Biden admin threatens response if China militarizes Solomon Islands (Page 144 of 151)
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Economics minister positive about Taiwan hitting 10% growth TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Taiwan still has a chance to reach 10% economic growth this year after the government raised its forecast to 9.64%, Economics Minister Kung Ming-hsin ( ) said Wednesday. Speaking at a committee meeting, DPP Legislator Lai Jui-lung ( ) asked whether Taiwan's economy could grow by 10% this year, as some financial institutions have predicted. Kung said the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, the government statistics agency, had raised its forecast for Taiwan's economic growth to 9.64%. Kung said the chance of reaching 10% "exists" because some industries are doing better than last year. He said machinery exports grew by double digits in the first five months, beating expectations, CNA reported. Kung said the government is also supporting traditional industries, small businesses, and microenterprises. He said this includes NT$46 billion (US$1.5 billion) in special budget support and more than NT$10 billion each year for small- and medium-sized businesses. Kung also cited President Lai Ching-te's ( ) NT$100 billion plan to help small, micro, and traditional industries recover faster. He said the government would continue guiding businesses as they upgrade and adjust to market changes. Lawmakers also questioned Kung on energy security amid tensions in the Middle East. Kung said Taiwan's oil supply would remain stable this year. Kung said oil prices had become more predictable after tensions between the US and Iran eased. He said prices appeared to be moving lower, and the government would reflect that trend when appropriate. Taiwan seeks larger global development role TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Taiwan's International Cooperation and Development Fund is marking its 30th anniversary this year as officials seek to expand the country's role in international development. Speaking at a Taiwan Foreign Correspondents' Club briefing on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung ( ) and TaiwanICDF Secretary General Huang Yu-lin ( ) outlined the organization's future direction. Lin said Taiwan has undergone a significant transformation over the past three decades, evolving from a recipient of foreign assistance into a contributor to global development. Established in 1996, TaiwanICDF institutionalized Taiwan's overseas aid programs and has become a key platform for sharing the country's expertise with partner nations, he said. He said Taiwan's development model rests on four pillars: 1. Capacity building through technical assistance and talent cultivation 2. Social empowerment for local communities and vulnerable groups 3. Smart solutions utilizing Taiwan's technological strengths 4. Shared prosperity through mutually beneficial partnerships "Taiwan can help, and partners can lead," Lin said, describing Taiwan's aid programs as partnership-based efforts designed to support sustainable development and self-reliance rather than political influence. Lin linked development aid to his broader concept of integrated diplomacy. In May 2024, the foreign ministry launched the Prosperity Project ( ), seeking to leverage Taiwan's strengths in agriculture, healthcare, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and digital technologies. He highlighted cooperation with diplomatic allies, including Eswatini and Somaliland, as well as partnerships with like-minded countries and international financial institutions. Lin cited collaboration with the US International Development Finance Corporation and multilateral development banks as examples of how Taiwan is expanding its international engagement beyond countries with which it maintains formal diplomatic ties. Looking ahead, Lin said the group is transforming into a more comprehensive development platform that combines Taiwan's technological capabilities and human resources to promote peace, resilience, and sustainable development. TaiwanICDF Secretary General Huang Yu-lin ( ) noted that the nature of international development has changed significantly in recent years. He argued that resilience has become as important as economic growth and efficiency. "Development today is no longer measured solely by physical infrastructure or economic output," Huang said. "It is also measured by a society's ability to adapt, innovate, and recover from disruptions." As TaiwanICDF enters its fourth decade, Huang said the organization is reforming its operations, expanding international partnerships, and strengthening cooperation with governments, universities, civil society organizations, and private-sector partners. He identified digital transformation and artificial intelligence as key priorities for the future, arguing that access to computing power, digital infrastructure, and AI capabilities will become as essential in the 21st century as electricity and transportation networks were in the previous century. He said the ultimate goal of development is not merely economic growth but expanding people's opportunities and ability to shape their own futures. To commemorate its 30th anniversary, TaiwanICDF will launch a series of symposiums on July 1 and Aug. 14, and other activities highlighting Taiwan's diplomatic and humanitarian work overseas. Among them is the organization's first Campus Ambassador program, which recruits university students aged 18 to 30 and sends selected participants to diplomatic allies such as Eswatini and Saint Lucia during summer break. Participants document Taiwan's development projects and share their experiences through social media and digital storytelling. TaiwanICDF has also launched a "Blessings from Project Sites" campaign featuring congratulatory messages from foreign diplomats stationed in Taiwan, domestic government partners, and beneficiaries of Taiwan-funded projects around the world. |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
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G7 leaders oppose unilateral changes to Taiwan Strait status quo Leaders warn against force or coercion in East and South China Seas TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations on Wednesday reaffirmed opposition to unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, East China Sea, and South China Sea. In a statement titled "Geopolitical Issues," the G7 leaders underscored "the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law," per CNA. It opposed "any unilateral attempts to change the status quo, in particular by force or coercion." The statement reaffirmed support for unrestricted transit through the Strait of Hormuz. It said a UK- and France-led multinational initiative could help resume maritime traffic by protecting merchant vessels and verifying the removal of mines. It welcomed an agreement between the US and Iran, calling it a historic opportunity to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons, according to CNA. The leaders said the G7 is ready to support the implementation of the accord. Regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the statement said the G7 will expand military assistance to Kyiv and strengthen sanctions against Moscow. Members agreed to bolster air defenses, provide interceptor missiles, and enhance long-range strike capabilities. The statement also addressed North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, CNA reported. It reaffirmed the goal of complete denuclearization under UN Security Council resolutions. Taiwan to hold readiness drills Exercises will test how forces respond before possible enemy action TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Taiwan's military will hold readiness drills from Monday to June 26 to test how its forces respond before a possible attack, CNA reported Wednesday. The military said the drills will focus on preparations before enemy forces begin military action. The exercises will test how each defense zone responds and how well the Army, Navy, and Air Force work together. The drills are part of a series of major military exercises in the coming months. These include joint defense drills in July and the Han Kuang live-fire exercises in August. UDN reported that the readiness drills will take place in defense zones across Taiwan. Each zone will practice plans for its own area and test joint operations among the armed forces. The military has recently adjusted its joint operations plan. The new plan focuses on combat readiness, stronger alert levels, joint anti-landing operations, coastal strikes, beach defense, and long-term defense. The Han Kuang exercises will cover Taiwan's full defense process. The readiness drills will focus more on early action before enemy forces begin moving. Military sources said temporary readiness drills may be held if China announces military exercises or live-fire drills aimed at Taiwan. They said such drills would help Taiwan respond quickly to sudden threats. Another military source said this year's Han Kuang exercises will place more focus on rehearsal before formal operations. The source said rehearsal helps find weaknesses in plans and improves commanders' decision-making. and the "Traitor of the Week" award goes to... Taipei diabolo coach sentenced to over 12 years for spying for China Lu Chi-hsien sentenced for spying and leaking Tsai travel details TAIPEI (Taiwan News) A Taipei court on Wednesday sentenced diabolo coach Lu Chi-hsien ( ) to 12 years and eight months in prison for spying for China and helping leak former President Tsai Ing-wen's ( ) itinerary. CNA reported that the Taipei District Court convicted Lu of two national security offenses, and the ruling can be appealed. Lu had already been sentenced to 10 years and six months in a separate spying case and received a combined sentence of 12 years and eight months in the latest case. Prosecutors said Chinese intelligence officers recruited Lu after he traveled to China in 2020 to look for diabolo performance work. They said he later received more than NT$5.7 million (US$190,000) from China. Lu was accused of recruiting people in Taiwan to collect sensitive information for Chinese intelligence officers. Prosecutors said those recruited included military personnel and a China Airlines flight dispatcher, per Liberty Times. Investigators said Lu told the flight dispatcher to provide information about Tsai's 2023 overseas visit. The trip took Tsai to Guatemala and Belize and included stopovers in the US. Prosecutors said the dispatcher used a work computer to access China Airlines' internal system. He then photographed information about the presidential aircraft's takeoff times, landing times, and airport details before sending them to Lu. Lu later sent the information to Chinese intelligence officers, prosecutors said. The dispatcher received NT$45,000 for providing the information. UDN reported that the court sentenced the dispatcher to five years and four months in prison for violating the National Security Act. Lu was also accused of using military contacts to obtain classified information. Prosecutors said an Air Force sergeant used a work computer to access an internal military website and pass documents to Lu and another contact. The court sentenced the sergeant to six years and two months in prison under Taiwan's anti-corruption law. Another person recruited by Lu was sentenced to five years and six months in prison for violating the National Security Act. Diabolo |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
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Originally Posted By DaGoose: Just posted the below in the other thread. High level look at a US/China War. How a U.S.-China War Would Unfold  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahFZwxzGkv000:00 Introduction 01:42 Understanding China Through Military Engagement 09:54 How a Taiwan Conflict Could Begin 20:27 U.S. and Allied Responses 35:04 Global Economic Impact 39:03 Taiwan's Defense Prospects 47:14 Nuclear Escalation Risks 52:28 Avoiding Conflict and Looking Ahead  There were two people invovled in this interview. The host is now AKA as "drama club kid", and then the General. The General knew what he was talking about (two thumbs up), and answered the drama club kid's questions with not only patience, but gave him complete answers. The Drama Club kid also had a premise about the situation which framed his questions throughout the interview, (and I would've preferred different questions asked, so I should've done the interview myself), over all there's enough information provided by the General that would help inform or improve their understanding or better inform their opinions on the situation in the South China Sea. One area that was not touched on were civilians, and that's a consequence of the Drama Club kid. His perspective is government, the State, orders come from the top down as it should. He gave no thought to Taiwan being a democracy, nor the right of individuals, acting in concert or not, to chart their own destiny. As far as China was concerned, I could tell from the original premise and the type of questions the Drama Club kid asked, there was only the will of Xi and the CCP that mattered. I'm sure in his mind, this is how it should be as shepards leading their flock. It's worth your time to watch!!!!!!! |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
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Good thing I kept one story to make up for today's Pffffffft Report: PLA Activities 2026.06.18 Issuing Authority Political Warfare Bureau 1.Date: 6 a.m. Jun. 17 (Wed.) to 6 a.m. Jun. 18 (Thu.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities: 8 PLAN ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. 3.Illustration of flight path is not provided due to no PLA aircraft operating around Taiwan were detected during this timeframe. Now for a real story: The Chinese, always probing those defensive lines!!! Coast Guard opens fire on boat smuggling 25 Chinese nationals near Florida after it refused to stop I picked the Foxnews.com story because most of the other stories sort of missed the shooting part, mysteriously. The consequences of not complying with orders, and they (the media) ignore it. DHS says the vessel refused to comply with orders to stop one mile south of Key Biscayne FIRST ON FOX In a stark warning that U.S. borders are closed "by land or sea," the U.S. Coast Guard opened fire to disable a noncompliant vessel attempting to smuggle 25 Chinese nationals into the country off the coast of Florida. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told Fox News Digital that on June 10, a boat carrying 25 illegal immigrants from China refused to comply with Coast Guard orders to stop one mile south of Key Biscayne. Crews from Coast Guard Station Miami Beach initially deployed warning shots, but when those proved ineffective, they used "disabling fire" to successfully halt the vessel, according to DHS. No injuries were reported. Following the interdiction, the Chinese nationals were transferred to the Coast Guard Cutter Margaret Norvell for processing, and their boat was seized and towed to Station Miami Beach. Special agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations launched a criminal investigation into the attempted entry, with assistance from Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations. DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis delivered a stern warning following the bust. "This sends a clear message to illegal aliens attempting to enter the United States: don't even think about it," Bis told Fox News Digital. "By land or sea, our borders are CLOSED." Lt. Matthew Ross, commanding officer of Coast Guard Station Miami Beach, emphasized local, state and federal maritime law enforcement partners remain vigilant against unlawful migration ventures. "Anyone considering one of these dangerous voyages should understand that they are risking their lives at sea and can expect to be interdicted and repatriated," Ross said. The enforcement action falls under Operation Vigilant Sentry, a layered approach by the Coast Guard and its partners to maintain a continuous presence across the Florida Straits, Caribbean Sea and surrounding waters to deter and prevent illegal maritime migration. |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
| https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-defense-production-weapons-manufacturing-iran-war/ |
Deckard “nobody wants to know the truth, nobody” Cobra Kai Johnny Lawrence “she’s hot and all those other things” Tucker Carlson 1/10/2018 “I used to be a liberatarian until Google”https://mobile.twitter.com/Henry_Gunn
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Let's start out today by making Mistress Cheng of the KMT look bad! DPP lawmaker alleges KMT clashed with supporters in Los Angeles Wang Yi-chuan cites anonymous posts claiming dispute over banquet expenses during US trip TAIPEI (Taiwan News) DPP Legislator Wang Yi-chuan ( ) alleged Thursday that the KMT asked members of the Taiwanese community in Los Angeles to cover the cost of a banquet during KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun's ( ) recent visit to the US. Cheng recently said expenses for her US trip would be covered by grants from the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, per SETN. She also said the KMT did not raise funds from overseas supporters during the visit. Wang, however, cited anonymous online posts allegedly written by a leader within the overseas Taiwanese community, per NOWNews. According to Wang, the posts claimed the KMT kept proceeds raised through the banquet while refusing to pay related expenses. Wang argued that the allegations suggested tensions between the KMT and local organizers in Los Angeles. Cheng's visit reportedly received a lukewarm reception in Washington. According to Politico, Cheng was unable to meet with US National Security Council officials amid concerns over defense spending cuts and suspicions that the KMT had disclosed details of a planned meeting. Politico also reported that relatively few members of Congress interacted with Cheng during the trip. In response, KMT Representative to the US Victor Chin ( ) said the party had not planned an extensive schedule of congressional meetings. Asked about the trip, Cheng said she could not discuss who she met in the US because of diplomatic convention. She added, however, that she had met members of the family of former US President John F. Kennedy, per UDN. Addressing her reception among overseas Taiwanese communities, Cheng said many people had noted her connection to Republic of China founder Sun Yat-sen ( ), per ETtoday. She said the similarity lay in her willingness to turn ideals into concrete action. First is a link to a story we posted a while back where in the KMT said the trip to the US wasn't a fund raising trip. It was for World Peace! KMT denies seeking donations for chair's US trip Reports claim overseas Taiwanese groups were asked to cover travel expenses Next, let's go to a Politico story that outlines what Mistress Cheng accomplished while in Washington, D.C.: Washington freezes out Taiwan's opposition leader We still don't know who the other 4 individuals are. Taiwan's main opposition leader, CHENG LI-WUN, has gotten a cold shoulder in Washington after blocking a sharp increase in the self-governing island's defense spending. Cheng was making the rounds in Washington last week, and four people with knowledge of her itinerary said she mostly struck out in trying to land White House and Capitol Hill meetings. "They asked for meetings with a lot of lawmakers but didn't get many," a person familiar with Cheng's Hill outreach told NatSec Daily. Those snubs appear to be payback for Cheng's thwarting a $40 billion emergency defense budget Taiwanese President LAI CHING-TE proposed back in December. As loyal NatSec Daily readers will remember, U.S. lawmakers warned that the deadlock undermined the island's ability to deter Chinese aggression. The stranglehold ended last month when her party, the KMT, approved a drastically reduced $25 billion defense budget. "The State Department is still pissed off at Cheng's behavior over defense spending," said a person familiar with State's interaction with Cheng's team. The White House canceled a scheduled meeting between Cheng and national security council officials, according to two people familiar with the matter. NatSec Daily granted them, and others, anonymity because of the diplomatic sensitivity of their comments. Cheng told reporters that she had met with administration officials but was "not in a position to disclose" who they were. Her team denied that lawmakers locked her out. Still, Cheng has acknowledged some tension around her engagement in Washington. She told reporters in D.C. on Friday that she was the target of "rumors to deter my meetings." That included allegations "that I speak on behalf of [Chinese leader] XI JINPING and represent the Chinese Communist Party," she said. Cheng met with Xi in April, at the same time she was stonewalling Lai's defense budget. During her two-week multicity U.S. visit, Cheng also praised Xi as "very gentle, very nice" and met with individuals linked to CCP influence operations. NSC officials "were very upset with her gutting the special [defense] budget that they provided extensive consultations on," according to one of the people familiar with the cancelled meetings with the White House. They also were frustrated that names of those she was supposed to be meeting with appeared in a Financial Times story last week, and suggested that the KMT had leaked the names. That constituted "breaking of simple protocol that was delineated as a precursor to meeting with NSC, which was to not leak the meeting ahead of time," the second person said. The White House and State Department declined to comment on whether administration officials met with Cheng. As for the Hill, Cheng sought meetings with only "a handful" of lawmakers and was "surprised by the favorable responses," said VICTOR CHIN, who leads the KMT's representative office in Washington. Nine lawmakers including Sen. DAN SULLIVAN (R-Alaska) and Reps. DON BACON (R-Neb.), YOUNG KIM (R-Calif.) and TOM SUOZZI (D-N.Y.) met with Cheng, according to her and her team. Kim and Suozzi didn't respond to NatSec Daily's requests for comment. Sullivan urged Cheng to work with Lai's Democratic Progressive Party "to finish the defense budget" following their meeting. Bacon had a more upbeat take. "The KMT is moving in the right direction on our joint desire to defend Taiwan," his office said in a statement. (This is ending up being a long block, so apologies for that. Almost done!) Next story, I'll post the link, an excerpt and the accompanying photo to shorten things up: TAIPEI TIMES Man 'dragged' from LA KMT event A Chinese national in the US yesterday accused the Chinese Nationalist Party KMT of being "as brutal as the Chinese Communist Party CCP " after an incident on Sunday in which a person asking a question at an event attended by KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun was allegedly assaulted and choked. In a speech called "Peace and Prosperity Tour of the US, China and Taiwan" to the local overseas Taiwanese community in Los Angeles, Cheng said Taiwan's smooth democratization was possible because most KMT members genuinely believed in democracy and did not hinder the process. Here's the photo: Attached File Last story in this block, and thank you for your patience! This one deals with the deals Mistress Cheng came back with after her meeting with Ximan. DPP criticizes KMT efforts to promote fruit exports to China Minister says Taiwanese agricultural imports to China form part of Beijing's united front tactics TAIPEI (Taiwan News) DPP Spokesperson Wu Cheng ( ) on Wednesday criticized KMT politicians for supporting Taitung County Magistrate Rao Ching-ling's ( ) participation in the Straits Forum, which Rao said was intended to promote fruit exports to China. Wu said that the CCP views agricultural imports as part of its united front strategy and could halt imports of Taiwanese agricultural products without warning, per ETtoday. He noted that China previously suspended imports of Taiwanese pineapples over concerns about scale insects and banned atemoya imports from Taitung County. Wu asserted that China encourages dependence on its market before restricting imports to extract political concessions. Citing past experiences of Taiwanese farmers, he called on the KMT not to participate in what he described as China's united front tactics and to avoid leading farmers down a path that could result in future losses. Wu added that while the government has never prohibited agricultural exports to China, it has sought to diversify Taiwan's export markets. Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu Chui-cheng ( ) echoed those concerns during a legislative committee meeting on Wednesday, urging local officials to avoid what he described as political traps in cross-strait exchanges, per Mirror Media. He said local leaders should focus on ensuring the long-term sustainability of Taiwan's agricultural sector rather than cooperating with China's united front efforts. Chiu also commented on the potential penalties Rao could face for attending the forum, per CNA. Citing the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, he said that if authorities determine her actions violated the law, she could face a fine of between NT$100,000 (US$3,166) and NT$500,000. Chiu further alleged that Rao had previously altered a scheduled visit to China to accommodate a meeting with Song Tao ( ), director of China's Taiwan Affairs Office. Responding to criticism of his past attendance at the Straits Forum, Chiu said his participation was part of an academic effort to better understand the event, per Liberty Times. He pointed out that he later submitted a report concluding that the forum serves as a platform for united front activities. In an interview, Rao rejected the DPP's characterization of her efforts to expand agricultural exports, per UDN. She argued that Taitung County needs to understand the Chinese market, noting that about 95% of atemoya exports are destined for China, Hong Kong, and Macau. Citing the high barriers to entry associated with atemoya, Rao said Taiwan's atemoya industry should not fear competition from Chinese growers. She added that farmers must continue improving their products to remain competitive. Asked about expanding export markets for Taitung atemoya, Rao said negotiations with foreign governments can take three to five years and are beyond the capabilities of local governments, per Newtalk. She acknowledged progress made in opening overseas markets for mangoes and pineapples and argued that atemoya, Taiwan's second-most-exported fruit, should be included in the next round of export negotiations. Second, if as she says ("negotiations with foreign governments can take three to five years and are beyond the capabilities of local governments") what's her rationale for going to China then, if she can't succeed according to her own assessment of what needs to happen? Gentlemen, these are real mysteries!! Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen ( ) also weighed in on the controversy, saying the central government should appreciate local leaders who help promote Taiwanese products abroad, per Storm Media. She suggested that punishing Rao would ultimately harm Taiwanese farmers. |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
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This story surprised me in a good way!! Lai urges swift passage of Taiwan-US double tax bill President highlights cooperation in meeting with Congressional Black Caucus TAIPEI (Taiwan News) President Lai Ching-te ( ) urged US Congress on Thursday to swiftly pass double taxation relief legislation, saying the measure would boost bilateral investment. Lai made the remarks while receiving a delegation from the Congressional Black Caucus led by Vice Chair Lucy McBath and including Valerie Foushee, per CNA. He thanked the lawmakers and the US Congress for their long-standing support for Taiwan and efforts to strengthen bilateral ties. The president said Taiwan will continue strengthening its economic resilience and self-defense capabilities while expanding cooperation with the US in industry. He said closer ties would help safeguard regional peace and stability. Lai also highlighted growing technology ties, including the Taiwan-US Semiconductor Education Alliance launched in May. He said the initiative will cultivate talent and create opportunities for cooperation in chips and AI. A key focus of the meeting was the proposed Taiwan-US double taxation agreement, which remains pending in Congress. Lai said the legislation would reduce investment barriers, encourage business expansion and create a more favorable environment for trade and economic cooperation. McBath said Taiwan and the US share a commitment to democracy, innovation, and economic development. She described a secure and prosperous Taiwan as important to regional stability and praised the country's achievements in semiconductors and research. Lai meets with foreign media in Taiwan President praises G7 statement and 30th anniversary of direct presidential elections TAIPEI (Taiwan News) President Lai Ching-te ( ) met with members of the foreign press Thursday, emphasizing that Taiwan's sovereignty resides with its people and reaffirming the nation's commitment to working with the international community. Speaking at a tea reception at Taipei Guest House, Lai called on China to halt military expansion in the South China Sea and abandon the use of force against Taiwan. He said Taiwan remains willing to engage in exchanges with China based on equality to promote regional peace and prosperity, according to CNA. Lai thanked foreign journalists for their reporting on Taiwan and said those who have worked in the country have witnessed its democracy firsthand. He said this marks the 30th anniversary of Taiwan's first direct presidential election, where Taiwanese voters defied Chinese missile threats and achieved a voter turnout rate of 76%, per a press release. Lai said Taiwan has reinforced its democratic system through repeated peaceful transfers of power and earned international recognition for its democratic governance and economic achievements. He pointed to Taiwan's growing role in global supply chains, semiconductor manufacturing, and AI. Turning to international affairs, Lai said he welcomed reports of a potential peace agreement between the US and Iran. He also said he hoped the Russia-Ukraine war would end soon, per CNA. Lai also thanked G7 leaders for opposing unilateral changes to the status quo and rejecting the use of force or coercion in the Taiwan Strait. He reiterated Taiwan's commitment to working with like-minded partners to safeguard peace and stability in the region. |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
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National Security and a Pffffffft report: Taiwan moves to tighten AI chip export controls to China Government begins legal amendments amid security concerns over alleged illicit transfers TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Taiwan has begun drafting legal amendments to tighten AI chip export controls to China following concerns over potential illicit transfers, Economics Minister Kung Min-hsin ( ) said on Wednesday. Speaking at a legislative committee session reviewing the 2026 central government budget, Kung said the Ministry of Economic Affairs has already initiated revisions but must coordinate with multiple agencies before finalizing the changes. He noted the process involves national security bodies, the National Science and Technology Council, and the Ministry of Finance, per CNA. The move comes after lawmakers raised alarms over reports that US-based Supermicro may have been involved in the illegal transfer of Nvidia AI chips to China. DPP Legislator Chung Chia-pin ( ) questioned why only 12 categories of strategic high-tech goods are currently restricted from export to China. Bureau of Foreign Trade Director-General William Liu ( ) said those restrictions were originally designed to protect Taiwan's industrial competitiveness. Chung argued that while Taiwan has historically both cooperated and competed with China in semiconductors, it has long barred exports of advanced wafer manufacturing equipment to prevent technology leakage. Citing the Foreign Trade Act, Chung noted that exporting strategic high-tech goods to controlled regions can carry prison sentences of up to five years, while violations involving non-controlled regions incur fines ranging from NT$60,000 (US$1,850) to NT$3 million (US$92,600). He questioned why China is not explicitly listed as a controlled destination for chip exports. Kung reiterated that revising the law requires cross-agency consensus and cannot be decided by the ministry alone. He added that determinations on which chips should be regulated must involve scientific authorities, while enforcement involves customs and trade oversight agencies. After the session, Kung told reporters that corresponding measures on AI chip exports to China are certain and will be implemented as quickly as possible. He emphasized that national security considerations are central to the timeline and scope of the reforms, per the Economic Daily News. Taiwan Cabinet proposes NT$210 billion plan for military drones 5-year initiative aims to expand drone capabilities and build domestic supply chains TAIPEI (Taiwan News) The Cabinet on Thursday proposed a special budget of up to NT$210 billion (US$6.7 billion) over five years for domestically developed drones and unmanned vessels. The funding would cover aerial drones and unmanned surface vessels, from August through the end of 2031, per CNA. Premier Cho Jung-tai ( ) said the goal is to achieve "local supply, domestic production, and independent maintenance" of unmanned platforms. In May, the legislature passed a NT$780 billion special defense procurement bill, allocating NT$300 billion for a first batch of US arms purchases and NT$480 billion for a second batch. However, projects involving drones, unmanned vessels, the Taiwan Tactical Network, Team Awareness Kit systems, and Strong Bow missiles were excluded. The Cabinet said the new act would provide dedicated funding for unmanned systems, which President Lai Ching-te ( ) has identified as a defense priority, per CNA. The program would use long-term contracts and upgrades to strengthen asymmetric warfare capabilities. The initiative would build a "non-red" supply chain that excludes Chinese components while enhancing military readiness. It would include coastal surveillance drones, coastal attack drones, and small suicide drone boats. Cabinet Spokesperson Michelle Lee ( ) cited Cho as saying the government's original NT$1.25 trillion defense proposal included the T-Dome missile defense network, a high-tech kill chain, and development of the domestic defense industry, CNA reported. He said lawmakers' reduction of the package to NT$780 billion excluded key projects and weakened the overall plan. The initiative is expected to support industries including AI, communications equipment, batteries, and maintenance services. Cho said it could help establish unmanned systems as a strategic emerging industry, benefiting both national defense and the civilian economy. The draft bill will now be sent to the legislature for review. Cho has instructed the defense ministry to communicate with lawmakers across party lines in the hope of securing swift passage. Pfffft tracker: PLA Activities 2026.06.19 Issuing Authority Political Warfare Bureau 1.Date: 6 a.m. Jun. 18 (Thu.) to 6 a.m. Jun. 19 (Fri.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities: 4 sorties of PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN ships and 3 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 4 out of 4 sorties crossed the median line of Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
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Let's all go to the movies!!! The PRC banking sector (and by extension the financial sector) is slowly collapsing.  Show This to an Idiot Who Thinks Communism is Good There are videos to be found on youtube that show Shanghai turning into Detroit. We've been following the saga of South Korea for a while. You WILL recognize this next story, I promise.  South Korea’s Election Is Imploding Take a break!!  Drive-In Snipe - Vintage Intermission - 16mm Film Look - (59) This is a good one to watch as we try to point out various agitation and propaganda operations when we see them:  China Launches Psychological Attack on Singapore |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
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Discussion around China and the Middle East. The Day After: America, China and a Changed Middle East  The Day After: America, China and a Changed Middle East |
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Originally Posted By DaGoose: Discussion around China and the Middle East. The Day After: America, China and a Changed Middle East https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTdJerWJOwY (remember! responsibly!) I had to watch it twice!! I needed to learn how to filter out not only our Hostess' mannerisms and affectations, but that garish pink room she works in. She's obviously still pissed off that Daddy didn't get her a pony 55 years ago. Her guest is Canadian judging by his accent. Here's what's available on line for his bio: Johnathon Fulton Nonresident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council (yup, the Atlantic Council, my favorite  )He publishes a newsletter on substack titled "The China-MENA Newsletter" where I assume that "MENA" stands for Middle East-North Africa. I also assume that he has a paid subscription version for his really sexier opinions. One good point in his favor is that he isn't Peter Zeihan. After I was able to tune out the Hostess, I could here his answers much better. Overall, it's a good watch. Both of the individual's are leftists without doubt, but he kept his answers pretty straight forward answering the questions put to him which I could tell was slightly displeasing to Madame as she was asking some very leading questions to elicit responses she wanted to hear. It's okay that she asks leading questions! It's a podcast and not a fact-finding commission. However, about half way through, she was responding to his answers with "Okay, fair enough" and doing that look away thing that women do when they're not being told what they want to hear. Remember, Daddy didn't get her a pony at least 55 years ago, and it hurts still. As for his answers, he answered the questions she asked! By that, a lot of people have a tendency to answer questions that they think they were asked!!! And that's mainly because they want to give some other answer. A lot of people end up convicted of crimes by doing this!! Keep it in mind the next time you're interrogated. Them being leftists and all, they have a tendency to pile the hate on one guy while being dismissive or making excuses for someone else who is the opposition. They were definitely making excuses for China. Liz, our Hostess, remarked that China should get out of "the business of uigher reeducation camps", and brushed it all off. Gentlemen, what happens in these concentration camps are beatings, rapings, torturing, and a fair number of murdering individuals who have not been sentenced for a crime, convicted of a crime, or even accused of committing a crime. These people are in these camps because they belong to specific ethnicity. As for Johnathon, he just couldn't say that the Chinese have been expanding military operations in the area. He avoided it with effort. He almost said "arms de...", stopped talking, thought about it, and changed where he was going with his answer. The Iranians wouldn't have had as large a ballistic missile program if it weren't for the Chinese. Maybe one day he'll be able to say that out loud; then maybe he can say it in front of people, in a safe space, of course. Last year, we covered the "Eagles of Civilization" joint military exercise between Egypt and China that took place in Egypt. That's a pretty huge undertaking in terms of just planning meetings between Egypt and China much less the actual effort to move men and machines to Egypt from China. This year, because of US and Israeli military actions against Iran, they didn't have a joint exercise, the Chinese did attend this: Egypt's Badr 2026 Drill Near Israel Highlights China Defense Cooperation A reasonable, logical conclusion is that, yes, the Chinese would like to add more of a military component to their economic transactional activities in the region. Why? Because they want to sell weapons, that's why!! (I really worked hard on that answer )Remember last year when the Pakistani and the Indian air forces never left their own territorial limits lobbing missiles at each other? Remember who won???? Chinese marketing won, that's who! Anyway, enough about me!! Watch the video that DaGoose graciously posted for us. Practice fighting your own biases and seeing through the biases of others. This is a safe space for doing that!! Again, all praises and blessings to DaGoose!
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Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
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First story is just a gentile reminder that the PLA is operating inside Myanmar: Taiwan rebukes China-Myanmar statement over sovereignty claims TAIPEI (Taiwan News) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday condemned a China-Myanmar joint statement, saying it undermines Taiwan's sovereignty and misinterprets UN General Assembly Resolution 2758. In a statement, the ministry said Myanmar and China issued the declaration on Wednesday, which it said improperly downgraded Taiwan's sovereign status, per CNA. The ministry reiterated that Taiwan and China are not subordinate to each other. It said Taiwan rejects repeated false claims in bilateral statements, calling them cognitive warfare and attempts to alter the status quo. It expressed regret that Myanmar's government continues to align closely with China. Taiwan has provided cooperation in Myanmar since 2016 in areas including public health, economic development, and humanitarian assistance, it said. The ministry said Taiwan will continue to defend democracy, freedom, and human rights. It added that Taiwan will work with like-minded partners to resist authoritarian pressure and maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. And next we have a "herr Doktor Allwissend": Former KMT official claims China's missiles not aimed at Taiwan Chou Hsi-wei says Beijing's military buildup protects Taiwanese from foreign powers TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Former KMT politician Chou Hsi-wei ( ) claimed that China's missiles are not aimed at Taiwan and that Beijing's military power helps protect Taiwanese, SETN reported Friday. FTV News reported that Chou said China was building up its military not to threaten Taiwan, but to protect it from foreign powers. He singled out Japan and the US, claiming Japan still wanted to colonize Taiwan and the US continued to exploit it. Speaking about cross-strait military tensions, Chou said Taiwanese should understand that China's missiles are not aimed at Taiwan. He also said China's growing military and economic power would become Taiwan's biggest source of protection. Liberty Times reported that Chou's remarks drew attention because China has increased military and political pressure on Taiwan for years. Chinese military aircraft and ships have often operated around Taiwan, while Beijing has also worked to limit Taiwan's international space. The comments drew criticism online, with some saying China was the government most actively pressuring Taiwan and others questioning how missiles could be described as protection. Other commenters called the remarks one-sided, while a Facebook page that shared the video urged people not to support the KMT, per NowNews. Chou is a former Taipei County magistrate and senior KMT figure. Taipei County was the former name of what is now New Taipei before it was renamed in 2010. |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
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Chinese research vessel appears off the coast of Taiwan itself this time: Taiwan Coast Guard drives Chinese research ship from restricted waters Patrol vessels followed Xiang Yang Hong 22 and ordered it to leave TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Taiwan's Coast Guard on Thursday warned a Chinese research vessel to leave Taiwan's restricted waters off Yilan County after it came too close to the coast, CNA reported. The Coast Guard said the Chinese ship Xiang Yang Hong 22 entered waters off Su'ao at 11:35 p.m. Thursday. The area is between 12 and 24 nautical miles from Taiwan's coast. Taiwan sent two patrol vessels to follow the Chinese ship and order it to leave. Coast Guard video showed the patrol vessel Lanyu warning the ship by radio and saying the waters off Taiwan's east coast are not under China's jurisdiction. The two Taiwanese vessels sailed beside the Chinese ship and used their wakes to stop it from carrying out operations. The Chinese vessel left Taiwan's restricted waters at 4:20 a.m. Friday and later moved beyond the Lanyu's radar range. The Coast Guard said it first detected the Chinese ship at 8 p.m. Thursday, about 41 nautical miles east of Hualien. It warned the ship to leave Taiwan's exclusive economic zone before the vessel later entered restricted waters off Suao. The Coast Guard said Taiwan has rights over its eastern exclusive economic zone, including rights related to marine research. It said Chinese ships cannot change that fact by sailing or conducting research there. The Coast Guard said Xiang Yang Hong 22 had been sailing off Taiwan's east and south coasts for more than a week. It said the ship left Zhoushan in China's Zhejiang Province on June 10 and later moved near waters between Yonaguni Island and eastern Taiwan. The Coast Guard said it would continue monitoring the vessel. There's a video supplied in the story with a high speed run by the research vessel. If you now anything about "researching" on the high seas, you need to travel as fast as possible to get as much research as possible in the quickest amount of time possible. Jaques Cousteau and his sons, Phillipe and Jean Michel, well yeah, they did it all wrong!!!
Here's the map of where Yilan County is on Taiwan: Attached File Pfffft Report: PLA Activities 2026.06.20 Issuing Authority Political Warfare Bureau 1.Date: 6 a.m. Jun. 19 (Fri.) to 6 a.m. Jun. 20 (Sat.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities: 5 sorties of PLA aircraft, 9 PLAN ships and 5 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 out of 5 sorties entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. What is that...like 3 hours and 45 minutes? Busy day. |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
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Morning Gents! Let's see what the World has in store of us today - Experts flag possible influence operations ahead of Taiwan's local elections Researchers identified coordinated Facebook activity involving 163 pages that were mostly overseas-operated TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Cybersecurity experts have warned of possible early-stage influence operations ahead of Taiwan's local elections later this year after identifying coordinated Facebook page activity, CNA reported Saturday. On Monday, a large-scale wave of nearly identical posts spread across Facebook. They repeated three themes drawn from previous news reports: an unexpected national emergency alert, an urgent notice from Kaohsiung, and work and class suspensions in Kaohsiung. The posts were reshared by numerous accounts using near-identical formats, posting sequences, and high-frequency activity patterns. Cybersecurity experts tracking foreign information manipulation said the activity produced 383 posts across 163 Facebook pages. At peak activity, 34 posts appeared within five minutes, averaging one post every 10 seconds. Fourteen different pages published identical content within the same minute at one point, suggesting coordinated scheduling rather than organic sharing. Most of the pages appeared to be operated outside Taiwan. Of the 163 pages analyzed, 154, or 94.5%, were managed overseas, including links to Hong Kong, Malaysia, and China. Researchers assessed that the activity may be linked to a network based in China's Hebei Province, based on posting patterns and traffic structures. Researchers said the group has been associated with long-running online influence operations and has been cited in studies examining information operations targeting Taiwan elections. Experts said such networks often use large numbers of non-political pages to reduce suspicion. They attract followers with parenting, health, entertainment, and lifestyle content before shifting to political messaging during sensitive periods. Eighty of the 163 pages had changed their names at least once, with some doing so up to six times. Many were previously used for adult, entertainment, or public-interest topics, a tactic experts said can help bypass platform trust restrictions and rapidly build reach. Cybersecurity experts warned that similar operations could expand as the local elections approach and urged users to check page transparency information and remain cautious of unfamiliar pages. The elections are scheduled for Nov. 28 and will include races for county and city magistrates, as well as other local offices, according to BusinessToday. Taiwan rejects China embassy in Belgium claim on Taiwan EU and Belgium representative office says repeated claims do not make them fact TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Taiwan's representative office to the European Union and Belgium on Saturday rejected a claim by the Chinese Embassy in Belgium that Taiwan is part of China. The Chinese Embassy in Belgium posted on Facebook on Friday asserting Beijing's position on Taiwan. The post also urged the Belgian public to support it. In response, Taiwan's representative office issued statements in Mandarin, English, Dutch, French, and German. It said repeating a narrative does not make it a fact. The office said claims that Taiwan is part of the People's Republic of China have been repeated so frequently that some people have come to accept them as fact, but argued that they do not stand up to reality. The People's Republic of China (China) has never governed Taiwan since its founding in 1949. The office said Taiwan is a democratic country with free elections, an independent judiciary, and a vibrant civil society. It added that the right of self-determination of Taiwan's 23 million people should not disappear because others seek to rule them. According to the office, questions regarding Taiwan's status should be addressed based on "history, law, and reality" rather than propaganda. Following World War II, Japan signed the San Francisco Peace Treaty in 1951, under which it renounced sovereignty over Taiwan and the Penghu Islands. The treaty did not specify a recipient of that sovereignty, according to the Legislative Yuan. Since the mid-1980s, Taiwan has undergone political liberalization and democratization, culminating in its first direct presidential election in 1996. From that point on, all central executive and legislative representatives have been elected by the people. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung ( ) said the system has functioned as Taiwan's governing authority and external representative body, shaping a status quo in which Taiwan and China are on equal footing. Taiwan has seen three ruling party alternations since 2000, which Lin said reflect the public's commitment to democracy and freedom.
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Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
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Next article is a bit outside the topic, but it is of interest!!! It's an interesting article, and it's to be considered as "food for thought." (I'm posting it because if you've been coming back to this thread, here in GD, I'm going to assume that you desire to "think outside of boxes" imposed by others, and that your feelings aren't hurt because in Jr. High, some predatory teacher wasn't sexually abusing you. The age of unconditional surrender is over Iran's survival points to an age of stalemates, settlements, and contested victories The tentative peace deal between the United States and Iran has already triggered a familiar debate: To some, it is definitive proof of American strength; to others, it is a glaring strategic failure. After nearly four months of war marked by the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the systematic destruction of Iran's military infrastructure, a punishing naval blockade, and a massive shock to the global economy the two adversaries are suddenly poised not for escalation, but for formal peace. US President Donald Trump has announced that a memorandum of understanding has been signed in principle, with talks set to continue in Geneva this Friday. The immediate question is obvious: Who won? The more interesting question, perhaps, is why we keep asking it. For most of recorded history, military victory and political victory were closely linked. Armies fought, one side prevailed, terms were imposed, and the defeated accepted the outcome because they had little choice. The model reached its most dramatic expression in World War II. Germany surrendered unconditionally. Japan surrendered unconditionally. The victorious powers dictated the postwar order. No negotiations took place between equals. There was no ambiguity regarding who had won and who had lost. Many strategic thinkers continue to view war through this historical lens. Military superiority, they assume, should ultimately produce political submission. Yet the decades since 1945 tell a different story. The Korean War ended not with surrender but with an armistice. The Vietnam War ended not with political victory for the United States but with withdrawal. The war in Afghanistan demonstrated that battlefield dominance does not necessarily translate into a durable political outcome. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has become a protracted struggle of attrition rather than the rapid conquest initially envisioned by Moscow. Now Iran, despite suffering devastating military losses, appears to have achieved the one objective that mattered most to its leadership: survival. These conflicts differ enormously in ideology, geography, and scale. What unites them is that none ended in the manner of World War II. The reason lies partly in the changing incentives of modern warfare. In 1945, Japan faced an adversary willing and able to wage total war. American cities were beyond Japanese reach. The United States enjoyed overwhelming industrial superiority. The American public had accepted extraordinary sacrifice. The moral and legal constraints governing warfare were far weaker than they are today. Firebombing cities and imposing massive civilian casualties, however controversial even then, remained accepted instruments of war. The postwar world gradually changed those assumptions. International law expanded. Global media exposed battlefield realities in real time. Economic interdependence deepened. Democracies became increasingly sensitive to casualties, inflation, and prolonged conflict. Military power remained immense, but the acceptable uses of that power narrowed. A modern great power often possesses the ability to inflict far greater destruction than it is politically willing to employ. At the same time, a technological revolution has transformed the economics of war. For most of modern history, military effectiveness was closely tied to industrial output. Wealthier states could build more ships, aircraft, tanks, and artillery than their adversaries. Scale was decisive. Today, the spread of precision-guided weapons, commercial technologies, satellite networks, and inexpensive drones has altered that equation. A drone costing a few thousand dollars can threaten a system worth millions. Swarms of expendable weapons can force defenders to launch interceptors costing hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of dollars apiece. Commercial satellite imagery and communications can provide capabilities once reserved for major powers. The significance of these technologies is not that they eliminate military superiority. They do not. Their significance is that they dramatically reduce the cost of imposing pain. A weaker state may still be unable to defeat a great power outright, but it can make victory slower, costlier, and politically more difficult to sustain. This shift has strengthened the strategic logic of asymmetric warfare. Military power has become less efficient at translating battlefield dominance into political outcomes. For a weaker state, survival itself has become a viable form of victory. Tehran did not need to conquer territory. It did not need to defeat the United States. It merely needed to impose sufficient economic, diplomatic, and strategic costs to prevent Washington from translating military success into unconditional political submission. This points to another asymmetry that increasingly defines modern conflict. The weaker side is often fighting for one thing. The stronger side is usually fighting for several. The United States was not merely fighting Iran. It was fighting a domestic political battle, managing rising energy prices, navigating international criticism, maintaining coalition support, and weighing the electoral consequences of a prolonged conflict. Tehran, by contrast, faced a far simpler calculation: Survive. This creates a paradox. The stronger power frequently possesses greater military freedom but less political freedom. Its adversary may be weaker, poorer, and more vulnerable. Yet because its objectives are narrower, it may be able to absorb levels of pain that the stronger power finds politically unsustainable. This does not mean military power has become irrelevant. What has changed is the relationship between military success and political outcomes. The age of total war produced clear endings. The age that followed has produced armistices, negotiated settlements, frozen conflicts, and strategic stalemates. The question is no longer whether a great power can destroy its adversary. In many cases, it plainly can. The question is whether it is willing to pay the political, economic, legal, and moral costs required to force unconditional surrender. Increasingly, the answer appears to be no. This may be the most important geopolitical shift of the post-1945 era. For centuries, victory meant compelling the enemy to accept your terms. Today, victory increasingly ends at the negotiating table, where each side walks away with something it can claim as success. The age of unconditional surrender has given way to the age of strategic survival. The defeated still survive, the victors still compromise, and both return home claiming victory. What was once decided on the battlefield is now often settled in the realm of narrative. That distinction may sound subtle. It is not. One belongs to the age of unconditional surrender. The other belongs to the age we live in now. Pork Chop Hill |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
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Pffffft report is first up: PLA Activities 2026.06.21 Issuing Authority Political Warfare Bureau 1.Date: 6 a.m. Jun. 20 (Sat.) to 6 a.m. Jun. 21 (Sun.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities: 2 sorties of PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN ships and 4 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. Not even two hours!! There's weather's moving in by tomorrow. We might not even have this much: Tropical Storm Mekkhala may form Saturday, approach Taiwan next week System could strengthen into typhoon by Monday, forecaster says |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
| https://breakingdefense.com/2026/06/dwindling-stockpiles-of-solid-rocket-motors-highlight-industrial-base-challenges/ |
Deckard “nobody wants to know the truth, nobody” Cobra Kai Johnny Lawrence “she’s hot and all those other things” Tucker Carlson 1/10/2018 “I used to be a liberatarian until Google”https://mobile.twitter.com/Henry_Gunn
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Let's start with an update on the storm: Hualien urges residents to prepare for Tropical Storm Mekkhala TAIPEI (Taiwan News) The Hualien County Government has urged residents and farmers to complete typhoon preparedness measures as Tropical Storm Mekkhala approaches Taiwan and could strengthen into a typhoon as early as Sunday. The storm's outer circulation is expected to begin affecting eastern Taiwan early next week. Officials warned that geological conditions in Hualien's mountainous areas remain fragile following last year's earthquake, increasing the risk of rockfalls, landslides, and slope collapses, per CNA. According to the Central Weather Administration, Mekkhala could intensify into a typhoon while moving toward waters east of Taiwan. Hualien's Agriculture Department said the agriculture, fisheries, and livestock sectors are particularly vulnerable to typhoon-related damage and called on residents to complete disaster prevention work before the storm arrives. Farmers were advised to reinforce fruit tree supports, strengthen greenhouses and other agricultural facilities, and clear drainage systems. Crops that are ready for harvest should be harvested early if necessary to reduce losses from heavy rain and strong winds. Fishing ports in Hualien and Shiti have increased patrols and are urging fishers to closely monitor sea conditions. Fishing vessels operating offshore were advised to return to port early and secure mooring lines and fishing equipment. Aquaculture operators were reminded to inspect aeration systems, pumping equipment, and backup generators to reduce the risk of losses caused by power outages or flooding. The department also urged farmers to avoid entering mountainous areas, streams, and locations with unstable slopes before the storm arrives. Residents should closely follow weather updates and warnings issued by the CWA and local governments. For farmland in low-lying or flood-prone areas, officials recommended clearing drainage ditches and securing greenhouses, sheds, windbreaks, and irrigation facilities. Agricultural machinery, fertilizers, pesticides, and other important supplies should be moved to safe locations. During the storm, residents were advised not to risk harvesting crops or inspecting farmland in hazardous conditions. Post-storm inspections and replanting efforts should only begin after weather conditions stabilize to avoid injuries from landslides, unstable ground, or electrical hazards, per CNA. Livestock operators, including pig, poultry, and dairy farms, were instructed to inspect the structural safety of animal housing, secure roofs and windows, and ensure adequate feed, drinking water, and emergency power supplies. Drainage systems should also be checked to prevent flooding that could affect animal health and production. Any major damage or abnormal livestock deaths should be reported immediately to local authorities. The agriculture department noted that some mountain slopes damaged by the April 3, 2024, earthquake remain unstable. Construction contractors were urged to secure site fencing, scaffolding, and machinery while inspecting drainage and slope protection measures before the storm arrives. Officials also warned residents living near the landslide dam on the Mataian River and downstream areas to closely monitor alerts issued by central and local governments. People should avoid entering river channels, riverbeds, and low-lying areas during periods of heavy rain and comply with any evacuation orders. The Hualien County Government further urged the public to avoid unnecessary travel to beaches, harbors, and other coastal areas, as well as mountainous regions, and to stay informed through the latest typhoon advisories and disaster prevention announcements. Attached File That is one hell of a right turn!!!! Our next story is an update also, and this one took an interesting "left" turn: Taiwan warns farmers over Chinese atemoya orders Agriculture ministry says reliance on Chinese market carries risks for Taitung growers TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Taiwan's Ministry of Agriculture on Saturday warned farmers against becoming overly dependent on the Chinese market after reports of renewed interest from China in purchasing large quantities of Taiwanese atemoyas, also known as custard apples. The ministry said Chinese purchase offers could encourage farmers to expand production, only for market access to be restricted later through unilateral policy changes, exposing growers to significant financial risks. Taitung County is Taiwan's primary atemoya-producing region, per CNA. The ministry cautioned farmers about what it described as China's "raise, trap, kill" strategy, in which market access is expanded to encourage production before being restricted, leaving producers vulnerable to instability. The ministry said it will continue guiding the industry toward diversified, high-value export markets to reduce reliance on uncertain trading conditions. The warning came after Taitung County Magistrate Rao Ching-ling ( ) participated in China's Straits Forum through a pre-recorded video message aimed at promoting market opportunities for Taiwanese atemoyas. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council had previously denied Rao permission to attend the forum in person, describing the event as a Chinese Communist Party united front platform. MAC Deputy Minister and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh ( ) recently noted that domestic demand for atemoyas is limited and that the industry has historically relied heavily on Chinese orders. His remarks sparked public debate over the fruit's production model and the risks associated with cross-strait trade dependence. In a statement issued Saturday, the ministry reminded the public that China unilaterally suspended imports of Taiwanese atemoyas on Sept. 20, 2021, citing pest-related concerns and alleged noncompliance with quarantine standards. The ministry said it subsequently worked with exporters and farmers to strengthen pest and disease control measures, improve supply chain management, and diversify export destinations. The ministry added that it has repeatedly sought scientific and technical consultations with China under the Cross-Strait Agricultural Product Quarantine and Inspection Cooperation Agreement in an effort to restore normal trade. However, it said Beijing has not provided a positive response, per CNA. According to the ministry, China partially resumed imports of Taiwanese atemoyas on June 20, 2023, but limited access to specific regions and did not provide comprehensive new quarantine regulations. The ministry said the move appeared to be a goodwill gesture, but China later reinstated a 20% import tariff on atemoyas on Sept. 25, 2024, along with a 9% value-added tax, significantly increasing trade costs. The ministry also said China continues to regulate exports of atemoya cuttings and seedlings through approval requirements while simultaneously expanding its own cultivation area, increasing competitive pressure on Taiwan's growers. Officials warned that large purchase orders from China could prompt Taiwanese farmers to invest heavily in new orchards, only to face sudden import restrictions, regional limitations, or regulatory changes. The possibility of new tariffs being imposed without prior consultation further increases uncertainty for producers, the ministry said. The ministry reiterated that ensuring sustainable agricultural development and stable farm incomes remains a top government priority. It said it will continue supporting product diversification, value-added processing, and expansion into emerging premium markets to reduce the risks associated with excessive reliance on a single export destination. It also occurred to me after the first posting of this story line that I didn't explain the fruit and why I posted the story. Atemoya was a USDA hybridization projects at the beginning of the 20th Century. (It's so weird writing that! LOL) I don't remember the second fruit, but one of the two fruits in the "sugar apple." These grow in tropical areas and they're more popular on our side of the World. I suspected the hybridization program was originally created by the USDA in order to find cheaper sources of sugar than sugar cane production. "They" say this fruit is popular in Taiwan. I don't know about that as the Taitung County exports 90% of its crop. They're going to have a hard time developing other markets due to Central American area being able to produce this fruits like crazy. I suspect smart farmers would diversify their crop, so they don't get caught up in having China, their single buyer, increase it's own production and harvest which they have been doing every year since 2021. Taiwan is not the only country that is working on self-reliance, and it's not the first country that is working on self-reliance. China got there first. |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
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Next is an opinion piece. Cybersecurity opens new path for Taiwan-India ties Shared China-linked threats give Taipei and New Delhi practical reason to deepen security cooperation As cyber threats reshape national security in the 21st century, Taiwan and India should treat cybersecurity as a practical avenue for cooperation against shared challenges, many of them linked to China. Taiwan and India have both become major targets of cyberattacks in recent years. A National Security Bureau report said Chinese cyberattacks against Taiwan's critical infrastructure averaged 2.63 million per day in 2025, equivalent to roughly 960 million attacks over the year. Government departments and private enterprises in Taiwan are regularly targeted by state-sponsored actors and cybercriminals. Given Taiwan's strategic importance in semiconductors, computer hardware, and advanced technology, hostile actors have sought access to sensitive information related to defense cooperation with the United States and other partners, trade secrets, and government communications. India has also experienced a sharp rise in cyber threats. According to Seqrite's India Cyber Threat Report 2026, Seqrite Labs recorded 265.52 million threat detections across more than 8 million endpoints between October 2024 and September 2025. Critical infrastructure sectors, including power, healthcare, aviation, finance, and government networks, have increasingly become targets of cyberattacks, highlighting the vulnerability of India's digital ecosystem. A key factor driving the need for closer cooperation is that both Taiwan and India face cyber threats linked to China. In Taiwan's case, the National Security Bureau said China's cyberattacks in 2025 showed a degree of correlation with joint combat readiness patrols conducted by the People's Liberation Army around Taiwan. The PLA conducted 40 such patrols in 2025, and China's cyber army simultaneously escalated attacks against Taiwan 23 times. India has faced similar challenges. Chinese-linked hacker groups have been accused of conducting cyber operations against Indian critical infrastructure. One widely cited example was the alleged cyber intrusion into India's power sector, which some analysts linked to the widespread Mumbai electricity disruption in 2020. India also experienced a barrage of cyberattacks during Operation Sindoor in 2025, though many of those attacks were linked to Pakistan-based threat actors. The broader lesson remains clear: Cybersecurity has become a central front in regional security competition. Taiwan and India have made efforts since the 1990s to improve bilateral ties. Shared security challenges, changing geopolitical realities, and the political will to expand ties now create a favorable environment for a stronger cybersecurity partnership. Importantly, Taipei and New Delhi have already developed substantial institutional capabilities to strengthen cyber resilience. Taiwan has built a multilayered cybersecurity infrastructure, including the National Information and Communication Security Taskforce, cyber agencies, and the Information and Electronic Warfare Command. India, for its part, has established the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team and the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre. These institutions offer a solid foundation for future cooperation in several ways. First, cooperation would allow both countries to better understand each other's cybersecurity systems and practices. Second, Taiwan's extensive experience countering sophisticated Chinese cyberattacks offers valuable lessons for India. Third, institutionalized cooperation could help integrate India's software capabilities with Taiwan's global leadership in hardware and semiconductor technologies, creating opportunities for technology cooperation and innovation. Fourth, the two countries could explore multilateral or trilateral cooperation with the US, Japan, and other partners. A trilateral workshop involving representatives from the US, Taiwan, and India was held in New Delhi in 2023 under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework to deepen operational expertise and share best practices in cybersecurity. To generate tangible outcomes, such exercises should be institutionalized and held regularly. At the same time, the scope of cybersecurity cooperation within the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue could be expanded by engaging Taiwan in relevant initiatives where possible. Fifth, both countries could expand cooperation in critical infrastructure protection, cybersecurity intelligence sharing, and incident response mechanisms. Such collaboration would strengthen the cybersecurity of critical infrastructure in both countries. Taiwan can play a particularly useful role in helping India strengthen the cybersecurity of its military and critical infrastructure, which remain vulnerable to China-backed cyberattacks. To institutionalize cybersecurity cooperation, Taiwan and India should develop a framework for identifying, coordinating, sharing, and implementing cybersecurity best practices. They should promote cooperation in cybersecurity-related research and development, cybersecurity standards, security testing, accreditation processes, and cybersecurity product development. Joint initiatives in cybersecurity, cybercrime prevention, digital forensics, and legal frameworks would further boost bilateral cooperation. Regular consultations and steps to improve transnational cybercrime cooperation would enhance cybersecurity coordination and foster long-term trust. Structural and political constraints continue to limit the scope of Taiwan-India engagement. Yet evolving security challenges make a compelling case for closer cooperation. The time has come for India to move beyond past hesitations and engage Taiwan more constructively. Cybersecurity cooperation could open a new chapter in Taiwan-India relations by providing a practical, mutually beneficial, and strategically significant avenue for partnership. Sure the Chinese do a lot of trade with Israel, but they mostly pay lip service to the Palestinian issue, so I'm guessing that China doesn't want to give up its trade relationship with Israel, and I doubt the Israelis want to give up the trade relationship either. Using the Indians as a middle man seems doable. Taiwan wartime stockpile included in US defense bill Proposed program would pre-position weapons, medical supplies for crisis use TAIPEI (Taiwan News) A US Senate defense bill would create a wartime stockpile program for Taiwan, a move a retired US Navy officer said would strengthen deterrence against China. The fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act cleared the Senate Armed Services Committee on June 11 and awaits review by the full Senate, with both chambers later needing to agree on a final bill before it can become law, per CNA. The proposal would let Washington keep materiel in Taiwan for possible transfer during a crisis. Covered items would include missiles, artillery, automatic weapons ammunition, armor, and humanitarian and medical supplies. Retired US Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, now a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said he has supported a Taiwan reserve stockpile for years. He said equipment already stored in Taiwan could be handed over quickly in wartime or during another emergency, according to the report. Montgomery said the plan would tell Beijing that Taiwan could rely on both its own arsenal and US weapons if China attacked. The bill would also rename the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative as the First Island Chain Security Cooperation Initiative and allow the Philippines to receive related assistance. US-Taiwan Business Council President Rupert Hammond-Chambers said the new framing would encourage cooperation among the US, Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines, per the report. Taiwan legislative speaker to lead cross-party delegation to US Group to visit TSMC's Arizona site before meetings in Washington TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Legislative Yuan Speaker Han Kuo-yu ( ) will lead a cross-party delegation to the US on Sunday, with stops planned in Arizona and Washington, DC. The group includes Taiwan People's Party Legislator Hung Yu-hsiang ( ), Democratic Progressive Party Legislators Kuo Yu-ching ( ), Lee Po-yi ( ), and Chen Kuan-ting ( ), and Kuomintang Legislators Yang Chiung-ying ( ), Lai Shyh-bao ( ), and Lin Szu-ming ( ), per CNA. The delegation is expected to arrive in Phoenix on June 21 US time. While in Arizona, the lawmakers are set to visit TSMC's local facility and attend a lunch event with members of the Taiwanese community, according to the report. Han's delegation is scheduled to travel to Washington on June 23. Meetings with US lawmakers are planned, while a meeting with the US executive branch is possible but has not been confirmed. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reportedly left time in the schedule for a possible meeting with US officials, though the agency and level have not been disclosed. The group is also expected to attend a dinner hosted by Taiwan's representative to the US, Alexander Yui ( ), per the report. Han is expected to speak at Taoyuan International Airport before departure. The delegation is due to return to Taiwan on June 26. |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
|
Pfffffft Report! And we have an interesting development. PLA Activities 2026.06.22 Issuing Authority Political Warfare Bureau 1.Date: 6 a.m. Jun. 21 (Sun.) to 6 a.m. Jun. 22 (Mon.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities: 23 sorties of PLA aircraft, 7 PLAN ships and 5 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 20 out of 23 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. I'm not going to superimpose the graphics this time because the weather one flat out sucks, but in the South, the PLAAF is flying within weather. We haven't seen that in a very long time. The area is open for roughly 3 hours and 19 aircraft, and that sort of simulates and actual non-masturbatory mission. |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
|
This is my new caption photo: Attached File As a Woman Thinketh This is also the editorial photo chosen for our first story!! Alright! Let's get it on!!!! KMT chair rejects Control Yuan abolition push Cheng Li-wun says constitutional threshold makes proposal impractical TAIPEI (Taiwan News) KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun ( ) on Monday rejected calls from Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an ( ) to abolish the Control Yuan, citing the difficulty of amending the Constitution. Under the ROC Constitution, the Control Yuan exercises oversight powers that in many democracies are held by the legislature, per ETtoday. Following constitutional reforms in 1992 under then-President Lee Teng-hui ( ), the authority to select Control Yuan members shifted from local councils to the president. After President Lai Ching-te ( ) nominated a new slate of Control Yuan members, Chiang criticized the list, arguing the institution had lost its neutrality. He subsequently became one of the leading advocates within the KMT for abolishing the agency. Commenting on the proposal, Cheng said the high threshold required for constitutional amendments makes abolition impractical. While she said Chiang's position could help expose what she described as the DPP's contradictory stance on the issue, she clarified that the KMT is not currently planning to pursue a constitutional amendment. Then they say that Lai is failing in his constitutional duties. They've already impeached him once, a month ago. NOW, that Mistress Cheng has said, they're not going to abolish the Control Yuan (abolishing the Control Yuan has been a DPP party plank for years) they have to vote to reject the list of candidates instead of simply ignoring it. Now things get interesting as the TPP is interested in helping the DPP eliminate the Control Yuan. DPP Legislative Caucus Convener Tsai Chi-chang ( ) called on the TPP to begin discussions on abolishing the Control Yuan before seeking DPP support, per CNA. Acknowledging the challenges of constitutional reform, Tsai said the DPP would support abolition if all major political parties reached a consensus on the issue. TPP Legislator Chen Chao-tzu ( ) expressed regret that the DPP had not acted on its long-standing criticism of the Control Yuan, per Liberty Times. She urged the party to take the lead in advancing constitutional amendments, saying the TPP would cooperate in such an effort. KMT Legislator Lee Yen-hsiu ( ) noted that legislation related to abolishing the Control Yuan is already before the legislature, per UDN. She said lawmakers could move forward with the political process if Lai publicly endorsed abolition and withdrew his current list of nominees. Former DPP legislator Lin Cho-shui ( ) previously argued that many of the Control Yuan's oversight functions have effectively been absorbed by the Executive Yuan, per China Times. He said that while the agency once had broader authority over civil servants, it now retains the power to investigate and launch impeachment proceedings against officials but not to issue final disciplinary rulings. Sun Yat-sen School President Chang Ya-chung ( ) also weighed in, arguing that the Control Yuan should be reformed rather than abolished, per China Times. He said allowing the president to nominate all members undermines the institution's neutrality and proposed limiting the ruling party to nominating 14 of the 29 members. Take note that this guy says, "...allowing the president to nominate all members undermines the institution's neutrality...." Neutrality!!!!! Under Chang's proposal, the remaining seats would be allocated among opposition parties based on their share of the vote in the most recent general election. He said each party should nominate its own candidates, arguing that parties would have an incentive to select qualified individuals because member performance would affect public perceptions of the party. Chang added that such reforms would not require constitutional amendments and could instead be implemented through cross-party agreements or revisions to relevant regulations. When I first decided to follow this story, I didn't think it would have the kind of legs it has. DPP caucus questions atemoya export claims tied to China Caucus says harvest season has passed, limiting impact of Taitung magistrate's Straits Forum appearance TAIPEI (Taiwan News) The DPP legislative caucus on Monday questioned recent claims surrounding atemoya exports to China, suggesting the discussion was misleading because the fruit's harvest season ended in April. Taitung County Magistrate Rao Ching-ling ( ) recently participated in the Straits Forum by video, expressing gratitude to China for importing Taiwanese atemoyas, per ETtoday. Her participation came despite a central government ban on local officials attending the event. Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister Liang Wen-chieh ( ) previously said atemoyas have a limited domestic market and that about 90% of production has traditionally been exported to China. He suggested the industry's viability largely depended on China's goodwill. The DPP caucus acknowledged that Liang's remarks may have upset some growers but said dependence on any single market, particularly China, increases risks for the industry. Lawmakers added that because the atemoya harvest season ended in April, Rao's participation in the forum would not result in additional fruit exports this year. The caucus also said some Taitung farmers have questioned why atemoya exports are being highlighted now, given that the harvest season has already passed. Liang clarified his remarks on Saturday, saying the core issue is reliance on what he described as a "political trap" market, per Mirror Media. He added that the atemoya industry could follow the example of dragon fruit growers by expanding domestic consumption. Executive Yuan Central Taiwan Joint Services Center Deputy Executive Officer Wu Yin-ning ( ) weighed in on Sunday, saying domestic atemoya consumption has increased under DPP governance, per Tai Sounds. She noted that domestic consumption first surpassed exports in 2022 and said China's new import taxes on atemoyas in 2024 have made the market less attractive for Taiwanese farmers. DPP Taitung County magistrate candidate Chen Ying ( ) echoed those concerns, saying Taiwanese exporters will face tougher competition as China's domestic production improves, per UDN. She said farmers will continue to face uncertainty and risks as long as the industry remains overly dependent on the Chinese market. Anti-nuclear activist says DPP nuclear shift unlikely to help KMT Kuo Ching-lin says frustration over DPP stance may not translate into support for KMT candidates TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Northern Coast Anti-Nuclear Action Coalition Director Kuo Ching-lin ( ) said Sunday that although anti-nuclear groups are dissatisfied with the DPP's evolving stance on nuclear energy, many supporters are still unlikely to back the KMT in November's local elections. Kuo said the DPP has fallen short of its energy transition goals and appears to be retreating from its long-standing nuclear-free homeland policy, per UDN. He suggested that if the party insists on moving away from that position, it should consider building new power plants rather than reopening aging nuclear facilities. Kuo said restarting nuclear plants could appeal to voters concerned about economic development and energy security but could also alienate environmental groups and anti-nuclear advocates. Despite that dissatisfaction, he said opposition to the KMT among many anti-nuclear supporters may outweigh their frustration with the DPP, limiting any electoral impact in the New Taipei mayoral race. Yehliu Community Development Association Chair Chang Yung-yao ( ) endorsed Kuo's proposal to build new nuclear facilities, per UDN. He said that while it may be unfair for residents of northern Taiwan to host future nuclear plants, Taiwan's geographic constraints as an island make nuclear energy increasingly necessary. Chang said decisions on nuclear energy will shape Taiwan's future and should not be overshadowed by partisan political disputes. Soochow University Assistant Professor Tso Yi-en ( ) previously suggested that President Lai Ching-te's ( ) changing position on nuclear energy could affect the New Taipei mayoral election, per NOWNews. Writing in March, Tso argued that the DPP would need to provide strong justification to supporters if it abandons a core policy less than a year after implementing its nuclear-free homeland goal. Both KMT New Taipei mayoral candidate Lee Shu-chuan ( ) and his DPP rival, lawmaker Su Chiao-hui ( ), have weighed in on the possibility of reopening the Kuosheng Nuclear Power Plant. Lee said safety would be the primary condition for any restart and argued that reopening the plant could help provide the stable electricity supply Taiwan needs, per CNA. Su said she would oppose nuclear power if safety cannot be guaranteed and if the issue of nuclear waste remains unresolved, per Liberty Times. |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
|
Foreign Relations news: Honduras still owes Taiwan NT$13.36 billion after China switch Taiwan seeks repayment as Honduran firms question benefits of Beijing ties TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Honduras still owes Taiwan NT$13.36 billion (US$422.5 million) more than three years after cutting diplomatic ties with Taipei and recognizing Beijing, CentroAmerica360 reported Sunday. Honduras ended 82 years of diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 2023. The Honduran government said at the time that switching ties to China would bring more investment, trade, and financing. CNA reported that Honduras has not repaid the debt owed to Taiwan. The unpaid debt has renewed debate over whether Honduras has benefited from recognizing Beijing. Deputy Foreign Minister Fran ois Wu ( ) recently confirmed that Taiwan is still seeking repayment. He said the government continues to use diplomatic channels to pursue the debt. Taiwan is also watching whether China delivers the investment and trade Honduras expected. The issue has drawn more attention as Honduran businesses question the results of the diplomatic shift. Business leaders in Honduras said many of the promised benefits from China have not appeared as expected, according to CNA. They said investment, trade, and financial support have fallen short of what the government had suggested. The loss of trade with Taiwan has also hurt several key Honduran industries. The shrimp farming industry, one of the country's main export sectors, has been among those affected. The unpaid debt has added to pressure on Honduras as its government seeks more foreign investment and stronger growth. It also comes as local businesses face more competition from Chinese companies. Small and medium-sized business owners in Honduras said Chinese companies have entered the local market without bringing the jobs and investment they had expected, per CNA. They said the added competition has increased pressure on local firms. Lin says Macron raised Taiwan-EU AI cooperation in Africa Foreign minister says Europe's reindustrialization needs Taiwan's tech capacity TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung ( ) said French President Emmanuel Macron has raised the idea of Taiwan and the EU helping Africa build "sovereign AI," highlighting Taiwan's growing role in global technology supply chains. Lin said Taiwan is indispensable to Europe's reindustrialization as the continent seeks to rebuild manufacturing capacity amid supply disruptions tied to the war in Ukraine, per CNA. He said he has visited Europe five times since taking office and that Europe is focused on reindustrialization and defense, but faces manufacturing gaps Taiwan can fill through advanced processes and mass production. He added that cooperation extends beyond semiconductors to ICT industries, including servers and data centers, which are critical to providing the computing power needed for AI development. Lin said Macron raised the idea during the Africa Forward Summit in Kenya, where French officials privately asked Taiwan to recommend major electronics firms to help build AI infrastructure in Africa. According to Lin, Macron told attending leaders that the EU and Taiwan could jointly support Africa in developing sovereign AI systems. He said France aims to avoid reliance on China's "red supply chain" while seeking strategic autonomy from the US, positioning Taiwan as a ready partner. Lin said Taiwan is shifting from "values diplomacy" to "value-added diplomacy," aiming to deliver tangible benefits to partners and strengthen its position as an indispensable global actor. He added that without Taiwan, Europe would struggle to meet its goals of reindustrialization and defense readiness. Lin said he will travel to Warsaw for the Taiwan Expo in Europe, which opened on June 22 and showcased solutions in AI, smart cities, healthcare, and transportation. Polish Foreign Minister Rados aw Sikorski has also expressed interest in building a strategic technology partnership with Taiwan, signaling broader European engagement, per Economic Daily News. Taiwan's cooperation with the EU has expanded to areas such as advanced packaging and satellite technologies, alongside existing investments across the US, Japan, and Europe, per UDN. I'm posting the link to the next story as we've done some version of this a hundred times, and this one really adds no new details, but some people like reading this sort of thing: Foreign policy scholars warn US uncertainty could help China pressure Taiwan US arms sales, defense support key to deterring Beijing, scholars say |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
|
Defense News: Taiwan begins testing US SkyGuardian surveillance drones First batch of MQ-9B high-altitude drones arrive enhancing surveillance capabilities TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Taiwan has received the first two MQ-9B SkyGuardian high-altitude surveillance drones purchased from the US, marking a significant enhancement of the country's intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. Taiwan's Air Force has begun assembling and testing the two drones, manufactured by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. Taiwan allocated NT$21.7 billion (US$685.5 million) in 2020 to purchase four MQ-9B drones, along with ground control stations and related support equipment, per CNA. Taiwan took receipt of the first two drones in the US on March 17, while the remaining two are scheduled for delivery in 2027. The Air Force said the acquisition addresses the need for long-endurance, all-weather surveillance drones capable of transmitting real-time intelligence on Chinese military movements and air and maritime activities around Taiwan. Su Tzu-yun ( ), director of the Division of Defense Strategy and Resources at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said the MQ-9B is a technologically mature reconnaissance and strike drone. He said it has a range of approximately 6,000 km and can remain airborne for up to 28 hours with a light payload, or about 14 hours with a full payload of up to 1,700 kg of equipment and weapons. In addition to advanced surveillance sensors, the aircraft can carry laser-guided bombs, and the US military has tested the platform with Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. Su said the drone's primary role in Taiwan will be battlefield reconnaissance rather than offensive strike missions, distinguishing its use from US operations in conflict zones such as Iraq. Su said the aircraft could also help monitor gray-zone incursions by Chinese naval and coast guard vessels, filling gaps in Taiwan's maritime surveillance network. He cited a 2016 US operation in which drones from the same family were used to detect evidence of North Korean oil smuggling at sea, per the report. He said a fleet of four drones would satisfy Taiwan's basic operational requirements. Under normal conditions, one drone would be deployed, one kept on standby, one used for training, and one undergoing maintenance. During periods of intensified gray-zone activity, as many as three drones could be deployed simultaneously. According to Su, one of the most significant strategic benefits is interoperability with allied militaries. Thus, MQ-9B can integrate and share information with allies such as the US and Japan, strengthening security cooperation across the Indo-Pacific region. Taiwan military launches 5-day combat readiness drill Exercise tests rapid transition from peacetime to wartime operations TAIPEI (Taiwan News) The Ministry of National Defense said Sunday that the military will conduct a five-day combat readiness drill this week. The ministry said the "Immediate Combat Readiness Exercise" will run from Monday to Friday, per CNA. It is designed to test the military's rapid response capabilities and verify the effectiveness of joint operations. The training event is part of the military's annual joint combat training program. It will train units to conduct combat readiness deployments, familiarize themselves with battlefield conditions, and strengthen their ability to transition rapidly from peacetime to wartime operations. A military official recently told CNA that, unlike the annual Han Kuang exercises, which simulate the full course of a conflict, the Immediate Combat Readiness Exercise focuses on initial preparedness measures after China takes action but before its forces are deployed. The official said immediate combat readiness exercises can be either planned or ad hoc. Monday's exercise is a planned event focused on active-duty units and will not involve mobilization, while ad hoc exercises are conducted in response to Chinese military exercises or live-fire drills directed at Taiwan. With the Army has the "first responder", let's see if they can continue this. Last year, both the KMT and TPP were yelling, "J'Accuse" at Lai because some Army units continued on with their Exercise during some flooding events. |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
|
Pfffft Report: PLA Activities 2026.06.23 Issuing Authority Political Warfare Bureau 1.Date: 6 a.m. Jun. 22 (Mon.) to 6 a.m. Jun. 23 (Tue.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities: 6 sorties of PLA aircraft, 7 PLAN ships and 7 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 3 out of 6 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. Not much to say. There's weather out, as well as a lot of ships. |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
|
Lots happened in the last 24 hours!!! I've weeded a bunch out. I want to post a link first about Speaker Han and the delegation he's leading as media is publishing stories "in real time" and not "after the fact" as they did with Mistress Cheng. I'd still like it if he met Administration officials when in Washington, D.C. Taiwan lawmakers visit Phoenix to review US investment Cross-party delegation tours Taiwan AI, biomedicine exhibition center in Arizona TAIPEI (Taiwan News) A Taiwanese cross-party delegation visited Phoenix as the first stop of a US trip to review Taiwanese business investment and industrial development in Arizona, CNA reported Tuesday. Led by Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu ( ), the delegation visited the Taiwan AI and Biomedicine Joint Exhibition Center in Phoenix. The Legislative Yuan said the trip showed its support for closer Taiwan-US trade, investment, and industrial cooperation. The center serves as an overseas platform for Taiwan's artificial intelligence and biomedicine industries. It includes 12 Taiwanese AI medical companies, one hospital sleep center, and two university research units. The Legislative Yuan said the center showcases Taiwan's research strengths in AI, precision health, medical devices, and remote healthcare. It also gives Taiwanese companies a place to present their technologies to US partners. Phoenix Deputy Mayor Kesha Hodge Washington, Arizona Commerce Authority Deputy Director Agnese Sturmane, and Arizona State University Executive Vice President for Health Affairs Sherine Gabriel welcomed the delegation, per the report. They briefed lawmakers on how Phoenix, Arizona, and the university are working with Taiwan to support medical technology innovation. Han said many people had asked why TSMC and the Taiwan AI and Biomedicine Joint Exhibition Center chose Phoenix. After hearing the briefing, he said Phoenix's advantages included land, water, power, and close cooperation among government, universities, and industry. Hsinchu County Medical Device Commercial Association Deputy Director Yang Shu-chen ( ) briefed the delegation on the center's background, partners, and companies. She also introduced several medical technology products and research results, according to the report. Yang then led the lawmakers on a tour of the center. The delegation viewed the center's operations and learned how its technologies are used in healthcare. The Legislative Yuan said the visit showed the results of Taiwan-US cooperation in smart healthcare. It also helped lawmakers better understand how Taiwanese firms are expanding their work in Arizona. Han thanked overseas Taiwanese for their work abroad and their support for Taiwan-US exchanges. He said the Legislative Yuan would continue to stand with Taiwanese communities overseas and hoped to welcome them to the legislature in the future. Next we have an agent-provocateur: Former security official urges Taiwan to define cross-strait status quo Su Chi says Taiwan, US should clarify what most voters support TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Most people in Taiwan support maintaining the cross-strait status quo, but the phrase has not been clearly defined, former National Security Council Secretary-General Su Chi ( ) said Tuesday, CNA reported. Responding to comments by American Institute in Taiwan Director Raymond Greene, Su said he agreed that about 70% of people in Taiwan support the status quo. However, he said the term remains unclear because it could refer to cross-strait relations in either 2016 or 2026, which he said are very different. Su said former President Tsai Ing-wen ( ) used the phrase during her 2016 presidential campaign to describe cross-strait ties near the end of former President Ma Ying-jeou's ( ) administration. At the time, Taiwan and China still had direct contact, and Ma had met Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Su said the US continued to sell arms to Taiwan during that period. He said Taiwan's cross-strait policy also had broad public support at the time. Su said the meaning of "maintaining the status quo" began to change after US-China relations worsened during the 2018 trade war. He said Tsai used the phrase less often and later made "mutual non-subordination" a key part of her cross-strait policy. Mutual non-subordination means Taiwan and China do not belong to each other. The idea has become an important part of how Taiwan's government describes cross-strait relations. Su said the 2016 status quo was based on cross-strait engagement under Ma. He said the current debate is shaped more by the view that Taiwan and China are not subordinate to each other. Su said Taiwan has used the phrase "status quo" for too long without explaining it clearly. He said the public should reconsider what kind of cross-strait relationship Taiwan should pursue. However, if we us more than 10 years, say 77 years, the PRC did not rule, administrate or had some legation there. If we go back even further to 96, the Republic of China did not rule, administrate or have some kind of legation there either. If we go back 126 years, we find that the Qing Dynasty did not rule, administrate of have a legation on Formosa. The Status Quo then is that China does not "rule" Taiwan. That's the status quo everyone but Su Chi is dealing with. It gets repeated a lot in the last 4 years. Maybe Mr. Su just finally sobered up. Years ago, I made a prediction that China will reveal itself to be a National Socialist country. That day has arrived. Need to use two stories that were published with in hours of each other as by then people had read the full text of the Chinese document. MAC says China ethnic unity law could be used to target Taiwanese Concerns grow that foreign supporters of Taiwan could also be targeted TAIPEI (Taiwan News) The Mainland Affairs Council warned Monday that China's new ethnic unity law could provide a legal basis for targeting Taiwanese and supporters of Taiwan overseas. China's new Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, which includes provisions extending beyond its borders, has raised concerns that Beijing is expanding its long-arm jurisdiction, per Newtalk. Critics worry that foreign nationals or Taiwanese who support Taiwan, advocate Taiwan independence, or reject the concept of a "Chinese nation" while overseas could face legal action by Chinese authorities. MAC Deputy Minister Liang Wen-chieh ( ) said he had not reviewed the specific wording of the law but acknowledged it appears to carry such implications, Newtalk reported. He noted that Beijing has used various methods to pressure international supporters of Taiwan, citing sanctions imposed on four New Zealand lawmakers after they visited Taiwan. Liang said such actions are part of a broader pattern of escalating pressure rather than isolated incidents. He said the CCP is using legal, political, and diplomatic tools to intimidate international supporters of Taiwan. He said this was one reason the government adopted a stricter policy toward this year's Straits Forum, per Rti. Liang argued that Taiwanese officials attending the event and listening to speeches by senior Chinese officials opposing Taiwan independence could be seen as tacit acceptance of Beijing's policies toward Taiwan. Liang warned that attendance at such events could undermine international support for Taiwan. China ethnic unity law could raise risks for Taiwan supporters abroad TAIPEI (Taiwan News) China's new ethnic unity law could create legal risks for people abroad who criticize Beijing over Taiwan, religion, or ethnic issues, Japanese magazine President reported Sunday. China's National People's Congress passed the Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress Law on March 12. The law will take effect on July 1. The law has 65 articles and aims to strengthen what Beijing calls a shared Chinese national identity. It covers education, language, publishing, the internet, business activity, religion, overseas messaging, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and overseas Chinese communities. Critics say the law goes beyond ethnic policy inside China. They say its broad wording could give Beijing another legal tool to pressure people, groups, and companies outside China. Article 63 has drawn particular concern because it refers to groups and individuals outside China. Critics say this means Beijing may claim the right to punish people abroad for speech or actions it sees as damaging ethnic unity. The article says people who undermine ethnic unity or create ethnic division may face legal responsibility. Critics say the concern is that this could include comments about Uyghurs, Tibetans, religion, or Taiwan. Japanese commentator Shirakawa Tsukasa said the wording could affect Japanese citizens, reporters, researchers, politicians, and companies. He said Beijing could treat some criticism of China's policies as support for separatism. Shirakawa said the law also creates new risks for foreign businesses in China. Companies may face pressure if they investigate forced labor concerns, review supply chains, or move production out of China. The report said this could put companies in a difficult position. They may need to meet international human rights standards while also avoiding punishment under Chinese law. Taiwan is part of the concern because the law promotes the idea of one Chinese national community. Shirakawa said Beijing could use the law to target statements supporting Taiwan, though how it would enforce the law abroad remains unclear. China says the law is meant to promote unity and development among different ethnic groups. Critics say its broad language could restrict speech, research, reporting, and business decisions. The report compared the law with Hong Kong's national security law, which also claims power over some actions outside China. It said the new law may increase concern among foreign governments and companies about the risks of working in China. "Arbeit macht Frei" when it first appeared in a novel in the late 19th Century, meant all those things as well. The first German gov't to use the phrase was the Weimar Republic, and then Nazis just continued the use. After Germany lost the War, that's when we've all been taught to only see the phrase as cruel and ironic. Before hand, typical socialist "management by slogan" pablum for the masses. |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
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Next a couple of stories about how the KMT and the TPP are screwing over their own politicians in order to win in the upcoming election, just like the Dems here. KMT picks Chen Wen-pin for Changhua City mayor race TAIPEI (Taiwan News) The KMT announced Tuesday that it will nominate Changhua City Representative Council Speaker Chen Wen-pin ( ) as its candidate for Changhua City mayor, selecting him over Changhua County Councilor Wen Chih-hua ( ) in an internal process. After several rounds of unsuccessful negotiations between the contenders, KMT Changhua County branch chair Hsiao Ching-tien ( ) confirmed Sunday that polling to determine the party's nominee had begun, per UP Media. He added that the survey results would not be made public. Speaking Tuesday, Hsiao praised Wen for accepting the outcome and demonstrating party unity, per UDN. He said the KMT would have a stronger chance of reclaiming the mayoralty if the race became a direct contest between the KMT and the DPP. Following the announcement, Wen called on the public to stop targeting her family, saying relatives should not be drawn into political disputes. Chen said he would work to consolidate support within the KMT while expanding his appeal among independent voters. DPP Changhua City mayoral candidate Huang Po-yu ( ) responded to the KMT's nomination by expressing confidence that his party could retain control of the city, per Liberty Times. Citing the results of the past three presidential elections, Huang said the DPP has demonstrated its ability to secure more than 50% of the vote in Changhua City. Huang added that independent voters are likely to play a decisive role in the election. TPP candidate alleges pressure to quit Taichung City Council race Chiu Yu-shan says party official sought to replace her after primary victory TAIPEI (Taiwan News) TPP Taichung City Council candidate Chiu Yu-shan ( ) said Tuesday that TPP Legislative Caucus Convener and Taichung branch chair Chen Ching-lung ( ) urged her to withdraw from the race. Chiu said she was puzzled by the move, questioning the purpose of holding party primaries if the results could later be overturned, per ETtoday. She said her disappointment stemmed less from the possibility of losing the nomination than from what she described as the party's failure to uphold its own rules. She also alleged that the TPP is considering replacing her with her former primary opponent, former Taichung Information Bureau Director Wu Huang-sheng ( ). Responding to Chiu's claims, Chen said his efforts were aimed solely at maximizing the party's electoral prospects, per Tai Sounds. He said he met with Chiu to discuss polling conducted by the TPP's Taichung branch, which showed her trailing other candidates, and to explore possible solutions. Chen said the party would follow its established procedures while pursuing the most beneficial outcome. Wu echoed Chen's remarks, saying any discussions were intended to improve the party's chances in the election, per Liberty Times. He said he respects the party's decision-making mechanisms and called on TPP candidates to resolve their differences. After losing the primary to Chiu, Wu said "complex factors" contributed to the outcome but did not elaborate, per Newtalk. Political insiders suggested one factor may have been the party's use of public opinion polling, which can allow supporters of rival parties to back candidates they view as posing the least threat. Taichung's Beitun District is expected to gain a seventh city council seat because of continued population growth, creating additional competition ahead of the 2026 local elections, per NOWNews. With three incumbents seeking re-election, the DPP, KMT, and TPP have each fielded new candidates to compete for the remaining seats. According to local polling cited by party officials, Chiu currently trails independent candidate Tuan Ti-pei ( ), who is known for his prominent campaign billboards and frequent runs for public office. |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
|
Defense News As we've been writing for months now, ships is where the action is (and this is where Brother GoldenMead would shine!!): China expands naval presence around Taiwan Security officials say Beijing has increased warship rotations around Taiwan since 2020 TAIPEI (Taiwan News) China has expanded its naval presence around Taiwan since the start of the decade, creating near-constant pressure on the country, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday. Late last month, Chinese naval ships, including large guided-missile destroyers, were positioned around Taiwan in a pattern officials said has become routine. Security sources said what once signaled a drill is now an everyday reality. Since 2020, Beijing has expanded from a single warship operating near the Taiwan Strait to a rotating multi-ship presence surrounding Taiwan. Officials say there are now typically five to six Chinese naval vessels operating around Taiwan at any given time. The expansion accelerated after key political events, including Taiwan's 2020 and 2024 presidential elections and then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's 2022 visit to Taipei. Security officials say each of these moments triggered a visible increase in Chinese naval activity. The composition of China's forces has also shifted, with more advanced destroyers now joining frigates in regular rotations. Analysts say this reflects rapid fleet expansion and a more assertive operational posture. Alongside naval deployments, Chinese aircraft frequently cross the Taiwan Strait median line, while coast guard vessels pressure waters around Taiwan's outlying islands. Beijing has also staged large-scale drills involving ships, aircraft, and drones since 2022. China's warships typically rotate on two-week deployments, with replacements maintaining constant coverage around Taiwan, the Wall Street Journal reported. Officials say this system allows Beijing to sustain pressure while training more crews in real-world conditions. Chinese vessels generally remain outside Taiwan's 24-nautical-mile contiguous zone but increasingly conduct "joint combat readiness patrols" that push closer to its limits. Taiwan responds by shadowing these ships, sometimes in prolonged standoffs lasting up to two days. The ongoing presence places significant strain on Taiwan's smaller navy, forcing constant readiness and reducing maintenance and rest time for personnel. Officials say it also limits operational flexibility for Taiwan's forces. Security analysts say the persistent deployments allow China to collect intelligence on Taiwanese naval movements and operating patterns, per the Wall Street Journal. They warn this growing familiarity could reduce Taiwan's ability to conceal its actions in a crisis. Experts say the waters east of Taiwan are now a key focus, as Chinese ships map potential operational zones and monitor military bases. Analysts describe the buildup as part of a broader effort to reshape the tactical environment around Taiwan. Fox News just had a story about a Chinese Carrier coming down the Straight. However their website didn't have the story. Online, I could only find the stories from last year when a carrier went down the Straight. I have failed you! But i did find this story to make up for it: Former mayor issues statement about her boobs after her World Cup celebration goes viral Her street celebration video drew comparisons to actress Mar Castro, dubbed 'La Chiquitibum' during the 1986 World Cup Armored vehicles deployed to Port of Taipei for combat readiness drill Army deploys Clouded Leopard armored vehicles, CM11 tanks to Taipei 'defense triangle' TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Taiwan's military on Tuesday deployed armored vehicles and tanks to Taipei Port as part of the second day of the "Immediate Combat Readiness Exercise." The five-day drill, which runs through Friday, is designed to strengthen the military's rapid-response and combat-readiness capabilities, per CNA. It focuses on familiarizing units with combat operations and battlefield conditions during the deployment phase. Unlike the annual Han Kuang exercises, which simulate the full course of a conflict, the Immediate Combat Readiness Exercise focuses on initial preparedness measures after the PLA shows signs of activity but before a potential attack. On the first day, vehicles from the Army's 269th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, including Clouded Leopard armored vehicles, conducted a combat-readiness patrol in Taoyuan's Qingpu Special District. The brigade expanded the exercise on Tuesday, moving a convoy from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei Port in New Taipei's Bali District, where troops took up standby positions. On Tuesday morning, a reconnaissance element from the brigade passed through Bali's Zhongshan Road area with a light tactical vehicle, a Humvee, and two TOW 2B missile carriers, CNA reported. They were followed by five CM32/33 and CM34 Clouded Leopard armored vehicles, a mobile communications vehicle, and three CM22 mortar carriers. The final group included three CM11 tanks and one M88A1 armored recovery vehicle. All convoys were escorted by light tactical vehicles or military trucks to ensure safety. Military officials said analysts consider the Greater Taoyuan and New Taipei coastal region one of northern Taiwan's most likely amphibious landing zones, according to CNA. Taipei Port, the Bali area, and the Tamsui River estuary have long been regarded as a "defense triangle" guarding access to Taipei. Officials said the deployment was intended to familiarize troops with the operational environment, key terrain, and fields of fire while testing rapid movement along the road network. The exercise also aims to strengthen protection of critical infrastructure and buy time for follow-on forces to assemble. I'm looking at the photos chosen for the report, and damn! These are the cleanest vehicles I have ever seen in my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
|
Pfffft Report! PLA Activities 2026.06.24 Issuing Authority Political Warfare Bureau 1.Date: 6 a.m. Jun. 23 (Tue.) to 6 a.m. Jun. 24 (Wed.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities: 11 sorties of PLA aircraft, 6 PLAN ships and 7 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 3 out of 11 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. I assume that the over 17 hours of area 1 is because of the transiting carrier. |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
|
Let's start off with what we left with! Chinese aircraft carrier Fujian passes through Taiwan Strait TAIPEI (Taiwan News) The Ministry of National Defense said that the Chinese aircraft carrier Fujian transited the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday. The ministry said that the armed forces maintained close surveillance, per CNA. It also released a surveillance photo of the Fujian. Another Chinese aircraft carrier, Liaoning, moved north through the Miyako Strait into the East China Sea on Saturday and completed a carrier strike group exercise in the western Pacific on Monday, per The Japan Times. China accuses Japan of 'harassment' during far-seas aircraft carrier training China has accused Japan of "dangerous" close-in reconnaissance and "provocative harassment" during more than 40 days of "far-sea combat training" by a Chinese Navy aircraft carrier flotilla, according to Chinese state-run TV. The Chinese Navy's Liaoning aircraft carrier flotilla returned to its home port on Monday, after the long-range training saw "Japanese vessels and aircraft repeatedly conducted close-range tracking, surveillance and provocative harassment," state broadcaster CCTV said. "The Liaoning carrier group maintained a high state of alert throughout, continuously launching carrier-based fighter aircraft for combat sorties, flexibly adjusting combat formations and responding professionally to Japan's dangerous actions," CCTV added. Footage released by CCTV showed Maritime Self-Defense Force patrol planes flying and an MSDF destroyer sailing near Chinese vessels and aircraft. Japan's Defense Ministry said in a statement the same day that MSDF ships and planes had tracked the Liaoning and two accompanying vessels sailing through the Miyako Strait into the East China Sea on Saturday. The ministry said on June 1 that the Liaoning strike group had conducted exercises in the Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines in late May but had since been silent on its operations until Monday. There was no immediate response from Tokyo over Beijing's claims of harassment during the training. Tokyo has been taking a cautious if firm approach to avoiding any escalation with Beijing, after ties plummeted to their lowest point in decades following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks in November that Japan could hypothetically intervene militarily in a Taiwan crisis. China claims democratic Taiwan as its own and has vowed to bring it under its control, by force if necessary. During roughly the same period last year, the Defense Ministry made the rare decision to release a map depicting the movements of two Chinese aircraft carriers in western Pacific an unusual move apparently aimed at drawing attention to Beijing's naval activities in the area. It was unclear if the Takaichi administration had chosen not to publicly disclose the carrier group's recent movements to avoid further inflaming ties. One observer said the Japanese monitoring of the Chinese carrier flotilla would likely prove beneficial for China's Navy. "No matter whether the actions came from Japanese or United States vessels and aircraft, they effectively served as a simulated adversary," the state-run China Daily newspaper quoted military affairs commentator Song Zhongping as saying. "Such forces have, in effect, acted as ... de facto training partners, helping improve the quality of combat-oriented training." The Japan Times story then sort of fades out at this point!! Yes, that is weird. But we're not going to stop from ridiculing the "one observer." What an idiot! UK, French, German offices in Taipei condemn China activity east of Taiwan Joint statement says actions threaten freedom of navigation, shipping safety TAIPEI (Taiwan News) The Taipei offices of the UK, France, and Germany released a joint statement Wednesday expressing concern about Chinese military activity east of Taiwan. The Chinese actions threatened regional stability, freedom of navigation, and the safety of international shipping, the statement said. The representative offices of the three European nations reiterated their opposition to unilateral changes to the status quo, "particularly by threat or use of force or coercion." The statement emphasized the need to guarantee and respect "all navigational rights and freedoms," as well as the safety of vessels and their crews. The British Office Taipei, Bureau Francais de Taipei, and Deutsches Institut Taipei published the statement in Mandarin and English on social media Wednesday. The statement followed China's announcement that it was conducting "special maritime law enforcement operations," CNA reported. The announcement came after talks between Japan and the Philippines centered on maritime boundaries east of Taiwan, though Taipei did not participate in the talks. Typhoon Mekkhala forecast to track east of Taiwan Central and southern Taiwan may see showers and thunderstorms TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Typhoon Mekkhala is forecast to track northward along Taiwan's eastern waters this week. Meteorologist Wu Der-rong ( ) said Mekkhala intensified into a typhoon on Sunday evening, per CNA. As of early Monday morning, it was located about 1,000 kilometers east-southeast of Eluanbi, with sustained winds of 154 kph with gusts of up to 190 kph. Wu said the storm is moving northwest toward waters east of Taiwan before turning north beginning Tuesday. It is expected to pass northward along Taiwan's eastern side on Wednesday and Thursday while gradually weakening. WeatherRisk meteorologist Wu Shengyu ( ) said outer circulation could increase moisture and bring showers and thunderstorms to central and southern Taiwan on Wednesday and Thursday, per SET News. |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
|
Next story is interesting, but it lacks some details we need to see if it's more Chinese propaganda, or the PRC is now willing to risk its currency on the open market???? Yuan gains ground in global trade as China expands payment channels New financial networks reduce reliance on US dollar in sanctioned trade TAIPEI (Taiwan News) China is expanding the global use of the yuan in trade and finance, a shift that is helping countries such as Iran and Russia reduce exposure to Western sanctions, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. The US has opened talks with Iran over a potential nuclear deal that could include sanctions relief and access to roughly NT$3.17 trillion (US$100 billion) in frozen assets. However, Washington's leverage is complicated by Tehran's growing use of China's yuan-based financial system. In late April, the US escalated its Economic Fury campaign by sanctioning Chinese refinery Hengli Petrochemical, which it said had bought billions of US dollars' worth of Iranian oil. Hengli said its supplier had guaranteed the crude was not Iranian, but it also signaled that future payments would be settled in yuan rather than US dollars. The move highlighted a broader trend: more transactions linked to sanctioned activity are being conducted in yuan, reflecting China's efforts to build alternative financial channels that operate outside US-linked systems, per The Wall Street Journal. The dominance of the US dollar, which accounts for roughly 80% of global trade finance, has long given Washington significant power to monitor and restrict international transactions. Payments routed through dollar clearing systems can be tracked by US banks and disrupted through sanctions. By contrast, yuan-based transactions can bypass US-linked financial infrastructure, limiting Washington's visibility and enforcement capability. That shift has complicated sanctions targeting countries such as Iran. Even under sanctions pressure, Iran generated up to NT$1.36 trillion in oil revenue in 2024, according to the US Energy Information Administration. US lawmakers estimate discounts on those sales averaged about 13% last year, with most transactions settled in yuan, according to the US Treasury. Iran uses the proceeds to import goods from China, including car parts, solar panels, and other dual-use materials that could have military applications. Many of these transactions occur outside US jurisdiction through intermediaries and front companies. Some payments are processed through China's Cross-Border Interbank Payment System, or CIPS, a yuan-denominated alternative to the SWIFT messaging network. Launched in 2015, CIPS remains far smaller than SWIFT but has expanded rapidly in recent years, per The Wall Street Journal. According to the Atlantic Council, daily activity on CIPS has risen to about NT$3.69 trillion in recent months, compared with NT$3.18 trillion last year. Analysts say the system is evolving into a more global payments channel, even as SWIFT still handles more than NT$158.5 trillion a day. A similar pattern emerged after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when Western sanctions pushed more Russian trade with China into yuan. Russian officials now say more than 90% of bilateral trade is settled in yuan and rubles, compared with just 2% before the war, according to the Centre for Eastern Studies. Overall, the yuan's share of global trade finance has tripled over the past five years to 6%, making it the second most used currency after the US dollar, according to SWIFT data. China also now settles about half of its cross-border transactions in yuan, up from almost zero 15 years ago. China has expanded tools such as swap lines and CIPS, as well as digital payment initiatives including mBridge, which enables central banks to settle cross-border transactions using digital currencies. Analysts say these systems make it easier for countries under pressure to move money outside the US-led network. Beijing says it does not seek to replace the dollar but instead aims to expand the international use of the yuan in selected trade channels. However, Chinese officials and central bank leaders have also argued that reliance on a single dominant currency can be risky in times of geopolitical tension. China isn't releasing its currency out in the Market place where it can be arbitraged, for example. However, the Russians have changed the composition of their National Sovereign Wealth Fund allowing for up to 60% Yuan. That doesn't mean they have that much!!! This means the Russians have given themselves permission to hold that much in Yuan. I did not find out how much the Russians have in Yuan. The other thing to take away from this report is that the Chinese are copying what International Florists have been doing for decades. The Florists use what is known as "Florins" to pay transactions that cross borders. It offers more price stability for them since they alone decide what the value of a florin is to each member, and they don't have to pay for exchanging currency or buying and selling of currencies. It reads like this is what the Chinese are doing with their CIPS system however, it all seems as other countries have to buy Yuan, but I'm pretty sure they can't hold it in their own country. There's still no threat to the US Dollar here, only it's making sanctioning of entities more difficult. |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
|
Hakka council rejects China label for Taiwan children's choir Council says choir may withdraw from choral event unless original name is restored TAIPEI (Taiwan News) The Hakka Affairs Council on Wednesday protested after the World Symposium on Choral Music changed a Taiwanese children's choir's listing to include China. CNA reported that the choir was listed as the "National Taiwan Hakka Children's Choir" on the event website in March and April. However, the website changed the name Monday to "China Taiwan Hakka Children's Choir" and changed the choir's country listing from "Taiwan" to "China Taiwan." The council said the change hurt Taiwan's dignity and its right to use its own name in international cultural events. It called on the organizer to correct the listing as soon as possible. Hakka Affairs Council Minister Ku Hsiu-fei ( ) said the choir's name represents its identity and independence. She said the organizer should respect the choir and restore its original name. Ku said the choir would refuse to attend the event if the name is not corrected. She said the council understands the organizer may face pressure, but Taiwan cannot accept being downgraded. UDN reported that the council said an official from the International Federation for Choral Music had earlier expressed concern that Taiwan should not face unfair treatment. The council said the event also received funding from the Macau government and that the name change was made at Macau's instruction. Ku said Taiwan has what she described as the world's only Hakka children's choir. She said the children represent the unique sound, confidence, and culture of Taiwan's Hakka language and music. The World Symposium on Choral Music is held every three years. The event is widely seen as one of the world's top choral music gatherings. Here's a link in case you want to sign up Taiwan for the Symposian: Register & Apply Taiwan drills test faster response to China threat Koo says military must be ready if China exercise turns into attack TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Taiwan's military must be ready to respond quickly because the advance warning before any possible Chinese attack is getting shorter, Defense Minister Wellington Koo ( ) said Wednesday. Reuters reported that Taiwan is holding five days of rapid combat readiness drills this week. The drills are testing how fast the military can shift from normal operations to wartime readiness. Speaking at the Legislature, Koo said the drills focus on speed and rapid response. He said Taiwan needs to assess whether its forces can act immediately if a crisis breaks out. Taiwan's military has begun planning some drills around a sudden-attack scenario. The scenario involves China turning one of its regular exercises around Taiwan into a real attack. China's newest aircraft carrier sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday. Taiwan has also held regular drills as it works to strengthen its defenses. The military recently tested its new US-made HIMARS rocket system. Taiwan's main Han Kuang military exercises are expected to take place in August. The annual Han Kuang drills are the military's biggest training event. They are used to test how Taiwan would respond to a possible attack. In Beijing, China's Taiwan Affairs Office criticized the drills. Spokesperson Zhang Han said China would try to achieve what it calls peaceful reunification, but would not rule out using force. President Lai Ching-te ( ) is pushing to modernize Taiwan's armed forces. He has set a goal of raising defense spending to 5% of gross domestic product before 2030. |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
|
Pffffft Report PLA Activities 2026.06.25 Issuing Authority Political Warfare Bureau 1.Date: 6 a.m. Jun. 24 (Wed.) to 6 a.m. Jun. 25 (Thu.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities: 14 sorties of PLA aircraft, 6 PLAN ships and 2 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 10 out of 14 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. Well, we've seen this one before!! Area 1 is a day time CAP area. Area 2 is practicing aerial refueling. As a reminder, the American Institute in Taiwan acts as a de facto embassy. Also worth mentioning is that 2025, so far, has been the biggest year of press releases from the AIT that I can recall in the 4 years we've been doing this. AIT says China maritime activity east of Taiwan raises tensions US rejects Beijing's jurisdiction claims, urges dialogue with Taipei TAIPEI (Taiwan News) The American Institute in Taiwan said Wednesday that China's recent maritime enforcement operation in waters east of Taiwan risks raising tensions and undermining regional stability. The statement came after China launched what it described as a special maritime traffic enforcement operation involving multiple maritime agencies in waters east of Taiwan, per CNA. Beijing said the move was a response to Japan and the Philippines announcing plans to begin negotiations over their exclusive economic zones in the area, per Reuters. An AIT spokesperson said the US was concerned by reports that Chinese coast guard and maritime patrol vessels had interfered with Taiwanese commercial ships while asserting Chinese jurisdiction over the waters, per Liberty Times. The spokesperson said the US rejects any Chinese claims that restrict freedom of navigation, freedom of overflight, the laying of submarine cables, or other lawful uses of the sea. China's actions are destabilizing and could increase regional tensions, the spokesperson said. The spokesperson said the US urges Beijing to stop its military and economic pressure on Taiwan and engage in meaningful dialogue with Taipei's democratically elected government. We're still not seeing planes!!! No idea why, and there have only been three major air power exercises that the Chinese are willing to admit to. This is the last one that occurred earlier in the month when they had a number of planes flying is circles near Taiwan: PLA Navy and Air Force Conduct Joint Maritime Combat Training Opening excerpt: According to official releases from Liberation Army Daily on 8 June 2026, a PLA Navy unit collaborated with neighboring Air Force elements in a realistic combat training exercise over a designated sea area. The drill emphasized integration under contested conditions, with scenarios involving complex electromagnetic interference, multi-target threats, and sudden communications disruptions. The exercise is very vague about a lot of things. If you do chose to go to the web page, remember this is a Chinese web site, so think three times before clicking a link!! |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
|
First block today is about the Chinese "Maritime Law Enforcement" operation. It's building up on the International scene, and the Chinese are offering brand spanking new excuses for it: China maritime operations east of Taiwan draw international pushback Taipei says Beijing using Japan-Philippines talks as pretext to expand pressure TAIPEI (Taiwan News) China's maritime operations east of Taiwan are drawing pushback from Taipei and Western governments, which warn the activities risk escalation and threaten freedom of navigation, Nikkei Asia reported Thursday. The controversy came after Japan and the Philippines announced plans to begin negotiations on delimiting their exclusive economic zones and continental shelf boundaries. China, which has overlapping maritime claims with both countries, opposed the move and launched what it called a "special maritime traffic law enforcement operation" in waters east of Taiwan. Beijing has defended the operations. A spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office said the actions were "entirely justified," arguing that China holds rights in the disputed waters and accusing Taiwan's government of ignoring the issue. Taiwanese officials rejected that position. Ocean Affairs Council Deputy Minister Sung Chen-en ( ) said China is using the Japan-Philippines talks as a pretext to expand its presence in waters east of Taiwan and increase pressure on regional shipping routes. Sung said Chinese vessels had interfered with at least three commercial ships during the operation, questioning their routes and cargo. He said the pattern resembles Beijing's gray zone tactics in the East and South China seas. Sung warned that China is extending those tactics to waters east of Taiwan for the first time, adding coast guard and other maritime forces to what he described as coordinated pressure operations. He said the aim is to normalize Chinese presence in areas Taiwan administers. "We reject China's position categorically," Sung said. "Beijing has no rights in the waters to the east of Taiwan." The US also criticized China's actions. The American Institute in Taiwan said it rejects any attempt by Beijing to interfere with freedom of navigation, overflight, and other lawful uses of the sea. AIT added that China's assertion of authority over waters Taiwan has administered for decades undermines stability and runs counter to its stated goal of peaceful resolution. It urged Beijing to engage in dialogue with Taiwan's elected government. European diplomatic missions in Taipei, including those of the UK, France, and Germany, issued a joint statement saying the operations threaten regional stability and maritime safety, including international shipping routes. Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow David Sacks said China is expanding its operations in waters east of Taiwan to counter potential US and Japanese intervention, per Nikkei Asia. "China wants to be able to complicate or even defeat such an operation and is using its peacetime operations and presence to develop that capability," he said. Let's go to Lai's speech next because the Chinese took exception to it: Lai says China uses enforcement near Taiwan as pretext for expansion President says Beijing's maritime activities are undermining stability TAIPEI (Taiwan News) President Lai Ching-te ( ) accused China on Thursday of using law enforcement activities as a cover for expansion. Speaking at the eighth meeting of the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee, Lai said China has intensified gray-zone harassment and coercion against neighboring countries in recent years, per CNA. He said the committee earlier conducted a tabletop exercise focused on gray-zone threats and high-intensity maritime coercion. Lai said China's recent activities in the East China Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait have gone beyond routine law enforcement or surveys. Instead, he said, Beijing is using such activities as a pretext to expand its influence and undermine regional security. The president pointed to last week's G7 leaders' summit statement, which reaffirmed support for a free and open Indo-Pacific, per UDN. He said China's actions demonstrate that Beijing, rather than Taiwan, is responsible for raising tensions in the region. Taiwan's efforts to strengthen its self-defense capabilities and protect its democratic way of life should not be viewed as provocative, Lai said. He also thanked Army and Coast Guard personnel for responding to China's activities and protecting national security. Next is the PRC response: Mainland spokesperson slams Taiwan leader's 'independence' remarks A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Monday slammed a speech made by Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te on Sunday, saying it had exposed Lai's stubborn separatist stance. The speech, full of lies and deceptions, deliberately distorted and fragmented history, blatantly peddled the fallacies of "Taiwan independence" and attempted to create grounds to concoct an "independence" narrative, said Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, when responding to a media query. Lai deliberately distorted the history of Taiwan and disregarded the fact that successive Chinese governments have governed the island, Chen said. "...disregarded the fact that successive Chinese governments have governed the island..." is a brand new line!! But alas, it's not 'dent free.' Lai ignored how compatriots from Taiwan and the mainland have worked together to resist foreign aggression and realize Taiwan's return to the motherland, and his failure to acknowledge this has betrayed the patriotic legacy and the sacrifices of Taiwan's people and martyrs, the spokesperson noted. In his address, Lai willfully misinterpreted UNGA Resolution 2758 and claimed that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are "not subordinate to each other," which presented an open challenge to the authority of international law, Chen said. Lai also promoted the "mainland threat," obstructing exchange and cooperation between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, which goes entirely against the will of the public, Chen stated. Chen stressed that all historical, factual and legal evidence demonstrates that Taiwan has been an inalienable part of China since ancient times, and that the island has never been a state. The one-China principle is a basic norm in international relations and represents the prevailing consensus of the international community, Chen added. No matter what tactics Lai employs, he can neither alter the legal fact that Taiwan is a part of China nor shake the global commitment to the one-China principle. Nor can he obstruct China's irreversible reunification, Chen noted. Last for this block is the Reuters' story: China says its military activities around Taiwan are 'reasonable, justified' TAIPEI, April 17 (Reuters) - China's regular military activities around Taiwan are "entirely justified and reasonable" and any tensions are the fault of the government in Taipei, the Chinese defence ministry said in a rare comment on Friday. China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, sends its warships and warplanes into the waters and skies around the island on an almost daily basis, to the condemnation of the Taiwanese government. China generally does not provide regular commentary on its daily activities near Taiwan. Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang told reporters that Taiwan was an "inalienable part of Chinese territory". "The People's Liberation Army organises training and exercise activities in the waters and airspace around the Taiwan island to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, which is entirely justified, reasonable, and a matter of course," he said. It was Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party which "distorts" Chinese activities, "peddling war anxiety, intimidating the people on the island, and stoking confrontation and antagonism across the Taiwan Strait", he added. China refuses to speak to Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, saying he is a "separatist". He says only Taiwan's people can decide their future. Speaking at a military base in southern Taiwan earlier on Friday, Lai said while everyone hoped for peace, only through strength can true peace be achieved, and reiterated a call for the opposition-dominated parliament to pass his stalled $40 billion special defence budget. "Only through continuous preparedness can we deter threats - by being ready to fight in order to avoid fighting, and by being capable of fighting in order to stop war," Lai said. The United States, Taiwan's main source of arms, has backed Lai's defence spending push. China has repeatedly called on Washington to stop selling Taiwan weapons. Zhang said Lai was using Taiwan's people's money to "pledge loyalty to and curry favour with the United States". "What they truly care about is whether they can make more money, and they are not above profiting from war," he added, referring to the United States. Reuters rarely ever using that BS any more. Today, they just used this line: "China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, sends its warships and warplanes into the waters and skies around the island on an almost daily basis, to the condemnation of the Taiwanese government." It's a remarkable change!!! Plus, it's more accurate and provides context.
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Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
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Heavy rain triggers flooding across Taiwan Taipei, June 25 (CNA) Torrential rain caused widespread flooding and landslides across Taiwan on Thursday, stranding residents, disrupting traffic and prompting work and school suspensions in several cities and counties. The agency warned that showers and thunderstorms would persist through Friday morning, with southern Taiwan facing the risk of further torrential rain and the greater Taipei area likely to see heavy to extremely heavy rainfall. As the front moves closer Thursday night into Friday, central and northern Taiwan could also experience localized torrential downpours and short-duration extreme rainfall. Unstable weather is expected to persist through Saturday as the front continues to affect Taiwan. Rainfall is expected to gradually ease from Saturday as the front begins moving northward, though intermittent showers and thunderstorms will continue across western Taiwan. More stable weather is expected from Monday as the Pacific high-pressure system strengthens, the CWA said. And the above leads to this: Lai urges lawmakers to pass budget before typhoon season President says delayed central government budget could affect disaster relief TAIPEI (Taiwan News) President Lai Ching-te ( ) on Thursday urged lawmakers to quickly approve Taiwan's central government budget, warning that funds are needed for disaster relief before typhoon season. Speaking at a ceremony marking the full reopening of the Jiji railway line in Nantou County, Lai noted that the annual budget has yet to clear the legislature. CNA reported that he stressed the government must have resources ready before major storms and flooding arrive. "If a disaster happens, what money will the central government use for relief?" Lai said. He called on ruling and opposition lawmakers to back the budget without delay. Passing it would ensure local governments receive funding, advance public works, and support economic growth, he said. Lai added that Taiwan's economy would benefit from timely approval of the budget. He pointed to the government's latest GDP growth forecast, which has been raised to 9.64%. At the same event, Lai also addressed trade and agriculture issues. He said Taiwan had secured zero tariffs for some tea exports to the US through negotiations, describing the outcome as both difficult and significant, Liberty Times reported. Lai noted that many people still believe China is Taiwan's largest market for agricultural products, but said that is no longer true. Japan is now the top overseas market for Taiwan fruit, while the US purchases the largest share of Taiwan's farm goods overall, he said. Lai said China has created challenges for Taiwan's farmers by halting imports at times over health and inspection concerns. He added that Beijing recently ended zero-tariff treatment for 34 Taiwanese agricultural products, including Taitung sugar apples. He emphasized the need for Taiwan to expand exports of both agricultural and industrial goods to more countries. Products such as mangoes, tea, and moth orchids are among those targeted for broader international markets. Lai also highlighted central government funding for Nantou County. He said the county received NT$16.5 billion (US$519 million) in 2015, NT$27.9 billion last year, and more than NT$30 billion this year, per UDN. He noted that this marks the first time Nantou has received more than NT$30 billion in central funding. Lai urged local officials to make effective use of the funds to support regional development. |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
| https://www.aeronewsjournal.com/2026/06/indonesias-air-force-gets-major-boost.html?m=1 |
Deckard “nobody wants to know the truth, nobody” Cobra Kai Johnny Lawrence “she’s hot and all those other things” Tucker Carlson 1/10/2018 “I used to be a liberatarian until Google”https://mobile.twitter.com/Henry_Gunn
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Defense type news This one is for Brother GoldenMead: New Anduril deep-sea drone to inspect Taiwan subsea cables Vehicle could support searches for downed aircraft, maritime accidents, and missing persons TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Taiwan's top military research institute is set to receive a US-made autonomous underwater vehicle that will be used to inspect undersea cables. The National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology has begun training personnel to operate Anduril Industries' Dive-LD autonomous underwater vehicle and plans to take delivery of the system in August, per Liberty Times. The institute said the vehicle will first be used to demonstrate undersea cable inspection capabilities before being evaluated for other missions. The Dive-LD measures about 5.8 meters in length and 1.2 meters in diameter and can operate at depths of up to 6,000 meters, Liberty Times reported. The institute said more than 90% of the world's ocean depths fall within the vehicle's operating range. The system acquired by Taiwan includes synthetic aperture sonar, a multibeam echo sounder, a magnetometer, and a high-resolution camera. The institute said the sonar can generate detailed images of the seafloor for cable and pipeline inspections, while the magnetometer can locate shipwrecks, anchors, and other metallic objects. The institute said it is working with Chunghwa Telecom to use the Dive-LD for undersea cable inspections, an issue that has drawn increased public attention in recent years, according to Liberty Times. Compared with traditional ship-based methods, the autonomous vehicle can follow preprogrammed routes and rapidly assess cable locations and damage conditions, helping reduce repair times. Beyond cable inspections, the vehicle could support searches for downed aircraft, maritime accidents, and missing persons, Liberty Times reported. Institute officials said the platform had been considered for underwater search operations after this year's F-16V crash off Hualien, citing its high-resolution sonar and imaging capabilities. The institute said US export-control restrictions and agreements with Anduril currently limit the Dive-LD to civilian applications, including ocean surveys, infrastructure maintenance, and rescue support. The institute said operational testing could help strengthen Taiwan's domestic underwater detection and critical infrastructure protection capabilities over the longer term. DEFENSE/Long-delayed 1st indigenous submarine 'on track' for 2026 delivery: CSBC Kaohsiung, June 25 (CNA) Shipbuilder CSBC Corp., Taiwan, said Thursday that Taiwan's first domestically built submarine, the Narwhal, remains on track for delivery in the second half of this year, "despite political pressure from China." The Narwhal's primary contractor has been accumulating daily fines since missing an initial November 2025 deadline for handing the submarine over to the Navy. Speaking to the media following the shipbuilder's shareholders meeting, CSBC Chairman Chen Cheng-hung ( ) said the submarine, also known as Hai Kun ( ) in Chinese, has not encountered any major technical obstacles during sea trials. The vessel is currently undergoing detailed fine-tuning and functional verification, he said. CSBC still aims to complete testing and deliver the submarine to the Navy later this year, Chen said. While the seasonal monsoon and upcoming typhoon season could cause minor delays of a few days, Chen noted they are not expected to significantly derail the overall schedule. Describing the indigenous submarine program as a highly complex defense R&D project, Chen said that it is fundamentally different from building standard commercial ships or surface warships. Because Taiwan had no prior experience building submarines, it had to build its expertise in design, systems integration, and sea testing completely from scratch, which naturally introduces timeline uncertainties, Chen said. One of the biggest challenges has been procuring critical equipment within a highly sensitive international supply chain, he said. China's suppression of the indigenous submarine program "has always existed," Chen said, adding that even after contracts were signed, payments made and equipment manufactured, deliveries could still be halted at the last minute because of political pressure from Beijing. Chen claimed that there had been instances in which international partner components already packed in boxes and ready for shipment were suddenly blocked from export. Beyond external pressure, integrating the submarine's internal systems has also posed a major challenge, Chen said. While individual components may function normally on their own, performance issues can emerge when they are combined, requiring repeated adjustments and testing, he said. At the shareholders' meeting, CSBC reported 2025 consolidated revenue of NT$21.78 billion (US$684.5 million) and a net loss of NT$2.27 billion, an improvement of NT$521 million from the previous year. The company attributed the loss mainly to NT$674 million in foreign-exchange losses resulting from the Taiwan dollar's appreciation against the U.S. dollar, as well as provisions for loss-making contracts, increased warranty expenses and shipbuilding delays earlier in the year. However, following adjustments to its corporate strategy and an accelerated pace for commercial vessels and follow-on submarine contracts in the latter half of the year, CSBC announced it has successfully turned a profit for two consecutive quarters. |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
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Pffffft Report PLA Activities 2026.06.26 Issuing Authority Political Warfare Bureau 1.Date: 6 a.m. Jun. 25 (Thu.) to 6 a.m. Jun. 26 (Fri.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities: 2 sorties of PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 2 out of 2 sorties entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. You know, I'd give them a pass because of the weather, but they're not taking off or landing in weather. They're flying over it. We've covered stories about how the Chinese are moving their commercial airline routes closer to the Midline over the Straight as they enter coastal cities in the area. The PLAAF has to either fly lower than the commercial airliners or higher than the airliners. Now, if the commercial airliners can do it... |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
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Today's news is fairly dramatic, and by that I mean the stories that aren't simply informational will have future consequences, so let us not stand around like "slack-jawed faggots" and get to it!! Taiwan envoy highlights AI and cooperation at Israel summit Li Ya-ping calls Taiwan and Israel complementary partners in technology TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Taiwan's Representative to Israel Li Ya-ping ( ) told an international policy forum in Jerusalem that the two sides are natural partners, CNA reported Friday. The International Policy Summit, organized by the US-based Jewish News Syndicate, was held from Sunday to Tuesday and featured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, industry leaders, and scholars, per CNA. Taiwan's representative office was invited to participate for the first time. Li sat on a panel discussing Israel-Asia relations, where she described Taiwan and Israel as "geopolitical mirrors." She noted that both face security pressures but have turned challenges into drivers of innovation and resilience. Li said the two sides are complementary in technology, with Israel serving as a global innovation hub and Taiwan as a key center for high-tech manufacturing. She added that cooperation in AI and chip industries could support broader reindustrialization efforts in Europe and the US. She also highlighted expanding people-to-people exchanges and joint remembrance initiatives, noting that Israeli visits to Taiwan have risen sharply in recent years. Opposition blocks review of Taiwan's NT$210 billion drone budget KMT plans to submit own version next week TAIPEI (Taiwan News) At the Legislative Yuan on Friday the opposition blocked the review of a NT$210 billion (US$6.59 billion) budget for drones. The June 18 government proposal intended to spend the funds on the procurement of 210,000 uncrewed aerial vehicles and small "suicide" drone boats, the Liberty Times reported. The main opposition KMT had promised to issue its own version of the drone budget, but on Friday it received the support of the TPP to postpone the review of the government proposal. The budget was submitted after the opposition removed money for the drones from the NT$780 billion special defense budget it approved in May. The government has since tried to make up for the cuts by submitting separate budgets for items like the drones. Legislators voted 55 against 44 to postpone the review of the government drone plan, according to the Liberty Times. KMT Caucus Whip Fu Kun-chi ( ) said the party will propose its own drone budget next week, though the amount is still being discussed. The opposition politician left the door open to discuss the government's version. He added the KMT supported the drone industry, favoring subsidies and tax concessions. Here's our first informational story: the ship that was hit by the IRGC drone is owned and crewed by Taiwanese: Taiwan Evergreen ship leaves Strait of Hormuz after unknown object strike Vessel later left strait and reportedly experiencing no seaworthiness problems TAIPEI (Taiwan News) A Taiwan Evergreen Marine ship left the Strait of Hormuz after being hit by an unknown object off the coast of Oman on Thursday, Reuters reported Friday. The Ever Lovely was struck about 3.6 nautical miles (6.7 kilometers) off the coast near Khawr Naiwah, Oman. Evergreen said the ship is owned by its Singapore subsidiary. The company said the object hit the starboard side of the ship's bridge. Crew members later found damage around the bridge windows. Evergreen said the crew, vessel, and cargo were all safe. The ship's main engine and navigation equipment were also working normally. The company said the vessel is still safe to sail. It added the ship left the Strait of Hormuz after the incident. Evergreen said the ship was following a route recommended by United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a British agency that monitors maritime security. The agency said Thursday that a cargo ship reported a suspected attack near the Omani coast while trying to pass through the strait. The Strait of Hormuz connects the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf. It is one of the world's most important routes for oil and commercial shipping and has been disrupted due to the Iran-US conflict. |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
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In this block, two stories about the Chinese never ending threat, and that's what they're aiming for: a never-ending threat. Plus, this first story has ramifications for everyone using Chinese equipment: Taiwan flags China's Amap over frequent data uploads Report says app routes data to Alibaba servers in China TAIPEI (Taiwan News) China's Amap (Gaode) has come under scrutiny after tests showed it uploads user data roughly every three seconds and contains a device identifier that persists even after reinstalling, The Reporter reported Friday. The app, a widely used navigation service developed by Alibaba Group, surged in Taiwan's app rankings in late April, with some users praising its detailed traffic features and real-time driving assistance. Taiwan's National Security Bureau flagged the app in May as a potential cybersecurity risk. The Ministry of Digital Affairs later confirmed that Amap requests permissions unrelated to its core functions and may transmit data when not in use. To assess its behavior, The Reporter said it conducted a test using identical phones, routes, and network conditions, comparing Amap with Google Maps and Taiwan's NaviKing 3D. The analysis tracked transmission frequency and server destinations. The results showed Amap sent data to external servers about once every three seconds, significantly more frequently than Google Maps, which transmitted at roughly 30-second intervals. NaviKing 3D updates about every 22 minutes. Yes, yes it is. Researchers also identified a fixed device identifier in Amap's data packets known as "CAID," which remained unchanged even after reinstalling the app. In tests, the identifier persisted unless the device was fully reset, raising concerns it could function as a form of device fingerprinting. Amap also transmitted not only location data but additional sensor information, including movement direction and altitude, according to packet analysis. All observed server connections were routed to Alibaba Cloud infrastructure in China. On May 27, the Ministry of Digital Affairs reported eight risk behaviors on iOS devices, including access requests unrelated to navigation functions and reading device identifiers. Amap's privacy policy states that it may share personal information, including location and usage behavior, with companies and partners in China and abroad for service and security purposes. Taiwanese officials have since classified Amap as a cybersecurity-risk product for government use, while legal experts note challenges for companies without a local presence in Taiwan. More about the Chinese version of their National-Socialism ethos: Taiwan says ethnic unity law underscores risk of traveling to China Officials say law intended to intimidate and contains vague provisions TAIPEI (Taiwan News) The Mainland Affairs Council on Thursday said Taiwanese traveling to China will continue to face risks when Beijing's new ethnic unity law takes effect next week. The Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress is set to take effect on Wednesday, per CNA. The council's Deputy Minister Liang Wen-chieh ( ) said the law contains vague provisions that make it difficult for people to know what conduct is permitted. Liang said the law is intended to intimidate people into self-censorship and has drawn international concern. He said foreigners could be targeted for supporting Taiwan or discussing Tibet and Xinjiang, while Taiwanese already face the possibility of unfounded charges from Beijing. He cited Taiwanese democracy activist Lee Ming-che ( ) and publisher Li Yanhe ( ) as examples of what he described as Beijing's imposition of fabricated charges on Taiwanese, CNA reported. "Whether this law exists or not, we (Taiwanese) face the same risks," Liang said. Liang also addressed recent comments by AIT Director Raymond Greene, who said that most Taiwanese support maintaining the cross-strait status quo while preserving deterrence and dialogue, according to CNA. Liang added that Beijing's goal has become increasingly clear and that is to make Taiwan part of China. As a reminder, there are still over 225 Taiwanese in Chinese captivity that have simply disappeared. These disappearances are related to the 2005 "Anti-Secsession Law". Mistress Cheng failed to inquire about them on her "Look at me" tour and meeting with Ximan. |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
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Last block! First story is about a response to the uptick in PLAN surface ships, Chinese Coast Guard and the "Fishing fleet" maritime militia, plus the harassment of commercial shipping: Taiwan holds tabletop exercise to counter Chinese maritime coercion Lai orders stronger maritime intelligence and supply chain resilience TAIPEI (Taiwan News) The government conducted a tabletop exercise on Thursday to test its response to Chinese maritime gray zone coercion targeting commercial shipping. The Presidential Office's Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee ran the drill to assess the responses if China's coast guard used the pretext of law enforcement to interfere with shipping around Taiwan, per Liberty Times. President Lai Ching-te ( ) commented "the more prepared we are, the safer we will be." He said China is undermining stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific through escalating gray zone tactics against Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines. He said Taiwan's defense buildup is "not a provocation" and pledged continued cooperation with like-minded partners. The discussion-based exercise had no opposing teams, with all participants representing Taiwan's government, according to Liberty Times. It simulated China Coast Guard orders for merchant vessels near Taiwan to report to Chinese authorities before boardings and seizures. Lai issued four directives following the exercise. He ordered stronger air and maritime intelligence and real-time reporting, along with improved coordination with domestic and international merchant vessels. He ordered stronger air and maritime intelligence and real-time reporting, along with improved coordination with domestic and international merchant vessels. He also ordered updated energy and critical supply stockpile plans. He further called for stronger interagency crisis coordination and strategic communications with international partners. National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Lee Wen ( ) said Taiwan's shipping volume far exceeds that of the Strait of Hormuz, warning gray zone disruptions would significantly impact global trade, Liberty Times reported. US says Taiwan arms sale not linked to China talks State Department official reaffirms Six Assurances policy TAIPEI (Taiwan News) US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Michael DeSombre said Thursday that a pending arms sale notification for Taiwan is not contingent on discussions with China, Reuters reported Friday. The State Department official told a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing that decisions on Taiwan arms packages are made independently of US-China talks. "Correct," he said when asked whether the process was separate from negotiations with Beijing. Trump has suggested the proposed package, reported to be worth around NT$446.4 billion (US$14 billion), could be used as leverage in talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. In comments following a recent meeting with Xi, Trump described the deal as a potential "bargaining chip." The comments diverged from long-standing US policy under the Six Assurances, which state that Washington will not consult Beijing on arms sales to Taiwan. DeSombre, who was nominated under the Trump administration, said that policy remains in force and continues to guide decision-making. DeSombre added that Taiwan-related issues are routinely raised in US-China meetings, but stressed this does not alter Washington's Six Assurances. He declined to provide a timeline for the pending decision, which remains under review. The US is Taiwan's most important international backer and largest arms supplier despite formal diplomatic relations. ETA: Pffffft Report. It's too pathetic to deserve it's own post!!! PLA Activities 2026.06.27 Issuing Authority Political Warfare Bureau 1.Date: 6 a.m. Jun. 26 (Fri.) to 6 a.m. Jun. 27 (Sat.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities: 1 sortie of PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. There's not even a CAP area. 
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Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
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Rainy Day Schedule on that side of the World!!! Two stories of note, and we'll start with a follow-up to a story yesterday as it is their election season! Presidential Office says budget delays constrain Taiwan's disaster relief efforts Emergency funding remains inaccessible without legislative approval TAIPEI (Taiwan News) With heavy rainfall continuing across Taiwan and the typhoon season approaching, the Presidential Office on Saturday urged the Legislative Yuan to expedite passage of related budgets, warning that delays could affect disaster preparedness. Presidential Spokesperson Kuo Ya-huei ( ) said that funds earmarked for typhoon response and emergency disaster relief can only be accessed after the legislature approves the annual budget. She said Taiwan's disaster response capacity is "constrained" under existing legal procedures as the country continues to experience severe rainfall, per CNA. Taiwan has been hit by two consecutive days of torrential rain driven by the outer circulation of Tropical Storm Mekkhala, a strengthened southwest monsoon, and a southward-moving frontal system. As of early Saturday, the heavy rainfall had left two people dead and two missing, according to UDN. Kuo said the NT$71.8 billion (US$2.25 billion) package approved by the Kuomintang in March was allocated for water management projects. She added that the funding is designated for water resource construction and cannot be redirected to emergency typhoon-related needs, and should not be cited as a reason for delaying the overall budget review process. A proposed NT$100 billion, four-year flood management program included in the budget remains stalled. Given the approaching typhoon season, she urged the Legislative Yuan to expedite passage of the budget to allow preparation. Next story is pretty interesting!! Taipei probes NT$10 million Uber Eats laundering scheme Prosecutors say group placed more than 2,800 orders through over 300 accounts TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Taipei prosecutors are investigating a suspected money laundering scheme involving Uber Eats, with alleged transactions exceeding NT$10 million (US$314,301). Uber Eats previously identified unusual order patterns linked to food and beverage merchants, according to CNA. These included frequent last-minute changes to order notes, such as switching from delivery to pickup after payment had been made. The platform reported the irregular activity to prosecutors, prompting further investigation. On Wednesday, authorities searched seven locations and summoned nine individuals connected to the case for questioning. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office said a group under investigation may have used more than 300 customer accounts to place about 2,800 orders for food, snacks, and beverages with merchant accounts on Uber Eats. Many of the merchant accounts were set up or registered by a man surnamed Lin ( ). Authorities said the suspected scheme began in July 2023, when credit cards issued overseas were allegedly used to register customer accounts. In 2024, these accounts were reportedly used to place repeated orders through the platform. Prosecutors are examining the source of the overseas credit card funds and whether delivery personnel may have helped facilitate the suspected transactions. The case is being handled under Taiwan's Money Laundering Control Act as the investigation continues. ETA: I had to fix grammar errors. I cannot do two things at once |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
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Pfffft Report is just that!! Pfffft PLA Activities 2026.06.28 Issuing Authority Political Warfare Bureau 1.Date: 6 a.m. Jun. 27 (Sat.) to 6 a.m. Jun. 28 (Sun.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities: 6 PLAN ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. 3.Illustration of flight path is not provided due to no PLA aircraft operating around Taiwan were detected during this timeframe. A while back, I said I would read a Swiss article about the infiltration and spying going on in Taiwan, and then report back to you beautiful people. I read it!!! I haven't spoken German since the '90s as "ich habe niemand mit zu sprechen." Long story short, after I had an 'ai' website translate the article into a proper language, I didn't catch a majority of the article! These things happen!! It's been decades since I've been in Europe and dealing with 'long-haired dictionaries' that actually taught me how to speak in foreign tongues. Yes, sometimes I do miss being young. Here's the link again: Mit einer Armee von Spionen will China den Krieg gegen Taiwan gewinnen China wants to win the War against Taiwan with an Army of Spies China aims to win the war against Taiwan with an army of spies J rgen Kremb, Taipei 12 14 minutes They have infiltrated the armed forces, political parties, and the media. The goal is to sow chaos and spread fear before a single shot is fired. Taiwan is the testing ground for a subversion that also threatens the West, warns a Taiwanese politician. - J rgen Kremb, Taipei 25.05.2026, 05:30 AM The events surrounding opposition politician Li Zhenxiu sound so adventurous that one can hardly believe them much like so many stories from the shadow world of espionage and hybrid warfare that shake Taiwan's democracy on an almost daily basis. Li, born in China and married to a Taiwanese medical professional, was appointed to a vacant parliamentary seat by the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) in January, serving as a voice for the nearly 400,000 mainland Chinese living in Taiwan. In parliament, she drew particular attention for failing to provide the legally required proof that she had renounced her Chinese citizenship. When the TPP stripped her of the seat in April, Taiwan's intelligence agency, the National Security Bureau, spoke out: they had secured chat logs of the designated replacement candidate, Xu Chunying, and found clear instructions from Shanghai intelligence circles within them. Like her predecessor likely did, Xu was intended to infiltrate Taiwan's political landscape: within the TPP, as well as the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) or the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of President Lai Ching-te. China views Taiwan as a breakaway province that it intends to reclaim, by military force if necessary. In the meantime, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office has filed espionage charges against Xu. China under Xi Jinping: An Intelligence Regime This episode is emblematic of an underestimated reality: China's war against Taiwan has long since begun. For the Chinese Communist Party, Taiwan has mutated into a laboratory for a war of spies. Here, the manipulation of an entire society's consciousness is being put to the test. In Taiwan, Beijing is testing how to bring about the implosion of a democracy through subversion, without a single shot being fired. "Beijing's primary goal is to sow chaos and divide our society," says Liu Wen-ping, who led the research department of the counter-intelligence agency MJIB for more than a decade and is the most frequently cited expert on Chinese influence in Taiwan. "Intelligence services play the central role in this." The rise of the Communist Party would be unthinkable without its intelligence services. Founded in 1927 by the later long-term Premier Zhou Enlai and, like the army, directly subordinate to the Party rather than the state, they remain the operative foundation for maintaining power to this day. But it was only under Xi Jinping that China transformed from a communist surveillance and espionage dictatorship into an autocratic intelligence regime. Under Party leader Xi, Beijing has poured its decades-long practice of secrecy into a tightly woven legal system that can force any Chinese citizen worldwide to cooperate and engage in espionage. The foundation for this repressive apparatus was laid in 2015 by the National Security Law, which codifies the claim to sovereignty over Taiwan and classifies any resistance as criminal. This was followed in 2017 by the National Intelligence Law, whose articles 7 and 14 oblige Chinese citizens and companies to provide active assistance in espionage. Finally, since the tightening of the counter-espionage law in 2023, the mere suspicion of an anti-China sentiment is enough to arbitrarily detain Taiwanese or foreigners. Millions of Cyberattacks Every Day What fundamentally distinguishes the Chinese system from Western services is the sheer scale. The Ministry of State Security, China's intelligence agency, employs an estimated 800,000 people. For comparison: the CIA has 20,000 employees, the British intelligence service MI6 has 3,500, and the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND) has 6,500. Around 180,000 agents of the Chinese security apparatus work internally and externally on the Taiwan issue alone. How many of them are already based in Taiwan is a matter of dispute: Taiwan's National Security Bureau cites 5,000, while Li Te-liang, the former deputy head of the Military Intelligence Bureau, considers 30,000 more plausible. DPP lawmaker Puma Shen, a criminologist and fierce opponent of rapprochement with Beijing, believes the number trends toward 100,000. He likely narrowly escaped an attack two years ago. A tailor in Taipei who was supposed to fit him for a bulletproof vest turned out to be a Chinese agent. But China's espionage army is even more comprehensive. It includes the United Front, an intelligence arm. The United Front does not operate covertly like classical espionage, but rather through openly acting organizations such as business associations, cultural clubs, or religious groups. The number of spies convicted annually has increased sixfold between 2022 and 2024, from 28 to 168 cases. The majority of recruited spies are active or retired military personnel. Those convicted also include former assistants to the Speaker of Parliament and advisors to the Presidential Office. In January 2026, the Supreme Court sentenced former politician Chu Hung-i to ten years in prison: he had been recruited by the People's Liberation Army to recruit retired officers to form an "internal force." On the digital battlefield, Chinese hacker groups supplement this strategy. The People's Liberation Army has up to 250,000 cyber warriors for digital infiltration abroad. In Taiwan alone, the Taiwanese National Security Bureau registered 2.63 million Chinese cyberattacks daily in 2025. Hackers from the group Volt Typhoon systematically infiltrate water supply facilities, power grids, and transport systems in the U.S., on the military base in Guam, and in Taiwan. In the event of a conflict, these dormant malware programs are intended to be activated in order to paralyze Western supply infrastructure and create panic among the civilian population through targeted blackouts. Media as a Battlefield As early as 2008, billionaire Tsai Eng-meng, who made his fortune in mainland food production, acquired the "China Times Group" consisting of the mass-market newspaper China Times, the Commercial Times, the magazine China Times Weekly, and the television stations CTi TV and China Television for an estimated $620 million. The resulting "Want Want China Times Media Group" is the island's largest media conglomerate, known for its pro-Beijing stance and close ties to the KMT. According to reports by the Financial Times, United Front censors issue daily directives dictating which topics and headlines must appear in the Want Want group's products. In the south of the People's Republic, the state operates centers for propaganda and disinformation. Companies of commentators flood social networks by the minute with misinformation regarding alleged corruption, crime, and bureaucratic failure in Taiwan. In 2025 alone, the NSB identified over four million suspicious posts. The extent to which this can go is illustrated by the case of presenter Lin Chen-you, alias "Ma De," who was exposed in April 2026. According to the indictment, China's Ministry of Unification paid him 200,000 New Taiwan dollars (the equivalent of about 5,450 Swiss francs) per broadcast. At the same time, he allegedly laundered cryptocurrency into New Taiwan dollars and sold Beijing secrets regarding drones and special forces. Furthermore, clips repeatedly surface on the internet in which Taiwanese soldiers declare that they would surrender without resistance if China were to attack the island. Court documents prove they were compensated by Beijing for these statements or blackmailed with compromising sex photos from brothels and nightclubs. According to intelligence services, Taiwan's underworld has been largely infiltrated by Beijing's agents. Politics: infiltrated The situation in politics is not much different. The Chinese Communist Party does not view Taiwan and its political parties especially the KMT as diplomatic partners, but as targets for far-reaching infiltration. According to witness statements, United Front officials gather Taiwanese businesspeople living in the People's Republic before elections and urge them to "vote patriotically." They then dictate how much money should be transferred to which candidates. Renowned China expert Willy Lam, former China editor of Hong Kong's South China Morning Post, reaches a damning verdict: "The KMT will not oppose an occupation of Taiwan. Large parts of the party appear to already be controlled by the Communist Party." In April 2026, KMT chairwoman Zheng Li-wun became the first KMT leader in many years to visit Beijing and meet with Xi Jinping. Upon her return, she declared: "We should also be using more Chinese textbooks here." However, according to recent polls from Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council in April 2025, 84.4 percent of Taiwanese reject the "One Country, Two Systems" model under which Hong Kong was transferred to China in 1997. The majority of Taiwanese would prefer to maintain the current status quo. Barely 3 percent of the island's residents find the idea of being absorbed as a province of the People's Republic of China appealing. The KMT chairwoman is unconcerned. Together with the TPP, she has spent months blocking President Lai's defense budget in parliament. The 31 billion francs are intended to purchase urgently needed weapons from the USA over a five-year period, including AI-supported defense systems modeled after Israel's Iron Dome. "The destruction of Taiwanese democracy is only the beginning of Chinese expansionism," warns Puma Shen. "In reality, Chinese intelligence services have declared war on the entire Western community of democracies and values." J rgen Kremb is a sinologist and former bureau chief for Der Spiegel in Beijing, Singapore, and Vienna. He is currently conducting research on Chinese intelligence services as a visiting scholar at the Institute for Human Rights at Soochow University in Taipei. Nope! This is how the CCP Do!!!! This is what they do every day, every where and to everybody including inside the PRC. We have borne the brunt of this since the Carter era. With the ascension of the DSA onto the main stage of American politics, the CCP seems to be doing very well here. As far as the article goes, and with the excluding the 'point of view', the article summarizes what we've been posting over the years - not to pat ourselves 'on the back' which is a waste of movement. (Although at 65, I should stretch more!!) This was one reason I started the thread as we have been and are under attack whether one chooses to realize it or not. This is the reasoning behind how the stories about Taiwan are chosen, and it's for their parallelism to what happens here in the US. The CCP declared a "People's War" against the US in 2019, and then in 2023, a PLA General, whose name I can't recall, defined "people's war" as "Total War." This all is what exactly it is, a War. ETA: I had to fix grammar errors. I still cannot do two things at once Now it's in English!!!!!! |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
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Gentlemen, I was searching the News late last night when I found that Speaker Han (ret'd General and OG KMT) did meet with White House Officials as well as our own celebrity Congressional leadership!!! If you recall, Mistress Cheng was only able to give out a few hand jobs to the Door man at the hotel where she stayed at. Sure, names were bandied about, but not for all the numbers of politicians claimed!! So, her big accomplishment was just lighting up the board for whom else the FBI needs to start following around. Speaker Han, on the other hand, who was most recently hit with corruption accusations by Mistress Cheng's faction of the KMT hits the jack pot!!!! Maybe later we can all sing a chorus from that rousing ol' negro spiritual, "Oh Lord, Thank You for splitting those muthafuckas up! Amen." Here's just some links to video news stories: Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu meets US House Speaker Mike Johnson  Han Kuo-yu Legislative Delegation Meets With US Defense, White House Officials|TaiwanPlus News Now for the "printed" news stories: Taiwan's legislative leader holds talks with US House of Representatives Speaker Han Kuo-yu discusses trade, deeper ties with US Speaker Han meets with Pentagon, White House officials Taiwan legislative speaker meets US House speaker Oh yeah!!! Great Day!!! We can now expect Mistress Cheng and her gang of syphilitic sycophants to either further attack Speaker Han or to pretend that nothing ever happened between them all. Oh yeah, baby cakes, we're all on to you: Attached File |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
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We're still on "rainy day" schedule, so everyone, please, report to the Cafegymatoreum for PE!! Japan launches digital corridor with Taiwan, India Initiative will support undersea cables, satellite communications, economic security AIPEI (Taiwan News) Japan's communications ministry will launch eight communications infrastructure projects in Taiwan and India under a new digital corridor initiative, strengthening cooperation on undersea cables, satellite communications, and digital infrastructure. According to Nikkei Asia, the initiative is part of Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae's updated Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy, unveiled during a speech in Vietnam in May. Preliminary testing and feasibility studies will begin this year in partnership with Japanese telecommunications companies and local businesses. The projects will be funded through Japan's supplementary fiscal 2025 budget and fiscal 2026 budget, with total funding of about 8 billion yen (NT$1.6 billion). In Taiwan, the initiative will test technologies to improve the performance and resilience of the undersea cable linking Taiwan and Japan. The project will evaluate whether upgraded systems meet the performance and security standards needed for stable communications. The move comes after repeated damage to fiber-optic cables around Taiwan in recent years, with some incidents raising suspicions of Chinese involvement. In India, the initiative will test NTT's Innovative Optical and Wireless Network, or IOWN, a next-generation communications technology that uses optical signals to connect data centers and terminal equipment as demand for data centers grows, Nikkei reported. Additional projects include deploying technologies to improve digital payment services in Singapore and India. The Free and Open Indo-Pacific concept was first introduced by former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo in 2016 to promote the rule of law, freedom of navigation, and free trade, per the report. Japan has since expanded the strategy to include economic security, energy security, and digital infrastructure in response to geopolitical tensions, including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as growing US-China competition in artificial intelligence. Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications plans to begin accepting proposals for the eight projects later this month. We haven't been posting every story about former President Tsai in Europe, but we're going to do Italy as it seems that this has been the most successful stop so far: Tsai says Taiwan finds broader support in Italian parliament Former president says cross-party contacts show ties are moving beyond geopolitics TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Former President Tsai Ing-wen ( ) said Sunday that her visit to the Italian Senate showed growing momentum in Taiwan's exchanges with Italy. The former president traveled to Italy from June 22-25 to attend the Global Women Leaders Summit and meet lawmakers from both governing and opposition parties, per CNA. During the trip, Tsai was received at the Senate by Deputy Speaker Gian Marco Centinaio. In a Facebook post, Tsai said the visit gave Taiwan a chance to speak directly with democratic partners about shared pressures facing Taiwan, the Indo-Pacific, and democratic countries more broadly. Tsai said European interest in Taiwan has expanded in recent years. She said Taiwan is increasingly viewed not only through Taiwan Strait security or geopolitics, but also through its role in technology, democratic governance, women's leadership, and resilient supply chains. She added that more Italian lawmakers across party lines are paying attention to Taiwan and backing closer cooperation. Tsai said Taiwan's international outreach is built gradually through visits, conversations, and personal exchanges. She thanked supporters in Italy and other democratic partners, saying Taiwan would continue engaging the world with confidence. Normally, we stay away from the various "Captain Obvious" reports, but this one has some details in it: Former Pentagon official urges monitoring of China activity east of Taiwan Chinese ship movements could offer window into Beijing's military strategy TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Former US Defense Department official Tony Hu ( ) on Saturday called for closer monitoring of Chinese activity in waters east of Taiwan, warning that Beijing's growing presence could signal future military operations. Speaking at a fundraising event for the Formosan Association for Public Affairs in Washington, DC, Hu said Chinese vessels have increasingly entered waters east of Taiwan under the guise of maritime law enforcement and marine environmental surveys, per CNA. Hu said closely monitoring these activities is essential to understanding China's intentions. While some operations may be conducted for scientific purposes, he warned that repeated activity could indicate preparations for future military use of the area. A Taiwanese American, Hu previously oversaw China and Taiwan affairs at the US Defense Department. He also served at the American Institute in Taiwan and worked for defense contractor Raytheon, which manufactures the Patriot air defense system. Hu stressed Taiwan's strategic importance, saying the US must maintain a firm presence along the First Island Chain, which includes Taiwan. He warned that a failure to prevent a Chinese invasion would severely damage US credibility in the Western Pacific. He also highlighted Taiwan's economic significance, noting that about 15.5 million barrels of crude oil transit waters around Taiwan each day en route to Japan and South Korea, while an estimated 30% to 40% of global trade passes through nearby sea lanes, per the report. On US-Taiwan security cooperation, Hu said ties are broad and deep, spanning both strategic and tactical levels. Addressing Taiwan's defense preparedness, Hu cited strong public participation in civil defense programs, including courses offered by Kuma Academy, as evidence that many Taiwanese are willing to defend their homeland. Responding to questions about opposition efforts to block Taiwan's special defense budget over corruption concerns, Hu said oversight should focus on strengthening accountability and procurement reviews rather than reducing defense spending. He warned that cutting military funding would weaken Taiwan's self-defense capabilities and undermine deterrence against China. That's been the best phrasing of a bitch slap yet!! Attached File Yes, you!!! |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
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Pffft Report PLA Activities 2026.06.29 Issuing Authority Political Warfare Bureau 1.Date: 6 a.m. Jun. 28 (Sun.) to 6 a.m. Jun. 29 (Mon.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities: 7 PLAN ships and 3 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. 3.Illustration of flight path is not provided due to no PLA aircraft operating around Taiwan were detected during this timeframe. Let's get to something important next!!!! How Beijing weaponizes history for Taiwan Strait lawfare Global leaders must challenge China's legal claims or pay the price Western geopolitics treats international law as a neutral, rule-based system designed to prevent aggression through collective assurance, whereas the Chinese Communist Party views jurisprudence as an offensive weapon. The People's Liberation Army Press text, "Legal Warfare: 100 Cases - Classic Case Analysis," recently translated into English, outlines this mindset. Finalized in June 2004, the volume marks Beijing's formal codification of legal warfare into its "Three Warfares" doctrine. Legal Warfare 100 Cases - Classic Case Analysis This is part of the Air University's "In Their Own Words" series. Here's a quick synopsis: ITOW: Legal Warfare Though a military manual, execution relies on a whole-of-government apparatus spanning the CCP Central Committee and foreign ministry, laying the strategic groundwork for the March 2005 Anti-Secession Law. The PLA's approach represents a deliberate inversion of Western protocols. Rather than using legal boundaries to assure adversaries of peaceful intent, the CCP treats law as an instrument of coercive deterrence designed to restrict an opponent's operational options and dictate the escalatory ladder. The PLA's legal approach to Taiwan is rooted in its retrospective analysis of the 1958 shelling of Kinmen. Building on the 1954-1955 First Crisis where Mao Zedong forced the ROC's evacuation of the Dachen Islands the PLA's 1958 strategy centralized military, political, and legal struggles under a single command to isolate Taiwan and test the newly minted US ROC Mutual Defense Treaty. Kinetic playbook During the 1958 crisis, Beijing unilaterally declared a 12-nautical-mile (22.2 kilometers) territorial sea limit. Former Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai used this to reclassify offshore islands as internal waters, attempting to deny the US legal justification to operate. The PLA narrative falsely claimed this legal declaration compelled US warships to abandon their escort of Taiwan Navy resupply ships. In reality, the Eisenhower administration authorized the Seventh Fleet to escort Taiwan supply ships directly to within 3 nautical miles of Kinmen's shores to break a crushing PLA blockade. US ships defied Beijing's claim by escorting convoys through international waters up to this point. This left Taiwanese craft to complete the run inside the immediate conflict zone. The PLA text underscores the strategic intent behind China's former Defense Minister Peng Dehuai's subsequent alternate-day shelling schedule. By keeping the civil war active, Beijing provided Chiang Kai-shek ( ) with leverage to resist US pressure to withdraw forces from Kinmen and Matsu. Mao Zedong used this friction as a strategic noose to keep the offshore islands geopolitically linked to the mainland. This blocked early US diplomatic initiatives to create a clean geographic partition and institutionalize a permanent split between what were viewed then as "two Chinas." This noose template establishes a core tenet: military strikes extend political and legal rhetoric. In security theory, this is compellence, or using physical force to alter an adversary's political trajectory. This doctrine has evolved into a pattern of escalatory signaling in response to high-level diplomatic engagements: 1960: To protest the US ROC Mutual Defense Treaty during Dwight D. Eisenhower's historic visit to Taiwan the PLA unleashed a massive bombardment, raining over 170,000 shells onto Kinmen across his arrival and departure days. 1995 1996: Beijing fired missiles near key ports (Keelung and Kaohsiung) to intimidate voters despite the 1979 US Taiwan Relations Act. The strategy backfired as instead of boosting the pro-mainland candidate, the coercion galvanized public defiance, handing Lee Teng-hui ( ) a 54% landslide victory in Taiwan's first democratic presidential election. 2022: Protesting US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit, the PLA Rocket Force extended the playbook by conducting live-fire ballistic missile drills completely encircling Taiwan. 2023: Following President Tsai Ing-wen's ( ) meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California, the PLA deployed Exercise Joint Sword, encircling Taiwan with combat aircraft and warships. 2024: Following President Lai Ching-te's ( ) inauguration and National Day address, Beijing launched Joint Sword-2024A and Joint Sword-2024B, using the coast guard and navy to simulate total physical blockades. In every era, these kinetic maneuvers attempt to reset boundaries, signal legal objection to foreign diplomatic engagement, and force an allied psychological retreat. Today, Beijing applies selective jurisdiction to strip allies of strategic assurance. By reclassifying the Taiwan Strait as internal waters and erasing the historical median line created in 1955 by US Air Force General Benjamin O. Davis Jr., the CCP eliminates status-quo agreements. Following February 2024 maritime standoffs, deploying the China coast guard to board Taiwanese vessels and unilaterally dismissing Taiwan's restricted waters near Kinmen, China applied the 1958 template. These maneuvers are further insulated by deploying the state-subsidized People's Armed Forces Maritime Militia to harass shipping under the coast guard's legal shield, mirroring a broader pattern of legal defiance established by Beijing's absolute rejection of the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling in the West Philippine Sea. Gray-zone blueprint The June deployment of Chinese coast guard vessels east of Taiwan demonstrates this. Responding to Japan-Philippines EEZ talks, Beijing launched a maritime law enforcement operation. Asserting exclusive rights east of Taiwan as part of their so-called 10 Dash Line that the Ministry of Natural Resources of China created in August 2023, they used transport and rescue cutters to intercept international merchant ships to assert administrative control over critical sea lines of communication. This paragraph below gets a little bit squishy as Iran has been trying to do this since the year 1980 when the religious clerics still considered communists to be infidels. Crucially, this gray-zone playbook now extends to the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran mirrors Beijing's strategy by using regulatory pretexts to harass shipping. While Washington praised Xi Jinping for not exporting heavy weaponry to Iran, it overlooked a deeper threat: Beijing provides quiet guidance (via the Kinmen noose case), exporting sophisticated legal subversion and asymmetry to Western adversaries. "Legal Warfare: 100 Cases" proves that the CCP views law as a flexible instrument of state power rather than a restrictive boundary. By creating domestic laws such as the 2005 Anti-Secession Law and Coast Guard Law, the CCP rewrites maritime designations and utilizes the cover of law enforcement to erase other countries' borders. This systematically undermines strategic assurance. To counter it, global leaders must challenge China's legal claims alongside its military, coast guard, and maritime militia deployments. Benjamin Franklin reminds us about the importance of resisting despots and guarding our democratic principles: "Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." ETA: DERP!!! I make a map of Kinmen and forget to post it!!!!! Attached File |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
| https://defensescoop.com/2026/06/29/iii-mef-integrates-mric-defense-system-during-pacific-exercise/ |
Deckard “nobody wants to know the truth, nobody” Cobra Kai Johnny Lawrence “she’s hot and all those other things” Tucker Carlson 1/10/2018 “I used to be a liberatarian until Google”https://mobile.twitter.com/Henry_Gunn
| https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2026-06-29/china-japan-adiz-south-korea-russia-aircraft-22113024.html |
Deckard “nobody wants to know the truth, nobody” Cobra Kai Johnny Lawrence “she’s hot and all those other things” Tucker Carlson 1/10/2018 “I used to be a liberatarian until Google”https://mobile.twitter.com/Henry_Gunn
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This first story has a Chinese gentlemen with a hidden camera, and he's still called a tourist! Taiwan flags Chinese tourist over Taoyuan Airport filming Immigration agency says footage from restricted areas breached airport security rules TAIPEI (Taiwan News) The National Immigration Agency said Monday it has flagged a Chinese tourist for follow-up review after the person allegedly used a hidden camera to film restricted areas at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and posted the footage online. The traveler, using the online handle "Tianshang Baiyang," uploaded a video on June 25 claiming to show a first trip to "Taiwan, China" and filming immigration inspection areas, security checkpoints, and airport staff, per CNA. The footage also drew controversy over references to Taiwan and edits that replaced Taiwan's flag with China's flag. Authorities said the tourist entered Taiwan in November last year and departed the same month. The person allegedly recorded multiple airport facilities and areas where photography is prohibited without authorization. The immigration agency said the filming breached airport rules and could disrupt inspection procedures and infringe on passenger privacy, CNA reported. Because the person has already left Taiwan, authorities have placed the traveler on a list for future immigration checks. International airports prohibit photography and phone use in immigration areas to protect border security, official operations, and personal data, the agency said. Travelers who refuse to comply or violate other laws may be detained for investigation and handled under immigration regulations. It doesn't stop there: Taiwan official warns China uses youth trips for election influence Participants reportedly asked to install Chinese apps that could spread pro-Beijing messaging TAIPEI (Taiwan News) A Taiwanese official on Sunday warned that China is using free and heavily subsidized summer tours for young Taiwanese to build influence networks ahead of local elections later this year. The official, who is familiar with Chinese Communist Party united front operations, told Liberty Times that Beijing is targeting Taiwanese aged 16 to 45 through cultural and educational exchanges. The official said the programs aim to build relationships that could later be used for electoral influence. One program, the Cross-Strait Sun Yat-sen Forum in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, ran from Saturday to Monday. Participants in the target age range received free accommodation and activities and paid only airfare to Macau, while older participants paid 600 yuan (US$83), according to Liberty Times. Other programs include an eight-day astronomy tour of Ningxia and Inner Mongolia organized by the Greater Bay Area Youth Development Association in Hong Kong. Participants under 29 pay only airfare, with lodging, transportation, and insurance provided. China is also offering a six-day Xian cultural tour for Taiwanese aged 45 or younger. Participants only pay for travel to and from China, with full on-site accommodation and arrangements provided throughout the trip. The official said Beijing regularly uses summer exchange programs and local recruiters to attract young Taiwanese as part of its united front strategy, Liberty Times reported. Participants are taken to tourist sites and designated exchange centers where they are exposed to pro-Beijing messaging. The official urged the education ministry to strengthen courses on China and cross-strait affairs and discourage students and teachers from accepting hospitality linked to united front activities, per the report. Participants risk being used in Chinese state propaganda despite the trips being promoted as cultural exchanges. The official also warned that participants are photographed and filmed throughout the trips, with material potentially used in propaganda campaigns, per the report. Attendees are often asked to join WeChat groups and install Chinese apps, creating channels for pro-Beijing messaging ahead of Taiwan's local elections. Attached File She went to the similar program run by the Cubans a few decades back. Taiwan digital ministry admits failures over cyber institute data breach TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Affairs admitted Monday that management failures allowed a National Institute of Cyber Security employee to improperly access sensitive data, CNA reported. Speaking at a legislative budget review, Taiwan People's Party Legislator Chen Ching-lung ( ) proposed cutting NT$10 million (US$306,000) from the institute's funding and freezing 10% of related funds. Chen said the case showed gaps in internal management and asked how the ministry would better protect data. KMT Legislator Lu Ming-che ( ) said the case was especially serious because the institute works on the front line of Taiwan's cybersecurity system. He said the incident pointed to major failures in internal controls. I picked this story because the internal opposition have chosen to remedy the situation by cutting the budget and freezing funds that have not been spent yet. How that will resolve the issue or issues is anyone's guess. This begs the question, what are they cutting the budget for when people screwed up? The normal parts of the World use some sort of reprimand to address this. If criminal activity is involved, there's a rememdy for that. Removing budget and saying "fix it" is not oversight. Digital Affairs Minister Lin Yi-jing ( ) said the ministry discovered the case internally and had taken action. He acknowledged management failures and said institute President Lin Ying-ta ( ) had offered to resign to take political responsibility. National Institute of Cyber Security Vice President Hsu Chien-jung ( ) said the institute's board formed an independent investigation group after the incident. He said the group plans to submit a management review report by the end of June. Hsu said the institute has also been fixing cybersecurity weaknesses found after the case. He said the work began after the incident and is still underway. Cyber Security Administration Director-General Tsai Fu-lung ( ) said the ministry has set up a dedicated unit to handle information security issues. He said the ministry will strengthen internal controls, clarify internal rules, and make the rules easier for staff to follow. Tsai said some technical workers did not fully understand the legal requirements linked to their work. He said the ministry will provide more training so staff know what they can and cannot do. |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
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Lai says China weaponizing farm trade President says US, Japan now top agricultural export markets TAIPEI (Taiwan News) President Lai Ching-te ( ) said Monday that China is weaponizing agricultural products by restricting imports and raising tariffs for political purposes. Speaking at the Presidential Office during a meeting with agricultural award recipients, Lai said Taiwan's agricultural exports to China have fallen from 20.5% in 2015 to 11.5% last year, per CNA. He added that the US and Japan have now become Taiwan's top two agricultural export markets, per UDN. Lai said China has used agriculture as a form of political leverage, either by banning imports under various pretexts or raising tariffs. Taiwan must continue to reduce dependence on any single market and pursue diversified global expansion, he said. He pointed to recent breakthroughs in agricultural exports, noting that mangoes, lychees, and dragon fruit were shipped to high-end European markets for the first time this month. The government will strengthen cold-chain logistics and animal and plant disease prevention, Lai said. Lai also said Taiwan had recently been affected by heavy rainfall, which caused significant crop damage. He said the government has activated disaster relief measures, including cash assistance and low-interest loans. Japan protests China coast guard activity near Yonaguni, east of Taiwan Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minoru calls maritime activity 'unacceptable' TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Japan said Monday it has repeatedly protested to China over Chinese coast guard vessels operating near Yonaguni Island in waters east of Taiwan. TV Asahi News reported that Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minoru said Chinese coast guard ships have repeatedly entered Japan's exclusive economic zone south of Yonaguni while asserting jurisdictional claims, per CNA. He said Tokyo has lodged diplomatic protests with Beijing on multiple occasions. Kihara called China's maritime activity "unacceptable" and said Japan would respond "resolutely and calmly," according to TV Asahi. He reaffirmed Tokyo's determination to defend its territory, territorial waters, airspace, and sovereign rights. Following a May 28 summit, Japan and the Philippines announced the start of negotiations on exclusive economic zones and continental shelf boundaries, a move that drew criticism from Beijing, according to CNA. China has since continued sending coast guard vessels into waters east of Taiwan. Kihara also said the Japan-Philippines negotiations pose no issues under international law despite Chinese objections, according to TV Asahi. Yonaguni Island, Japan's westernmost inhabited island, lies about 110 kilometers from Taiwan and is administered by Okinawa Prefecture. It is the closest Japanese territory to Taiwan and has seen increased Chinese maritime activity in recent years. Attached File Taiwan to complete upgraded air defense command network by year-end Integrated command network to link intelligence, radar, and missile systems TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Taiwan plans to complete an upgraded air defense command-and-control network by the end of the year, with the military aiming to deploy it in 2027 if lawmakers approve supplementary funding. The Huanzhan Project, a roughly NT$10 billion (US$313 million) upgrade, links the Army, Navy, and Air Force through an automated joint command-and-control network, per Liberty Times. Officials said the AI-assisted platform will allow radar and missile units to share real-time targeting information. The network will connect Patriot batteries, indigenous Sky Bow missiles, Land Sword II, Stinger missiles, Avenger systems, naval Standard Missiles, and close-in weapon systems, according to the report. It will also integrate data from the Leshan long-range early-warning radar, E-2K airborne early-warning aircraft, and land- and sea-based radar into a common operating picture. The open-architecture platform allows weapons and sensors from different services and generations to operate together. It is designed to help commanders rapidly identify threats and assign interceptors while reducing duplicate engagements. The report said the defense ministry retained the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology's indigenous command system as the network's core while incorporating technology from Northrop Grumman's Integrated Battle Command System. Officials said the domestic system will manage islandwide networking and counter-drone operations, while IBCS will support defenses against ballistic and hypersonic missiles. |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
|
Pffft Report, and I think I'm just taking space up with them!!! These really weren't all that important until the Nancy Pelosi visit in 2022, and then throughout 2023, you could definitely tell things were building up. Then things really ballooned (get it, balloooons) in 2024 with the Presidential election. 2025 brought the hammer down as well, at least until June. Don't know what happened, but things were changing. Couldn't tie the changes to the purges. There was no smoking gun, no defectors, no nothing that was shared to us out here in the open. Then the attacks on Iran happened, and much to no one's surprise, most of the Chinese stuff is shit. So from now on unless there's something remarkable about the flight tracker, no posts!! I'll keep track of the number on my excel workbook, though, because it's hard not to nerd out on this stuff. PLA Activities 2026.06.30 Issuing Authority Political Warfare Bureau 1.Date: 6 a.m. Jun. 29 (Mon.) to 6 a.m. Jun. 30 (Tue.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities: 2 sorties of PLA aircraft, 10 PLAN ships and 3 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. |
Like a midget at a urinal, I had to be on my toes--Lt. Frank Drebin
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’
SixtyNine (7AUG21) "very interesting, thanks"
Pres. Joe Biden (16FEB21) Biden dismisses Uighur genocide as part of China’s ‘different norms’