth and employment remains a top priority. Any escalation involving India could introduce uncertainty that might affect investor sentiment and infrastructure momentum. Regional instability could redirect global attention away from India's growth narrative toward internal and border-related concerns. China's close political, economic and defence ties with Pakistan - an economically vulnerable partner - gives Beijing a certain level of influence on the way Islamabad deals with India. New Delhi was compelled to act militarily, risking escalation and economic fallout. To India's credit, it managed to negotiate a ceasefire after achieving its key objectives of affecting 11 Pakistani air bases and nine terrorist camps and other strategic terrorist infrastructures against the popular sentiment against de-escalation. Economic factor Pakistan has been struggling with near to bankruptcy. Its foreign exchange reserves have fallen to $4.3bn, its lowest levels since February 2014. Despite a $2.4 billion bailout from the IMF - approved on May 9, when Islamabad and New Delhi were firing missiles at each other - the Pakistani economy is still in tatters. China's offer of financial and military aid to Islamabad at such times comes in more than handy. China's support for Pakistan is not circumstantial. It is also institutional and deeply entrenched. Between 2014 to 2024, China sold over $9 billion worth of advanced weaponry to Pakistan, accounting for around 80% of imported weapons, including J-10CE fighter jets, Wing Loong drones, LY-80 air defence systems, and naval assets. The operational use of these systems in the recent conflict, including Pakistani claims of downing Rafales using Chinese PL-15 missiles, has allowed Beijing to showcase its weapons systems in live combat. Beyond India, China's motivation also ties into its long-term strategic objectives in the Persian Gulf. Pakistan provides China access to the Arabian Sea via Gwadar port, a linchpin in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and part of the broader Belt and Road Initiative. This maritime access offers China two significant advantages: a strategic military presence near key Middle Eastern shipping lanes and an alternative route for oil imports in case of a US-China maritime standoff in the South China Sea. Military-Industrial Complex benefits China's defence industry is another big beneficiary of the escalation. Claims by the Pakistan Air Force that Chinese-made jets outmanoeuvred India's French-built Rafales, regardless of their authenticity, have created a nationalist fervour in Chinese social media and boosted investor confidence. Stocks in Chinese defence manufacturers surged as hashtags like "J-10 shot down Indian warplanes" trended online, and praise for the PL-15 missile system flooded Weibo. Indeed, Beijing wants to use this as an inflexion point for its arms export ambitions. With Western suppliers often constrained by political alignments or human rights concerns, China's relatively unrestricted military exports offer an attractive alternative, especially in conflict-prone or authoritarian regimes across Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. A perceived successful battlefield performance strengthens China's pitch as a reliable arms supplier. From shaping regional dynamics to advancing its defense exports and maintaining strategic interests in West Asia, China may perceive certain advantages in the current situation in the region. While the Pahalgam attack was carried out by terrorist actors, it may also reflect broader regional undercurrents in which multiple stakeholders play complex and calculated roles. Through India-Pakistan rivalry, China is executing a proxy strategy that would halt India's rise, safeguard its own economic interests and bolster its defence exports and regional clout. Beijing has much to gain and little to lose from this rivalry - as long as it stays just below the threshold of full-scale war.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
What is the crop-killing fungus that was smuggled into the U.S. by a Chinese couple?
Credit: X Two Chinese nationals are facing serious federal charges after allegedly smuggling a destructive crop fungus into the United States. Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, were arrested in connection with a case that federal prosecutors say raises critical concerns about national security and food safety. According to a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Detroit, the two scientists have been charged with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the United States, false statements, and visa fraud. Prosecutors allege that the pair "illegally imported" Fusarium graminearum , a crop-infecting fungus known to cause head blight—a disease that targets key grains like wheat, barley, maize, and rice. 'This case involves a fungus that poses a serious risk to global food security and public health,' said Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. 'The alleged smuggling of this biological agent into an American research institution by foreign nationals is a matter of grave national security concern.' Who are Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu? According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Michigan, 'The FBI arrested Jian in connection with allegations related to Jian's and Liu's smuggling into America a fungus called Fusarium graminearum , which scientific literature classifies as a potential agroterrorism weapon.' The complaint reveals that Jian and Liu have been in a romantic relationship since July 2024, the same month Liu arrived in the United States, allegedly carrying small bags of the crop-damaging fungus. Liu later told investigators he intended to use the samples for research at the University of Michigan, where Jian was employed as a visiting research fellow. Jian, whose academic focus is molecular, cellular, and developmental biology, reportedly received Chinese government funding to support her work involving Fusarium graminearum . Her partner, Liu, conducts similar research in China. When initially questioned at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in July 2024, Liu claimed he had no knowledge of the fungus in his luggage. He later admitted to the FBI that he had brought the samples into the country for scientific research purposes. What is Fusarium graminearum? Fusarium graminearum is a fungus that causes Fusarium head blight, a serious disease affecting cereal crops like wheat, barley, maize, and rice. In the U.S. alone, it's responsible for around $1 billion in crop losses every year, according to the Department of Agriculture. While other fungi can cause the same disease, Fusarium graminearum is the most common one in the U.S. It infects crops early in the season, damaging grain heads and turning them a pale, whitish color. It also produces a toxin in the grains that's harmful to both people and animals. This toxin, often called vomitoxin, can cause vomiting in livestock and symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, and fever in both animals and humans. Because of this, grain crops are carefully tested before they're used for food or animal feed. If the fungus is found, the crops must be discarded—causing heavy losses for farmers. It's not unusual for researchers to import foreign plants, animals, or fungi to study how they behave in different conditions. However, doing so legally requires specific permits. For example, scientists might study a foreign strain of this fungus to understand how it survives heat, resists fungicides, or evolves over time. What remains unclear is why the researchers wanted to bring this particular strain of Fusarium graminearum into the U.S. , and why they didn't follow the legal steps to do so.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Trump promised to welcome more foreign students. Now, they feel targeted on all fronts
Federal prosecutors have charged two Chinese researchers, Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu, with smuggling a crop-damaging fungus, Fusarium graminearum, into the U.S. last summer. The charges include conspiracy, smuggling, and visa fraud. The fungus poses significant risks to cereal crops, causing substantial economic losses. Liu is believed to be in China, while Jian was arrested in Detroit.
