Taiwan
-
Conflicts - Tensions
Allies, Partners conduct joint naval exercises in South China Sea for Free and Open Indo-Pacific
Reuters The armed forces of five Allies and Partners conducted joint maritime exercises in a portion of the South China Sea in late September. New Zealand joined for the first time. Australia, Japan, the Philippines and the United States also participated in the exercises in Manila’s exclusive economic zone that sought to improve the militaries’ interoperability, the Armed Forces of…
Read More -
Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
German naval ships to transit Taiwan Strait to uphold Free and Open Indo-Pacific
Reuters Two German Navy ships are set to transit the international waters of the Taiwan Strait in September 2024, becoming the first German military vessels to do so in 22 years, according to reports. The routine operation will demonstrate Berlin’s commitment to open navigation, the head of the naval task force said. “Safe and secure sea lanes, especially from Southeast…
Read More -
Conflicts - Tensions
Palau’s upcoming election triggers concern over PRC manipulated information
Jessica Caterson Palau, a Blue Pacific nation of 22,000 people, will hold its presidential election in November 2024. It comes amid increasing influence attempts by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and a potential manipulated information campaign aimed at swaying results, a frequent strategy of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Palau, in conjunction with Taiwan and the United States, began…
Read More -
Features
Long-Lasting Strength
FORUM STAFF | photos by the associated press The message from United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in mid-November 2023 reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to Taiwan and to the federal law that has been the bedrock of U.S. relations with the self-governed island for more than four decades. “With the Taiwan Relations Act [TRA], we are committed to doing what’s necessary…
Read More -
Across The Region
U.S. Approves Support for Taiwan’s Information Systems
The United States in December 2023 approved a $300 million sale of equipment to help maintain Taiwan’s tactical information systems. Under its 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, the U.S. has agreed to provide the self-governed island with defense articles and services necessary to maintain self-defense capabilities. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) claims the island and threatens to annex it by…
Read More -
Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
Japan, U.S. defense alliance gets ‘historic’ upgrade for greater interoperability in Free and Open Indo-Pacific
FORUM Staff The United States is making a consequential and historic upgrade to its U.S. Forces Japan, which will become a Joint Force Headquarters allowing for greater interoperability between the U.S. military and the Japan Self-Defense Forces. “We welcome an historic decision to modernize our Alliance command and control to better meet the challenges of today and tomorrow,” U.S. Defense…
Read More -
Conflicts - Tensions
How Allies and Partners can counter the PRC’s coercion in the Taiwan Strait
FORUM Staff The People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) military coercion of Taiwan is a political warfare tactic that aims for psychological effects, John Dotson, deputy director of the Global Taiwan Institute (GTI), said in a late July 2024 panel discussion on PRC offensives against the self-governed democracy. Beijing claims Taiwan is part of the PRC and consistently threatens military action…
Read More -
Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
Examining Beijing’s aggressive campaign to press illegitimate maritime claims
FORUM Staff A knife- and axe-wielding attack on Philippine personnel who were resupplying a military outpost marked Beijing’s most aggressive recent power play in the South China Sea. The June 17, 2024, assault in which Chinese personnel injured the resupply crew, slashed its inflatable boats and stole weapons followed a string of increasingly violent confrontations in the region. Chinese coast…
Read More -
Conflicts - Tensions
Swarming drone ‘hellscape’ to deter PRC use of force against Taiwan
FORUM Staff A key to maintaining a Free and Open Indo-Pacific involves thousands of armed drones providing a swarming “hellscape” to deter Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping from ordering the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to cross the Taiwan Strait and invade self-governed Taiwan. United States Navy Adm. Samuel Paparo, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), recently said the…
Read More -
Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
Vietnam’s artificial-island building draws measured response from Philippines, other neighbors
FORUM Staff Vietnam is fast-tracking its artificial island projects in the disputed South China Sea, a move that aims to counter the People’s Republic of China (PRC), analysts say. By dredging the seabed and piling the material atop reefs in the Spratly Islands, Hanoi added more than 280 hectares of land between November 2023 and June 2024, reported the Asia…
Read More