US president-elect Donald Trump made Taiwan a focal point of his 2024 campaign, advocating increased defence spending by the island and casting a critical eye on its semiconductor dominance. While some Taiwanese officials have dismissed these statements as campaign rhetoric, Trump’s repeated calls for Taiwan to pay “protection fees” and increase its defence spending to … Read more
Revelations that a US defence contractor overcharged Taiwan hundreds of millions of dollars sparked concerns that the island has been treated like a “sucker”, prompting Taipei, in turn, to decry what it says are efforts to manipulate anti-US scepticism. The price gouging came to light this year after a US federal audit of RTX, formerly … Read more
Taiwan’s only memorial to wartime “comfort women” has been removed after the land it stood on was sold at auction, according to Taiwanese media. The removal of the statue – which commemorated atrocities committed by the Japanese military during World War II – comes as the island’s leadership continues its drive to erase common historical … Read more
They give lawmakers greater oversight powers over the executive branch, similar to those of the US Congress. They also allow deputies to request information and documents from government agencies, the military, and other bodies and individuals. The legislation also requires the president to deliver an annual address on the state of the island and respond … Read more
Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the United States, Taiwan’s top weapons supplier, do not recognise the island as an independent state. However, Washington is opposed to any attempt to take Taiwan by force and is committed to arming it. Fujian is located just … Read more
The opposition’s legislative package moves the Taiwanese legislature closer to holding an oversight role similar to the US Congress, with measures that include an expansion of lawmakers’ investigative powers. The new laws establish “contempt of the legislature” as an offence, with a maximum penalty of a NT$200,000 (US$6,170) fine. This will criminalise public officials and … Read more
It was all part of a concerted effort by the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and the smaller Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) – which together form the legislative majority – to increase scrutiny of government agencies and officials. Since losing its legislative majority earlier this year, the independence-leaning DPP has faced successive setbacks in the advance … Read more
Beijing has named a handful of Taiwanese influencers to a list of people it plans to target with punitive measures, accusing them of “fabricating fake and negative information” about mainland China’s development and provoking cross-strait tensions. On Wednesday, Chen Binhua, a spokesman for Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, listed five people, saying that a small number … Read more
His remarks came amid soaring cross-strait tensions. Beijing has denounced Lai as a “troublemaker” and an “obstinate separatist”, and has tried to downplay the significance of the ruling party’s electoral victory. The DPP won just 40 per cent of the ballot and lost its majority in the legislature. Earlier this month, Taiwan’s former leader Ma … Read more
The following week, mainland Chinese coastguard troops boarded and searched a Taiwanese cruise ship near Quemoy. Two Taiwanese fishermen were also detained on March 18, one of whom was handed back. The other remains in mainland custody after being found to be a Taiwanese soldier. Given Quemoy’s proximity to the mainland, Taiwan would probably struggle … Read more
