Panama walking out on its relationship with Taiwan to establish ties with rival China is the latest in a spate of diplomatic dumping that is leaving Taipei increasingly isolated. Beijing still sees self-ruling Taiwan as part of its territory to be reunified, while the democratic island views itself as a sovereign country, although it has … Read more
Taiwan forces simulated an invasion by China Thursday as part of live-fire war games against a backdrop of rising tensions with Beijing. The annual drills are Taiwan’s biggest military exercise and mocked up a scenario in which Chinese troops launched an amphibious assault. They took place on the outlying Penghu Islands, which sit in the … Read more
Taiwan said on Wednesday it has rejected a political asylum application from a Chinese tourist, reportedly an anti-corruption campaigner who has spent time in a mainland prison. Zhang Xiangzhong arrived on the island on April 12 for an eight-day holiday but left his tour group the next day. He was identified by local media and … Read more
A prominent Taiwanese activist-turned-lawmaker who stormed parliament in 2014 protesting a China trade pact was acquitted with 21 other demonstrators Friday over their roles in the so-called “Sunflower Movement”. The rallies three years ago, which saw thousands take to the streets and some 200 people occupy parliament for weeks, expressed growing anti-China public sentiment and … Read more
China is aiming advanced medium-range ballistic missiles at Taiwan as part of a growing military threat towards the island, Taipei’s defence minister said Monday. The announcement came after Taiwan said for the first time last week that it is capable of launching missiles at China as it warned of an increased invasion risk. China still … Read more
Taiwan said for the first time publicly that it is capable of launching missiles at China, as the government on Thursday unveiled a major defence report warning of increased risk of Chinese invasion. China still sees Taiwan as part of its territory to be brought back into its fold, by force if necessary, even though … Read more
China will “take off the gloves” and take strong action if U. S. President-elect Donald Trump continues to provoke Beijing over Taiwan once he assumes office, two leading state-run newspapers said on Monday. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal published on Friday, Trump said the “One China” policy was up for negotiation. China’s … Read more
Taiwan is upset by Nigeria’s order that it move its trade office from the capital, Abuja, to the commercial hub, Lagos in what as seen as show of support for Beijing. China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province, and does not recognise its sovereignty as an independent nation. The Taiwan trade mission office swap was … Read more
State-run Chinese tabloid Global Times warned U. S. President-elect Donald Trump that China would “take revenge” if he reneged on the one-China policy, only hours after Taiwan’s president made a controversial stopover in Houston. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen met senior U. S. Republican lawmakers during her stopover in Houston on Sunday en route to Central … Read more
China has warned that it’s “seriously concerned” after President-elect Donald Trump questioned whether the United States should keep its long-standing position that Taiwan is part of “one China.” Trump has signaled a willingness to confront Beijing, and his latest comments in an interview with Fox News suggested that he won’t hesitate to anger China until … Read more
When asked what he thinks about Donald Trump, Taiwanese politician Freddy Lim responded with a laugh. “I am not a fan,” he said, particularly when it comes to the incoming US President’s comments on women and ethnic minorities. It’s not that surprising, given that Lim, lead singer in a popular heavy metal band, is one … Read more
US President-elect Donald Trump has posted a series of tweets criticising China for its monetary policy and its operations in the South China Sea. “Did China ask us if it was OK to devalue their currency” and “build a massive military complex?” he asked. “I don’t think so!” China said both sides should “stick to … Read more
China lodged a diplomatic protest on Saturday after U. S. President-elect Donald Trump spoke by phone with President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan, but blamed the self-ruled island Beijing claims as its own for the “petty” move. The 10-minute telephone call with Taiwan’s leadership was the first by a U.S. president-elect or president since President Jimmy … Read more
President-elect Donald Trump had a 10-minute phone conversation with Taiwan’s president Tsai Ing-wen on Friday. It’s not unusual for the incoming leader of one government to have a chat with the sitting leader of another, if only to exchange pleasantries, but Trump’s call with Tsai is causing a huge diplomatic storm. A lot of speculation … Read more
We remain firmly committed to our ‘one China’ policy. The White House on Friday said there was “no change” to the United States’ longstanding “one China” policy after President-elect Donald Trump spoke with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. “We remain firmly committed to our ‘one China’ policy,” said Ned Price, a national security spokesman for President … Read more