President Barack Obama has to strike a balance on one lingering problem: is Taiwan getting its new F-16’s or not. Defense expert Wendell Minnick believes Taiwan might get an upgrade, but no new F’16’s, possibly jeopardizing Sino-US relations he tells M&Q.Read More →
While the military in Taiwan prefer US-built F-16 fighters, another delay in delivery from the US might force the island to build its own fighters without US approval, writes defense expert Wendell Minnick on his weblog.Read More →
“Last week’s visit to China by Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, is further evidence that military relations are improving and will continue to do so,” writes defense specialist Wendell Minnick in the Defense News. Read More →
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducted on June 1 its first test flight with the Silver Hawk UAV in the Binhai area, targeting commucation between navy vessels at sea, writes Wendell Minnick in Defense News. Read More →
The US ban on delivering military products to Taiwan, has forced the island to rely more on indigenous arm products. But the military in Taiwan still prefer the US-made products, tells Defense expert Wendell Minnick in ATimes.Read More →
Taiwan’s air force received on June 30 the first six upgraded F-CK-1 A/B Indigenous Defense Fighters (IDF) in a ceremony presided over by President Ma Ying-jeou at the state-run Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. (AIDC), writes Wendell Minnick in Defense News. Read More →
Japan is building signals intelligence (SIGINT) stations along the Ryukyu Island chain to monitor Chinese naval and maritime activities, writes defense expert Wendell Minnick on his weblog.Read More →
The US have again blocked a US$ 8.7 bn Taiwanese order for F-16’s, writes Wendell Minnick in Defense News. The move to please China, might cost the US up to annual 16,000 jobs, according to Lockheed Martin.Read More →
Chinese vessels have been harassing over the past few months Vietnamese and Philippino fishing and oil exploration ships, in a deviation from the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), China claims to stick with, defense expert Wendell Minnick writes on his weblog.Read More →
Five hundred mainland Chinese per day can visit Taiwan from July 1 as tourist, but defense expert Wendell Minnick tells Asia Sentinel he does not expect an increase in spying activities. Much of the real spying is done with other means.Read More →
China’s PLA is about 20 years behind the US military, Defense minister general Liang Guanglie told the Shangri-la Dialogue last Monday, writes Wendell Minnick in Defense News. It was the first time ever a high-ranking delegation of the People’s Liberation Army joined the annual conference.Read More →
While the world is fearing the melting polar is, China sees new opportunities for Arctic shipping lanes, writes defense expert Wendell Minnick on his weblog. Other sea lanes could become potentially problematic. Read More →