The island of Taiwan has formally signed an agreement with US arms firm Lockheed Martin to buy 66 F-16V fighter jets, reports said on Saturday, further raising tensions in the Taiwan Straits, and coming just two days after the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) announced large-scale drills in response to US provocations and Taiwan secessionist activities.
While the deal was approved by the Trump administration last year and a formal signing was expected to take place sooner or later, its announcement at this particular time is believed to be yet another US provocation and a step on the red line of the Taiwan question, which further risks confrontation, Chinese mainland experts said on Saturday, adding that the PLA is aiming not only to deter, but also to hone its capability of launching military action when necessary.
A Pentagon announcement on Thursday said Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $62 billion, 10-year contract for the production of F-16s for foreign military sale, and the initial delivery order is for 90 aircraft.
The Pentagon did not reveal the buyers of the fighter jets, but media outlets including Bloomberg and AFP reported on Friday that the deal includes Taiwan’s approved purchase of 66 F-16s.
The deal would involve 66 of the F-16V, the latest version of the F-16 fighter jet, costing $8 billion, reports said at that time the deal was initially approved.
Hello, everyone. What I mentioned yesterday in today’s headlines is another clarification. The cross-strait reunification I talked about can have a result within two years. Of course, many people still think it is absolutely impossible. I think I have to elaborate on this in depth. Reunification in two years is not a timetable but a plan. To make it clearer, the reunification of the country and its division is a battle of wills. If we look at the situation in Taiwan today, we can see what Taiwan’s willpower is for independence. That facing Taiwan’s willpower for independence is an atmosphere in which it is slowly becoming more and more impossible to achieve independence. Then the possibility of unification is high. You may wonder why Taiwan’s independence is becoming less and less likely. Didn’t Lee Teng-hui leave recently? When Lee Teng-hui was alive he had two main points. One was that he repeatedly emphasized the collapse of China. Secondly, he repeatedly promoted Taiwan’s independence. Did China collapse during his lifetime? Not only did it not collapse. The country is getting stronger. And now the Trump can’t even take it anymore, can’t stand it. So the first one that Lee Teng-hui lived to emphasize his desire for China to collapse did not happen. The second one. Before his death, he constantly promoted Taiwan’s independence. Now he’s gone. The disciples are remembering him and making this his funeral a big, big one. That’s an inferiority complex after arrogance. Because these people want to push for Taiwan’s independence, they expect China to collapse and find out that they can’t. So each of them is in a very bad way. So it’s a curtain call for all of them. The ones who took the lead are gone again, so let’s do it properly, that’s just self-consolation, self-relief. This is not the truth? I’m in Taiwan, and people say I’m in the minority. I’ll tell you this. I’m definitely not in the minority. Because in my heart. I am full of hope, because my opponent expects collapse, the mainland is getting stronger and stronger. My opponents hope for independence, and as a result independence is becoming less and less likely. It’s a non-mainstream minority for me. With the disciples of Lee Teng Hui they now stand for regret. Because their leading man is gone.
Well, what about the unificationist minority like me. I am full of hope because mainland China is rising. It is constantly rising. And. Increasingly performing outstandingly. Some netizens on the internet disagree with me. Then I know that you netizens fully expect to pursue the western set of democracy and freedom. Perhaps you’re one who were originally taught anti-communist education. But to those of us who are talking based on facts. So you say on the Internet that I am so and so, I will not agrue with you, each person has his own choice of thinking. But I can say very clearly what we are expecting today. All that is expected is that 1.4 billion people, 1.4 billion Chinese can live. And to live well. There are restrictions. Each country has its own system. The way is not the democratic politics of the West, the political system of mainland China doesn’t allow you to distort democracy. It doesn’t allow you to abuse freedom. Let’s look in Taiwan. Is the democracy a democracy? Some democracies are saying, “Well, that’s what everybody elected and then elected for four years of domination. These four years, he’s been running amok. That’s democracy, that’s populism. As many as 80,90% of our compatriots on the mainland now support the Chinese Communist Party. Why? Because after 20 years of reform and opening up the practice and the experience is the truth. Hey. What it has brought is to tell the people that what they did not do well in the past is now improved. In the past, there were many disparities between the rich and the poor, and we are trying our best to alleviate the poverty. So we see the facts of the continent in modern times. Let us see. What Taiwan is showing is full of regret, full of disappointment. The so-called democracy and freedom in Taiwan, led by Lee Teng-hui, has brought about populism. It’s an abuse of freedom. Then we see the mainland today. That is why we are full of hope. We should be under the rule of a leader with such a heart in the mainland, We are all able to focus our consciousness force. What does that mean? It means the willpower to pursue national unity and national rejuvenation. I say two years is a plan. Today, let’s assume, as some netizens do, that what you say is impossible, that there is no hope. If even the netizens in mainland China are so negative, then of course unification is impossible, I ask. If there is a non-mainstream minority like me in Taiwan, we are still full of confidence, we still have strong willpower in the harsh environment, in the environment of Taiwan Secession . Suppose there are 1.4 billion people in mainland China, and you have 1 billion people with willpower, what are the other 400 million people? Put such a willpower that we are within two years, because now the Cold War is going to turn into a hot war. Assuming that the Cold War will turn into a hot war, and the Sino-American war, Taiwan will of course be unified and liberated first. It will be recovered. Isn’t that right? Is America being provocative? China won’t say take advantage of your provocations. I’ll take this pawn down first. You won’t have the leverage to negotiate with me. Wouldn’t he think like this, I would think like this. Some netizens will because they think I’m not making sense. Once Trump wants to provoke, to go to war before I take down this pawn of yours, you will have no leverage to talk with me. The pawn is Taiwan. So I’m going to tell this to the folks in Taiwan. We don’t want war. In a fight with the United States and China, we are the first to suffer. So I’m speaking to the folks in Taiwan, and I’m also speaking to my compatriots in China. Some of you are pessimistic and negative. I am very dissatisfied. You’re promoting Taiwan independence, you know? You have full confidence and willpower. If we don’t unify in 2 years, we can do it in 5 years. But when you have the willpower, you will be able to take the road of unification. You will be able to achieve the unified result. But you’re losing your will. I’m really going to curse you. I’m sure most of my mainland compatriots don’t think like you. You are dissatisfied with the leadership of the mainland, but can you not support the reunification of your country? You yourself are in China today or have any kind of opinion, but we think of the big picture, I can have such a strong will even in Taiwan. I won’t be offended if I see you talking sarcasm on the internet, but I must emphasize it again up front. But I must emphasize once again in the headline on the Internet. According to the current international situation, when the cold war becomes a hot war, the country is unified. So what Trump recently challenged, is that in the middle of a hot war? Is that likely within two years? Hmm. So I’m not talking about this in anger. It’s not here to please anyone. I’m basing it on Taiwan’s Lee Teng-hui’s past lifelong pursuit of goals, and I believe he left at the end full of regret. I’m telling you very clearly that there is no hope for Taiwan’s Secession. When there is no hope for Taiwan Secession , then there is hope for reunification. That is when there is hope for reunification. Within two years, we will be able to achieve this goal, even if our efforts may take three to five years, That’s a result. So let no one be discouraged. Don’t be a disgrace to others. Today, I am full of fighting spirit and earnest words. It is to tell our Taiwanese compatriots and mainlanders that we are all family, and that we, as Chinese sons and daughters, want to be the leaders of world peace in the 21st century. Because of what? Because Chinese culture is about peace. Not to go around causing world wars and then be the world’s policeman like the US. To be a hegemonic state. This is against the essence of Chinese culture. Therefore, if the essence of Chinese culture can continue to be implemented and China can become a world leader, then world peace, the pursuit of Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s great goal of world harmony, world harmony, can be achieved. The pursuit of world peace, the pursuit of Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s great goal of world commonwealth, and the world as a commonwealth can be achieved.
The US reconnaissance aircrafts have repeatedly approached the Chinese mainland for reconnaissance.
U.S. warships cross the Taiwan Strait.
The scurrying of senior United States officials to Taiwan.
US selling weapons to Taiwan
Air Force Colonel Zhang Chunhui 张春晖, spokesman for the Eastern Theater of Operations , said the PLA has recently mobilized troops from multiple services in multiple directions and systems, organizing continuous combat exercises in the Taiwan Strait and at the north and south ends to further test and enhance the joint combat capabilities of multiple services.
Recently, a certain major country has continued to make negative moves on Taiwan-related issues, sending a serious wrong signal to the “Taiwan Secession” forces and seriously threatening peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan is a sacred and inalienable part of China’s territory, and the patrols and training activities organized by the theatre forces are necessary to address the current security situation in the Taiwan Strait and the need to safeguard national sovereignty. The theater forces will remain on high alert at all times, take all necessary measures, resolutely respond to all provocative acts that create “Taiwan Secession ” and divide the country, and resolutely defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China.
This exercise no longer emphasized that “it does not target specific countries or regions”, but directly stated that a certain major country has sent a serious wrong signal to the “Taiwan Secession ” forces, and we will take necessary actions.
Military commentator Song Zhongping宋忠平 said that the Taiwan exercises highly targets, which will make the ” Taiwan Secession ” activists and extra-territorial forces understand that the PLA is not ambiguous on the Taiwan issue and has no room for bargaining. The root cause of the Taiwan issue is that the ” Taiwan Secession ” forces, with the connivance of the United States and other extraterritorial countries, may take desperate risks. Now that we have found the focus of the conflict, we should point it out clearly to discourage and deter the “Taiwan Secession ” forces from acting wilfully. Otherwise, the PLA will follow the anti-secession law to resolve the Taiwan Sea issue along with the issue of extraterritorial countries interfering in China’s internal affairs.
It is self-evident who the ” extraterritorial country ” refer to.
On the 12th, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration’s so-called “representative in the United States” Xiao Meiqin萧美琴 declared that Taiwan is in discussions with the United States on military purchases, including “coast guard cruise missile systems” (CDCM) and smart mines are among the discussions.
After the arrest of the ringleader of the HK rebellion, Jimmy Lai黎智英 , Tsai Ing-wen stated before the regular meeting of the DPP on 12th that the mainland had “directly infringed upon the foundations of freedom, human rights and the rule of law in Hong Kong through Hong Kong’s national security laws”, and declared that the DPP would keep its promise to “continue to provide the necessary humanitarian assistance to the people of Hong Kong”.
DPP authorities leaders also videotaped a speech at a U.S. think tank video conference, using “freedom and democracy” as an excuse, claiming that will strengthen relations between Taiwan and the United States.
U.S. recently flipped the Taiwan card: the U.S. Secretary of Health Alex Azar visit Taiwan, the U.S. intends to sell at least four advanced drones – “Sea Guardian” to Taiwan . This type of drone, can detect the PLA’s military movements real-time , including the deployment of troops in and out of key waterways, this is a threat to the PLA. In addition, the U.S. is also hoping that Taiwan will pay for its own intelligence-gathering.
Sea Guardian
“These drones, flying non-stop on a regular basis, pose a threat with the reconnaissance of PLA’s troop deployments. However, the PLA has the ability to capture or destroy them, the threat will cease to exist,” Song Zhongping.
What’s more important than deterrence?
As a matter of fact, the Chinese army had held several live exercises in the Taiwan Sea in 1996, 2015 and 2018. Each exercise coincided with the United States playing the “Taiwan card”. The difference is that over time, the PLA’s strength is not the same from that of the past.
The statement on the Taiwan Sea drill also clearly indicates the location and deployment of troops: a multi-discipline, multi-regional system of troops, the continuous organization of combat exercises in the Taiwan Strait and the north and south ends.
Song Zhongping stressed that this information is crucial. The so-called Multi-Mission system, is the key embodiment of joint warfare, and the PLA is one of the few armies in the world with a Multi-Mission combat capability.
The same is true when focusing on the Eastern Theater of operations that participated in the exercise. Song Zhongping said the Eastern Theater Joint Battle Command will assemble and mobilize the land, sea, air and rocket forces of multiple forces throughout the Eastern Theater jurisdiction together. “The Eastern Theater is doing such a series of exercises to enhance the preparation for military struggle against Taiwan, especially to target strong enemy intervention.”
At the same time, Song Zhongping believes that this military exercise has a strong significance, the exercise field includes the Taiwan Strait and the north and south ends, forming a “Territorial Military Exercise” against Taiwan specifically. In addition, he mentioned that in addition to deterrence, the more important role of the actual military exercises is to survey military projection in accordance with the actual battle plan, and rehearse in a real environment.
“Godfather of Taiwan secessionism” Lee Teng-hui 李登辉 , also the former leader of the island, died at 98 on Thursday. This dog is gone for good, and not too soon.
The answer might lie in the outcome of the U.S. presidential election in November. A free Taiwan might not be able to survive a second Trump administration.
President Trump’s policy of international retreat and disregard for allies, alongside Xi’s growing assertiveness and expansionism, put Taipei at the intersection of the two ominous trends.
China launched its second Type 075 amphibious assault ship, or helicopter carrier, on Wednesday in Shanghai, seven months after the first one.
The vessel, decorated with small coloured flags, was towed by tugboats to its new berth at the state-owned Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard in the afternoon. It will now be fitted out, with equipment and weapons systems as well as crew quarters, which is expected to take some months.The launch of the helicopter carrier was celebrated as a dedicat
China launched its second Type 075 amphibious assault ship, or helicopter carrier, on Wednesday in Shanghai, seven months after the first one.
The vessel, decorated with small coloured flags, was towed by tugboats to its new berth at the state-owned Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard in the afternoon. It will now be fitted out, with equipment and weapons systems as well as crew quarters, which is expected to take some months.
The launch of the helicopter carrier was celebrated as a dedication to the 71st anniversary of the establishment of the PLA Navy, on April 26. It also came two weeks after its sister ship – the first Type 075 was launched last September and was fitted out in the same shipyard – caught fire, according to Global Times, a nationalist newspaper affiliated with People’s Daily.
ion to the 71st anniversary of the establishment of the PLA Navy, on April 26. It also came two weeks after its sister ship – the first Type 075 was launched last September and was fitted out in the same shipyard – caught fire, according to Global Times, a nationalist newspaper affiliated with People’s Daily.
The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) 9th (Kinmen) Offshore Flotilla on Thursday (March 19) reported that its vessels were attacked by more than 10 Chinese speedboats, which hurled rocks, bottles and rammed the cutters.
The CGA said the skirmish resulted in multi-task offshore patrol cutter CP-1022 suffering damage to two of three outboard motors after the Chinese speedboats rammed into it, reported Liberty Times. The CGA demanded that China track down the culprits, arrest them, and compensate Taiwan for the damages.
At about 9 a.m. on March 16, as patrol cutters CP-1022 and CP-2006, along with three Taiwanese fishing boats, were driving off Chinese fishing vessels and removing illegal fishing nets, more than 10 unmarked Chinese speedboats rushed in and began hurling rocks and beer bottles at the CGA craft. During the skirmish, CP-1022, which had begun active duty on March 13 and cost NT$6 million (US$197,000) to build, was intentionally rammed from behind by the speedboats.
Chinese speedboats (center and right), CGA cutter (second from left). (CGA photo)
To fend off the Chinese speedboats, CGA officers hurled six stun grenades and fired five bean bag rounds at the Chinese crews, prompting them to beat a hasty retreat. One CGA officer was quoted by Liberty Times as saying, “We’ve never seen more than 10 Chinese speedboats swarm and aggressively attack like this.”
In the process, two outboard motors, valued at NT$600,000 each, were badly damaged and shards of broken bottles littered the cutter’s deck. No CGA personnel were injured during the assault.
Chen Chien-wen (陳建文), director of the CGA’s 9th Offshore Flotilla in Kinmen, said the incident occurred on the median line in the Taiwan Strait, according to the report. Chen said that during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the CGA will not hesitate to drive away foreign intruders and protect Taiwan from the disease.
The CGA shipped two new outboard motors from Kaohsiung to Kinmen to replace the damaged ones on CP-1022, reported Apple Daily. The cutter is expected to resume service on Monday (March 23), when it will continue to defend Taiwan’s waters against illegal fishing and help protect Taiwan’s borders from the spread of COVID-19.
CGA cutter (foreground) as Chinese speedboats lurk behind. (CGA)
Chinese speedboat (right) races toward CGA cutter (second from left). (CGA image)
CGA officer points out damage to CP-1022’s outboard motors. (CNA photo)
