Ten flashpoints, one register. Each row is a development the desk reported as fact in a filed take, kept only when the take's vetted sources carry it, dated by the event when the take states a date and by the filing otherwise. Nothing here is inferred, forecast or ranked by feel; a flashpoint that has not moved says so.
The MapThe desk →
Numbered in the order the flashpoints last moved. Filled dots moved in the last seven days, outlined dots within thirty, grey dots are quiet. Cross-cutting tracks without a place on the map are listed below. Land outline: Natural Earth 1:110m. Register updated Oct 28.
1. Taiwan Strait
Watch
PLA, Taiwan, United States
filed Oct 20
Taiwan reported driving away Chinese vessels in coordinated maritime harassment.
Oct 16
Taiwan recorded nine Chinese naval vessels and seven Chinese official ships between Thursday morning and Friday morning.
filed Oct 16
China is conducting seabed surveys around Taiwan.
filed Oct 16
Taiwan unveiled the PD-136 attack drone designed for 500-kilometre missions.
filed Oct 14
China is conducting a series of live-fire drills around Taiwan, which Taiwan's military is closely monitoring.
filed Oct 13
Chinese ship movements around Taiwan surged.
Oct 12
China conducted live-fire drills in the Taiwan Strait, which Taiwan's military closely monitored.
filed Oct 10
President Lai Ching-te is raising Taiwan's defence spending to deter war as China ramps up pressure.
filed Oct 10
US described China's maritime actions around Taiwan as deeply destabilising, per CNA, with no accompanying measure or deployment.
Oct 10
Taiwan's defence ministry tracked 21 Chinese military aircraft, seven naval vessels and two official ships over 24 hours from 6 a.m. Friday.
filed Oct 9
A Chinese maritime militia boat was spotted off Taiwan's east coast for the first time, according to a patrol's findings.
filed Oct 6
SCMP reports US defence experts work inside Taiwan's military headquarters under a previously little-reported pact
filed Oct 5
Taiwan's envoy publicly pressed the Trump administration over a stalled US arms sale to Taiwan, which Washington has left undecided
filed Oct 4
Taiwan's coast guard used a water cannon on a Chinese fishing vessel near Dongsha Island after the vessel ignored three warnings
filed Oct 2
Taiwan's defence ministry tracked 23 Chinese military aircraft, seven naval vessels and seven official ships around the island over 24 hours
filed Oct 2
First new F-16V fighters arrived in Taiwan, the first deliveries from the 66-jet sale Washington approved in 2019
Oct 2
Taiwan's defence ministry logged 23 Chinese aircraft, seven naval vessels and seven official ships around the island
filed Oct 2
Taiwan transferred a naval commander to the coast guard to boost deterrence against China
filed Oct 2
Taiwan's defence ministry tracked 23 Chinese military aircraft, seven naval vessels and seven official ships around the island in 24 hours
filed Oct 1
China Coast Guard was reported on patrol east of Taiwan after the Trump-Xi summit
filed Oct 1
Twenty-one Chinese military flights circled Taiwan in the period covered by the report
filed Sep 30
China's coast guard was reported on patrol east of Taiwan
filed Sep 30
Taiwan counted three PLA aircraft and six PLAN vessels around the island, one aircraft entering the south-west air defence zone
Sep 29
Taipei rejected Xi Jinping's statements on Taiwan and asserted the Republic of China is sovereign, not subordinate to the PRC
Sep 29
Taiwan reported three PLA aircraft and six PLAN vessels active around the island, one aircraft entering its south-west air defence zone
filed Sep 29
Ambassador David Perdue said Trump asked Xi whether China wanted to buy US weapons while discussing planned Taiwan arms sales
filed Sep 29
US ambassador David Perdue said Trump asked Xi Jinping whether China wanted to buy US weapons while discussing the planned $14 billion Taiwan arms package
filed Sep 28
Washington and Beijing agreed to pursue a new military crisis-communication hotline pact
filed Sep 27
Xi Jinping asked US to state opposition to Taiwan independence during Washington summit, left without answer
filed Sep 27
US ambassador to China says $14 billion Taiwan interceptor sale runs on Trump's own schedule, no timing given
filed Sep 27
Taiwan Ministry of National Defense tracked 5 Chinese aircraft, 6 naval vessels and 5 official ships around island Friday-Saturday
Sep 26
China and the United States agreed to pursue a new military crisis communication pact
Sep 26
Taiwan tracked 5 Chinese aircraft, 6 naval vessels and 5 official ships in 24 hours to Saturday 6am
Sep 26
Taiwan tracked five PLA aircraft, six naval vessels and five official ships in 24-hour period ending Saturday
filed Sep 26
Xi told Trump to state US formally opposes, not just does not support, Taiwan independence
Sep 25
Washington summit closed with no agreement; Xi's demand that the US oppose Taiwan independence went unanswered
Sep 25
US ambassador to China says $14 billion Taiwan interceptor sale runs on Trump's own schedule, no timeline given
Sep 24
Xi to press Trump in Washington to halt weapons transfers to Taiwan
filed Sep 22
US may delay 14 billion dollar Taiwan arms sale, threat Beijing raised September 19 and has not withdrawn
filed Sep 22
US weighs delaying major Taiwan arms package ahead of Xi Jinping's Washington summit
Sep 22
Communist Party expelled two senior military officials over corruption and disloyalty
Sep 22
China's ambassador to Washington says Taiwan remains a red line Beijing will not trade away
Sep 22
Taiwan tracked four Chinese aircraft, six naval vessels and three official ships around island in 24 hours
filed Sep 21
US attack drone shipment previously rejected by another buyer is now headed to Taiwan
Sep 21
Taiwan military reported 17 PLA warships operating near the island
filed Sep 21
Washington weighs delaying 14 billion dollar Taiwan arms sale to keep Xi September 24 White House visit intact
filed Sep 20
Washington is weighing delaying a Taiwan arms sale to keep the September 24 Xi summit on track.
filed Sep 20
Washington considers delaying $14 billion Taiwan arms sale timing around September 24 Xi summit.
filed Sep 20
Washington is weighing delaying Taiwan arms sales that Beijing wants scrapped before Xi summit
filed Sep 20
Taiwan military ran live attack-drone exercises four days before Trump-Xi summit
Sep 19
China threatened the frozen 14 billion dollar Taiwan arms sale ahead of Xi-Trump summit
filed Sep 19
Taiwan tracked 28 Chinese warplanes and nine ships around the island in a single day
filed Sep 18
Defence Minister Dong Jun told the Xiangshan Forum nations should avoid provocative actions over Taiwan.
filed Sep 18
PLA general tells Xiangshan Forum provocation could speed Taiwan reunification timeline
filed Sep 18
China defence minister Dong Jun told Xiangshan Forum nations should avoid provocative actions over Taiwan
filed Sep 18
Taiwan defense ministry tracked 19 PLA aircraft and 10 vessels near the island
Sep 18
Taiwan defense ministry tracked 20 Chinese warplanes and 14 ships around the island
Sep 18
Taiwan tracked 28 Chinese aircraft and nine vessels around the island in a single day
filed Sep 16
China's Defence Minister Dong Jun tells Xiangshan Forum nations should avoid provocative actions over Taiwan
filed Sep 16
Pentagon plans drone hellscape flooding Taiwan Strait to slow PLA crossing amid expected jamming
2. Ukraine
Watch
Russia, Ukraine, NATO, United States
filed Oct 11
Trump administration lifted sanctions on Russian diesel, a day before Trump publicly criticised Zelenskyy, who called the deal a gift to Putin.
filed Oct 7
A Ukrainian drone attack on the Moscow region killed two people and injured nine, per Russian emergency services.
Oct 6
Ukraine fired its first FP-7 ballistic missile, on day 1,685 of the war, according to Euromaidan Press.
filed Oct 4
Zelenskyy vowed to hit Russian oil refineries harder in reply to the bridge strikes
filed Oct 4
Russia struck two Kyiv bridges this week and the city closed three others, leaving one of six crossings open
Oct 3
Russia struck a further major Kyiv bridge, reported by France 24 on Saturday
filed Oct 3
Russia's 2027 plan raises military spending 27 percent, the highest level of the war so far, per media reports
filed Oct 3
Russia struck Kyiv's bridges and power grid, the biggest attack on Ukraine's energy system in months, with seven killed
filed Sep 30
Russia intends to raise military spending 27 percent in 2027, the highest level of the war so far, per media reports
Sep 29
Chancellor Friedrich Merz said talks between top German and Russian envoys showed the Kremlin has no interest in ending its war
Sep 29
Kirill Dmitriev, Putin's envoy, held talks with US officials on ending the Ukraine war, including possible US-Russia energy initiatives
filed Sep 6
Envoys dispatched to Kyiv this week following talks with Vladimir Putin.
filed Sep 6
Russia and Ukraine agree mutual halt on strikes against each other's capital cities.
filed Sep 5
Ukraine ordered a truce ahead of the arrival of US envoys Witkoff and Kushner
filed Sep 5
Russia struck a Ukrainian intelligence headquarters in Kyiv hours before US envoys arrived
3. Israel and Iran
Watch
Israel, Iran, United States
filed Oct 11
Trump offered Iran a path to a nuclear deal while keeping military pressure on Tehran.
filed Oct 3
US troop surge into the Gulf put at 20,000, with Trump saying Washington must choose between striking Iran and a deal
filed Oct 3
A third US aircraft carrier is heading to the Middle East amid the Iran war, per the Guardian
filed Oct 3
Pentagon sending a third aircraft carrier to the Middle East, with about 9,000 US troops moving with it, for the Iran war
filed Oct 2
After China and Russia vetoed a UN Iran sanctions monitoring mechanism, US Ambassador Mike Waltz said Washington would build its own panel
Oct 1
China and Russia vetoed a UN mechanism to monitor Iran sanctions; US Ambassador Mike Waltz said Washington would build its own panel
Oct 1
A US official said the US military is sending roughly 9,000 troops aboard a group of ships to the Middle East.
filed Sep 30
The Pentagon is assessing which damaged Middle East bases to keep, and the US military footprint in the region is shrinking.
filed Sep 30
Iran proposed a seven-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz on day six and resume nuclear talks on day seven; Washington rejected it.
filed Sep 29
Trump was reported open to easing Iran sanctions conditional on nuclear progress, as mediators try to revive stalled talks
filed Sep 29
Trump denied offering Iran sanctions relief in exchange for nuclear concessions, after earlier reports he was open to easing sanctions
filed Sep 7
US, UK, France and Germany moved to refer Iran to UN Security Council over blocked nuclear inspections
4. South China Sea
Watch
China Coast Guard, Philippines, Vietnam, United States
filed Oct 6
Marathon ASEAN talks with China on the South China Sea are nearing their end
filed Oct 6
Beijing charged the Philippine aircraft with violating Chinese airspace in the same South China Sea encounter
filed Oct 6
Philippines called a PLA aircraft intercept of a Philippine aircraft over the South China Sea unsafe
filed Oct 4
Japan's press reported China building up Antelope Reef in the Paracels, adding concrete in the South China Sea
Oct 2
Reuters reported satellite imagery showing Chinese runway construction on Antelope Reef in the Paracel Islands gathering pace.
filed Sep 29
PLA conducted joint naval and air drills around Scarborough Shoal within days, after a standoff with the Philippines
filed Sep 28
PLA conducted joint naval and air drills around Scarborough Shoal amid tensions with the Philippines
filed Sep 28
China's military ran joint naval and air drills around Scarborough Shoal; US Embassy Manila condemned Beijing on September 27
filed Sep 27
US Embassy in Manila condemned China over the shoal standoff
filed Sep 27
China Coast Guard vessels obstructed a Philippine resupply run near Second Thomas Shoal, third obstruction since September 23
filed Sep 26
China Coast Guard obstructed a Philippine resupply mission near Second Thomas Shoal, the third such incident since September 23
filed Sep 23
China Coast Guard rammed a Philippine government vessel in the South China Sea
filed Sep 21
China Coast Guard vessel rammed a Philippine government ship in the South China Sea
Sep 20
China Coast Guard rammed a Philippine government vessel in the South China Sea
filed Sep 20
China Coast Guard vessel rammed a Philippine government ship in the South China Sea
filed Sep 19
China Coast Guard vessel rammed a Philippine ship this week
filed Sep 13
China Coast Guard fired flares at a Philippine military aircraft over a contested reef in the South China Sea
Sep 13
China Coast Guard vessels fired flares at a Philippine military aircraft over a contested reef
Sep 13
China Coast Guard vessels rammed and fired flares at Philippine assets in the South China Sea.
Sep 13
China Coast Guard fired flares at a Philippine military aircraft over a contested South China Sea reef
filed Sep 12
China Coast Guard fired flares at a Philippine military aircraft near a contested reef
filed Sep 11
Beijing foreign ministry accused Manila's defense secretary of leaking a diplomatic note, calling it grandstanding and lying
filed Sep 11
China Coast Guard fired flares at a Philippine aircraft near Scarborough Shoal
filed Sep 10
China foreign ministry summoned attention to a diplomatic note Manila allowed to leak
filed Sep 10
Chinese aircraft fired flares at a Philippine Coast Guard patrol plane this week
filed Sep 6
Chinese fighters intercepted a Philippine aircraft over contested South China Sea waters
filed Sep 6
Chinese fighters intercepted a Philippine aircraft over contested waters this week
Sep 5
Chinese fighter jet intercepted a Philippine patrol aircraft over contested South China Sea waters
5. Korean Peninsula
Watch
North Korea, South Korea, United States, Japan
Oct 4
North Korea said it tested a hypersonic missile under Kim Jong Un's supervision, a drill meant to show its nuclear deterrent is reliable
filed Sep 9
China and Russia sent anniversary messages to Kim Jong Un reaffirming strategic ties with North Korea.
filed Sep 9
North Korea commissioned its second nuclear-capable destroyer, Kang Kon, with 104 missile cells, timed to US-Japan-South Korea joint drills.
Sep 6
North Korea commissioned its second nuclear-capable destroyer, timed to start of joint US-Japan-South Korea drill
Sep 6
North Korea commissioned its second nuclear-capable destroyer as US, Japan and South Korea began a joint drill.
6. US and China: trade and technology
Watch
United States, China
Oct 1
Sources told a US outlet Washington is slowing aircraft part exports to China as Trump seeks leverage in trade negotiations
filed Oct 1
The Trump-Xi summit ended without a trade agreement, and the military safeguards in the package of eight goals remain incomplete
Sep 25
Trump-Xi Washington summit ends with no agreement, Xi's demand US oppose Taiwan independence left unanswered
filed Sep 22
Communist Party expelled two senior military officials over alleged corruption and disloyalty days before Xi's Washington summit
filed Sep 19
China has threatened to cancel the September 24 Trump-Xi summit over a 14 billion dollar Taiwan arms sale
filed Sep 14
Beijing threatens to cancel Xi's September 24 White House visit if US proceeds with new Taiwan arms sale
7. East China Sea
Watch
China, Japan
filed Sep 29
Taiwan News reported a Chinese research ship probing waters around the Diaoyutai islands, which Japan calls the Senkakus
8. Red Sea
Quiet
Houthis, shipping lines, US and allied navies
filed Sep 9
Iran threatens economic warfare against US and new Gulf exclusion zone, says it will target US warships
9. Gaza and Lebanon
Quiet
Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah
Quiet
No sourced move on the register yet.
10. India and Pakistan
Quiet
India, Pakistan, China
Quiet
No sourced move on the register yet.
The rows on this page are drawn from the sources named in the footer and may be reused with attribution to The Wang Report and to that source; the curation, the series and the annotations are The Wang Report's own. Data on this site. Named parties have a right of reply.