The Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) does not single out any particular nation, but is aimed at deterring invasions, and maintaining peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region, a top US commander said on Thursday.
Vice Admiral John Wade, commander of the US 3rd Fleet, told a news conference at the launch of the multinational naval drills off Hawaii that RIMPAC aims to allow like-minded nations to operate together to handle crises ranging from natural disasters to armed conflict.
Wade, who heads this year’s RIMPAC joint forces, declined multiple requests for comment on Taiwan and its relationship with China.
Photo: screen grab from a video on Defense Visual Information Distribution System’s Web site
“RIMPAC does not single out a particular nation or send messages to anybody,” US military newspaper Stars and Stripes quoted him as saying. “We are really focused on enduring maritime force capabilities to ensure peace and prosperity in the vital Indo-Pacific region.”
However, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army was not invited to this year’s exercises due to Beijing’s “reluctance to adhere to international rules or norms and standards,” he said.
RIMPAC, which began in 1971 and is held every two years, is the world’s largest international maritime exercises.
This year it involves 29 nations, which have collectively deployed 40 warships, three submarines, 150 aircraft, 14 land-based armies and 25,000 personnel, the US Navy said in a news release.
Participating militaries are from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, the UK and the US, the US Navy said.
Aircraft including Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning IIs, Boeing V-22 Ospreys and Boeing P-8 Poseidons would operate out of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and US Marine Corps Base Hawaii on Oahu, it added.
In other news, Taiwan’s Tuo Chiang-class guided missile corvettes the An Chiang and the Wan Chiang are expected to be activated next week, a source familiar with the matter said yesterday.
The ships would increase the nation’s Tuo-Chiang fleet from five to seven, concluding the navy’s plans for a prototype followed by an initial production run of six ships, the source said.
Chinese military drills near Taiwan have caused strain in the Taiwanese navy, the source said, adding that it might be forced into changing its plan for replacing the aging Ching Chiang-class with the Tuo Chiang-class on a one-for-one basis.
The Tuo Chiang, the lead ship of the fleet, and the prototype are armed with eight Hsiung Feng II and Hsiung III anti-ship missiles each, while the “flight one” corvettes utilize 16 Hai Chien II anti-aircraft missiles, eight Hsiung Feng II anti-ship missiles and four Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles.
The planned “flight two” corvettes, to be completed in 2026, would each have four Hsiung Feng II and eight Hisung Feng III anti-ship missiles due to their envisioned role in surface warfare.
Additional reporting by Lo Tien-pin
Taiwan last night blanked world No. 1 Japan 4-0 to win the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 for the first time. Taiwanese ace Lin Yu-min (林昱珉) held defending champions Japan to just one hit and no runs in the first four innings, before catcher Lin Chia-cheng (林家正) opened the fifth inning with a solo home run. That was soon followed by a three-run homer from Taiwanese captain Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) to put Taiwan ahead in the prestigious tournament of the world’s top 12 baseball teams. In addition to a superb performance from 21-year-old Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Lin, three more Taiwanese pitchers
Taiwan yesterday advanced to the gold medal match of the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 for the first time in history, despite last night losing 9-6 to Japan. Taiwan advanced after the US defeated Venezuela in the first game on the last day of the Super Round. However, the US had no chance of advancing to the championship game unless it defeated Venezuela by at least nine points. The US won 6-5. As a result, the two teams — who both had one win and two losses in the Super Round — are to face off again in the
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), the world’s biggest contract chipmaker, yesterday held an equipment installation ceremony for its first 2-nanometer fab in Kaohsiung, six months ahead of schedule, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) said. “To cope with the strong global demand for advanced chips, TSMC is to start moving in equipment for its first-ever 2-nanometer fab half a year earlier than scheduled,” Chen said at an question-and-answer session at the Kaohsiung City Council. TSMC’s 2-nanometer process technology would help accelerate the development of artificial intelligence (AI) applications as well as the transformation of local industries in Kaohsiung, Chen said in a
TEAM TAIWAN: While lawmakers proposed declaring Nov. 24 a national day, the CPBL commissioner urged the legislature to pass the budget for sports development Lawmakers yesterday proposed designating Nov. 24 as National Baseball Day and updating the design of the NT$500 bill to honor the national team’s victory in the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s Premier12 championship on Sunday, as thousands of fans came out to see the players parade down the streets of Taipei. Players, coaches and staff from the national team returned home on Monday night after achieving their best-ever performance in an international baseball tournament. After receiving a rapturous welcome at the airport, the players turned out yesterday for a street parade in front of thousands of adoring fans waving Taiwanese flags and