Taiwan Defence | Taiwan Strait and Indo-Pacific Defence News

European Parliament urges continuous naval presence and deterrence over Taiwan Strait tensions

A recommendation adopted in Strasbourg seeks a continuous EU naval presence and joint exercises with regional democracies, and presses the Commission to deter Chinese escalation against Taiwan.

TaiwanDefence · 47m ago · 2 min read

Cross-Strait

European Parliament urges continuous naval presence and deterrence over Taiwan Strait tensions

A recommendation adopted in Strasbourg seeks a continuous EU naval presence and joint exercises with regional democracies, and presses the Commission to deter Chinese escalation against Taiwan.

TaiwanDefence · 47m ago · 2 min read

A grey unmanned surface vessel moves across a harbour near a black rigid-hull boat carrying coast guard personnel, with cranes and hills behind.

Cross-Strait

Taiwan's coast guard to show drone and unmanned boat in first public outing as it plans air-sea overhaul

The Jump 20 drone and Martac T-24 boat debut at Saturday's National Day event as the coast guard plans new ships and AI-aided surveillance.

TaiwanDefence · 2h ago · 3 min read

Cross-Strait

Chinese militia boat tracked off Taiwan's east coast for first time, private patrol report says

13h ago

Cross-Strait

Taiwan coast guard takes delivery of first V-BAT surveillance drones for northern coastal watch

22h ago

Navy

JS Taigei, a grey diesel-electric attack submarine with the sail number 513, sails outbound past industrial waterfront buildings.

Navy

Japan launches seventh Taigei-class submarine Shogei in Kobe

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries floated the diesel-electric boat for the Maritime Self-Defense Force on 8 October as Tokyo weighs propulsion choices for a larger VLS-armed follow-on design.

TaiwanDefence · 1h ago · 2 min read

A grey angular warship with the hull number 1202 and signal flags strung from its mast, moored beside a pier with trees and buildings behind it.

Navy

Taiwan's delayed light frigates clear engine logjam as second upgraded Kang Ding frigate nears delivery

Military sources said on 8 October that engines for the navy's two light frigate prototypes will soon be tested and shipped, and that the frigate Kang Ding should return upgraded by year-end.

TaiwanDefence · 16h ago · 3 min read

Navy

Lawmaker presses defence ministry over near-threefold cost jump for navy's next two rescue ships

1d ago

Navy

Taiwan's first land-based Harpoon missiles due by year-end as navy plans fourth littoral combat group

1d ago

Analysis & Commentary

All analysis →

TaiwanDefence

Matsu's new cable and what Taiwan's communications backups have actually kept running

The Taiwan-Matsu No. 2 cable failed again on 6 October 2026. Three earlier outages show microwave backups kept phones working, but not everything, and repairs take weeks.

TaiwanDefence

Taiwan's new defence committee leaders set up a session-long fight over drones, manpower and delays

In convener elections on 8 October 2026, the DPP drew the defence ministry's agenda while the KMT's Hsu Chiao-hsin put manpower and arms delays first.

TaiwanDefence

Taiwan's new F-16s face a maintenance bottleneck as deliveries finally begin

A legislative budget review reported on 7 October 2026 found Taiwan's F-16 repair centre holds only a third of its planned licensed capacity as new jets arrive.

Army

Two soldiers in camouflage uniforms sit on the bed of a tan military truck beside a large olive-green mine dispenser rack angled toward a clear blue sky, with a blue practice canister loaded at the top.

Army

Taiwan's Volcano minelayers to arrive in a single batch next year as training mines come first

All 14 US-built Volcano mine-laying systems are now due in Taiwan in 2027, later than earlier plans, while the army has signed for inert training mines that arrive by year end.

TaiwanDefence · 1d ago · 3 min read

Army

Taiwan tightens conscription physical standards as exemption rate set to halve

6d ago

Army

Army extends Lu Sheng 2 brigade drill to 10 days with M1A2T tanks

2 Oct 2026

Air Force

F-16V Block 70 fighter jet landing at Chihhang Air Base in Taitung

Air Force

Koo says more F-16Vs due this year, denies EW ballast-weight claim

At the Legislative Yuan, Defence Minister Wellington Koo said more than two Block 70 jets will arrive in 2026 and that electronic-warfare suites are in active software-hardware integration, not replaced by ballast.

TaiwanDefence · 5d ago · 2 min read

Air Force

National Day full-force air ladder rehearsed over Presidential Office

6d ago

Air Force

First F-16V Block 70 jets ferry toward Taiwan after Hawaii stop

1 Oct 2026

Air Force

Taiwan completes 66-aircraft Brave Eagle trainer production run

1 Oct 2026

Industry

A red-brick and white-stone colonial-era building with a tall central clock tower flying a flag, palm trees along its front and a wide lawn under a grey cloudy sky.

Industry

Lai presses US lawmakers to move from arms sales to joint drone and AI development with Taiwan

President Lai Ching-te told two visiting US congressional delegations on 8 October that Taiwan wants to co-develop and co-produce drones, counter-drone systems and AI tools.

TaiwanDefence · 15h ago · 3 min read

Industry

Indo-Pacific

The Philippine flag flies above the rusting deck and mast of the grounded BRP Sierra Madre, with open sea behind it.

Indo-Pacific

China Coast Guard turns water cannon on Philippine medevac mission to Ayungin Shoal

Manila says Chinese coast guard ships blocked and harassed the evacuation of a sick sailor from BRP Sierra Madre on 8 October, stretching a few hours' work to nearly ten.

TaiwanDefence · 8h ago · 3 min read

Indo-Pacific

European Parliament urges continuous naval presence and deterrence over Taiwan Strait tensions

Top Stories

Japan launches seventh Taigei-class submarine Shogei in Kobe

Taiwan's coast guard to show drone and unmanned boat in first public outing as it plans air-sea overhaul

Matsu's new cable and what Taiwan's communications backups have actually kept running

China Coast Guard turns water cannon on Philippine medevac mission to Ayungin Shoal

Philippine Senate ratifies visiting forces agreement with France, its first with a European nation

Cross-Strait

European Parliament urges continuous naval presence and deterrence over Taiwan Strait tensions

Taiwan's coast guard to show drone and unmanned boat in first public outing as it plans air-sea overhaul

Chinese militia boat tracked off Taiwan's east coast for first time, private patrol report says

Taiwan coast guard takes delivery of first V-BAT surveillance drones for northern coastal watch

Navy

Japan launches seventh Taigei-class submarine Shogei in Kobe

Taiwan's delayed light frigates clear engine logjam as second upgraded Kang Ding frigate nears delivery

Lawmaker presses defence ministry over near-threefold cost jump for navy's next two rescue ships

Taiwan's first land-based Harpoon missiles due by year-end as navy plans fourth littoral combat group

Analysis & Commentary

Matsu's new cable and what Taiwan's communications backups have actually kept running

Taiwan's new defence committee leaders set up a session-long fight over drones, manpower and delays

Taiwan's new F-16s face a maintenance bottleneck as deliveries finally begin

Army

Taiwan's Volcano minelayers to arrive in a single batch next year as training mines come first

Taiwan tightens conscription physical standards as exemption rate set to halve

Army extends Lu Sheng 2 brigade drill to 10 days with M1A2T tanks

Air Force

Koo says more F-16Vs due this year, denies EW ballast-weight claim

National Day full-force air ladder rehearsed over Presidential Office

First F-16V Block 70 jets ferry toward Taiwan after Hawaii stop

Taiwan completes 66-aircraft Brave Eagle trainer production run

Industry

Lai presses US lawmakers to move from arms sales to joint drone and AI development with Taiwan

Saronic urges Taiwan to buy reusable autonomous sea drones as grey-zone patrols wear down crews

Taiwan's economy minister lifts 2030 drone output outlook past NT$50 billion

Taiwan pairs US autonomy tech with yards for sea-drone fleets

Indo-Pacific

China Coast Guard turns water cannon on Philippine medevac mission to Ayungin Shoal

Philippine Senate ratifies visiting forces agreement with France, its first with a European nation

Taiwan coast guard sends Chiayi and new cutter Penghu to Palau on second Friendship Fleet voyage

Philippine defence chief seeks brigade-sized Army force and stronger Marine presence on Palawan