4.9 magnitude quake hits Taiwan's Hualien

Taiwanese forces said three out of five sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ), and added that they monitored the situation and responded.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected the presence of six Chinese naval vessels operating around their territorial waters as of 6am (local time) on Wednesday. Taiwanese forces said they monitored the situation and responded.

As per the NCS, the earthquake occurred at a depth of 165km.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected the presence of six Chinese naval vessels operating around its territorial waters as of 6am (local time) on Tuesday.

China has announced a 7 per cent increase in its 2026 defence budget to roughly USD 277 billion. Amidst regional conflicts and military purges, Beijing is prioritising modernisation and "sovereign rights." While feeling vulnerable due to energy dependencies, China is choosing diplomatic engagement over direct military involvement in current global wars.