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Taiwan Strait: latest news and tension level
Live coverage of military and diplomatic developments in the Taiwan Strait flashpoint, from more than 200 sources. Updated every 15 minutes.
5 FLASHPOINT READING · ROUTINE Military activity: calm · Diplomatic tension: calm · Nuclear signalling: calm Updated 20:40 IST, 02 Oct 2026 · part of the Covert Horizon Tension IndexLatest
- Taiwan’s first two F-16V fighter jets arrive to bolster defenses against ChinaDefense News · just now · 2 outlets
- Taiwan receives first two Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 fighters, beginning deliveries under its 66-aircraft U.S. purchaseDefence Industry Europe · 4h ago
- U.S. anti-ship missiles head to Japan’s westernmost islandDefence Blog · 7h ago
- Taiwan receives first new F-16s three years behind planDefence Blog · 7h ago
- Workers at Taiwan snack maker Kuai Kuai extend strike over relocationFocus Taiwan (CNA) · 2h ago
- First F-16 Block 70 fighters land in TaiwanFlightGlobal – Defence · 8h ago
- Taiwan receives its first US-made F-16V fighter jetsHong Kong Free Press · 9h ago
- A breakdown of Taiwan's F-16V purchase, as first two jets arriveFocus Taiwan (CNA) · 10h ago
- Taiwan receives first 2 F-16V Block 70sFocus Taiwan (CNA) · 10h ago
- Taiwan boosts medal haul in multiple events at Asian Games on FridayFocus Taiwan (CNA) · 2h ago
- National Day celebrations to showcase Taiwan's diversity, vitality: SpeakerFocus Taiwan (CNA) · 5h ago
- Taiwan hails F-16V delivery as sign US support holds after Xi-Trump summitSouth China Morning Post – China · 5h ago
See all Taiwan Strait stories in the live feed →
Background
The People's Republic of China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to take control of it. Taiwan has been governed separately since 1949 and is a democracy with its own armed forces.
Since 2022, China's military has held several large-scale exercises around the island, and its aircraft and ships operate near Taiwan almost daily. The United States supplies Taiwan with defensive weapons under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act.
Written by the Covert Horizon editor. Last reviewed October 2026.
Key facts
- Main actors
- China, Taiwan, United States, Japan
- Nuclear-armed
- China, United States
- Key areas
- Taiwan Strait, Kinmen and Matsu islands
- Related
- South China Sea · Korean Peninsula