Tag: Defense

Putin’s troop call-up will prolong but not win war: experts

by Sylvie LANTEAUME Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Western experts predicted Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s new troop mobilization would prolong the war but not change the balance on the ground, and warned against downplaying his renewed nuclear threat. Putin announced the call-up of 300,000 reservists — more than the nearly 200,000 mustered to invade Ukraine in February — after his troops have lost significant parts of territory seized early in the […]

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Chinese moves on Taiwan rattle remote Japanese island

by Mathias CENA Agence France-Presse YONAGUNI, Japan (AFP) — Life may seem tranquil on Japan’s remote Yonaguni island, where wild horses graze and tourists dive to spot hammerhead sharks, but China’s recent huge military exercises have rattled residents. The western island is just 110 kilometers (70 miles) from Taiwan, and a Chinese missile fired during the drills last month landed not far from Yonaguni’s shores. “Everyone is on edge,” Shigenori Takenishi, head of the island’s […]

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Pres. Marcos Jr, Pres. Widodo sign deals strengthening defense, border security, trade, regional cooperation

PBBM’s first state visit in Indonesia marks 75 years of PHL-Indonesia diplomatic relations   (Eagle News) – Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and Indonesian president Joko Widodo both agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations as well as work towards highlighting the role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to promote peace in the region. President Marcos Jr., is on his first state visit in Indonesia upon the invitation of President Widodo. The Philippine […]

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US approves $1.1 billion in arms for Taiwan, angering China

  by Shaun TANDON Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States on Friday announced a $1.1 billion arms package for Taiwan, vowing to keep boosting the island’s defenses as tensions soar with Beijing, which warned Washington of “counter-measures.” The sale comes a month after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi defiantly visited the self-governing democracy, prompting mainland China to launch a show of force that could be a trial run for a future […]

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Taiwan vows ‘counter-attack’ if China breaches airspace, territorial waters

  TAIPEI, Taiwan (AFP) — Taiwan said Wednesday it would exercise its right to self-defence and “counter-attack” if Chinese fighters and warships were to enter its territorial space, in the wake of Beijing’s huge military drills around the island. The self-ruled, democratic island lives under constant threat of an invasion by China, which claims it as part of its territory to be seized one day — by force if necessary. Tensions in the Taiwan Strait […]

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Finland says Russian fighter jets ‘suspected’ of violating airspace

  HELSINKI, Finland (AFP) — Two Russian fighter jets are believed to have violated Finnish airspace on Thursday, Finland’s defence ministry said, as the Nordic country seeks NATO membership following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. “Two Russian MIG-31 fighters are suspected of having violated Finnish airspace in the Gulf of Finland off Porvoo,” the ministry said in a statement. The Finnish Air Force sent up “an operational flight mission” to identify the aircraft, it said, adding […]

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Taiwan holds military drill after China repeats threats

by Catherine Lai Agence France-Presse TAIPEI, Taiwan (AFP) — Taiwan’s army held another live-fire drill Thursday after Beijing ended its largest-ever military exercises around the island and repeated threats to bring the self-ruled democracy under its control. Beijing has raged at a trip to Taiwan last week by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — the highest-ranking elected American official to visit in decades — staging days of air and sea drills around the island that […]

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Taiwan accuses China of preparing invasion, holds defense drill

by Amber Wang Agence France-Presse  FENGGANG TOWNSHIP, Taiwan (AFP) — Taiwan held an artillery drill Tuesday simulating defense against an attack as its top diplomat accused Beijing of preparing to invade the island after days of massive Chinese war games. China launched its largest-ever air and sea exercises around Taiwan last week in a furious response to a visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the highest-ranking American official to visit the self-ruled island in […]

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Taiwan holds artillery drill simulating defense against China attack

  by Amber Wang Agence France-Presse FENGGANG TOWNSHIP, Taiwan (AFP)  — Taiwan’s military held a live-fire artillery drill Tuesday simulating a defense of the island against an attack after days of massive Chinese war games. China launched its largest-ever air and sea exercises around Taiwan last week in a furious response to a visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the highest-ranking US official to visit the self-ruled island in decades. Taiwan lives under the constant […]

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Indonesia, US begin ‘Super Garuda Shield’ military exercise

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Thousands of Indonesian and American troops began a two-week joint military exercise on Monday that Washington said aims to advance “regional cooperation in support of a free and open” Asia-Pacific region. The US and its Asian allies have expressed growing concern about China’s increasing assertiveness in the Pacific, but Washington said the drills were not aimed at any country even though they would be significantly larger than previous exercises. At least […]

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High-level US delegation heads to Solomons to mark WWII amid China moves

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A high-level US delegation will travel to the Solomon Islands to mark the 80th anniversary of the World War II Battle of Guadalcanal, months after the country signed a controversial security pact with China, the State Department announced Monday. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and other senior diplomats and military leaders will visit the islands’ capital Honiara from August 6-8 and attend memorial events organized with Japan, now a […]

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Lithuania to buy howitzers from France

VILLEPINTE, France (AFP) — Lithuania has agreed to buy 18 howitzers from France, both sides’ defense ministers announced Monday, as the Baltic country bolsters its arsenal due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Lithuania, a European Union and NATO member, decided to inject an additional 300 million euros ($312 million) into its 2022 defense budget as the Ukraine war ramped up security fears. “Lithuania will buy 18 Caesar MarktII howitzers from France,” Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas […]

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