Latest news with #WellingtonKoo
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
China increases military operations near Taiwan amid rising tensions
ANI image Taiwan's ministry of national defence (MND) on Tuesday reported a sharp uptick in Chinese military operations in the vicinity of the island, with a total of 61 sorties of People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft and several Chinese naval vessels detected within a few hours. According to the MND, between early morning and 8:15 a.m. local time, 27 PLA aircraft including J-16 fighters and KJ-500 early warning planes entered Taiwan's Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). Eighteen of these aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and approached Taiwan's northern, central, eastern, and southwestern sectors as part of joint air-sea training exercises. In parallel, several Chinese naval vessels were operating near the island. — MoNDefense (@MoNDefense) Earlier the same morning, Taiwan reported the detection of 34 PLA aircraft, nine Chinese warships, and one Chinese government vessel around its periphery, with all aircraft also crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait. On Monday, the MND observed a smaller scale of Chinese activity, noting the presence of four PLA aircraft, eight naval vessels, and two official ships near Taiwan. In response, Taiwan's armed forces have been on heightened alert, closely monitoring the situation and responding with defensive measures where necessary. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The island's defence posture has focused heavily on preparedness and deterrence, with the government reaffirming its commitment to maintaining regional stability. According to the Focus Taiwan report, Defence Minister Wellington Koo outlined reforms in Taiwan's military training programs, designed to bolster combat readiness amid the rising frequency of Chinese operations. These reforms include adjustments for both conscripts and senior officers, emphasizing asymmetric warfare tactics, the deployment of drones, and the integration of mobile radar systems. Taiwan's extension of compulsory military service to one year from January 2024 reflects a broader shift in national defence strategy. President Lai Ching-te underscored the need for vigilance, citing the risk of potential escalations and the importance of readiness. 'As we are situated on an island, we need to stockpile military supplies in case China launches multiple assaults. We may even need to prepare for a war of endurance,' he said. The Han Kuang military exercises, Taiwan's largest annual drills, are scheduled to take place from July 9 to 18 this year. These exercises aim to test the island's combat readiness and identify potential weaknesses in Taiwan's defence strategy.
Japan Times
26-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
In Trump era, Taiwan defense chief says U.S. still is a check on China
Taiwan is confident that the United States will remain a formidable power in Asia and can deter China from attempting an invasion of the island, Taiwan's defense minister said, while recognizing the urgency of strengthening the island's own defenses. Some of President Donald Trump's words and actions on Taiwan — raising tariffs, demanding that it drastically raise military spending, and accusing Taiwan of stealing the U.S. lead in making semiconductors — have magnified doubts in Taiwan about whether the United States would step in if China attacked the island. Beijing claims the island democracy is its territory and has said unification is inevitable, by force if necessary. But China can be held in check by the United States' forces and alliances across Asia, and by reminding Beijing of the terrible economic cost that a war would exact, Wellington Koo, Taiwan's defense minister, said in his most extensive interview since taking the job a year ago. "If China can be made to understand that the potential costs would be extremely, extremely high, then that will make it extremely hard for it to make a decision' for war, Koo said in the 80-minute interview Wednesday with news outlets including The New York Times. Taiwan Defense M inister Wellington Koo in Taipei on May 21 | Lam Yik Fei / The New York Times "That's what the United States also thinks — that preserving the security of the Indo-Pacific, especially the stability of the Taiwan Strait, by using deterrence to avoid war, is in our shared interest,' Koo said, referring the region where Taiwan is. He later added: "Of course, the Trump administration emphasizes 'America first.' But we believe that on security issues, it also emphasizes Indo-Pacific first.' Taiwan would be deeply vulnerable without U.S. arms sales and security backing. When Washington switched diplomatic relations from Taiwan to Beijing in 1979, U.S. lawmakers pushed through legislation that says the United States should provide defensive arms to Taiwan and should have the forces to intervene if Taiwan is attacked. The law does not say the United States must intervene. Koo, 66, a former national security adviser whose Chinese name is Koo Li-hsiung, is overseeing the Taiwanese government's efforts to upgrade its relatively small military into a force strong and nimble enough to fend off threats from China, partly by deploying more drones, unmanned sea vessels and highly mobile missiles. Many officials and experts in Taiwan and abroad say that the island needs to move faster to counter Beijing's relentless military expansion. An anti-landing drill during an annual military exercise in the Bali District of Taiwan on July 27, 2023. Wellington Koo says the Trump administration has a shared interest in security in the region, but Taiwan must also ready its own forces for asymmetric warfare. | Lam Yik Fei / The New York Times China's leader, Xi Jinping, has ordered the People's Liberation Army to be strong enough to take Taiwan by 2027, senior U.S. officials have said. Observers say Xi does not have a timetable for invasion and would prefer to absorb Taiwan without a war. Asked how he assessed the threat, Koo said the dangers were rising but had not reached the level that meant invasion could be imminent. "We believe that it falls between medium intensity and high intensity at this point,' Koo said, citing the Taiwanese military's threat-level index, "but the indicators aren't sufficient yet to conclude that there is an intent to attack Taiwan.' Partly prodded by demands from Trump, Taiwan has promised to increase military spending to more than 3% of gross domestic product, after initially setting it at 2.45% of economic worth earlier this year. Some experts say Taiwan's military is becoming more effective. "The trajectory is in the right direction. It's now a question of being able to move fast enough,' Ely Ratner, a former U.S. assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs under President Joe Biden, said of Taiwan's military changes during a recent visit to the island. Taiwan Defense Minister Wellington Koo in Taipei on May 21. Koo says the Trump administration has a shared interest in security in the region, but Taiwan must also ready its own forces for asymmetric warfare. | Lam Yik Fei / The New York Times Taiwanese legislators are set to debate the bigger increase in military spending in the next session of the legislature, which is dominated by lawmakers from the opposition. They generally are less confrontational toward China, and skeptical of some of the government's military projects, such as a Taiwanese-built submarine. Even with the extra funds, Taiwan faces bottlenecks in buying the right weapons and keeping enough troops with the skills to operate them. Taiwan has paid billions of dollars for U.S. weapons that have not been delivered, sometimes for years, because of a backlog. This month, Taiwan staged its first live-fire test of the high mobility artillery rocket system, or HIMARS, bought from the United States. Taiwan placed its first orders for them in 2020. "Part of the challenge now is the United States' defense industrial base, whether it can cope with the multiple demands being made on it,' Ratner said in an interview. "Whereas a few years ago the United States was pushing hard for Taiwan to do more, now they are fully committed, and the United States needs to be able to match that in support.' Last year, Koo put an end to bayonet training and goose-step marching for Taiwanese soldiers and promised that Taiwan's annual military exercises would be made more realistic. "The national military is at a crucial time of both challenges and transformation, responding to the trends in Taiwan's security and changes in the way of modern warfare,' Koo said, referring to Taiwan's forces. "Practical training is the foundation for forming combat capabilities.' Military exercises in the Bali District of Taiwan on July 27, 2023 | Lam Yik Fei / The New York Times Koo has critics who say that Taiwan's efforts to upgrade military preparations are too superficial and lag China's. Many U.S. officials and experts have urged Taiwan to shift more decisively to newer weapons, such as drones, which are less expensive and more mobile, possibly offering a way to stymie China's bigger forces. "You have to enhance your skills, professionalism and your mindset. Also, equally important, those drones, unmanned boats and so on, they require effective, efficient, precision communication,' said Andrew Nien-dzu Yang, who served as a senior defense ministry official over a decade ago when the opposition Nationalist Party was in power. "They have this kind of concept, but the problem is how to implement it. How can it be realized?' Koo, who started his career as a lawyer, made the case that Taiwan was on the way to mastering "asymmetric' warfare strengths that could ward off China. His ministry has established an innovation agency focused on drones and anti-drone warfare, artificial intelligence applications and improved communications and cybersecurity, he said. President Lai Ching-te has said that a big proportion of Taiwan's increased military spending would go to buying American weapons — a promise that may please Trump, who wants Taiwan to ease its trade surplus with the United States. "Of course, we also hope that the United States can speed up delivery,' Koo said. This article originally appeared in The New York Times © 2025 The New York Times Company
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
24-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Taiwan ramps up combat readiness, braces for ‘war of endurance' amid China threat
Defence Minister Wellington Koo has urged Taiwan to stockpile military supplies and enhance its defence capabilities, warning of the need to prepare for a possible 'war of endurance' involving repeated assaults from Beijing. read more Taiwan's military is strengthening its combat readiness in response to escalating threats from China, according to Defence Minister Wellington Koo. Citing the need to prepare for a potential 'war of endurance,' he said Taiwan must stockpile military supplies and upgrade capabilities in case of multiple assaults by Beijing. President Lai Ching-te said the armed forces are undergoing a major transformation to confront China's growing hostility. Training programmes have been updated for both conscripts and senior officers, with a focus on new military assets and asymmetric warfare strategies, including the deployment of drones, air defence systems, and mobile radar. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'As we are situated on an island, we need to stockpile military supplies in case China launches multiple assaults. We may even need to prepare for a war of endurance,' he stated, according to the Focus Taiwan report. He emphasised that the objective is to 'prepare for war,' insisting that readiness is crucial for maintaining a strong deterrent, as reported by Focus Taiwan. As part of these reforms, Taiwan extended its compulsory military service to one year from January 2024. Koo noted that troop planning and positioning are under review, especially with the Chinese People's Liberation Army frequently conducting military exercises near Taiwan. The annual Han Kuang military drills will be held from July 9 to 18 this year—longer than last year's, which were shortened by a typhoon. The goal is to identify and address operational weaknesses. A broader review of troop numbers and deployments is also scheduled for later in the year. Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to bring it under its control. Analysts said the increased military activity reflects China's ongoing efforts to normalise its military posture around Taiwan.
Japan Today
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Taiwan seeks collective deterrence with Japan, U.S. against China
Taiwan Defense Minister Wellington Koo underscored the importance of developing a collective deterrence with Japan, the United States and the Philippines in the Pacific to prevent an invasion of the self-ruled island by mainland China, in a recent interview with Kyodo News and two American newspapers. In his first interview with overseas media, Koo pointed out that the so-called first island chain -- a strategic line of islands stretching from southern Japan through Taiwan to the Philippines -- is "an important line of defense" against China's military expansion into the western Pacific. He called for stronger cooperation with the three countries. "We believe that, based on shared strategic interests and common security challenges, strengthening military exchanges and cooperation is absolutely necessary, and would have a positive impact on deterring China," Koo said. China, which claims the self-ruled democratic island as part of its own territory, has increased its military pressure on it, conducting large-scale drills and frequently sending warplanes and ships to nearby areas. The mainland has not ruled out the use of force to achieve reunification. The minister, who assumed the post in May last year, said boosting collective deterrence would help avoid a war because it would make the assumption of China's Taiwan invasion "very complicated" and make Beijing understand that the price of attacking the island may become "very high." The United States has a forward deployment of military assets in Japan and access to Philippine bases including those in northern areas closer to Taiwan. Koo said Taiwan will also bolster its self-defense capabilities. So far, the island has observed no signs suggesting China's full-scale invasion, but the minister warned of the possibility that mainland military drills could turn into actual combat, a scenario that Taiwan has been training for since last year. The frequency of the Chinese military approaching Taiwan's airspace and territorial waters has increased, with its gray-zone activities also escalating from low to medium intensity, Koo said. Gray-zone activity refers to aggressive acts that fall short of an armed attack. In terms of security cooperation between Taiwan and Japan, Koo suggested sharing information on gray-zone threats, jointly conducting tabletop exercises, implementing maritime law enforcement and crime prevention measures together, and boosting defense industry supply chain collaboration. As for the policy of the U.S. President Donald Trump administration, the minister said it "certainly emphasizes America first" but also stresses "the priority of the Indo-Pacific" in the security field. U.S. demands for its security allies to increase defense spending and strengthen self-defense capabilities should be aimed at establishing "an effective deterrent formation," Koo said. "In terms of security, I think the United States will not withdraw from the Indo-Pacific." "We can see that Taiwan and the United States have a common goal of maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait," he added. In the face of China's maritime assertiveness, Japan and the Philippines have agreed to strengthen their security ties. Both countries have territorial disputes with China -- Japan in the East China Sea and the Philippines in the South China Sea. Communist-ruled China and Taiwan have been governed separately since they split in 1949 following a civil war. The government in Taipei maintains unofficial ties with countries that have switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing over time, including Japan, the United States and the Philippines. The United States supplies the island with arms and spare parts to ensure it maintains sufficient self-defense capabilities. © KYODO
Mint
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Taiwan's military plans new drone units in preparation for potential China invasion
Taiwan will commission its first-ever army drone units this year and introduce sea drones to its naval forces, part of its efforts to modernize its arsenal with cutting-edge technology to prepare for a potential Chinese invasion, Defense Minister Wellington Koo said in an interview. The steps fit into a shift from a focus on traditional forces to building up its capabilities intended to make China think twice before attacking. Taiwan's marines have already transformed some tank and artillery battalions into drone squads, according to Koo. 'It would be best if China wakes up every day feeling like 'today's just not the day to invade,' " he said. Taiwan is racing to overhaul its military in preparation for what it sees as a potential invasion by China as soon as 2027. China has intensified its military exercises around the island, including by staging simulated blockades that Koo and other Taiwanese officials say could turn without notice into an actual attack—an event that would trigger a global crisis. Taiwan's leadership this week marked the first year in office of President Lai Ching-te, who delivered an anniversary speech on Tuesday that was most notable for its softer tone toward Beijing. 'Taiwan is a peace-loving country," he said. 'We are willing to replace containment with engagement and confrontation with dialogue." The address was restrained compared with a speech in March when he called China a foreign adversary and warned against Chinese infiltration. Beijing has consistently expressed distaste for Lai, who it sees as a staunch supporter of Taiwan independence, and its response to his speech this week was no different. 'This two-faced approach is nothing new, a waste of effort, and doomed to fail," a spokesman for Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office said. Koo, a former human-rights lawyer, has been at the forefront of a project to transform and strengthen Taiwan's military to prepare for a conflict many see as inevitable, as China continues to press its claim that self-ruled Taiwan is Beijing's territory. He added that support from Japan and the Philippines—which make up part of what is known as the 'first island chain"—is crucial to deterring China, along with assistance from the U.S. 'Such collective deterrence will force China to consider the military difficulty and the high military cost when invading Taiwan," the defense minister said. The army is also adding two more company-sized units to operate U.S.-made Himars rocket systems as they are delivered, aiming to enhance precision-strike capabilities, he said. Taiwan's effort to incorporate drones into its defensive posture, a move inspired by Ukraine's fight against the Russian invasion, has been complicated by China's dominant role in the production of small drones and the parts needed to assemble them. Taiwan's government has sought to promote the development of a domestic drone industry to eliminate any reliance on supply from China. Wellington Koo has been at the forefront of a project to transform and strengthen Taiwan's military. Taiwan's military plans to buy more than 3,200 drones from domestic companies, mostly small reconnaissance drones, in a five-year period. The island produced roughly 10,000 drones last year, with production expected to grow, according to the Taiwanese government-funded Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology in Taipei. Meanwhile, Taiwan is getting help from the U.S. government to bolster its market size and capability. 'The U.S. has indeed provided strong support in this area because it wants us to have local production capabilities," Koo said. 'This could refer to certain technologies…being transferred to us, allowing local private companies to handle production" that doesn't use Chinese components, he added. Potential areas of U.S.-Taiwan collaboration on drones include AI, supply-chain integration and investment, Raymond Greene, the de facto U.S. ambassador to Taipei, said in a recent interview with Taiwan's state-owned Central News Agency. 'The United States and Taiwan are aligned on the importance of Taiwan ensuring its secure supply of similar asymmetric systems," Greene said in March. 'We are working together to accelerate that process, including through expanding Taiwan's ability to produce critical munitions and drones domestically." Building a drone-equipped army also depends on having the personnel to operate them. Taiwan's military has begun using drones in training and operations, often for reconnaissance. The army opened an academy last year to teach soldiers how to operate them. 'The idea is to use technology instead of manpower and rely on firepower rather than traditional forces," Koo said, offering new details about the drone plans. The decision to establish specialized drone units and introduce sea drones to the navy's amphibious forces is the newest development in Taiwan's shift to asymmetric capability. 'When it comes to firepower, we just can't compete with China in terms of quantity. So we have to figure out how to strike in the most effective way possible," said Cathy Fang, a security and defense industry analyst at DSET, the Taiwanese think tank. 'It's a clear indicator of how asymmetric warfare works." Write to Joyu Wang at
