by Adam Jourdan (Reuters) - Chinese naval forces have passed through waters south of Taiwan and carried out military exercises in the western Pacific, the latest in a series of military drills that self-ruled Taiwan has criticized as amounting to “intimidation”. J-15 fighters took off from China’s sole operational aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, on Friday for training in the … [Read more...]
Taiwan Navy Ships Drop Anchor In Nicaragua To Salvage Diplomatic Ties
by Clare Jim (Reuters) A Taiwanese naval “Friendship Flotilla” of warships dropped anchor in Nicaragua on Monday just weeks after China urged Taiwan’s dwindling diplomatic allies to ditch the self-ruled island in favor of Beijing. Three ships, carrying around 800 crew, arrived in El Salvador on Friday and will visit other allies in Central America, Taiwan’s Defence Ministry … [Read more...]
Taiwan Offers to Lend Local Shipping Lines $1.9 Billion
TAIPEI, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Taiwan's government said on Wednesday it will offer to lend struggling local shippers NT$60 billion ($1.9 billion) at below-market interest rates, to help them cope with the industry's worst downturn. "The global shipping industry is going through a tough time. These loans are part of the government's efforts to help local shippers," said Yeh … [Read more...]
Tensions Rise As Taiwan Coast Guard Launches New Ships
BY J.R. WU (Reuters)Taiwan's coast guard on Saturday commissioned its biggest ships for duty in the form of two 3,000-ton patrol vessels, as the island boosts defenses amid concerns about China's growing footprint in the disputed South China Sea. The new vessels will be able to dock at a new port being constructed on Taiping Island, the largest of the naturally occurring … [Read more...]
Video Shows RV Ocean Researcher V Aground Off Taiwan, Frantic Search and Rescue
New video shows the scene from Friday night's search and rescue after the Taiwanese research vessel Ocean Researcher V struck a reef and sank near the Penghu Islands in the Taiwan Strait. Search and rescue crews were able to recover all 45 people onboard, but tragically two researchers lost their lives in the accident. In the video you can clearly see the research vessel … [Read more...]