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Air Defence Identification Zone

The Philippines said the Chinese ship involved was part of a maritime militia but Beijing said it was a fishing boat. Photo: AFP

China accuses Philippine ships of violating sovereignty after latest collision

Both sides have accused the other of being to blame for the incident which took place near the Philippine-held Tithu island.

16 Oct 2024 - 8:54AMvideocam

PLA wraps up day of joint force blockade drills around Taiwan

15 Oct 2024 - 2:25AMvideocam

PLA sends planes, ships near Taiwan as Lai’s speech continues to cause ripples

11 Oct 2024 - 5:09PMvideocam

Taiwan probes fighter jet crash after latest incident involving Mirage planes

Island’s air force launches task force to investigate why warplane lost power while returning to base after routine training mission.

11 Sep 2024 - 2:51PM

Taiwan’s Mirage jets have encountered a range of operational issues, such as cockpit fogging and electrical problems. Photo: EPA-EFE

PLA drones circled Taiwan for hours, island’s defence ministry says

Rare report from island on PLA drone activity comes day after first Japan-Philippines drills in contested South China Sea.

4 Aug 2024 - 8:00PMvideocam

China, Russia bombers enter Alaska air defence zone in military first: Norad

The two countries’ warplanes entered the area at the same time and were intercepted in international airspace, the joint US and Canadian military command said.

26 Jul 2024 - 2:02AMvideocam

Rare sighting of mainland Chinese helicopter points to test of Taiwan defences

Helicopter drill may be part of anti-sub exercise as 23 PLA aircraft and seven vessels detected near strait in 24 hours from Sunday morning.

26 Jun 2024 - 10:41AMvideocam

A photo from December shows a PLA helicopter during a maritime training exercise. Taiwan reports helicopters among PLA aircraft flying near the island this week. Photo: PLA

Harder to respond: why Beijing may prefer a blockade to armed conflict on Taiwan

PLA exercise was planned before William Lai’s inauguration and calibrated to ‘signal displeasure, but hopefully not escalate’, says analyst.

23 May 2024 - 7:49PMvideocam

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Tokyo ‘extremely concerned’ over rising tensions with Beijing in East China Sea

Japan deployed airborne early warning aircraft and at least one marine destroyer in response to Chinese vessels sailing near disputed islands in the East China Sea.

5 Feb 2024 - 1:27PM

Taiwan elections: Beijing accuses DPP of ‘hyping’ PLA threat to win votes

The island will elect its next president in January, with William Lai, the independence-leaning party’s candidate, currently ahead in the polls.

29 Dec 2023 - 5:16AMvideocam

Beijing has accused William Lai’s DPP of hyping up the threat from the mainland. Photo: EPA-EFE

PLA sends dozens of warplanes towards Taiwan

The PLA sent 37 aircraft and 7 navy vessels around Taiwan between 6am on Friday and 6am on Saturday, Taiwan’s defence ministry said.

23 Jul 2023 - 6:22AMvideocam

China’s J-10 fighter jets. The PLA sent dozens of warplanes, including fighter jets and bombers, towards Taiwan, the island’s defence ministry said on Saturday. Photo: AP

Record 16 PLA ships sent near Taiwan in one day, island’s defence ministry says

Number tops the previous high of 14 warships sent towards Taiwan as Beijing reacted to Nancy Pelosi’s visit in August.

17 Jul 2023 - 11:57PMvideocam

Beijing should avoid ‘acting blindly’ on Taiwan: former mainland official

The remarks by Sun Yafu, an influential figure for cross-strait policy, offer a rare glimpse into mainland China’s strategy regarding strained ties with Taipei.

29 Jun 2023 - 11:51PMvideocam

‘We thank US’: Washington-Taipei arms deal goes ahead despite China’s warnings

Taiwan’s defence ministry says the missiles are needed to help deal with threats and provocation from the PLA.

2 Mar 2023 - 7:30PMvideocam

The Pentagon’s Defence Security Cooperation Agency said the US$619 million arms sale to Taiwan would not alter “the basic military balance in the region”. Photo: US Air Force

Taiwan says crashed balloon was used for weather monitoring

A balloon that came down on remote Taiwanese-held Dongyin island, close to mainland China’s coast, had no audiovisual recording equipment on board and was carrying only meteorological recording instruments, Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said.

18 Feb 2023 - 8:30PM

A weather balloon landed on Dongyin, part of the Matsu Island group, off northern Taiwan. Photo: AP

China outlines J-20 stealth fighter’s role in intercepting foreign jets

State broadcaster interviews J-20 stealth fighter pilots about encounters with rival forces and their readiness to risk their own lives.

19 Jan 2023 - 12:52AMvideocam

Mainland China sends 4-6 warships off Taiwan every day, island says

Beijing responds to Tsai Ing-wen’s Double Tenth Day speech, accusing her of distorting cross-strait relations, exaggerating threats and sabotaging ties.

11 Oct 2022 - 7:00PMvideocam

Taiwan’s air force seeks record US$1 billion for equipment maintenance

The figure is nearly double the amount allocated in 2016, when Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen took office, and observers say the sharp increase is a response to the PLA’s attempts to intimidate the island.

12 Sep 2022 - 7:03PMvideocam

Taiwan’s air force has scrambled jets and deployed missiles in response to the PLA’s increased military activity around the island in recent months. Photo: AFP

Has China’s PLA expanded air control to ‘previously unreachable’ areas?

An article in the Chinese military’s official newspaper says the air force has been operating in ‘previously unreachable areas’.

15 Aug 2022 - 10:08AMvideocam

Taiwanese President Tsai observes live-fire drill from warship

Island’s leader watched on from a destroyer off the northeast coast and said the armed forces had shown their determination to defend Taiwan.

26 Jul 2022 - 6:00PM

Taiwan to hold island-wide air raid drills simulating PLA attacks

Annual event will run from July 25 to 28 and will test sirens and include emergency rescue and evacuation exercises.

12 Jul 2022 - 8:00PMvideocam

An indigenous defence fighter jet takes off from a motorway in Pingtung, southern Taiwan, during the last Han Kuang military drill in September. Photo: AFP

Patrols near Taiwan ‘necessary action against US collusion’, PLA says

Eastern Theatre Command statement accuses US of hypocrisy and betrayal of its alignment with the one-China policy.

1 Jun 2022 - 4:50PMvideocam

Chinese military aircraft pictured during a 2016 drill. PLA jets made more than 30 sorties near Taiwan on Monday. Photo: Xinhua

PLA aircraft put on show of force as US delegation lands in Taiwan

Nine types of planes, including two Su-35s, enter the island’s air defence zone as part of the biggest mainland patrol in four months.

31 May 2022 - 8:30PMvideocam

Taiwan’s radio enthusiasts tune in as PLA, US warplanes crowd the skies

A band of Taiwanese civilians has been keeping an ear on Beijing’s air force missions and publishing the recordings online.

25 May 2022 - 5:34PMvideocam

Another Taiwanese air force jet crashes during training run

Second aircraft in three months lost in waters off the island’s east coast.

14 Mar 2022 - 5:15PMvideocam

Since 1998, Taiwan’s air force has lost six Mirage 2000-5s. Photo: AP

How mainland Chinese plane highlighted ‘serious weakness’ in Taiwan’s air defences

A transport plane approached the small island of Dongyin earlier this month, but the Taiwanese initially failed to detect it.

26 Feb 2022 - 12:43PMvideocam

A Chinese Y-12 transport plane. Photo: Handout

Taiwan reveals plans for live-fire drills at islets near Chinese mainland

Some observers believe the mainland is more likely to try to seize one of the islets, to force talks, than launch an all-out war.

20 Feb 2022 - 3:38PMvideocam

PLA anti-sub helicopter spotted entering Taiwan air zone for first time

Soviet-designed Ka-28 was likely to have taken off from a nearby warship that was not spotted by the island, says military researcher.

18 Feb 2022 - 8:30PMvideocam

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Air Defence Identification Zone

The Air Defense Identification Zone is airspace over land or water in which the ready identification, location, and control of civil aircraft over land or water is required in the interest of national security. China's Defence Ministry announced its ADIZ over a vast area in the East China Sea on November 23, 2013, which covers the area around the Diaoyu islands, controlled by Japan and known as the Senkaku Islands. The establishment of this zone drew strong opposition from Japan, the US and South Korea, becoming a flashpoint in East Asian politics and security.

last updated:

9 September, 2024