🟡china-taiwan

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te urged the public to attend the 2026 Taipei International Book Exhibition, ongoing through February 8, to celebrate Guest of Honor Thailand and explore how books connect people, in a post on X at approximately 9:15-10:15 AM UTC on February 3, 2026.

An alleged mixed Air Brigade within the National Transitional Council (NTC) operated J-11B/BG and J-16 fighter aircraft together, as shown in imagery from Pulandian near Dalian, China. The activity was reported on February 3, 2026, between 6:15 AM and 9:15 AM UTC, according to military analyst Rupprecht Deino citing CCTV-7.

Taiwan Security Monitor (TSM) published its Weekly Taiwan Security Review on February 2, covering key military developments from January 27 to February 2, as announced in a post at approximately 10:15 PM UTC that evening, according to TSM's official X account.

China's state media announced on Monday an anti-corruption probe into top general Zhang Youxia and other senior officials, stating the investigation will "remove roadblocks" and strengthen the country's military. The announcement occurred within the reporting window from 1:15 PM to 4:15 PM UTC on February 2, 2026.

DEVELOPING: The Republic of China destroyer ROCS Su Ao shadowed People's Liberation Army Navy frigate Baoji (534) near Penghu and the median line of the Taiwan Strait in the past 30 minutes, as shown in images from fishermen and reported by Liberty Times at https://x.com/TaiwansDefense/status/2018185825700245952.

The bipartisan U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party posted 'Happy National Freedom Day! 🇺🇸' on X at an unspecified time between 1:45:46 a.m. and 4:45:32 a.m. UTC on February 2, 2026, from its official account @ChinaSelect.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected six People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels operating around Taiwan up until 6 a.m. UTC+8 on February 2, 2026. The Republic of China Armed Forces (ROCArmedForces) monitored the situation and responded accordingly during the reporting window from 10:45 p.m. UTC on February 1 to 1:45 a.m. UTC on February 2.

Taiwan will receive the final 38 of its 108 purchased M1A2T Abrams tanks before the end of March, according to LTN. The second batch of Abrams tanks, received in 2025, will be commissioned in June. This arms update was reported during the 3-hour period from 4:16 PM to 7:16 PM UTC on February 1, 2026.

Approximately 1,400 Chinese fishing vessels formed a 321-kilometer strip near the Japan-China median line in the East China Sea on January 11, 2026, according to Automatic Identification System (AIS) data analysis by The New York Times reported in an X post shared early on February 1, 2026. Up to 2,000 vessels created an L-shaped 466-kilometer formation there in late December 2025. These band-like and rectangular groupings persisted for dozens of hours, forcing some merchant ships to detour.

Iran, Russia, and China postponed their scheduled joint naval drills, as announced in a breaking report by Worldsource24 at approximately 9:16 PM UTC on January 31, 2026, during the three-hour reporting window ending at 12:16 AM UTC on February 1, 2026. No specific reason for the postponement was provided in the initial report.

Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping expanded military purges to include two of the most senior People's Liberation Army (PLA) officers, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in a statement posted on X on January 31, 2026, between 3:46 PM and 5:46 PM UTC.

The Chinese Type 076 amphibious assault ship LHD 51 Sichuan departed the drydock at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding's older facilities in Shanghai on January 31, 2026, between 12:46 PM and 3:46 PM UTC, carrying what appears to be a GJ-11/21 stealth UCAV drone or mockup onboard, according to satellite imagery analysis by maritime observer Alex Luck (@AlexLuck9).

People's Liberation Army (PLA) Daily published an editorial on the Zhang Youxia case on January 31, 2026, at approximately 2:00 AM UTC, six days after the case was first reported, during which Zhang's name did not appear in state media, according to analyst Henry Gao on X.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced plans on January 30, 2026, evening to significantly expand hardened aircraft shelters at Chihhang Air Force Base (AFB) by 2028, aiming to protect future F-16C/D Block 70 fighters amid heightened focus from recent global drone attacks on airfields, according to TaiwanMonitor on X.

Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration seized 1.27 tons of ketamine and 26.5 kilograms of methamphetamine from a Tanzania-flagged cargo ship off the coast of Kaohsiung, acting on a tip from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Two Taiwanese nationals and nine Burmese nationals were arrested, according to a Central News Agency report posted on X within the reporting window from 5:16:17 PM to 8:15:47 PM UTC on January 30, 2026.

China's Ministry of Defence denied on January 29 that the investigation into Zhang involves leaking nuclear weapon secrets, during a press conference in Beijing. The denial addresses reports linking evidence against Zhang to Gu Jun, former general manager of China National Nuclear Corp.

Nikita Bier, X Head of Product, stated on January 30, 2026, before 10:45 AM UTC that the Chinese government floods X search results with pornography whenever political unrest occurs in China to prevent citizens from accessing real-time information. The claim appeared in an X post by @AutismCapital shared during the reporting window from 7:45 AM to 10:45 AM UTC, according to the source.

A massive fire erupted at a furniture store near the intersection of Chongde Road (Section 2) and Tianjin Road (Section 3) in Beitun District, Taichung City, Taiwan, between 4:46 AM and 7:15 AM UTC on January 30, 2026. Eyewitness videos geolocated to coordinates 24.169376617962524, 120.68508012567187 captured the blaze, according to X posts from @1SanatanSatya and @RapidReport2025.

A purported open letter from Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission, to Xi Jinping circulated on social media platform X between 2:15:55 AM and 4:45 AM UTC on January 30, 2026. The letter, shared by @NFSCtime in post ID 2016957496401826020, details policy differences on the Central Military Commission Chairman Responsibility System, Taiwan reunification, Russia cooperation, and military promotions, according to source metadata.

An image depicting the international border between India and China at Nathu La Pass in northeast India appeared on social media platform X during the reporting window from 11:15:50 PM on January 29, 2026, to 2:15:50 AM on January 30, 2026. The post was shared by the account @GoNorthEastIN, according to the source metadata.

A poll conducted by the Taiwan Inspiration Association from January 7 to 11, 2026, revealed that 66.1% of respondents disagreed with Kuomintang (KMT) Chair Cheng Li-wun's statement 'we are all Chinese,' while 32.9% agreed, according to the poll results shared during the reporting window from 4:46 PM to 6:46 PM UTC on January 29, 2026. The survey included 1,200 respondents across political affiliations.

Taiwan's first indigenously constructed submarine, Hai Kun (711), successfully completed its maiden dive test in Kaohsiung earlier today, according to Taiwan Monitor on X. This marked the seventh in a series of sea trials that began in June 2025, with footage showing the vessel leaving Kaohsiung Harbor captured by SET News.

Analyst Jack Prandelli reported on X at an unspecified time within the past two hours that China has financed, built, or operates more than 40 African ports across the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and Red Sea regions, according to a post viewed between 12:15:57 PM and 2:15:53 PM UTC on January 29, 2026. The post states several ports currently commercial could shift to military use, extending People's Liberation Army Navy access beyond Djibouti.

China's fourth J-36 prototype conducted its first test flight recently, according to reports cited by the Defence Intelligence Analysis account on X between 10:16:07 AM and 12:15:54 PM UTC on January 29, 2026. Visuals of the aircraft during the test were shared in the post.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing today, affirming a shared commitment to a long-term strategic partnership benefiting both countries while maintaining frank dialogue on disagreements, according to Starmer's statement on X posted between 9:16 AM and 10:16 AM UTC on January 29, 2026.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer held a respectful discussion with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the imprisonment of pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong and the treatment of China's Uyghur Muslims during their meeting in Beijing, as reported by Sky News citing Starmer's statement between 6:16 AM and 9:16 AM UTC on January 29, 2026.

Taiwan's Marine Corps conducted two public tests of tube-launched Chinfeng 1 loitering munitions near Zuoying Naval Base earlier today, with both tests missing their targets according to recorded footage shared by Taiwan Monitor on X at 5:16-5:46 AM UTC on January 29, 2026. The first drone fell into the ground 5 seconds after launch.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing during the reporting window from 2:16 AM to 5:16 AM UTC on January 29, 2026, where Xi urged both nations to rise above differences for world peace and build a lasting alliance, as reported by Politics UK on X.

Taiwan's military plans to deploy its recently acquired M142 HIMARS launcher platforms to the outlying islands of Penghu and Dongyin, according to a report from Taiwan Monitor on X. This move occurred during the reporting window from 10:46 PM on January 28 to 1:46 AM on January 29, 2026, and would place China's coastal naval facilities and airfields in Fujian and Zhejiang provinces within range of Taiwanese missiles.

Personnel at Taiwan’s Chiayi Air Base carried out air-defense emergency procedure drills featuring 35 mm gun-based systems alongside Sparrow missile launchers during day two of the annual Lunar New Year readiness exercises on January 28, 2026, according to Taiwan Monitor on X at approximately 2:15 PM UTC in the reporting window from 1:45 PM to 2:45 PM.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office released nine new statements from its January 28th press conference, condemning Taiwan President Lai Ching-te and announcing a February KMT-CPC Summit in Beijing, according to an update from Taiwan Monitor on X at approximately 1:15 PM UTC during the reporting window from 12:45 PM to 1:45 PM on January 28, 2026.

China initiated a four-year energy-building boom surpassing the entire US power grid, as Beijing aims to ensure supply for power-intensive facilities critical to dominating emerging industries, according to a Bloomberg report published at 12:45 PM UTC on January 28, 2026.

Taiwan's Republic of China Armed Forces (ROCAF) showcased rapid aircraft restoration and Skyguard air defense systems effectiveness on the second day of their annual Increased Readiness media event during Chinese New Year, as reported between 10:45 AM and 11:45 AM UTC on January 28, 2026. The demonstrations occurred at the ongoing spring military drills.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Beijing, China, this morning for a three-day visit, the first by a British Prime Minister since 2018. He traveled with about 60 British business and cultural leaders and will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping to promote trade cooperation. Starmer also plans to visit Shanghai.

DEVELOPING: China's Fujian aircraft carrier deployed with at least eight aircraft visible on its deck, as reported in an X post by @Hurin92 citing @心系168/wb at an unspecified time during the 29-minute reporting window from 9:15:50 PM to 9:45:37 PM UTC on January 27, 2026. No location or further details on the deployment were provided in the source.

Taiwan’s Youth Daily News shared a photo on January 27, 2026, showing the commemorative patch issued to members of the Republic of China Army's (ROCA) 602nd Aviation Brigade for this year's Lunar New Year exercises, according to TaiwanMonitor's X post at an unspecified time during the 1-hour-30-minute reporting window from 7:45:42 PM to 9:15:44 PM UTC.

Western officials expressed concern on January 27, 2026, that Chinese President Xi Jinping's purge of General Liu Zhenli, removed over the weekend, has eliminated a key military contact point, potentially increasing risks with Beijing, according to a Bloomberg report shared by journalist Alex Wickham at 7:16 PM UTC during the 59-minute reporting window from 6:45 PM to 7:45 PM UTC.

Chinese state-affiliated sources debunked claims of offline PLA Weibo accounts on January 27, 2026, stating all accounts remain accessible and active over the past several days, as reported by TaiwanMonitor during the 5:15 PM to 6:45 PM UTC window. This addresses unverified social media posts alleging Te-Jing forces near the Forbidden City and troops entering Beijing.

Reports from The Global Eye emerged between 3:46 PM and 5:15 PM UTC on January 27, 2026, claiming deployment of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) military personnel around the Forbidden City in Beijing. The reports surfaced over the 1-hour-29-minute window without official confirmation from Chinese authorities.

Unverified social media reports from accounts including @AteoBreaking and @News24global98 claimed between 1:16 PM and 3:45 PM UTC on January 27, 2026, that Chinese military convoys moved toward Beijing, Te-Jing forces deployed near the Forbidden City, and military department accounts on Weibo were disabled, amid alleged nationwide tensions.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated on January 27, 2026, at a regular press conference that Japan has no right to comment on Taiwan from historical or legal perspectives, urging Japan to cease interference. The remarks responded to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent statements on potential joint U.S.-Japan actions in a Taiwan Strait crisis.

No significant news events occurred between 7:15 AM and 10:15 AM UTC on January 27, 2026. The reporting window captured three hours of minimal activity across monitored sources.

Taiwan's Army demonstrated the use of first-person view (FPV) drones in a military exercise for the first time during the three-hour period ending at 4:15 AM UTC on January 27, 2026, showcasing defense tactics against an attack as the initial drill in a series ahead of Lunar New Year, according to a post on X by Taiwan Security Monitor Fellow Jaime Ocon shared by Taiwan Monitor.

Taiwan Security Monitor (TSM) Fellow Jaime Ocon published the Weekly Taiwan Security Review covering January 20-26, detailing new information on Taiwan's special defense budget, an American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) announcement that Northrop Grumman is building an ammunition testing facility in Taiwan, and Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels entering restricted waters near Kinmen alongside a People's Liberation Army (PLA) Joint Combat Readiness Patrol, according to a Taiwan Monitor post on X during the three-hour period ending at 12:46 AM UTC on January 27.

X user @Andr3jH posted a claim during the reporting window from 2:48 p.m. to 3:47 p.m. UTC on January 26, 2026, stating that leaked emails show Angelina Jolie offered to act as a honeytrap to solicit nuclear secrets from China's top general Zhang Youxia, according to the post at https://x.com/Andr3jH/status/2015769221033087336.

Taiwan's first domestically built submarine, Hai Kun (711), carried out its sixth sea trial in Kaohsiung on January 26, 2026, testing sonar functions, the propulsion system, and the underwater log/speed-measurement instrument, according to an X post by @TaiwanMonitor shared during the reporting window from 1:16 p.m. to 2:48 p.m. UTC.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected five People's Liberation Army aircraft, eight PLA Navy vessels, and three official ships operating around Taiwan up until 6 a.m. UTC+8 on January 26, 2026, with all five aircraft sorties crossing the median line into Taiwan’s southwestern air defense identification zone, according to an X post by @MoNDefense.

X user John_A_Ridge posted details over the past hour on intensifying purges within China's People's Liberation Army, stating that senior generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli are under investigation, according to his post at https://x.com/John_A_Ridge/status/2015631117949284361 shared between 11:16 a.m. and 12:16 p.m. UTC on January 26, 2026.

Reports emerged over the past two hours indicating that purges within China's People's Liberation Army are intensifying, with senior generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli now under investigation, according to a Sinocism newsletter titled "PLA purges intensify: Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli under investigation," shared by X user @niubi.