Latest news with #Liaoning
American Military News
11 hours ago
- Politics
- American Military News
Chinese naval activity increases in the Pacific: Report
A new report claims that China has been showcasing its military might over the past month by deploying a significant number of naval and coast guard ships in the Pacific region, including aircraft carriers near Taiwan and Japan. Reuters cited three regional security officials and regional military activity documents that indicate China deployed larger fleets of navy, coast guard, and other ships near Taiwan, the South China Sea, the East China Sea, and the southern Japanese islands in recent weeks than the country typically deploys. According to Reuters, regional military activity documents show that China deployed almost 60 ships on May 21 and over 70 ships on May 27. The outlet noted that roughly 75% of the ships deployed by China were naval ships, including destroyers, coast guard vessels, and guided-missile ships. The military documents obtained by Reuters also indicated that China deployed the Shandong Carrier Strike Group to the South China Sea and the Liaoning Carrier Strike Group to the southeastern coast of Taiwan. Addressing China's movements in the regional waters from Japan through Taiwan and from the Philippines to Borneo, an anonymous security official told Reuters that China was 'exerting pressure on the whole of the first island chain amid global geopolitical uncertainties.' READ MORE: Pics: China holds war games at new military base near South China Sea The security official told Reuters that China is 'trying to reinforce their dominance.' The anonymous official added that China's Liaoning aircraft carrier conducted military drills this month in simulation of attacks against foreign aircraft and ships near the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea. Another security official told Reuters that it was 'obvious' that China has increased its naval presence over the past month. 'China clearly wants to show these are its home waters and it can operate when and where it wants,' the anonymous official stated. According to Reuters, China has announced multiple live-fire military drills over the past couple of weeks, including a drill facing the southwestern region of Taiwan. The outlet reported that in addition to China's military exercises, the Liaoning Carrier Strike Group has been tracked this week as it passes through Japan's southern islands. On Wednesday, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters, 'The Japanese government intends to keep a close eye on relevant movement and do its utmost in carrying out monitoring and surveillance activities.'
Miami Herald
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Satellite Imagery Captures Chinese Aircraft Carrier in Contested Waters
Satellite imagery appears to have captured a Chinese aircraft carrier transiting waters near the Philippines and Taiwan-both allies and partners of the United States-in the Pacific. The Taiwanese Defense Ministry confirmed to local media that the Chinese aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning was off Taiwan's southeast coast. Newsweek has reached out to both the Chinese Defense Ministry and the Armed Forces of the Philippines for comment by email. The Liaoning has been underway since leaving its home port on China's Yellow Sea coast over the weekend. It sailed southward into the East China Sea, later transiting the Miyako Strait near Japan's southwestern islands, and arrived in the Philippine Sea on Tuesday. The aircraft carrier is part of China's naval fleet of more than 370 vessels, the largest in the world by hull count. China has been employing its navy to further expand its military reach and presence, challenging America's naval dominance in the Pacific Ocean. Facing China's rapid naval buildup, the U.S. aims to restrict the East Asian power's access to the broader Pacific Ocean in a future conflict by using the so-called First Island Chain-a maritime containment strategy involving U.S.-aligned Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines. Damien Symon, an open-source intelligence expert, posted a satellite image on X (formerly Twitter) showing the Liaoning underway in the Philippine Sea, approximately 430 nautical miles (494 miles) southeast of Taiwan, accompanied by two escorting ships on Wednesday. Meanwhile, a Chinese military observer, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic, told Newsweek that satellite imagery indicated the Liaoning-led naval task group was 290 kilometers (180 miles) northeast of the Philippines' Luzon Island on Wednesday. It remains unclear whether the Chinese navy had dispatched the aircraft carrier and its strike group for exercises in the western Pacific Ocean. Taiwanese media have claimed that the Chinese military may be about to conduct drills in waters east of Taiwan starting on Friday. While the Liaoning-China's first operational aircraft carrier-was underway, the country's second aircraft carrier, CNS Shandong, has yet to return to its home port on Hainan Island in the South China Sea since leaving around Monday, according to another satellite image. Taiwan Security Monitor, a research initiative at George Mason University in Virginia, wrote in a post on X that both of the Chinese commissioned aircraft carriers are now at sea. The dual Chinese aircraft carrier deployment comes as two American carriers were reported to be underway simultaneously in the western Pacific Ocean. USS Nimitz was operating in the South China Sea, while its sister ship, USS George Washington, was operating near Japan. Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said on Wednesday: "What I can tell you is that China's military vessels' activities in relevant waters are fully consistent with international law and international practice." Colonel Su Tung-wei, deputy head of the Taiwanese Defense Ministry's General Staff Operations and Planning Department, said on Wednesday: "We will also react accordingly to safeguard national security." The Pentagon's Chinese military power report 2024 wrote: "The [People's Republic of China] is in the beginning stages of operating its 'multi-carrier force.'" It was not immediately clear whether the two Chinese aircraft carriers would conduct joint operations in either the South China Sea or the Philippine Sea to stage a show of force. Related Articles Marco Rubio Announces New Plan to Revoke Chinese Student VisasChina's Military Presence Grows on Doorstep of New U.S. PartnerU.S. Ally Looks to Buy Chinese J-35 Stealth JetsNew Chinese Military Technology Could Defeat Trump's 'Golden Dome' 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
New York Times
18 hours ago
- Business
- New York Times
How China Uses Work to Reshape Uyghur Identity and Control a Strategic Region
The Uyghurs arrive in Chinese factory towns by train and plane, often in groups wearing matching caps or jackets. They are sent by the government to work where they are needed, whether it is molding rubber slippers, assembling automotive wiring or sorting chicken carcasses. A joint investigation by The New York Times, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism and Der Spiegel has revealed that Uyghurs are being sent out of their homeland, Xinjiang, on government work programs, more widely than previously documented. We found that workers are now involved in making a variety of goods for many well-known brands in factories across the country, presenting a challenge to international regulators looking to identify and purge forced labor from supply chains. Uyghur workers were traced to more than 70 factories in at least five major industries. MOnGOLIA Liaoning Xinjiang Tianjin Factories Shandong CHINA Jiangsu Anhui Hubei NEPAL Chongqing Hunan Jiangxi Fujian INDIA Guangdong MYANMAR MOnGOLIA Factories Xinjiang CHINA NEPAL INDIA MOnGOLIA Liaoning Xinjiang Tianjin Factories Shandong CHINA Jiangsu Anhui Hubei NEPAL Chongqing Hunan Jiangxi Fujian INDIA Guangdong MYANMAR MOnGOLIA Liaoning Xinjiang Tianjin Factories Shandong CHINA Jiangsu Anhui Hubei NEPAL Chongqing Hunan Jiangxi Fujian INDIA Guangdong MYANMAR Source: The LandScan Program, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL); Satellite Imagery by Esri; OpenStreetMap (OSM); Landsat Graphic by Pablo Robles Experts estimate that tens of thousands of Uyghurs have been transferred under these programs. While the precise conditions faced by these workers remain unclear, United Nations labor experts, academics and human rights advocates assert that the programs are coercive in nature. 'For these Uyghurs being forced and dragged out of their homes to go to work, it's hell,' said Rahima Mahmut, a Uyghur activist in exile and executive director of Stop Uyghur Genocide, a British-based rights group. A poultry processing plant in Dalian, Liaoning A poultry processing plant in Suizhou, Hubei 'Warmly send off Hotan migrant workers to transfer and work in the Chinese interior' 'Warmly send off Hotan migrant workers to transfer and work in the Chinese interior' 'Warmly send off Hotan migrant workers to transfer and work in the Chinese interiord' A sendoff ceremony for a group of migrant workers from the city of Hotan in Xinjiang in 2020. Source: Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Newsweek
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Satellite Imagery Captures Chinese Aircraft Carrier in Contested Waters
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Satellite imagery appears to have captured a Chinese aircraft carrier transiting waters near the Philippines and Taiwan—both allies and partners of the United States—in the Pacific. The Taiwanese Defense Ministry confirmed to local media that the Chinese aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning was off Taiwan's southeast coast. Newsweek has reached out to both the Chinese Defense Ministry and the Armed Forces of the Philippines for comment by email. Why It Matters The Liaoning has been underway since leaving its home port on China's Yellow Sea coast over the weekend. It sailed southward into the East China Sea, later transiting the Miyako Strait near Japan's southwestern islands, and arrived in the Philippine Sea on Tuesday. The aircraft carrier is part of China's naval fleet of more than 370 vessels, the largest in the world by hull count. China has been employing its navy to further expand its military reach and presence, challenging America's naval dominance in the Pacific Ocean. The Chinese aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning, front, sails with other ships during a drill in the East China Sea in April 2018. The Chinese aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning, front, sails with other ships during a drill in the East China Sea in April 2018. AFP via Getty Images Facing China's rapid naval buildup, the U.S. aims to restrict the East Asian power's access to the broader Pacific Ocean in a future conflict by using the so-called First Island Chain—a maritime containment strategy involving U.S.-aligned Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines. What To Know Damien Symon, an open-source intelligence expert, posted a satellite image on X (formerly Twitter) showing the Liaoning underway in the Philippine Sea, approximately 430 nautical miles (494 miles) southeast of Taiwan, accompanied by two escorting ships on Wednesday. Chinese navy aircraft carrier Liaoning CV-16 was operating approx. 430-Nautical miles south east of Taiwan in the Pacific Ocean as of 2025-05-28 02:21:52 UTC — Damien Symon (@detresfa_) May 28, 2025 Meanwhile, a Chinese military observer, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic, told Newsweek that satellite imagery indicated the Liaoning-led naval task group was 290 kilometers (180 miles) northeast of the Philippines' Luzon Island on Wednesday. It remains unclear whether the Chinese navy had dispatched the aircraft carrier and its strike group for exercises in the western Pacific Ocean. Taiwanese media have claimed that the Chinese military may be about to conduct drills in waters east of Taiwan starting on Friday. While the Liaoning—China's first operational aircraft carrier—was underway, the country's second aircraft carrier, CNS Shandong, has yet to return to its home port on Hainan Island in the South China Sea since leaving around Monday, according to another satellite image. Taiwan Security Monitor, a research initiative at George Mason University in Virginia, wrote in a post on X that both of the Chinese commissioned aircraft carriers are now at sea. #LandSat9 imagery from this morning confirms that PLAN CNS "Shandong" has not returned to base after departure around 5/26. Its current location is not clear. Both of the PLAN's commissioned carriers are now at sea, with CNS "Liaoning" spotted operating SE of Taiwan by… — Taiwan Security Monitor (@TaiwanMonitor) May 28, 2025 The dual Chinese aircraft carrier deployment comes as two American carriers were reported to be underway simultaneously in the western Pacific Ocean. USS Nimitz was operating in the South China Sea, while its sister ship, USS George Washington, was operating near Japan. What People Are Saying Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said on Wednesday: "What I can tell you is that China's military vessels' activities in relevant waters are fully consistent with international law and international practice." Colonel Su Tung-wei, deputy head of the Taiwanese Defense Ministry's General Staff Operations and Planning Department, said on Wednesday: "We will also react accordingly to safeguard national security." The Pentagon's Chinese military power report 2024 wrote: "The [People's Republic of China] is in the beginning stages of operating its 'multi-carrier force.'" What Happens Next It was not immediately clear whether the two Chinese aircraft carriers would conduct joint operations in either the South China Sea or the Philippine Sea to stage a show of force.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
U.S. Sen. Duckworth visits Taiwan to discuss regional security and trade
Strongly pro-Taiwan U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth is visiting the self-governing island democracy to discuss regional security and relations with the U.S. Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat, will hold a series of high-level meetings with senior Taiwan leaders to discuss U.S.-Taiwan relations during her visit Wednesday and Thursday, said the American Institute in Taiwan, which acts as the de-facto American embassy in Taiwan in liu of formal diplomatic relations. Trade, investment and 'other significant issues of mutual interest' also are on the schedule, the institute said. 'The visit underscores the United States' commitment to its partnership with Taiwan and reaffirms our shared commitment to strengthening a Free and Open Indo-Pacific,' the institute said. China routinely protests such visits, which it views as a violation of U.S. commitments. Duckworth and her staff are the second U.S. congressional delegation to visit Taiwan in as many days, demonstrating concerns in Washington over the island's security in the face of Chinese threats to invade, as well as its importance as a trade partner, particularly as the producer of 90% of the world's most advanced computer chips. Taiwan also faces 32% tariffs under the Trump administration, a figure the government in Taiwan is attempting to negotiate to a lower level without angering sectors such as agriculture that fear lower tariffs could open their markets to heightened competition from abroad. Duckworth is visiting at the same time as Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero, the governor of Guam, the U.S. Pacific territory that would almost certainly be a key player in any Chinese military moves against Taiwan. Taiwan and China split during a civil war in 1949 and Beijing still considers the island its own territory to be annexed by force if necessary. China refuses all contact with the government of President Lai Ching-te, whom China brands as a separatist, and seeks to maximize diplomatic pressure on Taiwan. While China sends military aircraft, ships and spy balloons near Taiwan as part of a campaign of daily harassment, special attention has been given this week to the location of the Liaoning, China's first aircraft carrier, whose hull was bought from Ukraine and then fitted out by China more than a decade ago. China has two aircraft carriers including the Liaoning, a third undergoing sea trials and a fourth under construction. 'What I can tell you is that the activities of the Chinese warship in the relevant waters are fully in line with international law and the basic norms of international relations,' Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said. Col. Hu Chung-hua of the Taiwanese Defense Ministry's' intelligence department told reporters Wednesday that the carrier was currently in waters southeast of Taiwan and has been under close surveillance by Taiwan's monitoring stations since leaving its home port in China. There are concerns the carrier might stage military drills close to Taiwan that could be a further step toward a blockade, an act the U.S. would be required to respond to under its own laws. While the U.S. provides much of Taiwan's high-tech military hardware, the law is unclear whether it would send forces to aid Taiwan in the event of a conflict. Hu said the ministry would not comment on the possibility of drills near Taiwan, but considers all options while monitoring the Chinese military. The ministry 'anticipates the enemy as broadly as possible and defends against the enemy strictly. We also carefully evaluate and act accordingly,' Hu said. China is considered a master of 'grey-zone encounters' that bring tensions just to the point of breaking out into open conflict. Col. Su Tong-wei of the ministry's operation of planning said the armed forces were constantly evaluating threat levels to consider whether to 'activate a response center, or to increase our defense readiness to perform an immediate readiness drill.' 'We will also react accordingly to safeguard national security,' Su said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
