TAIPEI—A last-minute effort by Taiwan’s opposition parties to combine forces in a coming presidential election has crumbled in spectacular fashion, increasing the likelihood that the island democracy will continue as a central flashpoint in ties between the U.S. and China. Taiwan’s main opposition Nationalist Party, also known as the Kuomintang, struck a surprise deal last… Continue reading China’s Best Hope for the Taiwan Presidential Election Just Fell Apart
The recent blocking of Wu Xiaobo, one of China’s most prominent economic commentators, from Weibo for commenting about the country’s stock market and unemployment rate suggests that there is increasing unease among the Chinese leadership that the economy is heading into a slump and want to keep negative news about the economy under control. Online… Continue reading China’s Increasing Censorship of Negative Economic News
SHANGHAI — Wang Yi, China’s top diplomat, on Monday told visiting U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Washington should refrain from interfering in Beijing’s internal affairs and lift its unilateral sanctions against his country’s science and technology development. Wang, who heads the Foreign Affairs Commission Office of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, also… Continue reading U.S. Secretary of State Blinken to meet China’s Xi later Monday
Water challenge comes as island pushes to maintain ‘silicon shield’ against China TAIPEI — Taiwan, home to Asia’s biggest semiconductor industry, is once again bracing for water shortages less than two years after overcoming its worst drought in a century. Chipmaking is a thirsty business. Take Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the world’s biggest contract chipmaker,… Continue reading Taiwan Braces for Drought in Key Chip Hubs Again
Global militarisation has increased rapidly over the course of the 21st century, with a clear recalibration towards the Asia Pacific. Between 2000 and 2021, annual military spending increased from $1.12trn (in 2020 dollar terms) to $2.11trn. In that time, the share of global defence spending in Asia and Oceania increased from 18% to 28%, according… Continue reading The Asia-Pacific flashpoints fuelling an arms race across the region
The Taiwanese leader’s 10-day visit to Central America will also include two US stopovers China calls US transits a ‘provocation’, says Tsai should ‘behave herself’ Beijing has warned that it will “resolutely hit back” if a planned meeting between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy goes ahead during her transit through… Continue reading Beijing will ‘resolutely hit back’ if Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen meets US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy
Switch in official recognition comes a week after Honduran President Xiomara Castro tweeted about imminent change Taipei left with just 13 diplomatic allies after ninth nation severs ties since President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016 Beijing announced formal ties with Honduras on Sunday – hours after the Central American nation officially cut decades-old ties… Continue reading Beijing sets up formal ties with Honduras in yet another diplomatic blow for Taiwan
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy confirmed he will be meeting the Taiwanese leader in the US this year, Bloomberg report says As Beijing voices ‘serious concern’, Chinese observers say military drills like those following Nancy Pelosi’s Taipei visit cannot be ruled out Beijing has expressed grave concerns over Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s reported plans to meet the US… Continue reading Beijing ‘seriously concerned’ as Taiwan’s Tsai Ing-wen reportedly set to meet US House Speaker on transit stop
Taiwan’s foreign minister traveled to the U.S. this week for an unusual high-level meeting with senior American officials in the Washington area. Photos and video from Taiwan’s state-run Central News Agency showed Foreign Minister Joseph Wu and National Security Council chief Wellington Koo waving as they left the Washington headquarters of the American Institute in… Continue reading Taiwan Foreign Minister Held High-Level Meeting in Washington
Covid-19 situation across the strait, and concern at home sparked by Taiwan’s reopening for travel, have put strain on medicine supplies Taiwan may restrict the bulk buying of pain relief medications as people stock up, with some planning to ship their purchases to China, where the worsened Covid-19 situation has put a strain on supplies.… Continue reading Taiwan may restrict Panadol sales to thwart bulk-buying for China
