Does a deal over 2 fishermen mean Taiwan and mainland China are ready to restart talks?

Does a deal over 2 fishermen mean Taiwan and mainland China are ready to restart talks?

But analysts remain cautious, saying neither is willing to compromise on the most critical issue. 02:20 Two mainland Chinese fishermen drown after Taiwan coastguard pursuit Two mainland Chinese fishermen drown after Taiwan coastguard pursuit Under the agreement reached on Tuesday, Taiwan agreed to compensate the victims’ families, apologise, and repatriate the bodies of the two … Read more

Mainland China and Taiwan reach deal to resolve crisis over fishing crew deaths near Quemoy

Mainland China and Taiwan reach deal to resolve crisis over fishing crew deaths near Quemoy

Mainland and Taiwanese officials met soon after the incident, holding 15 rounds of talks, but the negotiations stalled in March. The incident added fuel to the flames of cross-strait relations, with the Taiwanese coastguard accusing the men of trespassing in restricted waters and mainland officials accusing the island’s authorities of “rough dispersal of the fishing … Read more

Taiwan hosts international anti-Chinese Communist Party coalition conference

Taiwan hosts international anti-Chinese Communist Party coalition conference

Earlier, it announced that Taiwanese government officials and world-leading experts would attend the gathering, which will be conducted in Japanese, Mandarin, English and Spanish. Taiwan’s foreign ministry confirmed on Monday that the island’s leader, William Lai Ching-te, would deliver an opening address, while his deputy, Hsiao Bi-khim, would attend the conference’s press event. During their … Read more

William Lai pushes for Taiwanese identity to stand up to Beijing. But how far will he go?

William Lai pushes for Taiwanese identity to stand up to Beijing. But how far will he go?

The remark was a reference to a long-abandoned plan by the Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek to “recover” the mainland after his Kuomintang (KMT) forces lost a civil war with the Communists and fled to the island in 1949 to set up an interim government. Before he died in 1975, Chiang had vowed to use Taiwan … Read more

5 months after fishermen deaths off Quemoy, can Beijing and Taiwan put tragedy to rest?

5 months after fishermen deaths off Quemoy, can Beijing and Taiwan put tragedy to rest?

While the talks scheduled for Wednesday on Quemoy were postponed because of Typhoon Gaemi, Taiwanese media reports and Beijing’s latest tone on the tragedy have signalled signs of progress. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Office said that the family members of the deceased and the mainland delegation could not arrive as scheduled because all marine transport had … Read more

Taiwan’s ‘options limited’ as Beijing steps up grey zone pressure from skies to sea

Taiwan’s ‘options limited’ as Beijing steps up grey zone pressure from skies to sea

In the latest such face-off, a mainland Chinese research ship came within 20 nautical miles (37km) of Taiwan’s northeastern Yilan county on July 7 before being warned off by Taiwanese coastguard. The Tan Kah Kee, also known as the Jia Geng, is a 3,600-tonne seismic vessel equipped with acoustic sensors and weather radars, and is … Read more

Taiwan holds last Chiang Kai-shek honour guard as William Lai leads moves to erase legacy

Taiwan holds last Chiang Kai-shek honour guard as William Lai leads moves to erase legacy

“Removing the cult of personality and ending worshipping of authoritarianism is the goal of promoting transitional justice at the present stage,” the ministry said earlier in a statement clarifying the decision. Taiwan’s culture minister, Li Yuan, celebrated the move in a Facebook post on Monday. “A small step like this took 44 years to achieve,” … Read more

Former Taiwanese vice-premier turned senior official steps down amid bribery probe

Former Taiwanese vice-premier turned senior official steps down amid bribery probe

A senior Taiwanese official involved in mainland affairs has resigned as head of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) following a bribery investigation. Cheng Wen-tsan, a former vice-premier of Taiwan who became chairman of the foundation under the Mainland Affairs Council on June 7, announced his resignation on Sunday, saying he did not want to disrupt … Read more

Taiwan dials down rhetoric over fishing boat seizure, urges caution in ‘sensitive waters’

Taiwan dials down rhetoric over fishing boat seizure, urges caution in ‘sensitive waters’

It follows the interception of the Da Jin Man 88 fishing boat by two mainland coastguard vessels late on Tuesday. Mainland officers boarded the boat for inspection and instructed the Taiwanese captain and four crew members – one Taiwanese and three Indonesians – to head towards the mainland coastal city of Jinjiang in Fujian province. … Read more

China Coast Guard detains Taiwanese fishing boat and 5 crew members near Quemoy

China Coast Guard detains Taiwanese fishing boat and 5 crew members near Quemoy

Mainland officers boarded the boat for inspection and told the captain and crew to navigate towards the mainland coastal city of Jinjiang in Fujian province. The Taiwanese coastguard tried to intervene but the mainland sent seven vessels in two groups to block them. After a tense stand-off lasting about 50 minutes, the Taiwanese side ceased … Read more