China warns of “drastic measures” if Taiwan provokes on independence

China will take “drastic measures” if Taiwan makes moves towards independence, a Beijing official warned on Wednesday, adding that Taiwan’s provocations and outside meddling could intensify next year. China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and in the past two years has stepped up military and diplomatic pressure to assert its sovereignty claim,

Japan’s military, among world’s strongest, looks to build

Dozens of tanks and soldiers fired explosives and machine guns in drills Monday on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, a main stronghold for a nation that is perhaps the world’s least-known military powerhouse. Just across the sea from rival Russia, Japan opened up its humbly named Self Defense Force’s firing exercises to the media in

Slovakia wants to be ‘equal partner’ in trade with Taiwan: official

Slovakia wants to be “an equal partner” to Taiwan, the leader of an official trade delegation to the island said Monday, a sign of growing international support for Taipei having a place on the world stage despite Beijing’s protests. China claims self-ruled democratic Taiwan as its territory, to be retaken one day by force if

Supporters of Taiwan independence will be liable for life, says China

China will make people who support “Taiwan independence” criminally liable for life, a spokeswoman for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said on Friday, drawing anger from the island amid heightened tension across the sensitive Taiwan Strait. This was the first time that China has spelt out concretely punishment for people deemed to be pro-Taiwan independence, as

China flies record 38 planes over Taiwan defence zone in national day show of force

Taipei says Chinese jets and bombers crossed zone as Beijing marked the anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic A record 38 Chinese military jets crossed into Taiwan’s defence zone as Beijing marked the founding of the People’s Republic of China, officials in Taipei have said. The show of force on China’s national day

Japan Officials Escalate Concerns About Possible China Attack on Taiwan

Political leaders and senior defense officials in Tokyo have upped their concerns about the potential for conflict across the Taiwan Strait, further linking an attack on Taiwan to Japan‘s own national security this week. China‘s Foreign Ministry said it expressed its “strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition” to Japanese counterparts on Thursday following remarks by Japanese Deputy Defense Minister

Japan Keeps Intercepting China Military Drones and Spy Planes

Japan says it has scrambled fighter aircraft to intercept Chinese military drones and accompanying surveillance aircraft on three consecutive days this week as its defense forces took part in a series of readiness exercises with regional allies. Thursday marked the third straight day of Chinese unmanned aerial vehicle sightings reported by the Japanese Defense Ministry’s Joint Staff Office.