INTERNACIONAL
Taiwan ramps up coast guard and military readiness in face of Beijing’s ‘gray zone’ warfare
Taiwan’s Coast Guard conducts military drill
Taiwanese President William Lai oversaw the ‘Ocean Day’ drill in the coastal city of Kaohsiung amid rising threats from China. (Video Eryk Michael Smith for Fox News Digital.)
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KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan – Taiwan’s coast guard and affiliated military units put on a show of strength during an «Ocean Day» drill last week amid growing threats from China.
Held in southern Taiwan’s largest city, Kaohsiung, the exercise was overseen by Taiwan President William Lai, and while framed as demonstrations of search and rescue and anti-terrorism abilities, there was no escaping the larger reason why Taiwan is strengthening frontline defenses and operational readiness.
Alongside the navy, Taiwan’s coast guard is undergoing modernization. On display during the Ocean Day exercise was one of Taiwan’s new Anping-class corvettes, stealth-capable vessels with surface-to-land missile systems, and, naturally, advanced rescue capabilities.
TAIWAN’S PRESIDENT TARGETS CHINA INFLUENCE, KICKS OUT PRO-BEIJING AGITATORS AMID RISING TENSIONS
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, center, walks before an offshore anti-terrorism drill at the Kaohsiung harbor in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
This all comes as Taiwan’s top weapons developer recently announced they had developed various new sea drones – including so-called «kamikaze» or suicide drones. An anonymous official claimed Taiwan’s military will test the sea drones in waters off Southern Taiwan this August.
Defense Minister Wellington Koo confirmed late last month that the navy of independently-ruled Taiwan will soon add unmanned surface vehicles, while the army is set to inaugurate its first drone units this year. Reports say Taiwan produced around 10,000 drones last year, and this year plans to buy 3,000+ more made by local companies for military use.
In remarks following the Ocean Day exercise, Lai urged Taiwan’s lawmakers to back his administration’s latest defense spending proposals and told the group of select guests that included the highest-ranking American official based in Southern Taiwan, Neil Gibson, that the matter was about more than just ships and hardware.
«It’s about national resilience.»
Members of Taiwan’s coast guard participate in an offshore anti-terrorism drill at the Kaohsiung harbor in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
Taiwanese government officials frequently denounce what they term as escalating «gray zone» warfare from Beijing, actions such as harassing fishing vessels, illegal incursions, and, on at least one occasion, boarding a Taiwan-flagged civilian ferry. Taiwan sees these actions as Chinese attempts to create a «new normal» of uncontested control of the roughly 100-mile-wide Taiwan Strait that separates the two sides.
Taiwan’s coast guard is dwarfed by the growing Chinese coast guard, which is already the largest in the world in terms of the number and size of vessels. Last year, according to statistics provided to Fox News Digital by Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council, Taiwan’s coast guard drove away 1,196 vessels from Taiwanese waters – 1,135 of which were from China.
CHINA RAMPS UP MILITARY ‘REHEARSALS’ AROUND TAIWAN, OUTSTRIPS US IN AIR, MARITIME, SPACE
Lai said there is an urgent need for upgraded infrared surveillance to enable round-the-clock maritime monitoring, as well as other tech that could combat Chinese tactics that include illegal sand dredging, cyber disruptions and even sabotage of undersea cables, actions deliberately chosen to stay below the threshold of «acts of war.»
Ross Darrell Feingold, a lawyer and political risk analyst based in Taipei, told Fox News Digital that Lai’s calls for bipartisanship arise from the president’s party not currently holding a majority in Taiwan’s Parliament, which will make the passage of his proposed $13.6 billion USD «special budget» much more difficult.
A Chinese PLA J-16 fighter jet flies to an undisclosed location. China’s military sent 71 planes, including J16 fighter jets, and seven ships toward Taiwan in a 24-hour display of force directed at the island, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said Monday, Dec. 26, 2022. (Taiwan Ministry of Defense via AP)
«This proposed spending would go to the coast guard, the military, and be used to assist domestic industries affected by higher U.S. tariffs,» said Feingold, who noted that the Trump administration should have no issues with selling weapons to Taiwan.
Since he took office on May 20, 2024, Lai has increased defense spending within the limits of what he can do while not holding a majority in Parliament.
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Beijing’s communist government stubbornly claims Taiwan as its territory despite never having governed it for a single day, and in recent years, removed language calling for a «peaceful settlement» in official statements. One widely quoted assertion claims Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered the Chinese military to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027, now less than two years away.
INTERNACIONAL
Trump celebrates US’ long history giving foreign enemies ‘hell’ at massive military parade
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WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s delivered remarks Saturday evening at a historic military parade honoring the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary.
«Every other country celebrates their victories,» he said. «It’s about time America did too — that’s what we’re doing tonight.»
«As we celebrate tonight, we also think of the hundreds of thousands of Army soldiers who have made the supreme sacrifice for our nation and selflessly laid down their lives in every war, from the revolution to the war on terror, to the Gold Star families with us today,» he said.
TOP PHOTOS FROM TRUMP’S 250TH BIRTHDAY PARADE FOR THE US ARMY
He called the Army’s most famous leader, Gen. George Washington, an «indomitable commander» and laid out many of the major American victories from the Revolution onward: Gettysburg, Guadalcanal, Shiloh, San Juan Hill, the Argonne trenches and the Afghan mountainsides.
Through them «the Army has forged a legacy of unmatched courage, untold sacrifice, and unequaled and undying glory,» Trump said.
He spoke of Gen. John Corse, a Union commander shot in the face at the Battle of Allatoona Pass near Cartersville, Georgia, who was shot in the face but did not relent from the front lines against the Confederates.
«He fired off a message to his commander, ‘I am short a cheekbone and one ear, but I am able to whip the hell out of all of them’,» Trump recounted.
He also cited Gen. «Mad» Anthony Wayne, who, like Corse, was a Pennsylvania native known for his military fortitude.
President Donald Trump, center, salutes passing troops during a parade to honor the Army’s 250th anniversary, coinciding with Trump’s 79th birthday, June 14, 2025, in Washington. (Doug Mills/The New York Times via AP, Pool)
Trump spoke of Wayne leading a midnight raid up the Palisades cliffs near Bear Mountain, New York, with only bayonets and no ammo to take on the British during the Revolution. Wayne took that order in stride, declaring to Washington: «Issue the order, sir, and I will storm into hell for you.»
Trump spent the rest of the parade seated, or often standing and saluting the troops, flanked by first lady Melania Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
Thousands of Americans, including veterans, youth and dads celebrating Father’s Day, flocked to downtown D.C. wearing «Make America Great Again» hats and patriotic gear displaying Old Glory despite the balmy weather and brewing thunderstorms.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive for a parade to honor the Army’s 250th anniversary, coinciding with Trump’s 79th birthday, June 14, 2025, in Washington. (Doug Mills/The New York Times via AP, Pool)
The crowds went wild with applause upon Trump’s arrival alongside first lady Melania Trump, an introduction accompanied by a gun salute as those in attendance chanted «U-S-A!» Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance also received widespread applause upon their introductions.
Live music poured through the crowds ahead of the parade, as paradegoers swayed to the music while fanning themselves in the summer D.C. heat. The crowds were heard singing «Happy Birthday» and chanting «We love Trump» after the parade officially kicked off.
HEADING TO TRUMP’S MILITARY PARADE? HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
President Donald Trump salutes a military parade. (Reuters)
The parade stretched down Constitution Avenue, beginning near the Lincoln Memorial and concluding near the Washington Monument at about 9:30 p.m. The parade honors the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army, which was established one year before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and coincides with Flag Day and Trump’s 79th birthday.
The patriotic event is part of Trump’s «Task Force 250,» which was established in January by an executive order and coordinates plans celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence July 4, 2026.
The parade included the Army’s Golden Knights Parachute team conducting a jump overhead of the crowds, multiple flyovers, WWII Jeeps on display and members of the military waving to the crowds while riding in massive tanks chugging down Constitution Ave. Cheers of «USA» broke out as Vietnam War-era tanks drove by a large crowd of people, the majority of whom had their phones ready to record the historic scene.
The parade, however, comes as riots and protests continue in Los Angeles over the Trump administration’s efforts to deport millions of illegal aliens who flooded the nation during the Biden administration and after Israel launched preemptive strikes on Iran Thursday evening.
The parade faced stormy weather, with forecasters predicting thunderstorms Saturday afternoon and rain into the evening.
A tank rolls down US-50 in Washington, D.C. (Reuters)
Protests in response to the military parade and recent ICE raids being conducted in Los Angeles are unfolding in cities nationwide. In Washington, a Refuse Fascism protest, an «equity march» in downtown D.C. and a «Pro-Democracy Picnic» at Fort Reno Park were scheduled for Saturday, Fox News Digital previously reported.
The security for the event has been incredibly tight, with Secret Service, police officers and military members stationed along entry checkpoints and walking among the throngs of people. Attendees were also required to go through metal detectors and undergo additional pat-downs to reach the parade route.
«No Kings» protesters converged on cities nationwide to protest what they say is Trump leading the nation like a «king,» though there will not be a «No Kings» protests in D.C. proper Saturday. Instead, those protests were held in neighboring towns and cities, such as in the Virginia cities of Alexandria and Arlington.
PROTESTERS EXPECTED TO CONVERGE ON DC, NEIGHBORING CITIES AHEAD OF TRUMP’S MILITARY PARADE
Military vehicles prepare to roll down US-50 (Constitution Ave.) in Washington. (Reuter)
Trump was asked about the «No Kings» protest during a Thursday bill-signing event at the White House.
«I don’t feel like a king,» Trump responded. «I have to go through hell to get stuff approved. A king would say, ‘I’m not gonna get this.’ A king would have never had the California mandate to even be talking. He wouldn’t have to call up (Speaker) Mike Johnson and (Senate Majority Leader John) Thune and say, ‘Fellas you got to pull this off’ and after years we get it done,» he said, referring to three resolutions he signed Thursday ending electric vehicle mandates originating in California.
«No, no we’re not a king. We’re not a king at all.»
Trump previously said any potential violent protesters targeting the parade will be met with a «very heavy force.»
TRUMP WARNS ANY POTENTIAL PROTESTORS AT HIS MILITARY PARADE WILL BE ‘MET WITH VERY BIG FORCE’
President Donald Trump hosted a military parade marking the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army and his 79th birthday June 14, 2025. (Eric Thayer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
«If there’s any protest once they come out, they will be met with very big force,» Trump told reporters Tuesday. «I haven’t even heard about a protest. But people that hate our country … they will be met with very heavy force.»
The parade has been celebrated by the administration as the «biggest» military parade in U.S. history.
«We love our military and take great pride in honoring our warfighters,» Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a May statement to Fox News. «In celebration of 250 years of the U.S. Army, we will throw the biggest and most beautiful military parade in our nation’s history.»
«The president is planning an historic celebration of the Army’s 250th birthday that will honor generations of selfless Americans who have risked everything for our freedom,» White House Domestic Policy Council Director Vince Haley added in a comment to Fox Digital in May, previewing the parade.
«Exactly 250 years ago, the first American patriots died for the cause of Independence. We owe our freedom to them and to every solider who has given their life for our nation in the 2½ centuries since.»
Soldiers dressed in historic uniforms ahead of the Army’s 250th anniversary parade in Washington June 13, 2025. ( Eric Thayer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT TO HALT FLIGHTS FOR TRUMP-HOSTED MILITARY PARADE NEXT WEEK
Approximately 6,600 U.S. soldiers were scheduled to participate in the parade. The parade was also said to include 150 Army vehicles, including the Abrams tank and 50 aircraft, including the Black Hawk.
There was a flyover and a parachute jump and historical military reenactors.
TRUMP TO HOST MILITARY PARADE TO CELEBRATE ARMY’S 250TH BIRTHDAY, HONOR ACTIVE-DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS
A military parade commemorating the Army’s 250th anniversary and coinciding with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Washington. (Jacquelyn Martin/The Associated Press)
The parade comes after Israel launched preemptive strikes on Iran Thursday evening after months of attempted and stalled nuclear negotiations and subsequent heightened concern Iran was advancing its nuclear program. The strikes targeted Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure and killed at least four Iranian military leaders.
Iran has said the strikes were a «declaration of war.»
«Two months ago I gave Iran a 60 day ultimatum to «make a deal.» They should have done it! Today is day 61. I told them what to do, but they just couldn’t get there. Now they have, perhaps, a second chance!» Trump posted to Truth Social on Friday ahead of meeting with his National Security Council to discuss the strikes.
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Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman and Peter Pinedo contributed to this report.
INTERNACIONAL
Un nuevo grupo de prisioneros de guerra ucranianos regresó al país: es el cuarto en una semana
Un nuevo grupo de prisioneros de guerra ucranianos regresó a Ucrania el sábado como parte del intercambio en curso entre Ucrania y Rusia que las partes acordaron hace casi dos semanas en Estambul.
“Seguimos rescatando a nuestra gente del cautiverio ruso. Este es el cuarto intercambio en lo que va de esta semana”, informó el presidente ucraniano, Volodimir Zelensky por la tarde.
Según el Estado Mayor de Coordinación de Ucrania para el Tratamiento de los Prisioneros de Guerra, todos los soldados intercambiados habían sido heridos en combate o estaban gravemente enfermos.
La gran mayoría fue capturada en 2022, en particular, durante la defensa de Mariupol, sitiada por Rusia durante casi tres meses al inicio de la invasión, señaló el organismo gubernamental.
“La mayoría de los defensores liberados son oficiales. Además, algunos de ellos son menores de 25 años”, subrayó.
Los soldados intercambiados se someterán al examen médico necesario, a la rehabilitación física y psicológica y recibirán todos los pagos correspondientes a su cautiverio. De acuerdo con la legislación ucraniana, podrán elegir si continúan o no el servicio militar.
“Estamos inmensamente felices de regresar a nuestra patria. Creemos en nuestro pueblo, en nuestra victoria”, declaró uno de ellos, según un vídeo publicado en Telegram por el Defensor del Pueblo de Ucrania, Dmitro Lubinets.
Un número indeterminado de prisioneros de guerra también regresó a Ucrania en tres intercambios previos esta semana. Se espera que haya otro intercambio “pronto”, confirmó el organismo gubernamental a cargo de los intercambios.
El futuro del diálogo entre Ucrania y Rusia se aclarará una vez concluidos los intercambios actuales, según Zelensky.
“El proceso no es fácil. Nuestro ministro de Defensa está en contacto con (Vladimir) Medinski, representante del grupo ruso, en relación con los intercambios”, declaró el presidente ucraniano antes del intercambio del sábado en una conversación con medios locales e internacionales, según informó el medio digital ucraniano TSN.
“El acuerdo es que se completarán los intercambios y luego las partes discutirán el siguiente paso”, dijo.
“Esperamos que se completen el 20 o 21 (de junio)”, añadió el líder ucraniano.
El Ministerio de Defensa ruso confirmó el intercambio en Telegram y anunció que los prisioneros liberados están recibiendo asistencia médica y psicológica en Bielorrusia, antes de ser enviados a territorio ruso para continuar su rehabilitación.
En ese mismo intercambio, el Gobierno de Ucrania ha confirmado la recepción de los restos mortales de otros 1.200 fallecidos que hasta ahora se encontraban bajo custodia de Rusia en el cumplimiento de uno de los puntos acordados en la última ronda de conversaciones celebrada a principios de mes en Estambul (Turquía), así como un nuevo intercambio de prisioneros con Moscú, el cuarto de esta semana.
“Como parte de los acuerdos de Estambul, se llevó a cabo una nueva etapa de las medidas de repatriación. Ucrania recibió otros 1200 cuerpos que, según la parte rusa, pertenecen a ciudadanos ucranianos, incluyendo personal militar”, ha informado el Cuartel General de Coordinación para el Trato de los Prisioneros de Guerra en su cuenta de Telegram.
“Investigadores policiales, junto con expertos del Ministerio del Interior, realizarán todos los exámenes necesarios e identificarán los cuerpos repatriados”, ha añadido la organización.
Con esta nueva entrega, la tercera contando las del martes y la de este pasado viernes, Ucrania ha recibido ya los cuerpos de 3.600 fallecidos, según las estimaciones del portal de noticias ucraniano Oboz.
(Con información de EFE)
Europe,Military Conflicts,UNKNOWN LOCATION
INTERNACIONAL
North Korea relaunches warship that suffered embarrassing failure during initial launch
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North Korea has repaired and relaunched their 5,000-ton warship after a botched launch in May, according to North Korean state media.
The second warship was once again upright in the water, according to the North Korean news agency KCNA.
The communist country’s leader, Kim Jong Un, was in attendance to give a speech and spoke about the failed launch.
«Of course, we felt panic-stricken in front of the unexpected and ridiculous accident caused while launching this destroyer in Chongjin last month,» Kim said.
NORTH KOREA DETAINS SHIPYARD OFFICIALS OVER FAILED LAUNCH THAT LEFT NAVAL DESTROYER DAMAGED: STATE MEDIA
In this photo provided by the North Korean government, its leader Kim Jong Un, front right, and his daughter stand on a destroyer named Kang Kon during its launch ceremony at the Rajin shipyard in Rason, North Korea, Thursday, June 12, 2025. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: «KCNA» which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. In this photo provided by the North Korean government, its leader Kim Jong Un, front right, and his daughter stand on a destroyer named Kang Kon during its launch ceremony at the Rajin shipyard in Rason, North Korea, Thursday, June 12, 2025. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: «KCNA» which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) ((Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP))
Kim did not take the accident lightly, going as far as to call it a criminal act, according to KCNA.
«We judged the accident not as a simple mistake but as a never-to-be-forgiven, serious criminal act that lowered the dignity and self-respect of our state in a moment, and investigated the root cause of the accident in a comprehensive way,» Kim said.
In fact, the chief engineer of the Chongjin Shipyard, along with others, were arrested according KCNA.
KIM JONG UN LEFT FUMING AFTER NORTH KOREA’S NEW DESTROYER DAMAGED IN FAILED LAUNCH
In this photo provided by the North Korean government, its leader Kim Jong Un, center, and his daughter attend a launch ceremony of a destroyer named Kang Kon at the Rajin shipyard in Rason, North Korea, Thursday, June 12, 2025. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: «KCNA» which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) ((Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP))
However, this setback hasn’t seemed to slow down Kim’s ambitions as he promised more warships to come.
«Warships of a new generation are to be launched one after another in the coming years, and they will form the backbone of our maritime defense forces,» Kim said.
The ship, which Kim has reportedly named «Kang Kon,» was moved to the Rajin shipyard after being set up right, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The total extent of the damage to the ship is unknown as it never left the dry dock.
This photo provided by the North Korean government shows a destroyer named Kang Kon during its launch ceremony at the Rajin shipyard in Rason, North Korea, Thursday, June 12, 2025. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: «KCNA» which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. ((Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP))
Satellite images previously released by South Korea had shown the ship lying on its side.
Reported previously by KCNA, the «Kang Kon» had slipped off of its ramp and became stuck.
The flatcar failed to move alongside the ship, throwing it off balance and crushing parts of the ship’s bottom.
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This caused the massive warship’s stern to slide down the launch slipway, making the ship’s bow section unable to leave the ramp, according to KNCA.
The «Kang Kon» was the second naval destroyer launched within a month after Kim attended the successful launch of another 5,000-ton destroyer from Nampo, a port on the west coast of North Korea.
Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan and Landon Mion contributed to this story.
Nick Butler is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Do you have any tips? Reach out to Nick.Butler@Fox.com.
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