China fires missiles multiple Dongfeng missiles to waters northeast and southwest of Taiwan

2022-08-04

China on Thursday noon launched a series of live-fire military drills in six maritime areas around Taiwan. The drills included the launching of Dongfeng missiles to areas in the northeast and southwest of Taiwan. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense says it was ready for any emergencies, readying aircraft in many areas of Taiwan, including the rarely-used Hengchun Airport in Pingtung.

A missile rips through the skies, releasing a loud roar. China’s People’s Liberation Army is conducting live-fire drills near Taiwan’s coasts. This is China’s Pingtan County, the closest Chinese municipality from Taiwan proper at just 140 kilometers from Hsinchu. Here, the PLA has seemingly launched rockets from PHL-16 long-range multiple rocket launchers to disrupt Taiwan’s patrolling vessels and aircraft along the median line of the Taiwan Strait.

China on Thursday noon kicked off a series of live-fire military drills in six maritime regions near Taiwan. One is located in the median line of the Taiwan Strait near China’s Pingtan. The others are off the coasts of Taiwan’s Keelung, Yilan and Hualien, and in the Bashi Channel near Pingtung and Kaohsiung. The drills are scheduled to end on Sunday. Reports say a seventh drill area could be added in the east, and that the exercises may be extended by another 20 hours to 10 a.m. on Aug. 8.

Voice of Meng Xiangqing
CCTV
In the past, Taiwan has repeatedly emphasized the so-called median line dividing the Taiwan Strait. We’ve said there has never been this so-called median line. If you connect the six sites with a single line, then Taiwan would harp on about its 12 nautical miles of territorial waters. What 12 nautical miles does Taiwan have?

Lu Li-shih
Military expert
Actually the PLA’s real goal is the fourth area. For all the other areas, they can fire missiles directly. Whether cruise missiles or ballistic missiles, or even rockets, they can all reach the other areas. But for the fourth area, the missile would have to fly over the Central Mountain Range.

And fire missiles China did. The Ministry of National Defense confirmed that the PLA had fired several Dongfeng missiles toward areas off the northeast and southwest of Taiwan.

Sun Li-fang
Military spokesperson
The military is deploying all kinds of counter-surveillance measures to stay updated on missile and rocket launches. We’re activating the relevant defense systems and strengthening combat readiness. The Ministry of National Defense condemns such irrational actions that undermine regional peace.

Taiwan’s military says it is ready. Already, even before 9 a.m., Mirage 2000 fighters loaded with ammunition took to the skies in Hsinchu.

Over in Hualien, F-16V fighter jets were also fully armed for an emergency takeoff and the Taiwan-made Teng Yun unmanned aerial vehicles have also been readied for action. In Taoyuan’s Longtan, Apache attack helicopters were dispatched, fully loaded. Even Hengchun Airport, which had been rarely in use in recent years, is now a launch pad for unmanned aerial vehicles and helicopters.

Already, two unmanned aerial vehicles and 10 Apache attack helicopters have taken off from the area. There’re also Cobra choppers, military helicopters and Black Hawks on standby for any emergency operation,

Chang Yen-ting
Former Air Force lieutenant general
More threatening than ballistic missiles are rockets, because rockets are very cheap, and they can attack large areas. Ballistic missiles destroy single sites.

Lu Li-shih
Military expert
The military drills this time isn’t really aimed at blockading Taiwan, because they aren’t capable of blockading Taiwan. They’re mainly trying to intimidate the people and conduct cognitive warfare. That’s the real objective. Perhaps they’ve overlooked how, over the last few years, Taiwan has built up high levels of psychological resilience.

The first day of live-fire drills was over in just a few hours. At 3:19 p.m. the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command announced on social media that its precision missiles strikes had been a “success” and that restrictions in the drill areas were lifted. Reports say that, before the drills started, the U.S. Navy’s Seventh Fleet’s Boeing P-8 Poseidon anti-submarine aircraft was spotted patrolling off Taiwan’s southwest. Meanwhile the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier conducted routine operation in the Philippine Sea to support maritime interests in the Indo-Pacific, keeping a watchful eye on China’s provocations.

中朝我東北.西南發射東風飛彈國防部強力譴責

2022-08-04

中國宣布4號中午12點開始，在台灣周遭六個海域進行實彈軍演，今天再加一個海域，而且延長到8日上午10點．我軍加強戒備，包括新竹幻象2000與花蓮F-16V戰機，以及陸航阿帕契攻擊直升機，都掛彈緊急升空，甚至罕見進駐恆春機場，國防部證實中國朝我東北和西南海域，發射東風系列彈道飛彈，譴責這種破壞和平的行徑。

飛彈直竄天際，發出陣陣巨響，中國解放軍在台海周遭進行實彈操演，其中在福建平潭這裡，疑似是發射PHL-191型遠程火箭炮，藉此干擾我軍在海峽中線附近巡弋的機艦。

中國實彈軍演4號中午登場，在周遭劃設6個禁區，包括靠近海峽中線的福建平潭、基隆、宜蘭與花蓮外海，以及靠近屏東和高雄的巴士海峽附近，一直要到7號中午結束，不過最新傳出解放軍又在東部新增第7個禁區，同時把軍演時間，延長到8號上午10點。

[[聲源:中國央視軍事專家孟祥青]]
“過去台灣一再強調所謂的海峽中線，我們說從來沒有所謂的海峽中線，如果說把(軍演)六個區域，用一條線連接起來，台灣還經常講我的12海里，你有什麼12海里啊”

[[軍事專家呂禮詩]]
“其實他們(解放軍)真正的目標，是第四操演區，如果是其他的操演區，他們直接發射飛彈，不管是巡弋飛彈，或彈道飛彈，或者是火箭炮都可以到達這些區域，可是第四操演區不行，他的飛彈一定要飛越中央山脈”

中方步步進逼，國軍證實，對岸朝我東北部與西南部海域，發射多枚東風系列彈道飛彈。

[[國防部發言人孫立方]]
“國軍運用各種預警監偵機制，即時掌握發射動態，啟動相關防禦系統，並且強化戰備整備，對於這種破壞區域和平的不理性行動，國防部表達譴責”

譴責北京的同時，軍方也動起來，新竹空軍基地的幻象2000，一早不到9點就掛彈升空。

花蓮基地的F-16V，同樣全副武裝緊急起飛，我國自製的騰雲無人機，也被拍到升空，龍潭陸航601旅的阿帕契攻擊直升機同樣掛彈起飛，就連近年已鮮少使用的恆春機場，也出現人員操作無人機。

[[恆春無人機]]
兩架無人機和十架阿帕契直升機，還有眼鏡蛇、戰搜、黑鷹等我軍主力直升機，都在恆春機場待命，軍方上緊發條。

[[前空軍副司令張延廷]]
“比導彈威脅更甚的是火箭炮，因為火箭炮價格非常便宜，而且它做面的打擊，導彈是做點的摧毀”

[[軍事專家呂禮詩]]
“這次的軍演它並沒有想要真正的封鎖台灣，它也沒有能力封鎖台灣，它最主要的是恫嚇我們人民，進行所謂認知戰，這才是它真正的目的，它可能忽略了這幾年，我們台灣的心理韌性的一個提升”

軍演首日，短短幾個小時就結束，中國東部戰區在4日下午3點19分發布精準命中圓滿成功，解除海空域管控的聲明，傳出軍演前，美軍P-8A海上巡邏機出現在台灣西南空域，第七艦隊臉書發文，雷根號航母正在菲律賓海域巡邏，捍衛印太盟邦的利益，中國霸凌台灣，美國全程緊盯。

Chinese attack on Taiwan would benefit no country in the world: Inventec chair

2022-08-04

Taiwanese pro-independence activist Yang Chih-yuan arrested in China

Chinese authorities on Wednesday arrested Taiwanese pro-independence activist Yang Chih-yuan. Yang is accused of separatism and endangering China’s national security. Yang is a vocal pro-independence activist, founder of the Taiwanese National Party. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council says it has not yet been notified of Yang’s arrest by Chinese authorities, asking China to explain the situation immediately.

The same day that U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sat with Taiwan’s president, Chinese authorities in the city of Wenzhou on Wednesday arrested Taiwanese pro-independence activist Yang Chih-yuan.

32-year-old Yang is a Taichung native and a graduate of National Chung Hsing University’s Department of History. In 2019, he joined the legislative electoral race, representing the now-defunct pro-independence Taiwan Action Party Alliance. He is also one of the founders of the Taiwanese National Party. Yang has been active in social activism, student protests and was a vocal critic of the KMT’s 2020 presidential candidate Han Kuo-yu.

China’s security agency says that Yang had long advocated for an independence referendum, and had promoted pro-independence ideas. Though Chinese authorities say Yang will be punished according to Chinese law, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council says it has not yet received any official notice from across the strait. The council criticized the CCP’s use of national security as a pretense to detain Taiwanese people, saying that it strongly opposed such moves. The council condemned the arrest, saying that China should fully explain the situation immediately.

Chen Yi-chi
Taiwan Statebuilding Party chair
The CCP does not dare lay a finger on the U.S. So the only thing they can do is try to intimidate Taiwan. This arrest is a threat to so-called “Pro-Taiwan activists” or more broadly, anyone they deem a Taiwan independence activist.

The chair of the Taiwan Statebuilding Party says he’s concerned that Yang’s arrest could have similarities with the arrest of pro-democracy activist Lee Ming-che five years ago. He says that China is using the arrest as a warning of worse things to come, showing just how hegemonic and dictatorial the regime across the strait can be.

2022-08-04

Taiwan shares close slightly down amid PLA live-fire drills near Taiwan.

2022-08-04

China cannot prevent world leaders from traveling to Taiwan: Pelosi

After departing from Taiwan on Wednesday, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi released a statement on her visit. In it Pelosi criticized China, saying that Beijing’s tactics to block Taiwan from the international community could not prevent the international community from engaging with Taiwan. She stressed that the U.S.’ partnership with Taiwan was unwavering and that support for Taiwan in the congress remains ironclad.

On social media, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi released an official video of her 20-hour visit to Taiwan. The one-and-a-half minute video includes footage of bilateral talks between the delegation and Taiwan officials.

Pelosi departed from Taiwan on Wednesday evening and headed to her next stop in South Korea. After her departure, she released a statement on her visit, voicing support for Taiwan.

The first sentence reads, “Our congressional delegation’s visit should be seen as a strong statement that America stands with Taiwan.” She continues, “Taiwan is a very special place: a key ally in peace and security, a global leader in economic dynamism and a model of democratic governance.” Pelosi also criticized China in the statement, saying that while Beijing “may prevent Taiwan from sending its leaders to global forums, they cannot prevent world leaders or anyone from traveling to Taiwan to pay respect to its flourishing democracy.” The statement ends saying that the U.S.’ partnership with Taiwan remains unwavering, and that the U.S. will continue to support the defense of democracy against autocracy in the region and in the world.

Nancy Pelosi (Aug. 3)
US House speaker
We will not abandon our commitment to Taiwan. Taiwan has been an island of resilience in the world. Indeed, the people of Taiwan have proven to the world that with hope, courage, and determination it is possible to build a peaceful and prosperous future.

Despite protests and threats from China, Pelosi went ahead with her plans to visit Taiwan, with stops at the Presidential Office and Legislative Yuan, sending a strong message of U.S. support for Taiwan. Her delegation met with human rights activists who had been directly persecuted by China. In the eyes of many Taiwanese, Pelosi’s actions are proof of her resolute commitment to freedom and democracy.

Ms. Cheng
Member of public
I think she’s really got guts. We don’t have to accept China’s constant threats toward us. We have always been an independent country. There are no lies there. Taiwan is Taiwan. Why is China so obsessed with us? They are so far away across the sea from us.

Ms. Chen
Member of public
China is really showing its true self. Whenever our ties with the U.S. improve, China organizes military drills to put pressure on us. That just shows to everyone that China is a tyrannical country. We clearly are an independent country. So why does China threaten us with military drills whenever we have any substantial political visits from the U.S.? Even when we are doing nothing more than that.

Mr. Lin
Member of public
I think Pelosi’s visit will be bad in the long term. It’s just a brief moment of happiness. But in the long run, I think it will have a big impact on our trade.

People on the street have varying opinions on Pelosi’s visit. But one thing that’s certain is that the historic moment has pushed Taiwan’s visibility to new heights on the international stage.

2022-08-04

Taiwan received 15,000 gigabits of cyberattacks on Tuesday, 23 times more than previous record.

2022-08-04

G-7 foreign ministers reaffirm peace and stability in Taiwan Strait

The G-7 and the EU’s foreign ministers have issued a joint statement urging China to not unilaterally change the status quo on the Taiwan Strait. The statement comes after China announced three days of drills in six maritime areas just kilometers away from Taiwan’s coast. President Tsai Ing-wen responded to the statement on Twitter, thanking the G-7 for supporting regional peace and stability. Over in the U.S., the White House has condemned China for using the Taiwan visit of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as a pretext to ramp up aggression in the region.

Karine Jean-Pierre
White House press secretary
There’s no reason for Beijing to turn this visit into—which is consistent with our policy—into some sort of crisis, or to use it as a pretext to increase aggressive military activity in or around the Taiwan Strait.

To protest U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Taiwan visit, China has slapped import bans on thousands of Taiwanese products and announced live-fire drills starting Aug. 4 near Taiwan’s territory. The White House said there’s no reason for China to escalate tensions in this way.

Karine Jean-Pierre
White House press secretary
There’s no reason to do that. We have been very clear. There’s no change in our “One China” policy, which is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979. That has not changed, and so the U.S. will not seek and does not want a crisis here. But we are prepared to manage what Beijing chooses to do.

The White House added that Speaker Pelosi has the right to decide where she chooses to travel. Meanwhile, the G-7 foreign ministers and the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy have released a joint statement expressing concern over China’s threatening actions, particularly live-fire exercises and economic coercion. They added there is no justification to use a visit as pretext for aggressive military activity in the Taiwan Strait.

Liz Truss (Aug.3)
UK foreign secretary
Well, I do not support China’s inflammatory language on this issue. It’s perfectly reasonable what is taking place, and I urge China to deescalate.

In the same joint statement, the foreign ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. They also called on China, not to unilaterally change the status quo by force in the region. Over in Russia, Pelosi’s visit was slammed as an outright provocation by the U.S.

Dmitry Peskov (Aug. 2)
Kremlin press secretary
The level of tension that Pelosi’s visit will have on the region cannot be underestimated. This is an outright provocation.

Amid Beijing’s escalating threats, Washington says it will monitor any actions by China. U.S. President Joe Biden wrote on Twitter on Wednesday that he had held a phone call with his national security team that morning, in which they discussed a wide range of priorities, including the U.S.’ support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Over in Congress, the hearing for the Taiwan Policy Act of 2022, originally scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, has been postponed because Senate committee chair Bob Menendez had to participate in other Senate matters. Observers speculated that the postponement was to prevent further escalation in the Taiwan Strait.

2022-08-04

Summer Jazz Festival celebrates 20th anniversary with a Jazz exhibition

2022-08-04

Kaohsiung mee suah noodle restaurant puts a fresh twist on a classic

We head now to Kaohsiung, for a seafood spectacular blending tradition and innovation. A mee suah noodle shop in Mituo District is a local institution. Diners love its mix of classic vermicelli noodles with surprising new flavors. Fish chowder and squid rings are some of the Tainan specialties featuring on the menu.

Mee suah noodle soup is a Taiwanese tradition, usually with oyster or intestines as the star. Now there are new recipes on the menu: This luxurious dish features fish chowder, squid rings and milkfish skin. The seafood spectacular is proving popular.

Member of public
Over there they just sell oysters and intestines, but here there’s all kinds of things.

Member of public
It’s quite fresh and the ingredients are real, and there’s lots in here.

The big bone broth is boiled up for three hours every day. The mee suah might look simple, but it’s a labor of love. Lots of diners wouldn’t leave without sides such as hand-prepared intestines, or the slow-cooked head of milkfish.

Member of public
The intestines are slow-cooked so they’re full of flavor. And the fish head is delicious too.

Another luxurious dish is the seafood congee, a local favorite. Located in Kaohsiung’s Mituo District, the restaurant follows traditions handed down from a master of Tainanese cuisine. The current owner’s father fell in love with the food of his wife’s hometown, Tainan. So he studied with the master and then passed his knowledge down to the next generation, who gave it their own twist.

Ho Chun-yi
Mee suah restaurant owner
Our mee suah is made with big bone broth, paired with local specialties like milkfish, fish chowder and squid, and these big, fresh oysters.

Ho Pei-ying
Mee suah restaurant owner’s sister
The most special thing is our milkfish. We take the skin and braise it. The broth is fresh and delicious. Lots of people love our soup.

And even the government is a fan. The mee suah was featured in “Kaohsiung’s 100 Unmissable Dishes” by Kaohsiung Tourism Bureau, which gave its official stamp of approval to this marriage of tradition and novelty.

2022-08-04

China fires missiles multiple Dongfeng missiles to waters northeast and southwest of Taiwan