DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ China is flexing its missile arsenal in a new simulation for a mass Taiwan attack as the US watches Beijing's Rocket Force closely
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-27 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewChina's Eastern Theater Command on Friday released a simulation video of its missile forces carrying out a mass attack on Taiwan, boasting its land, sea, and air launch capabilities. "Destroy the pillar of Taiwanese independence! Strike the base camp of Taiwanese independence! Related storiesBeijing's missile forces have developed rapidly in recent years, alarming US officials who are now scrutinizing its arsenals and assets. Taiwan, recognizing the Chinese missile threat, has been stocking up on US-manufactured Patriot missiles.

Persons: —, CapwDFZyds, They're, Lai Ching, Lai, Tsai Ing Organizations: Service, Command, Business, People's Liberation Army, PLA, Taiwan, Pentagon, Liberation Army Rocket Force, Eastern Theater Command, Patriot, Coast Guard, Navy, Democratic Progressive Party Locations: Taiwan, Taipei, Hualien, Kaohsiung, China, Beijing

☆ China's military isn't just putting on a show of force. It's rehearsing for the real deal, an assault on Taiwan.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewChina's large-scale military drills around Taiwan aren't just a show of force in response to the remarks of the democratic island's new president. China says the joint force live-fire exercise, lasting two days, is a test of its ability to launch a full-scale, lethal assault on Taiwan and ultimately force it to succumb to Beijing's rule. An outdoor screen shows a news coverage of China's military drills around Taiwan, in Beijing on May 23, 2024. AdvertisementA screen grab captured from a video shows the Taiwan army conduct military exercise following China's large-scale joint military drill around Taiwan on May 23, 2024. The use of force against Taiwan could take different forms, from an all-out assault to something like a blockade.

Persons: —, It's, Stephen McDonell, Z1FdXUvXmN, JADE GAO, Party's Lai Ching, Lai Organizations: Service, Taiwan aren't, Business, People's Liberation Army, BBC China, China Central Television, People’s Liberation Army, Eastern, Command, Getty, China's Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, Democratic, Taiwan's Military News Agency, Anadolu, Getty Images Locations: Taiwan, China, Beijing, Taiwan's, Getty Images Beijing

☆ China's war drills around Taiwan enter Day 2. Here's what it means for cross-strait relations
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Sumathi Bala | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Members of Taiwan's military conduct routine exercises at Liaoluo Port in Kinmen on May 24, 2024. (Photo by I-HWA CHENG/AFP via Getty Images) I-hwa Cheng | Afp | Getty ImagesChina's latest military exercises around Taiwan risk escalating cross-strait tensions — but war remains unlikely, political observers say. Beijing warned that the two-day drills, which continued on Friday, were aimed at punishing the island's new President Lai Ching-te for his "hostility and provocations." The drills are "legitimate, timely and entirely necessary," as acts of "Taiwan independence" in any form "cannot be tolerated," it added. "This pretext for conducting military exercises not only does not contribute to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, but also highlights its hegemonic nature," the ministry said.

Persons: HWA CHENG, Cheng, Lai Ching, Lai, Xi Jinping, China's, Lai —, Wang Yi, Nancy Pelosi's, Xi, Joe Biden, Gabriel Wildau Organizations: HWA, Getty, Afp, Xinhua, Atlantic, China's Ministry of National Defense, Liberation Army, PLA, Eastern, Command, U.S ., Fujian, Guard, U.S, APEC, Teneo Intelligence, Republicans Locations: Liaoluo, Kinmen, China, Taiwan, AFP, Beijing, Eurasia, Republic of China, People's Republic of China, United States, U.S

CNN —China’s military drills around Taiwan are designed to test its ability to “seize power” over the island, the People’s Liberation Army said Friday as its forces kicked off a second day of large-scale exercises encircling its democratic neighbor. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry has condemned China’s military exercises as “irrational provocations” and dispatched its own sea, air and ground forces in response. A total of 19 Chinese warships and seven coast guard vessels were detected near the Taiwan Strait, according to the ministry. China Coast Guard drill near Taiwan. China Coast Guard/Weibo‘Blockading Taiwan’China’s military drills are often as much about playing to a domestic audience as signaling intentions internationally, and state media has ramped up coverage of the drills.

Persons: CNN —, Lai Ching, Lai, Xi Jinping, ”, China’s, Tsai Ing, ” “, Wu Qian, Liu, Tsai, wasn’t, “, I’m, Zhang Chi, Zhang, Carl Schuster, Craig Singleton, ” Singleton, Singleton, Lionel Fatton, ” Fatton Organizations: CNN, People’s Liberation Army, PLA, Command, Party, Taiwan, Guard, CCTV, Taiwan’s Defense, Kyodo, Democratic Progressive Party, China’s, Ministry, Chinese Communist Party, China Coast Guard, Taiwan . China Coast Guard, Weibo, US, Coast Guard, Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center, Foundation, Defense of Democracies, Webster University Locations: Taiwan, Beijing, China, Kinmen, Taiwan Strait, China's, Taiwan ., ”, Kaohsiung, Wuqiu, Geneva

☆ China has launched new drills encircling Taiwan. Why now?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Jessie Yeung | Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Tensions are once again ratcheting up in the Taiwan Strait, with China launching military drills encircling Taiwan just days after the democracy swore in a new leader long loathed by Beijing. The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said it launched joint military drills involving the army, navy, air force and rocket force in areas around Taiwan early Thursday morning. The drills are being conducted in the Taiwan Strait – a narrow body of water separating the self-ruling island with mainland China – as well as north, south and east of Taiwan. The Chinese guided missile frigate Nantong, one of the vessels in the series of military drills around Taiwan. The defeated Nationalist Party fled to Taiwan, moving the seat of their Republic of China (ROC) government from the mainland to Taipei.

Persons: ”, Lai Ching, China’s, Xi Jinping, Li Xi, Lai, Wu Mei, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Tsai Ing, Tsai –, Mike Gallagher Organizations: CNN, Communist Party, Eastern Theater Command, People’s Liberation Army, PLA, People's Liberation Army, Weibo, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, Democratic Progressive Party, DPP, Chinese Communist Party, CCP, Nationalist Party, US, Communist, Beijing, Tuesday Locations: Taiwan, China, Beijing, Kinmen, Taipei, People’s Republic of China, Republic of China, Xi, Washington

☆ China starts ‘punishment’ military drills around Taiwan days after island swears in new leader
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —China has launched two days of military drills surrounding Taiwan in what it called “punishment” for “separatist acts,” days after the self-ruling island swore in a new democratically elected leader. China’s ruling Communist Party says the self-ruling democracy is part of its territory, despite never having controlled it, and has vowed to take the island, by force if necessary. The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said it launched joint military drills involving the army, navy, air force and rocket force in areas around Taiwan at 7.45 a.m. on Thursday. The drills are being conducted in the Taiwan Strait – a narrow body of water separating the self-ruling island with mainland China – as well as north, south and east of Taiwan. It expressed regret to “such irrational provocations and actions that undermine regional peace and stability.”

Persons: Lai Ching, China’s, Li Xi, ” Lai, Lai Organizations: CNN, Communist Party, Eastern Theater Command, People’s Liberation Army, PLA, Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry Locations: China, Taiwan, Kinmen, Beijing

☆ China has a lot more missiles — with US warships and bases in its sights
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +18 min

American warships and bases in the Pacific are within reach of an increasingly worrying threat, a missile force unlike anything the US has faced in combat. With these missiles, China is signaling that it could attack US bases and ships in the region with little to no warning, Clark said. TK Department of DefenseThere's a lot more to the Chinese Rocket Force than these weapons, though. AdvertisementThat said, the US and its allies can't afford to assume the Rocket Force won't be ready should conflict come. In other words, how the US prepares itself and adapts to the Chinese Rocket Force gives it the best shot at avoiding a fight altogether.

Persons: China's, Andersen, Thomas Shugart, Bryan Clark, John Aquilino, Kevin Frayer, Harry Harris, Harris, Clark, Shugart, Gerald R, Kendall Warner, Byrd, US Defense Department Harris, Robert Peters, Peters, Ronald Reagan, Andrea Rosembert, Cpl, Ryan Little, Charles Flynn, I'm, Flynn, it's, Andy Wong Organizations: Business, Army Rocket Force, Pentagon, China's Rocket Force, Department of Defense TK Department of Defense, Center, New, New American Security, US Navy, PLA, Hudson Institute, Pacific Command, People's Liberation Army Rocket Force, Eastern Theater Command, People's Liberation Army PLA, Getty, Rocket Force, Liberation, TK Department of Defense, Chinese Rocket Force, US Defense Department, Ford, Virginian, Tribune, Service, Japan, Self, Defense Force, Misawa Air Base, Pacific, US, Defense, Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense, Army, Heritage Foundation, Aegis, Guam, Area, Ronald, Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense, Department of Defense, US Air Force, Marine Corps, Andersen Air Force Base, Marine, Combat, US Army Pacific, Stealth, Force, Military Locations: Beijing, China, American, Guam, South, Washington, Japan, New American, People's Republic of China, South Korea, Taiwan, South China, AFP, U.S, Marshall, Pearl, Pacific, PLARF, Tiananmen

☆ China Military Says US Destroyer in Taiwan Strait 'Hyped' up Passage
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's military said it organized troops to follow and monitor a U.S. destroyer that transited through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, according to a statement. A spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army said the USS John Finn destroyer "openly hyped" up the passage, in a statement released late Wednesday. "Recently, the U.S. military has frequently carried out provocative acts and maliciously undermined regional peace and stability. The troops in the theater are on high alert at all times and resolutely defend national sovereignty," the spokesperson said. (Reporting by Bernard Orr and Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Chris Reese)

Persons: John Finn, Bernard Orr, Chris Reese Organizations: Eastern Theater Command, People's Liberation Army, U.S . Locations: BEIJING, U.S, Taiwan Strait, Shanghai

CNN —Almost three years on from its bloody coup, Myanmar’s military junta is facing the biggest threat to its hold on power as it fights wars on multiple fronts across the Southeast Asian nation. Junta airstrikes and ground attacks on what the Myanmar military calls “terrorist” targets have killed thousands of civilians to date, including children, and displaced about 2 million people. Stringer/AFP/Getty ImagesCNN has reached out to Myanmar’s military spokesperson for comment on the recent fighting but has not received a response. Stringer/AFP/Getty ImgesIn the jungles of southeast Kayah state, fighting has raged near the state capital Loikaw. Video filmed and published by the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force appears to show Myanmar army soldiers surrendering to rebels at Loikaw University who are filmed treating their injuries.

Persons: ”, Matthew Arnold, ” Arnold, Min Aung, Aung, Suu Kyi, “, Bo Nagar, Stringer, Myint Swe, Chin Shwe Haw, Nan Diya, Lalmalsawma Hnamte, Lin Lin, Ye Myo Hein, May, – “, Karen, Chin state’s Matupi, Tian Junli, Arnold, Myanmar’s, it’s, Suu Organizations: CNN, United Nations, National Unity Government, Junta, Myanmar, UN, Administration Council, Burma National Revolutionary Army, National Liberation Army, Alliance, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, Arakan Army, ”, Getty, Reuters, Loikaw, Karenni Nationalities Defense Force, Loikaw University, Resistance, Burma People’s Liberation Army, Brotherhood Alliance, United States Institute of Peace, Wilson Center, Border Guard Forces, China, Global Times, PLA Southern Theater Command Locations: Myanmar, Myanmar’s, Suu, Yangon, Mandalay, Burma, Namhsan Township, Shan State, AFP, Arakan, China, ”, Shan, Chin, Muse, Rakhine, Pauktaw, Lashio, Kayah, Mizoram, “, Sagaing region, Asia, Kawkareik, Karenni, Sagaing, India, Thailand, Bangladesh

☆ US-China military hotlines are reopening to prevent things like risky run-ins from triggering a full-blown crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The US and China will resume military-to-military communications, Biden announced Wednesday. The US and Chinese militaries often operate in close proximity to one another, and there have been some risky run-ins. AdvertisementThe US and China are resuming military-to-military communications, the US and China said Wednesday after more than year of mostly radio silence. USINDOPACOMThe spike in risky and dangerous intercepts reported by US officials began before China officially cut off mil-to-mil comms. DoD officials, too, have said opening lines between the US and China would "ensure competition does not veer into conflict."

Persons: Biden, —, Joe Biden, People's Republic of China Xi Jinping, Nancy Pelosi's, USINDOPACOM, That's, Ely Ratner, China's Xi, Xi, he's, CNN's MJ Lee Organizations: Pentagon, Service, of Defense, PLA, U.S ., China Defense, China, Maritime, People's Liberation Army, US Air Force, US, DoD, Pacific Command, PRC, US Defense Department, Foreign Ministry Locations: China, People's Republic of China, San Francisco, Iran, U.S, Taiwan, United States, Hainan, South China, South, US

☆ US destroyer, Canadian frigate transit Taiwan Strait -US military
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, Nov 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. destroyer USS Rafael Peralta and a Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Ottawa transited the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, the U.S. 7th Fleet said in a statement, making their third joint transit in the region since June. Taiwan's defence ministry said the two warships sailed through the Taiwan Strait in a northerly direction on Wednesday night, adding it monitored the movement and the situation was "normal." The U.S. and Canadian navies made a similar transit in September. In June, the U.S. navy released a video of what it called an "unsafe interaction" in the Taiwan Strait in which a Chinese warship crossed in front of a U.S. destroyer. The U.S. destroyer USS Chung-Hoon and Canadian frigate Montreal were conducting a "routine" transit of the strait in June.

Persons: Rafael Peralta, Hoon, Albee Zhang, Ryan Woo, Mou Lee, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Royal Canadian Navy, U.S . 7th Fleet, People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command, U.S ., Montreal, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, U.S, Ottawa, Taiwan Strait, Taiwan, China, Canadian, Beijing

☆ China military says Philippine ship 'illegally entered' waters near Scarborough Shoal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

China Coast Guard/Handout via REUTERS/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Oct 30 (Reuters) - China's military said on Monday that a Philippine military ship "illegally entered" waters near Scarborough Shoal without authorisation and it urged the Philippines to immediately stop its provocations. The statement marks a rare warning from the Chinese military towards the Philippines over its moves in disputed waters in the South China Sea. China and the Philippines have had several confrontations in the South China Sea, recently trading accusations about a collision between a Chinese coastguard vessel and a boat from the Philippines. The Scarborough Shoal is claimed by China, the Philippines and Taiwan. Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, including parts of the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Persons: Tian Junli, Tian, Ethan Wang, Bernard Orr, Alison Williams, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: China Coast Guard, REUTERS, Rights, coastguard, People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command, Thomson Locations: Philippine, South, Rights BEIJING, Scarborough, Philippines, South China, China, Taiwan, Beijing, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam

☆ China's J-20 stealth jet isn't 'a dominating aircraft,' but it doesn't need to be for what China's military has planned
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

China's air force continues to improve and expand its fleet of J-20 stealth fighter jets. The J-20 is China's first stealth jet and a growing part of an already sizable aviation force. China's air force and navy now make up the largest aviation force in the region and the third largest in the world. They have a total of 1,900 fighter jets, including J-20s that have been "operationally fielded" by China's air force, according to the US Defense Department. AdvertisementAdvertisementA Chinese jet, believed to be a J-20 prototype, in Chengdu in January 2011.

Persons: —, Wang Jingtian, We've, Brendan Mulvaney, Mulvaney, they've, Rick Joe, Zhang Hui, Kenneth Wilsbach, Wilsbach, Jia Tianyong, Rong Xu Organizations: Service, US Defense Department, US Air Force, Beijing, Getty, WS, Reuters, China Aerospace Studies Institute, Department of, US Pacific Air Forces, Air and Space Forces Association, Air Show, China News Service, Getty Images China, People's Liberation Army, PLA, People's Republic of China, US Air, Pentagon Locations: China, East China, Pacific, Taiwan, Changchun, Chengdu, People's Republic of, China's, Xiamen, Zhuhai, American

☆ Chinese fighter jet got within 10 feet of US bomber over South China Sea, US military says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A Chinese fighter jet came within 10 feet of a US Air Force B-52 bomber flying over the South China Sea on Tuesday, according to the US military. Beijing cut off the communications after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan last year, infuriating Chinese leaders. China uses its military might to assert its claims of sovereignty in the South China Sea and beyond, including Taiwan. In 2022, the Chinese military increased its aggressive actions towards the independent island territory, including ballistic missile overflights, military aircraft flying into Taiwan’s aerial identification zone and major exercises near Taiwan. Though Xi has said he is seeking the peaceful unification of Taiwan with China, he has not renounced the use of military force to achieve his goal.

Persons: “, Joe Biden, Wang Yi, Wang, Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Biden, Xi Jinping, Ely Ratner, ” Ratner, Nancy Pelosi, “ I’ve, ”, Adm, John Aquilin, Xi Organizations: CNN, US Air Force, Pacific Command, ”, Foreign, APEC, US, East, South China, National Defense Strategy, America Locations: South, US, San Francisco, Beijing, Taiwan, China

☆ With a trove of declassified images, the US is shining a light on risky Chinese maneuvers it says could lead to war
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The US has released a trove of declassified photos and videos of Chinese intercepts of US aircraft. Risky intercepts have caused accidents before, and there's growing fear an accident now could lead to war. AdvertisementAdvertisementA Chinese jet during "a coercive and risky" intercept of US plane over the East China Sea in April 2022. AdvertisementAdvertisementA Chinese jet during "a coercive and risky" intercept of a US plane over the South China Sea in June 2022. A Chinese jet conducting "a coercive and risky" intercept of a US plane over the South China Sea in January 2022.

Persons: —, Ely Ratner, That's, Ratner, Iain Huddleston, John Aquilino, Aquilino, Liu Pengyu, Liu, Lloyd Austin, I've, Michael Chase, Chase, Amanda Hsiao, Hsiao, Xi Jinping Organizations: US, Service, US Defense Department, US Air Force, Pacific Command, Pentagon, PLA, Canadian, Canadian Air Division, Canadian NORAD, People's Liberation Army, Embassy, Washington DC, Southern Theater, Maritime, US Defense Department Experts, China, Crisis, US Defense Department China, South China Locations: China, East China, North Korea, South, East, Washington, Beijing

To underscore the pattern, the Pentagon released previously nonpublic photos and videos of Chinese fighter jets intercepting US aircraft flying in international airspace. The images, which date back to January 2022, show Chinese fighter jets getting dangerously close to US military jets in international airspace in an attempt to “intimidate” them, the Pentagon said in a statement about the incidents. Some of the Chinese fighter jets came within 20 feet of the US planes, the videos show. Office of the Secretary of Defense Public AffairsThe photos and videos also show the Chinese jets releasing objects and projectiles, including flares. But the Pentagon’s efforts this year to engage with Chinese military leadership have gone unanswered, and US officials have grown increasingly concerned about the lack of military-to-military dialogue between the countries.

Persons: ”, Ely Ratner, ” Ratner, Austin, Adm, John Aquilino, Defense Lloyd Austin, “, Wei Fenghe, Nancy Pelosi, “ I’ve, ” Aquilino Organizations: CNN, US, East, South China, Pacific Security Affairs, Pentagon, PLA, Defense Public Affairs, People’s, Army, Defense, National Defense, Military, Security, China Locations: South, “, People’s Republic of China, Beijing, Taiwan

☆ Cartoon elves and scrolls visualize Chinese military’s goal of Taiwan ‘reunification’
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

It has long vowed to “reunify” Taiwan with the Chinese mainland, by force if necessary. The Chinese painting "Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains" displayed in its entirety in the National Palace Museum Taipei on June 1, 2011. As a result, the scroll has long been seen as a living symbol of the division between China and Taiwan. Visitors look at "Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains" at the National Palace Museum Taipei on June 1, 2011. The “Escape from the British Museum” series “has struck a chord in people’s hearts and reflects the deep patriotic sentiments,” said one article in the state-run tabloid Global Times.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, “, Patrick lin, Huang Gongwang, —, Shi Tang, Xi Jinping, ” Xi’s, Chiang Kai, Mao Zedong’s, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Eastern Theater Command, People’s Liberation Army, PLA, Communist Party, Theater Command, Palace Museum, Getty, National, Museum, Zhejiang Provincial Museum, National Palace Museum, Taiwan, World Health Organization, Olympic Games, Asian, British Museum ’, British Museum, Beijing’s, Nationalist, Global Times, British Locations: Hong Kong, Taiwan Strait, People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, Palace Museum Taipei, AFP, Taipei, Hangzhou, China, National Palace Museum Taipei, Beijing, Ukraine, Fujian, London, Mao Zedong’s Communist, Greater China

☆ The mastermind of Russia's treacherous defenses in Ukraine appears to be in a kind of faraway 'exile' as the line is being breached
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Russian Army Gen. Sergey Surovikin appears to be in Algeria, according to recent photos. Surovikin is the mastermind of Russia's formidable defensive lines and fortifications in Ukraine. But as Kyiv's forces break through these elaborate fortifications, the mastermind behind them is nowhere near the action. The experts cited several additional photographs of Surovikin purportedly in Algeria, which were published to Telegram by Russian sources. Insider was unable to independently verify any of the recent photographs of Surovikin shared to X and Telegram.

Persons: Sergey Surovikin, Wagner, Surovikin, Dara Massicot, Yevgeny Prigozhin —, Russia's Aerospace Forces Sergei Surovikin, Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov, Staff Sergei Rudskoi, Vladimir Putin, Mikhail Metzel, subsume Wagner Organizations: Russian, Wagner Group, Service, RAND Corporation, Twitter, Institute for, Commonwealth, Independent States, CIS, Kommersant, Russia's Aerospace Forces, Staff, Russian Armed Forces, Armed Forces, Sputnik, Russian MoD Locations: Algeria, Ukraine, Africa, Wall, Silicon, Russia, Moscow, California, Washington, Yevgeny Prigozhin — Russia, North Africa, Russian, Sochi

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The U.S. and the Canadian navies sailed two warships through the Taiwan Strait on Saturday, in a challenge to China's sweeping territorial claims. The USS Ralph Johnson and the Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ottawa sailed through the narrow band of ocean that separates China and self-ruled Taiwan, according to the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet. The cruisers “transited through a corridor in the Strait that is beyond the territorial sea of any coastal state,” the Navy statement said. China has stepped up its military activities around Taiwan, including sending warships and warplanes on a near daily basis. Political Cartoons View All 1148 ImagesIn June, the U.S. released a video in which a Chinese navy ship cut sharply across the path of an American destroyer, forcing the U.S. vessel to slow to avoid a collision.

Persons: Ralph Johnson, ”, Shi Yi Organizations: Canadian, Royal Canadian Navy Halifax, Navy’s, U.S . Navy, Navy, U.S, People Liberation, Command Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, U.S, Taiwan Strait, Ottawa, China, Beijing, American, Canadian

☆ Ukraine's front-line forces aren't advancing as much as 'hoped' in the face of tough Russian defenses, but they're gaining ground, about 300 feet per day, NATO chief says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Jens Stoltenberg said Ukraine is "gradually" gaining a little over 300 feet of territory every day. Moscow also constructed a formidable array of defenses known as the "Surovikin Line," which has proven to be a headache for Ukrainian forces. The main part of the Surovikin Line consists of three layers of obstacles and fighting positions and is protected in the front by minefields. Ukrainian forces have managed to carve out a pocket of liberated territory south of Orikhiv, a city in the southern Zaporizhzhia region. "When the Ukrainians are gaining ground, the Russians are losing ground," Stoltenberg said.

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, Dmytro Kuleba, Sergey Surovikin, it's, NATO's Stoltenberg, Stoltenberg Organizations: Service, NATO, Separate, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Russian Army, 3rd Assault Brigade, Ukrainian Armed Forces Press Service, REUTERS, Kyiv Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Kyiv, Russia, Moscow, Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Russian, Orikhiv, Azov, Bakhmut, Donetsk Region

☆ Ukraine's front-line forces are trying to fight their way through Russia's formidable Surovikin Line. Here's what that is.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Ukrainian forces are making steady territorial gains in the southern Zaporizhzhia region. In doing so, Kyiv's troops have fought against the formidable Surovikin Line. As they approach Verbove, Kyiv's troops have are pushing against the main part of the so-called "Surovikin Line." The Surovikin Line is a complex system of defensive fortifications and obstacles across Russian-occupied territory in southern and eastern Ukraine. AdvertisementAdvertisementTo even reach the main line, Kyiv's soldiers have had to move through sprawling minefields — which has proven to be a slow and painstaking process.

Persons: Sergey Surovikin, Surovikin's, Valery Gerasimov, Wagner, George Barros, Barros, Rob Lee, Michael Kofman Organizations: Service, Factory, Russian Army, Institute, REUTERS Locations: Robotyne, Verbove, Wall, Silicon, Russian, Orikhiv, Azov, Kherson, Crimea, Ukraine, Kharkiv, Washington, Russia, Tokmak, Ukrainian, Moscow

Shi said the exercises would test the armed forces’ “ability to fight in real combat conditions.”“The patrols and exercises serve as a stern warning to the collusion of ‘Taiwan independence’ separatists with foreign elements and their provocations,” Shi added. China’s ruling Communist Party claims the self-governing, democratic island of Taiwan – despite never having controlled it. The move also comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and China. US President Joe Biden has been hosting the leaders of Japan and South Korea at a trilateral summit undergirded by the three countries’ mutual concern over China. On Tuesday, US-sanctioned defense minister Li Shangfu warned against “playing with fire” when it comes to Taiwan in a veiled jab at the United States when he addressed a security conference in Russia.

Persons: CNN —, ”, Shi Yi, Shi, ’, China’s, Taiwan –, William Lai, Lai, Joe Biden, Li Shangfu, “ Organizations: CNN, Eastern Theater Command, Xinhua, Communist Party, Paraguay – Locations: Taiwan, Beijing, Paraguay, South America, ”, United States, China, Japan, South Korea, Russia

CNN —A Russian general who reportedly served as the top military commander for Ukraine last year has died, according to Russian state media. Army General Gennady Zhidko died at 58 “after a long illness” on Wednesday, according to the state news agency TASS. Zhidko served as Russia’s Eastern Military District Commander between May and October last year. He was reportedly the overall theater commander in Ukraine during Moscow’s offensive against Lysychansk and Severodonetsk in the summer of 2022. Russia’s Ministry of Defense named General Sergey Surovikin as its new overall commander for operations in the war on October 2022.

Persons: Gennady Zhidko, Zhidko, Mikhail Degtyarev, “, ”, Sergei Shoigu, ISW, Sergey Surovikin, Surovikin hasn’t, Wagner Organizations: CNN, Army, Eastern Military, Tass, Intelligence Team, Russian Defense, Russian Armed Forces, Defense, Russia, Staff, Russian Federation, Eastern Military District, Russia’s Ministry of Defense Locations: Ukraine, Russia’s Khabarovsk, Moscow, Kyiv, Washington, Syria, Kharkiv

The announcement was the first time either of the two – who had both been in military positions outside the Rocket Force – were named as the force’s leadership. Beijing gave no reason for the change, making the case yet another example of the lack of transparency in China’s political system. The newly appointed Rocket Force leadership both previously held deputy positions in other parts of the military. New missile silosThe leadership change comes as evidence points to an expanding Chinese nuclear force – creating an even more important role for the Rocket Force, which until 2016 was known as the PLA Second Artillery Force. They are responsible for handling and delivering China’s nuclear weapons,” said Drew Thompson, a senior research fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Wang Houbin, Xu Xisheng, Li Yuchao, Qin Gang, Li, Xu Zhongbo, Xu, China’s, ”, Yun Sun, Li Gang, Xi, “, Qin, Wang Yi, Carl Schuster, “ Xi, ” Schuster, Wang, Neil Thomas, Roderick Lee, Drew Thompson, Lee, ” Thompson Organizations: CNN, Liberation Army Rocket Force, Rocket Force, Xinhua, Communist Party, Stimson, Communist Party’s, Military Commission, People’s Liberation Army, PLA, Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center, PLA Navy, Southern Theater Command, Asia Society, Center for, USAF Air University China Aerospace Studies, ” CNN, China’s Ministry of Defense, PLA Second Artillery Force, US Defense Department, Lee Kuan Yew, of Public, National University of Singapore, “ Locations: China, Suzhou, Taiwan, Washington, Beijing, Xinhua, Hawaii, Center for China, United States

☆ Chinese military’s three-day show of force increases headache for Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) activity has a range of implications, none of them positive for Taiwan or cross-strait stability, analysts say. The PLA aircraft detected this week included fighter jets, H-6 bombers, anti-submarine warning aircraft and reconnaissance drones, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said. Their response underscores the problem that increased PLA activity poses to Taiwan, said Carl Schuster, a Hawaii-based analyst and former director of operations at the US Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center. “Beijing hopes Taipei will just accept unification as inevitable and allow Chinese forces in without resistance. A Chinese fighter jet refuels during military exercises near Taiwan on April 12, 2023.

Persons: CNN —, China’s, Carl Schuster, ”, “, –, Joe Biden, ” Schuster, hasn’t, Defense Lloyd Austin Organizations: CNN, People’s Liberation Army, PLA, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, Communist Party, Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center, Taiwan Relations, Washington, PLA buildups, US, AP, ” “ Forces, Times, US Navy, Fleet, United, Eastern Theater Command, Defense Locations: Taiwan, Beijing, Hawaii, Taipei, Washington, Xinhua, Taiwan Strait China, Japan, States, United States, China

Search resuls for: "Theater Command"

25 mentions found