Regional Tensions Archives

Taiwan reports 28 Chinese air force planes in its air defence zone

Airplane is seen in front of Chinese and Taiwanese flags in this illustration, August 6, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights

Taiwan’s defence ministry said it spotted 28 Chinese air force planes in its air defence zone on Wednesday morning, part of what Taipei calls regular harassment by Beijing amid heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait.

Democratically-governed Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, has complained in recent years of stepped-up Chinese military activities near the island as Beijing seeks to assert its sovereignty claims.

Taiwan’s defence ministry said that beginning at around 6 a.m. (2200 GMT Tuesday), Chinese warplanes, including J-10 fighters, had flown into the southwestern corner of the island’s air defence identification zone, or ADIZ.

Some of the Chinese aircraft crossed the Bashi Channel to carry out drills with the Chinese aircraft carrier the Shandong in the Pacific, the ministry added.

China’s defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Taiwan’s forces monitored the situation, including sending up its own air force planes and activating air defence systems, the ministry added, using the normal phrasing for its response to such Chinese incursions.

A Chinese naval formation led by the Shandong entered the western Pacific for training, Taiwan’s defence ministry said on Monday.

Japan’s defence ministry later said its Maritime Self-Defense Force had spotted the Shandong and five accompanying Chinese navy vessels, including two frigates and two missile destroyers, around 650 km south (400 miles) off Japan’s southwestern Miyako island on Wednesday morning.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-reports-28-chinese-air-force-planes-its-air-defence-zone-2023-09-13/

Russia says it thwarted attacks on Crimea leaving at least three dead

A key supply route for Kremlin forces in the war with Ukraine, the Kerch Bridge has come under repeated attack since Russia launched its full-scale invasion

A picture taken from a video shows an explosion near Bakhmut.
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Russia’s defence ministry said early on Saturday that its forces destroyed three Ukrainian naval drones being used in an attempt to attack a key bridge linking Russia to Moscow-annexed Crimea, forcing its temporary closure for a third time in less than a year.

One naval drone was destroyed late on Friday and two others early on Saturday morning, according to Russia’s defence ministry. There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian officials.

A key supply route for Kremlin forces in the war with Ukraine, the Kerch Bridge has come under repeated attack since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

An explosion in October, which Russian authorities said was caused by a truck bomb, left three people dead. A further attack on the bridge in July, killing a couple and seriously wounding their daughter, left a span of the roadway hanging perilously.

Source: https://www.telegraphindia.com/world/russia-says-it-thwarted-attacks-on-crimea-leaving-at-least-three-dead/cid/1963481

North Korea says it staged ‘tactical nuclear attack’ drill

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects the Pukjung Machine Complex and a major munitions factory in an undisclosed location in North Korea in this picture released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and obtained by Reuters on Sep 3, 2023. (Photo: KCNA via REUTERS)

North Korea conducted a simulated “tactical nuclear attack” drill early on Saturday (Sep 2) that included two long-range cruise missiles carrying mock nuclear warheads, in response to allied exercises by the US and South Korea, state media reported on Sunday.

The KCNA news agency said the drill was carried out to “warn the enemies of the actual nuclear war danger” as Pyongyang again vowed to bolster military deterrence against Washington and Seoul.

The two cruise missiles carrying mock nuclear warheads were fired towards the West Sea of the peninsula and flew 1,500km at a preset altitude of 150m.

A separate statement said Kim visited Pukjung Machine Complex, which produces marine engines, and a major munitions factory to stress the importance of strengthening Pyongyang’s naval forces.

“He affirmed that a future plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the WPK (Worker’s Party of Korea) would set forth an important modernization of the complex and the development direction of the shipbuilding industry,” the KCNA statement said.

The statement did not specify the date of his visit.

The latest missile test came just after the joint annual summertime exercises between South Korea and the US, known as Ulchi Freedom Shield, came to a close on Thursday after an 11-day run, featuring air drills with B-1B bombers.

Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/north-korea-conducts-tactical-nuclear-attack-drill-long-range-missiles-nuclear-warheads-3743091

‘Northeast is Our Jigar Ka Tukda’: PM Modi on Manipur Crisis, Assures Peace Will Be Restored Soon

The Prime Minister assured citizens that the people of Manipur that the state will again walk on development and the Centre will ensure it. (Photo: YouTube/Sansad TV)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the government was ready to discuss the situation in Manipur where over 150 people were killed in the ethnic violence but the opposition “ran away” from the debate in Parliament due to their political motives.

While replying to the debate on the no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister said heinous crimes against women which took place in strife-torn Manipur are “unforgivable” and highlighted that the Central and state governments are trying their best to punish those guilty.

“We could have discussed Manipur if they would have showed interest. Home Minister wrote and said that we are ready to discuss Manipur. The Home Minister spoke in brief for two hours on Manipur. State Government and Central Government are trying their best to give severe punishment to the accused. I want to assure the nation that the way attempts are being made in the near future peace will prevail. We want to assure mother and daughter of Manipur this country is with you, this house is with you,” he said.

The Prime Minister assured citizens that the people of Manipur that the state will again walk on development and the Centre will ensure it.

PM Modi said that the government has given importance to the development of the northeast and added the “northeast is our jigar ka tukda”.

Modi also spoke in detail about his government’s development works for the entire northeastern region, noting that he alone had visited the area over 50 times and his ministers over 400 times.

It was the Congress government under the then prime minister Indira Gandhi which used the Air Force to attack citizens in Mizoram in 1966 and also launched a military attack on Akal Takht in the 80s, he said targeting the Congress.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/pm-narendra-modi-manipur-violence-lok-sabha-parliament-no-confidence-motion-8531295.html