A Chinese warship began conducting live-fire training in waters near the Taiwan Strait as Beijing launched military drills it describes as a warning to what it sees as pro-independence forces in Taiwan. Taiwan and China have begun their war simulations. Not only one, two, or three vessels, but at least nine and more than 70 military aircraft from China encircled Taiwan.

China to launch Taiwan live-fire drills on 3rd day of military exercises

Taiwan and China have begun their war simulations. Not only one, two, or three vessels, but at least nine and more than 70 military aircraft from China have encircled Taiwan.

China: Drills a stern warning against Taiwan's separatist forces

In response to Beijing's outrage over Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California, China has started three days of military drills surrounding Taiwan. The People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command announced on Saturday that "combat readiness patrols" will continue until April 10 in China, which claims Taiwan as its own and hasn't ruled out using force to further its objectives.

Taiwan: China's drills threaten regional security

Tensions escalate in the South China sea as Taiwan launched it's own air sorties. This in response to china's drills around Taiwan that were launched earlier in the day. The self-governed island nation has maintained its sovereignty, despite looming Chinese threat on several occasions. Fighter planes took off from Taiwan's air base With air force's mirage 2000-5’s, landing at the air base after concluding the drills. Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen who recently returned from a three-day long diplomatic trip from the US, immediately denounced the Chinese drills, showing its military power in the south china sea region.

China-Taiwan conflict: Fighter planes take off from Taiwan's air base

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen arrived in New York on a sensitive US stopover on Wednesday, vowing en route not to let external pressure prevent the island from engaging with the world after China threatened retaliation if she met US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Ties with the US closer than ever, says Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen

Days after China's military said it had conducted "strike drills" around Taiwanese sea and airspace, Taiwan announced its decision to extend the current four-month-long mandatory military service&nbsp;to a year. The longer service requirements will&nbsp;be implemented from 2024, reflecting the self-governing island nation's&nbsp;sense of urgency&nbsp;to bolster its defences amid China's ascending assertions for 'unification'. &nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/east-asia/china-deployed-71-airforce-planes-in-weekend-strike-drills-47-crossed-taiwan-strait-taiwan-defence-ministry-546569">China deployed 71 jets into Taiwan air defence zone in largest incursion so far, says Taiwan</a>

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen in a press briefing on Tuesday said that&nbsp;the island needs to prepare for the increasing threat from China. "The current four-month military service is not enough to meet the fast and ever-changing situation," she said. "We have decided to restore the one-year military service from 2024."

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/taiwan-china-wants-to-control-everything-idea-of-unifying-with-china-more-unpopular-than-ever-508944">Taiwan: China wants to control everything, idea of unifying with China more unpopular than ever</a>

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All Taiwanese men over 18 initially had to serve two to three years in the military as part of a conscription system adopted by Taiwan in 1949 in the events following the Chinese civil war.

After 1996, conscription was gradually reduced, reaching one year in 2008 and four months in 2018.&nbsp;

Taiwan-China tensions: Why extension of mandatory military service?

China sent 47 aircraft across the median line of the Taiwan Strait on Sunday, its largest incursion into Taiwan’s air defence zone in recent months.&nbsp;The Chinese incursions and military exercises have continued all through 2022, with tensions peaking in August after a visit to the island by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that prompted fury from the Chinese Communist Party.

Taiwan has active military personnel totalling about 170,000, nearly ten times less than mainland China. Taiwan reportedly estimates that 100,000 men will turn 18 each year, following which the self-governing island nation could ready up its defences during contingencies by increasing the&nbsp;mandatory military service.&nbsp;

An extension of military service up to one year requires no related law revisions, thereby, the government may comfortably implement the change.

The issue has been deliberated upon by the Ministry of National Defense and National Security Council for around two years as part of Taiwan's review of its "all-out defence" system.

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Days after China's military said it had conducted "strike drills" around Taiwanese sea and airspace, Taiwan announced its decision to extend the current four-month-long mandatory military service to a year.

Days after China's military said it had conducted "strike drills" around Taiwanese sea and airspace, Taiwan announced its decision to extend the current four-month-long mandatory military service to a year. The longer service requirements will be implemented from 2024, reflecting the self-governing island nation's sense of urgency to bolster its defences amid China's ascending assertions for 'unification'. ALSO READ | China deployed 71 jets into Taiwan air defence zone in largest incursion so far, says Taiwan Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen in a press briefing on Tuesday said that the island needs to prepare for the increasing threat from China. "The current four-month military service is not enough to meet the fast and ever-changing situation," she said. "We have decided to restore the one-year military service from 2024." WATCH | Taiwan: China wants to control everything, idea of unifying with China more unpopular than ever × All Taiwanese men over 18 initially had to serve two to three years in the military as part of a conscription system adopted by Taiwan in 1949 in the events following the Chinese civil war. After 1996, conscription was gradually reduced, reaching one year in 2008 and four months in 2018. Taiwan-China tensions: Why extension of mandatory military service? China sent 47 aircraft across the median line of the Taiwan Strait on Sunday, its largest incursion into Taiwan’s air defence zone in recent months. The Chinese incursions and military exercises have continued all through 2022, with tensions peaking in August after a visit to the island by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that prompted fury from the Chinese Communist Party. Taiwan has active military personnel totalling about 170,000, nearly ten times less than mainland China. Taiwan reportedly estimates that 100,000 men will turn 18 each year, following which the self-governing island nation could ready up its defences during contingencies by increasing the mandatory military service. An extension of military service up to one year requires no related law revisions, thereby, the government may comfortably implement the change. The issue has been deliberated upon by the Ministry of National Defense and National Security Council for around two years as part of Taiwan's review of its "all-out defence" system. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Taiwan extends mandatory military service to one year after Beijing's Christmas 'strike drills'

Rescuers were scrambling on Tuesday to reach six people they feared were trapped after a bridge collapsed in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-shuts-its-schools-and-markets-as-typhoon-mitag-approaches-252761">Taiwan</a>, smashing onto a group of fishing boats moored underneath.

Dramatic CCTV images captured the moment the 140-metre long single-arch bridge came crashing down in Nanfangao, on Taiwan's eastern coast.

In the images, the road gives way and tumbles down onto at least three fishing boats as a petrol tanker that was crossing also plunges into the water.

The National Fire Agency said they believed six people were unaccounted for and could be trapped in the boats underneath the collapsed structure.

"The rescue operation is ongoing," the agency said in a statement, adding at least twelve people were injured, including six Philippine and three Indonesian fishing workers as well as the Taiwanese driver of the petrol tanker.

"We hope to safely rescue all in the shortest time to minimize the damage," Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen told reporters.

The petrol tanker burst into flames at some point after it hit the water, sending a thick plume of black smoke into the air.

It is not clear what caused the bridge, which was built in 1998 and spanned a small fishing port, to collapse.

Taiwan was skirted by a typhoon on Monday night, which brought heavy rains and strong winds to parts of the east coast.

But at the time of the bridge collapse, the weather was fine.

Rescuers were scrambling on Tuesday to reach six people they feared were trapped after a bridge collapsed in Taiwan, smashing onto a group of fishing boats moored underneath.

Rescuers were scrambling on Tuesday to reach six people they feared were trapped after a bridge collapsed in Taiwan, smashing onto a group of fishing boats moored underneath. Dramatic CCTV images captured the moment the 140-metre long single-arch bridge came crashing down in Nanfangao, on Taiwan's eastern coast. In the images, the road gives way and tumbles down onto at least three fishing boats as a petrol tanker that was crossing also plunges into the water. The National Fire Agency said they believed six people were unaccounted for and could be trapped in the boats underneath the collapsed structure. "The rescue operation is ongoing," the agency said in a statement, adding at least twelve people were injured, including six Philippine and three Indonesian fishing workers as well as the Taiwanese driver of the petrol tanker. "We hope to safely rescue all in the shortest time to minimize the damage," Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen told reporters. The petrol tanker burst into flames at some point after it hit the water, sending a thick plume of black smoke into the air. It is not clear what caused the bridge, which was built in 1998 and spanned a small fishing port, to collapse. Taiwan was skirted by a typhoon on Monday night, which brought heavy rains and strong winds to parts of the east coast. But at the time of the bridge collapse, the weather was fine.

Rescuers fear six trapped after Taiwan bridge collapse

Taiwan&#39;s President Tsai Ing-wen has accepted the resignation of Premier Lin Chuan, the ruling party said on Monday, a departure that had been widely expected because of the president&#39;s falling public support.

Taiwan presidents often shuffle premiers in response to dips in popularity. Lin had faced mounting pressure to step down as Tsai&#39;s popularity plummeted to 29.8 percent by August, a private foundation survey has shown.

When she took office in May 2016, her approval rating was as high as 70 percent.

&quot;The president has accepted his resignation after sincere talks,&quot; Tsai&#39;s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said in a statement.

Under Taiwan&#39;s system, the president is the more important office, holding the jobs of commander in chief and head of state. The prime minister is appointed by the president to lead the cabinet.

Tsai is likely to be looking ahead to her 2020 re-election campaign.

Frozen relations with China, a backlash over pension reforms and a revised labour rule, among other controversies, have put pressure on her to replace Lin, in preparation for that campaign.

Lin said the party had &quot;reached a point where we must embark on the next stage of the mission&quot;.

&quot;So I&#39;ve resigned to pave the way for the president to re-organize her team and resources for that purpose,&quot; he said.

The presidential office said a new premier would be announced on Tuesday.

William Lai, the popular mayor of the southern city of Tainan and a leading DPP figure, is widely expected to replace Lin.

A Lai premiership would not necessary help the president to improve her ratings, some analysts said.

&quot;They need a reboot, because current ratings for both are low,&quot; said Alex Huang, a professor of Tamkang University, Taipei, referring to Tsai and Lin, adding that it must have been a hard decision for Tsai because of their friendship.

&quot;Lin is sort of biting the bullet to clear the path ahead for the president and the next premier,&quot; Huang said.

Some representatives of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) have expressed scepticism that Tsai would build an effective partnership with Lai, if he did replace Lin.

&quot;I&#39;d like to see how they both work together,&quot; said Lai Shyh-bao, a KMT legislator. &quot;Both Tsai and Lai have reputations for being overbearing and domineering.&quot;

Lin has been criticized not just by legislators from the opposition, but also from his own DPP. Tsai had praised him as &quot;a great communicator&quot; when she introduced him last year.

Lin, a close confidant of the president who retains her trust, could become the next central bank governor when current governor Perng Fai-nan retires next year.

Taiwan's premier resigns after President's falling public support

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen has accepted the resignation of Premier Lin Chuan, the ruling party said on Monday, a departure that had been widely expected because of the president's falling public support. Taiwan presidents often shuffle premiers in response to dips in popularity. Lin had faced mounting pressure to step down as Tsai's popularity plummeted to 29.8 percent by August, a private foundation survey has shown. When she took office in May 2016, her approval rating was as high as 70 percent. "The president has accepted his resignation after sincere talks," Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said in a statement. Under Taiwan's system, the president is the more important office, holding the jobs of commander in chief and head of state. The prime minister is appointed by the president to lead the cabinet. Tsai is likely to be looking ahead to her 2020 re-election campaign. Frozen relations with China, a backlash over pension reforms and a revised labour rule, among other controversies, have put pressure on her to replace Lin, in preparation for that campaign. Lin said the party had "reached a point where we must embark on the next stage of the mission". "So I've resigned to pave the way for the president to re-organize her team and resources for that purpose," he said. The presidential office said a new premier would be announced on Tuesday. William Lai, the popular mayor of the southern city of Tainan and a leading DPP figure, is widely expected to replace Lin. A Lai premiership would not necessary help the president to improve her ratings, some analysts said. "They need a reboot, because current ratings for both are low," said Alex Huang, a professor of Tamkang University, Taipei, referring to Tsai and Lin, adding that it must have been a hard decision for Tsai because of their friendship. "Lin is sort of biting the bullet to clear the path ahead for the president and the next premier," Huang said. Some representatives of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) have expressed scepticism that Tsai would build an effective partnership with Lai, if he did replace Lin. "I'd like to see how they both work together," said Lai Shyh-bao, a KMT legislator. "Both Tsai and Lai have reputations for being overbearing and domineering." Lin has been criticized not just by legislators from the opposition, but also from his own DPP. Tsai had praised him as "a great communicator" when she introduced him last year. Lin, a close confidant of the president who retains her trust, could become the next central bank governor when current governor Perng Fai-nan retires next year.

Taiwan's premier Lin Chuan resigns