Across the Strait

The United States and Japan open their largest Keen Sword exercise on Monday, involving about 45,000 Japanese and 12,000 American personnel, according to The Japan Times. Japan will take its longer-range Type 25 anti-ship missiles away from their Kumamoto base for the first time, while the United States plans to send an advanced anti-ship missile system to Yonaguni, an island about 110 kilometres from Taiwan. Taiwan’s Central News Agency, citing… Read Full Story →

Japan’s coast guard spotted two China Coast Guard ships in the contiguous zone outside the Senkaku Islands’ territorial waters on Sunday, the 71st consecutive day Chinese government vessels were confirmed there, Sankei Shimbun reported. Both ships carried cannon-type guns, and Japanese patrol vessels warned them away from territorial waters. Separately, Taiwan’s Central News Agency interviewed Kyushu University professor Chisako Masuo, who said China’s expanding enforcement patrols in waters east of… Read Full Story →

Taiwan’s defence ministry reported five Chinese naval vessels and nine official ships operating around Taiwan in its October 18 bulletin. The figures cover the twenty-four hours from 6 a.m. on October 17 to 6 a.m. on October 18, Taiwan time. The ministry listed the naval vessels and official ships separately, rather than identifying all fourteen vessels as warships. It also reported two Chinese aircraft sorties. Both crossed the Taiwan Strait’s… Read Full Story →

The Chinese Embassy in Manila dared Philippine lawmakers to follow through on calls to declare Ambassador Jing Quan persona non grata, writing in a Friday evening social media post, “Just do it. Otherwise, stop bluffing,” according to The Manila Times. On Saturday the embassy also accused unnamed Filipino politicians and reporters of exaggeration and “creating hype,” Inquirer reported, noting that the embassy cited no specific reports. The row follows Jing’s… Read Full Story →

Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration said two China Coast Guard vessels, numbered 3301 and 3303, entered restricted waters around Taiwan-controlled Dongsha Atoll at 3:34 p.m. Friday, according to Focus Taiwan. Taiwan sent the Cijin patrol ship and patrol boat PP-10032 to broadcast warnings ordering them to leave. The administration said it has carried out 11 expulsion operations around Dongsha this year, involving 14 vessel encounters, and described Friday’s incident as an… Read Full Story →

China’s defence ministry said on Friday it would take “resolute and effective measures to deter any sabotaging moves in the South China Sea,” China Daily reported. Spokesman Senior Colonel Chen Xi, replying to remarks by Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, said “a certain Philippine politician” was pursuing “selfish interests,” which is Beijing’s position. In Japan, the carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, the cruiser USS Chosin and the destroyer USS Decatur docked… Read Full Story →

The Philippines’ foreign ministry on Thursday night criticised Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan for what it called a “thinly veiled threat of the use of force,” The Manila Times reported. The Chinese Embassy said Jing told reporters Beijing “may easily win” a conflict but would not use force because “we love peace.” Earlier, at a forum in Quezon City, Jing urged face-to-face dialogue and balanced Philippine ties with China and the… Read Full Story →

Taipei is drawing a boundary around Beijing’s planned Sun Yat-sen commemorations. On October 15, the Mainland Affairs Council said people already required to obtain government permission before visiting China would not receive approval to attend the events. It separately urged the wider public to avoid participation or jointly organizing commemorations with Chinese partners. Spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh said no applications had yet arrived, according to the Central News Agency. The council… Read Full Story →

Taiwan’s defence ministry reported 15 Chinese military aircraft sorties, 10 navy ships and seven official ships around the island in the 24 hours to 6 a.m. Thursday, October 15. Thirteen of 15 sorties crossed the Taiwan Strait median line and entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern air defence identification zones, and the ministry said it monitored them with patrol aircraft, navy ships and coastal missile systems. Farther south, the… Read Full Story →

Taipei, October 15, 2026: On October 14, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office barred VWAY [a company linked to Shen Tu-cheng; Beijing alleges he used it to trade with Chinese firms] from cooperating with organizations, companies and people in China. Reports do not say where VWAY is based. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council called the ban election interference, saying Hong Kong media reports preceded the sanction and echoed last year’s pattern. That is… Read Full Story →

Beijing said on Wednesday that Taiwan must bear the consequences after its Coast Guard used a water cannon on a Chinese fishing boat near the Pratas Islands. Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua made the remark, with the People Daily noting that ties have been severely damaged by the United States and Taiwan authorities. A Taiwanese official told Reuters the water cannon response was normal law enforcement carried out carefully… Read Full Story →

Taiwan’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday that it was cooperating with investigators examining allegedly mislabelled Chinese software used at overseas offices. Prosecutors searched ten locations on October 12, according to the Taipei Times. They suspect three companies repackaged software of Chinese origin as Taiwanese to win ministry contracts. PTS reported that four people were released on bail while suspected procurement violations were investigated. The ministry said the problem was discovered… Read Full Story →

On Sunday, the Philippine Coast Guard deployed aircraft and vessels to challenge Tan Suo Yi Hao, a Chinese research ship the PCG detected about 5.63 nautical miles from Hubo (Hardy) Reef in the West Philippine Sea. The Philippine Star reported spokesman Jay Tarriela said the ship’s tracking signal declared diving operations and that radio challenges went unanswered. Manila’s foreign affairs department said the research had no government approval. The Armed… Read Full Story →

Washington has criticised Beijing’s sanctions against ministers from Paraguay and Belize, adding a U.S. response to the measures reported here yesterday. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the administration opposed Chinese coercion against countries exercising sovereign rights, Reuters reported today. He expressed support for partners including Taiwan. Belize’s foreign ministry said the sanctions would not alter its foreign policy or diplomatic relationships and affirmed support for Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca.… Read Full Story →

China imposed sanctions today on Paraguay’s communications minister, Gustavo Villate, and Belize’s foreign minister, Francis Fonseca, over their support for diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The measures freeze any assets they hold in China, prohibit transactions and cooperation with Chinese organisations and individuals, and deny entry, including to Hong Kong and Macau. Beijing’s foreign ministry said the restrictions took effect on October 12 and framed them as defending sovereignty and opposing… Read Full Story →

Taiwan reported four Chinese military aircraft sorties, six naval vessels and three official ships around the island during the 24 hours ending at 6 a.m. today. The aircraft count was lower than yesterday’s twelve, while both vessel totals were unchanged. The figures arrive amid an exchange over President Lai Ching-te’s National Day address. China’s defence ministry said on Sunday that recurring exercises around Taiwan were intended to deter independence moves… Read Full Story →

Taiwan’s defence ministry reported 12 Chinese military aircraft sorties, six naval vessels and three official ships around Taiwan in the 24 hours ending at 6 a.m. Taiwan time today. Five sorties entered the southwestern air defence identification zone, which is distinct from territorial airspace. The bulletin followed President Lai Ching-te’s National Day address yesterday. Lai said stronger defences were intended to deter war and preserve dialogue, while welcoming U.S.–China talks… Read Full Story →