China has in recent years continued to upgrade several major weapons systems to complete preparations for a reliable fighting force that could launch an attack Taiwan by 2020, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has said in an annual report on the country’s security.
Though beijing has said it hopes to solve disputes between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait through peaceful means, it continues to ramp up combat readiness and its desire to achieve unification with Taiwan — by force, if deemed necessary — has not changed despite the warming of cross-strait ties. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Japanese archipelago
Japan Scrambles Fighter Jets to Track Russian Bombers
From the state-run Russian propaganda outlet, RIA Novosti:
TOKYO, July 16 (RIA Novosti) – Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force had to scramble fighter jets in response to flights by Russian military aircraft near Japanese airspace and over the disputed Kuril Islands on Monday, local media reported.
Two Tu-95 Bear bombers flew over the Sea of Japan moving from the Korean Peninsula, and proceeded along the Japanese archipelago to the north of Hokkaido. Another plane, the IL-20, flew over the Kuril Islands, NHK television said late Monday citing the Defense Ministry. Continue reading
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