Defense News

2025/06/26

Ministry of National Defense Statement on the PLA’s Joint Combat Readiness Patrol

Time: 1250 hours, June 26, 2025

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) stated today (June 26) that, starting at 0940 hours, a total of 21 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft—including Su-30 fighter jets, KJ-500 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, various combat and support aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)—were successively detected conducting operations in the vicinity of Taiwan. Of these, 16 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and its extension, entering the northern, central, eastern, and southwestern airspace of Taiwan in coordination with PLA naval vessels under the pretext of a so-called joint combat readiness patrol to harass Taiwan’s surrounding air and maritime domains. The Republic of China (ROC) Armed Forces closely monitored the situation using integrated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems and responded appropriately by dispatching mission aircraft and naval vessels, and deploying shore-based missile systems.

2025/06/25

Ministry of National Defense: Minister Wellington Koo Meets Japanese House of Representatives Member Takayuki Kobayashi

Time: 1930 hours, June 25, 2025

   Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo today (June 25) met with Japanese House of Representatives Member Takayuki Kobayashi at the Bo’ai Military Compound for in-depth discussions on key issues, including Indo-Pacific strategy, security cooperation, and Taiwan-Japan relations.
   Accompanied by officials from the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Koo welcomed Member Kobayashi and his delegation at the Bo’ai Military Compound. Minister Koo noted that Member Kobayashi has long supported Taiwan, not only as a member of the Japan-Taiwan Friendship Parliamentary Alliance but also through his repeated advocacy in the Japanese Diet for Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Health Assembly (WHA). Member Kobayashi’s assertion that “a Taiwan contingency is a Japan contingency” underscores his strong commitment to regional peace and stability.
   Minister Koo stated that during the 2018 Hualien earthquake, Member Kobayashi personally delivered disaster relief funds, demonstrating deep humanitarian concern and friendship toward Taiwan. As Japan’s first Minister of State for Economic Security, he strengthened Taiwan-Japan technological cooperation, establishing a new paradigm for the resilience of the bilateral semiconductor supply chain.
   Minister Koo further emphasized that the Indo-Pacific region currently faces multiple challenges, including authoritarian expansion, gray-zone operations, and non-traditional security threats. As a democratic partner, Taiwan will continue to serve as a reliable and steadfast force in the Indo-Pacific. Taiwan and Japan, as partners sharing values of freedom and democracy, should deepen cooperation to safeguard the international order and regional peace and stability.
   Member Kobayashi stated that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are also critical to Japan’s national interests. The Taiwan-Japan relationship is characterized by deep friendship, with the peoples of both nations closely connected. Japan will continue to deepen cooperation with Taiwan, looking forward to joint efforts to safeguard regional peace and stability.

About MND

The ROC Constitution stipulates that the ROC national defense aims to defend the nation's security and safeguard world peace. Under this, the nation's defense concepts, military strategies, military buildup, and objectives are formulated to prevent conflict. The current international situation and changes to the possible threat to the ROC are also taken into consideration in the making of defense policies at the current stage. The basic objectives are "preventing war," "defending the homeland," and "countering terrorism and responding to contingencies." The higher strategic goal is "effective deterrence, resolute defense" with the establishment of a quality self-defensive force capable of counterattack. China, though calling for reunification, has never renounced the use of force against Taiwan. It has not only deployed an increasing number of ballistic missiles aimed at Taiwan but also staged large-scale military exercises with an overt saber-rattling intent to destabilize Taiwan politically and economically. Moreover, its robust economic expansion in recent years has fueled its defense spending for greater military muscle. In order to maintain Cross-Strait stability and avoid a military imbalance in the Taiwan Strait, the ROC government is calling for the establishment of confidence-building measures (CBMs) and a code of conduct on the one hand, and, on the other hand, has been constructing basic defense forces and counterattack capability to safeguard the territory without engaging in an arms race with the other side.

Military News