The Chinese People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command Conducted Long-Range Live-Fire Drills In East China Sea
Onscreen text: "The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command said that its units on April 2 conducted long-range live-fire drills in waters of the East China Sea according to training plans of the 'Strait Thunder-2025A' exercise. The drills involve precision strikes on simulated targets of key ports and energy facilities, and have achieved desired effects, said Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman for the theater command."
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Memri
11-08-2025
- Memri
China – The World's Foremost Instigator Of Tensions
From antiquity to modern times, history is littered with nations that sought greatness not through harmony but through provocation, deceit and dominion. Attila the Hun was a fearsome fifth-century military leader of the Huns known for his brutal campaigns. From the 15th to 19th centuries, European empires colonized nations under the guise of spreading "civilization" but left a legacy of conflict, exploitation, and mayhem. In the 20th century, the world was twice set ablaze by Imperial Japan, Nazi Germany, and later, the Soviet Union. Today, China joins their ranks under the leadership of President Xi Jinping. Xi wields horror not with blitzkrieg, religion or ideology but through calculated grey-zone aggression, espionage, and creeping territorial encroachments. China has emerged as the world's foremost instigator of coercion and tensions of our time, albeit modernized, refined and stealthy. The following are just some of the countries who have been on the receiving end of China's coercion and grey zone tactics. (Source: FBI) The Philippines In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration issued its final ruling declaring China's claim over parts of the South China Sea as having no legal basis. The courts ruled that the disputed waters are indeed part of the Philippine's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Despite the court's ruling and its status as a signatory to UNCLOS, China has defiantly refused to recognize the decision and continues to violate Philippine sovereignty. It has employed a wide array of coercive tactics – including deploying maritime militia swarms, using water cannons and military-grade lasers, imposing blockades on resupply missions, engaging in cyberespionage, and even interfering in elections. In one glaring instance, China was caught red-handed conducting espionage. PLA operatives, disguised as members of a civic research NGO, were accosted for gathering intelligence on Philippine military operations and joint U.S.-Philippines facilities.[1] Taiwan China does not recognize Taiwan's independence and insists that the island is merely a renegade province. It has made clear that it intends to pursue reunification even if it has to do so by force. For years, China has waged relentless grey-zone warfare to pressure and intimidate Taiwan. These tactics include repeated incursions into Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and territorial waters, swarming its airspace with fighter jets, deploying maritime militias to encircle its islands, conducting war games, launching cyberattacks, spreading disinformation and aggressively isolating Taiwan diplomatically. China's unrelenting coercion of Taiwan – and the looming threat of invasion – has raised serious concerns of a direct military confrontation with the United States. India China and India continue to grapple with a long-standing territorial dispute over the "Arunachal Pradesh" and "Aksai Chin" regions.[2] Although partial disengagement was achieved in 2024, tensions remain high due to ongoing infrastructure buildup, sustained troop deployments and China's provocative release of its 2023 "standard map," which claims large swaths of Indian territory. China has employed creeping tactics including the construction of dual-use infrastructure and cyberattacks targeting India's power grids.[3] More concerning is its interference in the India-Pakistan conflict, where it supported Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. Yet, as reported by Indian media NDTV, Beijing "downplayed India's assertion that China provided active military support to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, using the conflict between two nuclear-armed neighbors as a 'live lab' to test various weapon systems."[4] Nepal/Bhutan In the Himalayas, tiny Bhutan and fragile Nepal have faced an increasingly assertive China. In Bhutan, "China has built 22 villages and settlements within Bhutan's traditionally recognized borders," signaling an "acceleration in China's territorial expansion."[5] In Nepal, villagers report boundary pillars mysteriously shifting as Chinese forces inch forward.[6] Behind closed doors, Beijing wields economic and diplomatic coercion, turning ancient mountain frontiers into battlegrounds. Japan China's territorial dispute with Japan centers around the Senkaku Islands – territory that has been discovered, populated, and administered by Japan since the late 19th century. The islands are believed to sit atop significant undersea oil and gas reserves, adding to their strategic value. China has engaged in persistent provocations, including incursions by its coast guard and aircraft into the area, as well as the deployment of maritime militia. In 2023, Beijing launched a coordinated disinformation campaign accusing Japan of illegally dumping nuclear wastewater. South Korea The territorial dispute between China and South Korea centers around the Socotra Rock, a submerged reef located in the East China Sea. China regularly deploys maritime patrols, surveillance ship incursions, aerial overflights, ADIZ overlap assertions, hydrographic surveys, and diplomatic protests to undermine South Korea's sovereignty. It has also engaged in illegal fishing and building artificial platforms near Korean EEZ Australia China's conflict with Australia stems from Canberra's pushback against Chinese interference, cyber espionage, and assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific. Tensions spiked after Australia called an independent investigation into the origins of the Wuhan virus. China responded with trade boycotts, cyberattacks on government systems, and political influence operations. Last February, three Chinese warships entered Australia's EEZ near Sydney and later near Tasmania and Perth,[7] without prior notification. The vessels conducted unannounced live-fire drills. Though technically in international waters, the incursion was condemned as a provocative tactic meant to intimidate and test Australia's response readiness. The United States The rivalry between China and United States are escalating over imbalanced trade and rivalry over economic and strategic influence. This is on top of the U.S. commitment to defend Taiwan and the Philippines against Chinese attacks. China engaged in cyberattacks targeting the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.[8] It deployed spy balloons[9] and uses spies enrolled as students at top American universities to collect sensitive information on new technologies.[10] The European Union Tensions persist over China's support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, widespread human rights violations, product dumping and intellectual property theft. In 2024, Western officials were suspicious of China's admission that a Chinese container ship "accidentally" damaged a vital Baltic Sea gas pipeline linking Estonia and Finland.[11] In 2024, a Chinese vessel was under investigation for shearing of a submarine cable connecting Lithuania to Sweden. African Countries China "buys" influence through debt diplomacy to the long-term detriment of poor countries.[12] China's actions have cast it as a destabilizing force on the global stage – one that fuels tension and erodes others' peace, development, and sovereignty in pursuit of its ambitions. This is especially pronounced under Xi Jinping, marking a clear departure from the more measured leadership of Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao. What remains consistent in Xi's leadership is a troubling disregard for international norms and the rule of law, often replaced by coercive, might-over-right behavior. Xi will not be in power forever. No one can be. One can only hope that China's next leader will choose a different path – one that restores its role as a constructive and responsible global actor. *Andrew J. Masigan is the MEMRI China Media Studies Project Special Advisor. He is a Manila-based economist, businessman, and political columnist for The Philippine Star. Masigan's articles in MEMRI are also published in The Philippine Star. Follow him on Twitter @aj_masigan
Iraqi News
31-05-2025
- Iraqi News
US defense chief claims China plans to 'invade' Taiwan in 2027
INA-sources US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Saturday that China plans to "invade" Taiwan in 2027 and warned that any attempt could result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific region and the world. Hegseth urged US allies in the region to increase their defense spending as he addressed the Shangri-La Dialogue -- a key annual defense and security forum, in Singapore. "We know that (Chinese President) Xi Jinping has ordered his military to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027. The PLA (People's Liberation Army) is building the capabilities needed to do it -- at breakneck speed. The PLA is training for it, every day. The PLA is rehearsing for the real deal," he said, according to a transcript by the US Department of Defense. He added that Washington is not going to "sugarcoat it" but the threat China poses is real and it could be imminent. "But let me again be clear: The United States does not seek war. We do not seek to dominate or strangle China. We do not seek to humiliate China. We do not seek regime change. Instead, we seek peace. But we must ensure that China cannot dominate us — or our allies and partners." said Hegseth. He accused Beijing of harassing its neighbors in the South China Sea, but said Washington is watching China's actions closely. "Any unilateral attempt in the South China Sea to change the status quo by force or coercion is unacceptable," said Hegseth, adding Beijing wants to control the Asia region. He urged Asian and European allies to increase their defense spending.,"We must ensure that our defense spending reflects the dangers and threats we face today." Hegseth added that President Donald Trump is building the US military stronger as he proposes spending for the first time -- more than $1 trillion next year to do it. "The Golden Dome for America, our new sixth-generation fighter, the F-47; our new stealth bomber, the B-21; new submarines and destroyers are all a part of that. The best military equipment in the world," he said. Hegseth also announced defense cooperation projects under the Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience (PIPIR) -- a US-initiated forum of 14 allies and partners. He said the first project is to establish repair capability and capacity for P-8 radar systems in Australia, which will enable US allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific operating the aircraft, including New Zealand and the Republic of Korea, to repair them within the region rather than relying on a single repair source in the US. Sources: AA
Memri
22-04-2025
- Memri
China's Imminent Invasion Of Taiwan
Recently, intel sources told the website 19FortyFive that they believe that an attempt by China to invade Taiwan is no less than six months away.[1] A possible Chinese attack on Taiwan in the coming months (or in 2027, as some expect) has less to do with China's military readiness and more with the current state of U.S. domestic politics. The Trump administration's Taiwan policy appears to signal to China that if it were to take military action soon, the U.S. might not provide meaningful assistance to defend Taiwan.[2] At the same time, China seems to be adopting an increasingly aggressive posture toward the U.S., as seen in its recent tit-for-tat retaliation against Trump's new tariffs. China has long viewed the U.S. as the sole obstacle to its long-standing dream of "reunification" with Taiwan. As Xi Jinping considers his legacy, he may believe that the window for decisive military action is narrowing. (Source: Ministry of National Defense, ROC, Taiwan, April 21, 2025) The 1982 Constitution of the People's Republic of China (PRC) specifically states: "Taiwan is part of the sacred territory of the People's Republic of China. It is the sacred duty of all the Chinese people, including our fellow Chinese in Taiwan, to achieve the great reunification of the motherland."[3] This provision serves as the de facto mandate for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to unify Taiwan with the mainland, even if it necessitates a forceful invasion. Many speculate that such invasion will take place in 2026, just before the end of Chinese President Xi Jinping's third term. Others speculate that it will happen in 2027 in commemoration of the centennial of the Chinese Civil War and formation of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Whether it be in 2026 or in 2027, I am inclined to believe that China will make its move before 2030. China is already in the final stage of its preparation for an invasion and/or war. This is evident in the wartime infrastructure the CCP has built; in the changes made to the country's foreign-related legal system; in China's tightening of data security; in sanction-proofing the economy; in its stockpile of fuel, essential raw materials and food;[4] and most especially, in ensuring military readiness. (Source: Ministry of National Defense, ROC, Taiwan, March 31, 2025) On April 2, 2025, the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese PLA simulated an airstrike on what it termed "high-value targets" on the island of Taiwan. Footage of the simulation was posted on YouTube by the CCTV Video News Agency. Code-named "Strait Thunder-2025A," the simulation was carried out by the Eastern Theater Command's air force unit in the central and southern areas of the Taiwan Strait (see MEMTI TV clip No. 11941, The Chinese PLA Eastern Theater Command Simulated Air Strike On 'High Value Targets' Of Taiwan Island, April 2, 2025). On April 2, 2025, the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese PLA aired footage of what it said were long-range live-fire drills in the waters of the East China Sea. Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman for the Eastern Theater Command, was cited in the footage as saying that the drills "involved precision strikes on simulated targets of key ports and energy facilities and have achieved desired effects" (see MEMRI TV clip No. 11944, The Chinese PLA Eastern Theater Command Conducted Long-Range Live-Fire Drills In East China Sea, April 2, 2025). The Invasion Of Taiwan Could Happen Before 2030 Taiwan is only the first step of Xi's grand plan to assert China's global dominance. The next prize is Southeast Asia – its territories, natural resources, and young population. If Xi is successful in subsuming Taiwan, it is highly likely that an invasion of strategic sovereign territories of Southeast Asian nations will follow. This is because controlling Taiwan and strategic parts of Southeast Asia will make China the undisputed, predominant power in the Indo-Pacific. It is precisely the power base it needs to project its influence worldwide. This is why the West cannot allow China to succeed in its Taiwan campaign. This is also why Southeast Asian nations must prioritize developing military capabilities for credible deterrence and defense. Let me substantiate the supposition that the invasion of Taiwan could happen before 2030 with the words of Xi himself. For years, Xi has been alluding to war in various communiques to both his Politburo and Congress. Alone, his statements may not refer to war. But taken collectively and in chronology, these statements point to an imminent invasion. At the opening of the Chinese Communist Party's 20th National Congress in Beijing, Xi said: "We insist on striving for the prospect of peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and best efforts, but we will never promise to give up the use of force and reserve the option to take all necessary measures."[5] Xi then declared: "We will safeguard the overall interests of the Chinese nation and take resolute steps to oppose 'Taiwan independence' and promote reunification. Our great country will forever stand firm behind all patriots who support reunification."[6] Xi himself said that his mission is "the rejuvenation of the great Chinese race/nation,"[7] an important part of which is the annexation of Taiwan.[8] Xi made it clear that he is unwilling to compromise regarding Taiwan's independence and that the "historical wheel of national reunification and rejuvenation is rolling forward."[9] Meanwhile, it has been reported that Xi is building a "massive military headquarters that could surpass the Pentagon."[10] The Financial Times reported that Western intelligence agencies think that Beijing is preparing for a large-scale or "including potentially a nuclear war."[11] The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission reported that "Beijing has opened new recruitment centers known as National Defense Mobilization offices across the country since December 2022 while also upgrading air-raid shelters and at least one 'wartime emergency hospital' in Fujian Province, located across the strait from Taiwan."[12] Furthermore, in 2019, the National Health Commission of China "announced a nationwide plan to incorporate blood donation into the country's emerging informational infrastructure: the social credit system (SCS)."[13] On April 1, 2025, Fu Zhengnan, a CCP military expert at the PLA Academy of Military Science, warned that by conducting joint exercises around Taiwan Island, the PLA was sending a clear message to the world that any attempts to split Taiwan from China would end in failure. "The message the PLA is sending to Taiwan and the entire world is clear: Any form of Taiwan secession – whatever its slogans, disguises, or means are – will only lead to a dead end," he said, in footage posted on YouTube by the CCTV News Agency. On the same day, Taiwan's Defense Ministry wrote on X: "The PLA Navy vessels, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, were detected from March 29th and entered into our response zone yesterday. The ROC [Republic of China; Taiwan] Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly. The PRC [People's Republic of China] continues to escalate military activities in the Taiwan Strait and Indo-Pacific region, intensifying military threats, challenging the international order and regional stability, thereby becoming the greatest 'troublemaker' in the eyes of the international community" (see MEMRI TV clip No. 11945, Chinese PLA Spokesman Fu Zhengnan: Our Exercises Send 'Stern Warning' To Taiwan And The World: The More They Pursue Their Separatist Agenda, The Further The PLA Will Advance Its Actions, April 1, 2025). China's Legal System To Prepare For War Even China's legal system has evolved to prepare for war. In January 2020, China updated its "Foreign Investment Law" giving government the power to nationalize foreign assets or investments under special circumstances (i.e. war).[14] In June 2021, China's new "Counter Foreign Sanctions Law" enabled government to seize corporate assets and even detain foreigners if a corporation enforces foreign sanctions against China.[15] In April 2023, an exhaustive update to the Anti-Espionage Law was passed, which broadened the definition of spying.[16] In terms of data security, China has begun heavily screening the flow of information to the world, both in the private and public sectors. The less the world knows about China's socio-economic and political status, the greater the chance for Beijing to control the narrative. Consider these developments: Whereas before, China's National Bureau of Statistics would release some 80,000 data points annually, Xi has since cut the amount to 20,000 data points. As a result, China's true situation has become more opaque to the outside world than ever before. Vital corporate information (like customs and financial data) is available only to those with an authorized Chinese ID card. Moreover, access to data streams is now relegated to "trusted" IP addresses within mainland China. Statistics that come out of China are those specifically approved by the CCP and released through Beijing's media channels. On the next installment of this series, I will describe how China is preparing to combat economic sanctions from the West following its invasion of Taiwan. *Andrew J. Masigan is the MEMRI China Media Studies Project Special Advisor. He is a Manila-based economist, businessman, and political columnist for The Philippine Star. Masigan's articles in MEMRI are also published in The Philippine Star.
