An annual forum that brings together officials and business representatives from Shanghai and Taipei went ahead on Tuesday after Taiwan denied entry to some mainland Chinese attendees. Speaking at the 15th Taipei-Shanghai Twin-City Forum at a Taipei hotel, Shanghai’s vice-mayor Hua Yuan pledged to encourage people from his city to go on group tours to … Read more
His promotion of the “mutual non-subordination” theory to define Taiwan’s relationship with Beijing has raised concerns among observers, who fear it could further strain cross-strait ties and potentially lead to conflict. In his three major speeches on cross-strait relations since taking office, Lai has consistently stressed his view that the two sides of the Taiwan … Read more
A small tour group from mainland China embarked on a three-day trip to a Taiwan-governed archipelago on Friday, becoming the first group tour to visit the islands since Beijing loosened travel restrictions following the Covid-19 pandemic. A seven-member tour group departed from a pier in Fuzhou, capital of Fujian province, and arrived in the Matsu … Read more
“These [real-life battlefield] scenarios guide officers and soldiers to validate through exercises the feasibility of joint operation plans and the ability of all military units to execute these plans in a real combat situation,” the ministry said in an earlier statement. This is also the first Han Kuang exercise since William Lai Ching-te – branded … 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 decisions are a response to large-scale war games conducted by the People’s Liberation Army last month – called Joint Sword-2024A – that simulated a blockade of Taiwan and its defence outposts of Quemoy and Matsu. There have also been multiple incidents of civilian mainland Chinese drones entering Quemoy in recent years. Han Kuang, Taiwan’s … Read more
Beijing views the self-governed island as its territory that must be brought under its control, by force if necessary. Most countries, including the United States, do not recognise Taiwan as independent, but are opposed to unilateral change of the cross-strait status quo by force. Cross-strait relations, already strained over the past eight years, deteriorated further … Read more
The measures encompass a wide range of sectors including industry collaboration, trade facilitation, professional qualification recognition, real estate investment and education. Song Tao, director of Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, told the trade fair’s opening ceremony that the mainland economy continues to rebound from the start of the year, “showing massive innovative vitality and bright prospects”. … Read more
Since late February, the mainland coastguard has deployed several dozen ships in at least nine missions to patrol the waters surrounding Quemoy and Matsu, another of Taiwan’s defence outposts. 02:20 Two mainland Chinese fishermen drown after Taiwan coastguard pursuit Two mainland Chinese fishermen drown after Taiwan coastguard pursuit These patrols, which were previously rare, were … Read more
Taiwan will kick off a series of live-fire military drills next month in the area around its offshore islets, including Quemoy, a source of mounting friction between Taipei and Beijing following a series of recent marine incidents. The Kinmen Defence Command under the Taiwanese army will stage artillery exercises to bolster combat readiness at seven … Read more
