🇹🇼NEW: Here's the latest edition of the Weekly Taiwan Security Review, covering November 11th to 18th. Each week, we highlight key military, security, and political developments around Taiwan in a single post! Read more below. ⬇️

The Japanese Ministry of Defense has informed Iwakuni City authorities that the Typhon missile system used in the “Resolute Dragon 2025” drill has now been withdrawn. Below is our visualization of Typhon’s former location and range.

NEW SALE ALERT: The DSCA and U.S. State Department today notified Congress of a proposed sale to Taiwan covering spare parts for F-16 fighters, C-130 transport aircraft, and Indigenous Defense Fighters (IDFs), valued at US$330 million.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a direct threat to Japan earlier today, stating that "Those who play with fire will perish by it!" This is in response to recent comments from Prime Minister Takaichi about possible Japanese intervention in a Taiwan contigency.

Taiwan's Naval Metreological & Oceanographic Office has published a navigation warning for live-fire munitions testing held by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) during November.

The Philippine Marine Corps publicly unveiled its BrahMos cruise missile coastal defense system at a Marine Corps Coastal Defense Regiment facility in Zambales, reported by @aaronmatthewil.bsky.social See our visualization of the BrahMos system's deployment site and reported operational range

🇹🇼NEW: Here's the latest edition of the Weekly Taiwan Security Review, covering November 4th to 10th. Each week, we highlight key military, security, and political developments around Taiwan in a single post! Read more below. ⬇️

Per Asahi, Japanese PM Takaichi stated Friday that a potential military blockade of Taiwan by China would constitute self-defense for Japanese forces Previous prime ministers including Shinzo Abe, have been reluctant to include a blockade in self-defense cases due to the risk of antagonizing China

NEW: Three of China's Shiuqiao landing barges have been captured by esa's #sentinel2 satellite participating in training near Xiangshan, Ningbo, as of yesterday, October 13th. This is the same area where the barges trained in earlier this year, from June to July

NEW: Here's the latest edition of the Weekly Taiwan Security Review, covering October 6th to 13th. Each week, we highlight key military, security, and political developments around Taiwan in a single snapshot.

NEW: The August 2025 update of our Taiwan Arms Sales Backlog is live! Read about recent contract announcements, arms deliveries, and more below on our website! ⬇️ tinyurl.com/tsm-arms-aug...

NEW: Here's the latest edition of the Weekly Taiwan Security Review, covering September 30th to October 5th. Each week, we highlight key military, security, and political developments around Taiwan in a single snapshot.

NEW: Here's the latest edition of the Weekly Taiwan Security Review, covering September 23rd-29th. Each week, we highlight key military, security, and political developments around Taiwan in a single snapshot.

NEW: Here's the latest edition of the Weekly Taiwan Security Review, covering September 9th-16th. Each week, we highlight key military, security, and political developments around Taiwan in a single snapshot.

NEW: The July 2025 update of our Taiwan Arms Sales Backlog is live! Read about recent contract announcements, arms deliveries, and more below on our website! ⬇️ tinyurl.com/tsm-arms-jul...

NEW: Here's the latest edition of the Weekly Taiwan Security Review, covering September 9th-16th. Each week, we highlight key military, security, and political developments around Taiwan in a single snapshot.

NEW: Here's the latest edition of the Weekly Taiwan Security Review, covering September 1st to 8th. Each week, we highlight key military, security, and political developments around Taiwan in a single snapshot.

BREAKING: Canadian frigate HMCS Ville de Québec (FFH 332) and Australian destroyer HMAS Brisbane (DDG 41) are conducting a northbound Taiwan Strait transit. MarineTraffic live AIS data (MMSI: 316127000 and MMSI: 503000122) shows the vessels currently underway in the Strait.

Today, September 3, the PRC will host a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII in Asia. A litany of new military systems and equipment are expected to be shown for the first time. We will share coverage of the parade as it happens. 📸: 中国军号

Per Liberty Times, Taiwan's Air Force plans to significantly expand hardened protection at Chihhang AFB to protect future F-16C/D Block 70 fighters by 2028. Our visualization shows the current level of hardened protection present at Taiwan's major military airports.

NEW: Here's the latest edition of the Weekly Taiwan Security Review, covering August 26th-31st. Each week, we highlight key military, security, and political developments around Taiwan in a single snapshot.

The Philippines has opened a new forward operating base in Mahatao, Batanes—just 120 miles from Taiwan. Our graphic shows its location in the Luzon Strait, a vital chokepoint for regional security. Reporting by @aaronmatthewil.bsky.social

UPDATED: On August 29, Japan's Ministry of Defense announced the deployment locations of improved Type 12 surface-to-ship missiles, as well as their Hyper Velocity Glide Projectiles (HVGP). Below is a TSM map showcasing those locations and the maximum range of those missiles.

Starting this year, all cadets enrolled in Taiwan's tri-service military academies will be trained on new systems as a part of their enhanced basic training. These include Kestrel anti-armor shoulder-launched rockets, UAV/attack drones, and Stinger MANPADs. 📸: MNA

In mid-July, Taiwanese company Chunghwa Telecom finished construction of a new submarine cable, labeled "Apricot-S6" by Taiwan's MND. Below is TSM's updated map of Taiwan's submarine cable infrastructure, including incidents of suspected sabotage over the last several years.

NEW: TSM is launching the Weekly Taiwan Security Review. Each week we’ll highlight key military, security, and political developments around Taiwan in a single snapshot. Here’s the first edition, covering August 18–25:

NEW: Early this morning, the Fujian Coast Guard announced it has completed its monthly "law enforcement patrols" around Kinmen island. On both the 24th and 25th, CCG vessels breached the restricted waters around Kinmen with their AIS off, per Taiwan's CGA.

Earlier today, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te visited the ROCN's Su'ao base, pledging to set defense spending at 3.32% of GDP in 2026 and 5% of GDP by 2030. Lai pledged funding for unmanned systems, modernization of "essential equipment" and the navy's next-generation frigate 📸: Lü Shang-yu, CNA

NEW: With the ferries changing their destination to Shanwei, it is highly likely this navigation warning posted by the PRC's MSA represents Ro/Ro amphibious lift exercises taking place on August 23rd. This location has seen amphibious drills involving civilian vessels before.

On August 11, 2025, a PLAN destroyer and a China Coast Guard cutter collided with each other in the waters around Scarborough Shoal during a close-quarters pursuit of a Philippine government vessel.

UPDATE: Following a brief stop near several ports in the Quanzhou area, the group of ferries which departed the Bohai Sea several days ago is on the move again. Per @MarineTraffic AIS data, its next destination is listed as Shanwei, Guangdong.

UPDATE: Per MarineTraffic data, the group of Ro/Ro ferries who departed their usual routes near the Bohai Sea several days ago are approaching their destination in Quanzhou, Fujian. They are expected to conduct amphibious lift exercises with the Eastern Theater Command

UPDATE: Several Ro/Ro ferries continue to make their way south, likely headed towards the Eastern Theater Command for amphibious lift exercises. Per MarineTraffic AIS data, 7 ferries have left their normal routes. This is expected activity for July/August, which often see these lift exercises.

Several "Bo Hai" ferries associated with PLA amphibious exercise activity have diverted from their usual routes near the Bohai Strait, heading south through the Yellow Sea.

Following the controversial decommissioning of Taiwan's last nuclear reactor in May, a referendum will be held on August 23rd to restart the Maanshan NPP in southern Taiwan. If successful, it would allow the plant to apply for a 20 year license renewal.

1/ Taiwan’s MOFA has issued a statement on the Aug 11 incident near Democracy Reef, where PLAN destroyers & CCG vessels pursued the Philippines’ BRP Suluan—resulting in a collision between Chinese ships. 🧵

Following this morning's incident in which a CCG vessel inadvertently rammed PLAN destroyer Guilin, China's MFA was asked for comment regarding allegations from the Philippine Coast Guard that both vessels were carrying out “dangerous maneuvers and blocking actions.” See their response below:

China Coast Guard vessel 3304 has been spotted again, pinging near Taiwan's SE coast. CCG vessels 3304 and 3301 were last seen patrolling near the Philippine's Batanes islands following their transit through Luzon on August 6th.

Over the past two days, a combined 85 sorties have crossed the median line, marking the highest number of ADIZ violations in any 48-hour period since the PLA’s Joint Sword-B exercises around Taiwan in October 2024. Data per PLATracker's ADIZ violation log.

Below is a map of major live-fire exercises occurring around Taiwan throughout the month of August. Headlining August is a series of NCSIST live missile test firings off the coast of Pingtung. These began today on the 8th and will continue throughout the month.

Check out this Domino Theory article on Taiwan’s recent Han Kuang exercises —with commentary and a visualization from TSM’s @ethandconnell.bsky.social and @chrisadayton.bsky.social

Circulating rumors of a military buildup in the province (not city, as has been erroneously labeled) of Fujian are currently unsubstantiated. Videos circulating are either old, not from the Eastern Theater Command, or are part of normal amphibious activity for July/August.

Images from an All-Out Defense Education event conducted by the Army Aviation Command's 601st Brigade involving AH-64E Apache and CH-47SD transport helicopters. 📸: MNA/MND

The June 2025 update of the Taiwan Arm Sales Backlog is now live! Check out the great work by Fellow Eric Gomez and Research Team Lead @joconnor04.bsky.social tinyurl.com/tsm-june-202...

Defense and fortification of traffic nodes and bridges have been a major focus of this year’s Han Kuang exercises See our visualization of major bridges leading into the city of Taipei.

Han Kuang 2025: Here is what happened on Day 8! Three major defensive exercises by the ROCA, including the 6th and 8th Army Corps participating in defense-in-depth and resiliency drills. Additionally, air raid drills were held in the south of Taiwan as part of the 2025 Urban Resiliency exercises

ROCAF live-fire exercises around Taiwan will resume tomorrow, July 14th, continuing into July 18th. This activity is concurrent with ongoing Han Kuang exercises, but is technically independent of them.

It is day five of Taiwan's Han Kuang military exercise. Today's exercises focus on containing and defeating a large-scale landing attempt. The ROCN will shift from preservation to tactical operations, and the 6th Army Corps will practice quick deployments alongside the 99th and 66th Marine Brigades

NEW: The China Coast Guard entered the restricted waters off of Taiwan's Dongsha Island on both 7/9 and 7/10, according to Taiwan's Coast Guard. CCG vessels 3301 and 5303 operated without AIS, similar to recent CCG incursions around Kinmen on 7/10 and 7/11

It is day three of Taiwan's yearly Han Kuang nation-wide military exercise, and here is a rundown of major drills planned! Several engineer formations will practice coastal obstacle creation, and readiness levels will be raised to simulate grey-zone crisis response.