logo
Taiwan reports increased Chinese military activity around its territory

Taiwan reports increased Chinese military activity around its territory

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) said that it detected 17 Chinese military aircraft, eight naval vessels, and one official ship operating around Taiwan until 6 am (local time) on Monday.
According to Taiwan's MND, seven out of 17 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern, southwestern and eastern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ).
In response to China's action, Taiwan's armed forces deployed aircraft, naval ships, and coastal missile systems to monitor the situation.
"17 PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 7 out of 17 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern, southwestern and eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded," Taiwan's MND posted on X.
On June 28, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te highlighted China's use of influence warfare and military intimidation aimed at annexing Taiwan as part of its broader "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation" policy and expanding hegemony in the western Pacific, Taipei Times reported.
He warned that this threat would persist regardless of changes in Taiwan's government leadership.
While addressing DPP's national congress in his role as party chairman, Lai identified the greatest challenge in domestic politics as the opposition-controlled legislature has bypassed proper procedures, passed bills contradicting the Constitution, and undermined government operations by drastically cutting central government budgets.
At the congress, held under the theme "Better democracy, better Taiwan," he emphasised that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) must stand united with the public in their mass recall movement to protect Taiwan's sovereignty and democracy, Taipei Times reported.
Emphasising the vital role of civil society, Lai credited Taiwan's vibrant democracy to the enduring strength of its citizens, recalling movements like the Wild Lily protests in 1990 and the Sunflower movement in 2014, where Taiwanese rallied against policies perceived as pro-China and harmful to Taiwan's sovereignty.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Europe, China agree to take action on climate change during Beijing summit
Europe, China agree to take action on climate change during Beijing summit

Business Standard

time19 minutes ago

  • Business Standard

Europe, China agree to take action on climate change during Beijing summit

China and the European Union have issued a joint call to action on climate change during an otherwise tense bilateral summit in Beijing on Thursday riven with major disagreements over trade and the war in Ukraine. The two economic juggernauts issued a joint statement on climate change, urging more emission cuts and greater use of green technology and affirming their support for the Paris Climate Agreement as well as calling for strong action at the upcoming COP30 climate summit in Brazil. In the fluid and turbulent international situation today, it is crucial that all countries, notably the major economies, maintain policy continuity and stability and step up efforts to address climate change, the joint statement said. Their climate agreement was a silver lining on a stormy day where European leaders demanded a more balanced relationship with China in talks with President Xi Jinping. They highlighted trade in their opening remarks, calling for concrete progress to address Europe's yawning trade deficit with China. As our cooperation has deepened, so have the imbalances, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. We have reached an inflection point. Rebalancing our bilateral relation is essential. Because to be sustainable, relations need to be mutually beneficial. Little movement expected Expectations were low ahead of the talks, initially supposed to last two days but scaled back to one. They come amid financial uncertainty around the world, wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, and the threat of US tariffs. Neither the EU nor China is likely to budge on key issues. European Council President Antonio Costa called on China to use its influence over Russia to bring an end to the war in Ukraine a long-running plea from European leaders that is likely to fall again on deaf ears. Xi called for deeper cooperation between China and Europe to provide stability in an increasingly complex world. Both sides should set aside differences and seek common ground, he said, a phrase he often uses in relationships like the one with the EU. China is willing to strengthen coordination on climate and make greater contributions to addressing climate change, he said, but he pushed back against EU restrictions on Chinese exports. We hope the EU will keep its trade and investment markets open, refrain from using restrictive economic and trade tools and provide a good business environment for Chinese companies to invest and develop in Europe, he said, according to a readout posted online by state broadcaster CCTV. US tariff threats weigh on EU-China cooperation Besides trade and the Ukraine war, von der Leyen and Costa were expected to raise concerns about Chinese cyberattacks and espionage, its restrictions on the export of rare earth minerals and its human rights record in Tibet, Hong Kong and Xinjiang. The EU, meanwhile, has concerns about a looming trade battle with the United States. Europe is being very careful not to antagonise President Trump even further by looking maybe too close to China, so all of that doesn't make this summit easier, said Fabian Zuleeg, chief economist of the European Policy Centre. It will be very hard to achieve something concrete. China's stance has hardened on the EU, despite a few olive branches, like the suspension of sanctions on European lawmakers who criticised Beijing's human rights record in Xinjiang province, where it is accused of a widespread campaign of repression against the Uyghurs. China believes it has successfully weathered the US tariffs storm because of its aggressive posture, said Noah Barkin, an analyst at the Rhodium Group think tank. China has come away emboldened from its trade confrontation with Trump. That has reduced its appetite for making concessions to the EU, he said. Now that Trump has backed down, China sees less of a need to woo Europe. Trade disputes range from rare earths to EVs Like the US, the 27-nation EU bloc runs a massive trade deficit with China around 300 billion Euros (USD 350 billion) last year. It relies heavily on China for critical minerals and the magnets made from them for cars and appliances. When China curtailed the export of those products in response to Trump's tariffs, European automakers cried foul. The EU has imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles to support its carmakers by balancing out Beijing's heavy auto subsidies. China would like those tariffs revoked. The rapid growth in China's market share in Europe has sparked concern that Chinese cars will eventually threaten the EU's ability to produce its own green technology to combat climate change. Business groups and unions also fear that the jobs of 2.5 million auto industry workers could be put in jeopardy, as well those of 10.3 million more people whose employment depends indirectly on EV production. China has launched investigations into European pork and dairy products, and placed tariffs on French cognac and armagnac. It has criticised new EU regulations of medical equipment sales and fears upcoming legislation that could further target Chinese industries, said Alicia Garcia-Herrero, a China analyst at the Bruegel think tank. The EU has leverage because China needs to sell goods to the bloc, Garca-Herrero said. The EU remains China's largest export market, so China has every intention to keep it this way, especially given the pressure coming from the US, she said. China bristles at EU sanctions over Russia's war against Ukraine. The latest package included two Chinese banks that the EU accused of links to Russia's war industry. China's Commerce Ministry protested the listing and vowed to respond with necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises and financial institutions. The EU looks beyond Beijing and Washington Buffeted between a combative Washington and a hardline Beijing, the EU has more publicly sought new alliances elsewhere, inking a trade pact with Indonesia and drafting trade deals with South America and Mexico. Costa and von der Leyen visited Tokyo the day before their meetings in Beijing, launching an alliance with Japan to boost economic cooperation, defend free trade and counter unfair trade practices. Both Europe and Japan see a world around us where protectionist instincts grow, weaknesses get weaponised, and every dependency exploited, von der Leyen said. So it is normal that two like-minded partners come together to make each other stronger.

The visa route to normalcy
The visa route to normalcy

Hindustan Times

time29 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

The visa route to normalcy

India's move to resume tourist visas for Chinese nationals after a gap of five years due to the military standoff on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is another step that should help normalise relations between the two sides. It follows the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, the first major outcome of efforts by India and China to rebuild their relationship and facilitate people-to-people exchanges following the understanding last October to end the face-off in Ladakh. The latest decision comes against the backdrop of anger in India over China's overt support for Pakistan during the four days of hostilities triggered by Operation Sindoor, Beijing beginning construction of the world's largest hydropower dam on the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra, and concerns related to China curbing the exports of rare earth materials, fertilisers and specialised equipment needed for Indian manufacturing units. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met last October, they decided to adopt a two-pronged approach aimed at normalising ties and addressing the long-standing border dispute that has led to several face-offs on the LAC in recent years. These measures, including the revival of several mechanisms, are crucial for addressing the trust deficit created by the standoff in Ladakh. Moreover, both sides continue to have some 50,000 troops stationed in proximity to the LAC, and de-escalation remains a pressing matter. New Delhi seems to have made a realistic assessment about conducting negotiations with Beijing while addressing the contradiction of raising strategic issues, and simultaneously ensuring that the overall relationship does not take a hit and lead to other issues, especially for the economy. This also comes amidst great global churn that have rendered older alignments irrelevant. This is indeed the right approach. India must negotiate with self-interest in mind. Keeping in mind the size and might of China today and the uncertainty unleashed by the policies of the Trump administration in the US, it is best to engage rather than take a confrontationist approach. India needs to buy time to build its strategic and economic reserves, rather than obsess about what China does in the immediate neighbourhood. For sure, China's presence in the backyard is a concern, but this should not limit India's vision of the bigger picture, which should be centred on managing peace on the border and growing the economy.

India hits out at CPEC's expansion, calls Afghanistan's inclusion ‘unacceptable'
India hits out at CPEC's expansion, calls Afghanistan's inclusion ‘unacceptable'

The Print

time43 minutes ago

  • The Print

India hits out at CPEC's expansion, calls Afghanistan's inclusion ‘unacceptable'

India's position on CPEC was 'clear and consistent', Kirti Vardhan Singh said in a written response to a question submitted by Member of Rajya Sabha Golla Baburao. 'Government has consistently protested to parties concerned over the inclusion of the so-called 'China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)', which passes through parts of the Indian Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir, under illegal occupation of Pakistan, as a flagship project of 'OBOR/BRI' and asked them to cease these activities.' India had also protested against the inclusion of portions of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh—illegally occupied by Pakistan—in the CPEC and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) infrastructure projects, he added. New Delhi: India had conveyed its strong opposition to the inclusion of a third country, Afghanistan, in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project to both Islamabad and Beijing, calling the move 'unacceptable', Minister of State for External Affairs of India Kirti Vardhan Singh Wednesday informed the Rajya Sabha. The MoS added: 'Any proposed participation of third countries or expansion of the so-called CPEC projects to third countries is unacceptable. Government has consistently conveyed this position to relevant parties.' On 21 May 2025, the foreign ministers of China, Pakistan and the Taliban regime in Afghanistan—Wang Yi, Ishaq Dar, and Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, respectively—met in Beijing as a part of a trilateral mechanism. At the meeting, they decided on expanding the CPEC to Afghanistan to 'strengthen the building of regional connectivity networks', a Chinese readout, at the time, said. CPEC has long been an issue for New Delhi, considering that the multi-billion-dollar project violates India's sovereignty in the creation of transportation networks through the illegally occupied portions of Ladakh and J&K. India has refused to join the BRI, Chinese President Xi Jinping's trillion-dollar initiative for building transportation infrastructure across countries. BRI, which remains India's primary issue, includes CPEC. India's other concern with BRI is the potential unviability of the projects creating a debt trap, as witnessed in the case of Sri Lanka, among other countries. A key BRI thrust is the CPEC, the connectivity project that will link Pakistan's Gwadar port and the Chinese province of Xinjiang. It will reduce Beijing's reliance on the Straits of Malacca, allowing it to meet its transportation needs for key energy requirements. India has recently promised to step up its developmental assistance to the Taliban, given that both Islamabad and Beijing have moved forward in engaging with the regime in control of Kabul. In May, Foreign Minister Jaishankar held a conversation with his counterpart, Amir Khan Muttaqi, via telephone, following the Pahalgam terrorist attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor. The talks marked the first ministerial-level contact between New Delhi and the Taliban. Last year, China recognised the Taliban's envoy to Beijing—the first country to do so. Since the return of the Taliban in Kabul nearly four years ago, the regime has had little international recognition. China, along with Russia and Pakistan, are among the countries that have moved forward with the normalisation of ties with Afghanistan's Taliban regime. (Eited by Madhurita Goswami) Also Read: China-Pakistan ties under stress. CPEC security concerns frustrating Chinese, hurting Pakistanis

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store