10 h. ago Taiwan faces possible Beijing squeeze after US quits WHO and other agencies

The United States’ decision to withdraw from dozens of UN and other international organisations may have dealt another blow to Taiwan’s efforts to raise its global profile amid mounting pressure from Beijing. While Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te’s government has sought to play down the impact, observers have warned that Washington’s retreat could further squeeze the island’s already narrow international space. US President Donald Trump on January 7 ordered the US to exit 66 international...

Politics

47 h. ago Lutnick warns Taipei to keep Trump ‘happy’ as US$500 billion chip deal draws China rebuke

Blending economic nationalism with geopolitical leverage, US President Donald Trump’s top trade official delivered a pointed message to Taiwan shortly after Washington announced an ambitious deal on Thursday to bring critical technology manufacturing, including semiconductors, back to the United States. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick framed the massive reshoring initiative as not just a business transaction, but as a strategic imperative for Taiwan to maintain favour with the “America...

Events

47 h. ago Lutnick warns Taipei to keep Trump ‘happy’ as US chip deal draws Beijing rebuke

Blending economic nationalism with geopolitical leverage, US President Donald Trump’s top trade official delivered a pointed message to Taiwan shortly after Washington announced an ambitious deal on Thursday to bring critical technology manufacturing, including semiconductors, back to the United States. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick framed the massive reshoring initiative as not just a business transaction, but as a strategic imperative for Taiwan to maintain favour with the “America...

Events

5 d. ago Chinese FM refutes Taiwan regional authorities' 'clumsy political performance' concerning China

Chinese FM refutes Taiwan regional authorities' 'clumsy political performance' concerning China-AU joint press release  Global Times

Politics

6 d. ago Maduro's capture was also a message to China as US moves to push Beijing out of the Americas

Maduro's capture was also a message to China as US moves to push Beijing out of the Americas  Telegraph India

Politics

7 d. ago Taiwan to fortify critical facilities and ramp up ammunition output to ward off PLA pressure

Taiwan will double down on strengthening key facilities, including defences against drones, and ramp up ammunition production to withstand growing pressure from the mainland, according to senior officials on the island. Taiwanese Vice-Premier Cheng Li-chiun said on Thursday that the government would continue to reinforce critical infrastructure and defences against unmanned aerial vehicles. “Taiwan must be more fully prepared, especially in the face of the possibility of various new forms of...

Events

1 week ago Bid to change Taiwan law that prompted Beijing to warn of war risk falls at first hurdle

A controversial plan to change Taiwan’s law governing relations with mainland China, which critics said could edge the island towards “de jure independence”, appears to have collapsed within days. The failure of the draft legislation to even reach the legislature’s agenda committee underscored the sensitivity of the issue amid mounting pressure from Beijing, which warned on Sunday that a declaration of independence would mean war. The initiative to amend the Act Governing Relations Between the...

Events

1 week ago Beijing warns of war over Taiwan ruling party’s move to rebrand cross

Beijing has warned that a proposal by Taiwanese lawmakers to amend legislation is a move aimed at “de jure independence” for the island, heightening the risk of war. “This proposal disregards the mainstream public opinion in Taiwan publicly challenges the historical and legal fact that Taiwan is part of China, and blatantly promotes ‘de jure Taiwan independence’,” Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Chen Binhua said on Sunday. “Taiwan independence means war. We have full confidence and sufficient...

Events

1 week ago New KMT chair hopes to take peace message to Beijing while on Taiwan political tightrope

A plan by the chairwoman of Taiwan’s main opposition party to visit Beijing – where she hopes to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping – early this year carries hopes of improving communication amid high tension between the two sides of the strait. While supporters portray Cheng Li-wun’s trip as a potential opening to ease cross-strait tensions, critics warn it risks signalling political alignment with Beijing at a time of rising military pressure. Cheng, who was elected chairwoman of the Kuomintang...

Politics

2 w. ago Beijing pledges with ‘utmost sincerity’ to continue push to reunite peacefully with Taiwan

Beijing will continue to push for peaceful reunification with Taiwan with the “utmost sincerity”, according to a new year’s message from a senior official delivered days after the People’s Liberation Army concluded large-scale drills around the island. Mainland China had strengthened its capacity to safeguard peace and security over the past year and would take more forceful action to oppose separatism and external interference this year, Song Tao, the head of Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office,...

Politics

2 w. ago US urges Beijing to end military pressure against Taiwan, ‘engage in meaningful dialogue’

The US State Department on Thursday urged Beijing to end intimidating military moves in the area around Taiwan that it said creates needless anxiety and stress. Washington’s New Year’s Day message followed a two-day live-fire exercise that Beijing wrapped up on Tuesday, dubbed Justice Mission 2025, that played out on a more extensive scale than its predecessors. “China’s military activities and rhetoric towards Taiwan and others in the region increase tensions unnecessarily,” said Tommy Pigott,...

Events

2 w. ago China’s Wang Yi takes aim at Japan in call with South Korean foreign minister

With less than a week to go until a presidential summit, China’s top diplomat has used talks with his South Korean counterpart to reassert Beijing’s stand on Taiwan and take aim at Tokyo. In a phone call with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Wednesday, China’s Wang Yi raised the spectre of Japan’s colonial past to get support for his country’s position on Taiwan. Wang accused “certain political forces in Japan” of trying to “reverse the course of history and whitewash [the country’s]...

Politics

2 w. ago ‘Hong Kong has lived up to expectations,’ Beijing says in New Year message

Beijing’s top office overseeing Hong Kong affairs said on New Year’s Day that the city’s administration had lived up to expectations, stressing its effective response to the deadly Tai Po fire demonstrated unity and resilience. Acknowledging President Xi Jinping’s New Year wishes for the city, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also pledged in a social media post on Thursday that the city must focus on its priorities, promote high-quality development, further deepen reforms and open up. The Hong...

Politics

2 w. ago World welcomes 2026 with fireworks, lightshows and hopes for peace

As Wednesday turned to Thursday, people around the world said goodbye to a sometimes challenging 2025 and expressed hopes for the new year to come. In Croatia, revels got off to an early start. Since 2000, the town of Fuzine has held its countdown at noon, a tradition that has since spread across the country. Crowds cheered, toasted each other with champagne and danced to music – all in the middle of the day. Some brave souls in Santa hats took a plunge into the icy waters of Lake...

Events

2 w. ago New Year’s Eve revellers hope for peace as crowds flock to Hong Kong lights show

Hundreds of Hongkongers and tourists have begun flocking to the streets of Central as excitement builds to usher in 2026, with many saying they hope the new year might bring world peace and avoid a repeat of the deadly Tai Po fire. The Post saw staff for the area’s countdown event and police officers moving barricades and other equipment at around 6pm on Wednesday. Authorities opted for a lights show instead of fireworks following the recent inferno. Some of the first to gather in Central were...

Politics

2 w. ago Hong Kong’s New Year revellers pack Central, Tsim Sha Tsui, pray for world peace

Tens of thousands of Hongkongers and tourists flocked to the streets of Central and Tsim Sha Tsui to usher in 2026, with many praying for world peace and a disaster-free 2026. The Post observed that by 10pm, large sections of the Cater Road pedestrian area designated for the celebrations replacing the city’s traditional fireworks display were packed with revellers, with police seen directing people to different areas. Shortly thereafter, the Hong Kong Tourism Board issued a statement encouraging...

Politics

2 w. ago Hong Kong rings in 2026 as tens of thousands pack Central, Tsim Sha Tsui

Tens of thousands of Hongkongers and tourists welcomed the new year, as cheers rang across the streets of Central and Tsim Sha Tsui, with many praying for world peace and a disaster-free 2026. People could be seen cheering, dancing and even popping a bottle of champagne on Chater Road, where the main event was held. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also joined the celebrations there. “This year’s countdown event, themed ‘New Hope, New Beginning’, conveyed positive energy and blessings. I also...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump says Zelensky and Putin ‘serious about peace’ in Ukraine war talks sprint

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met US President Donald Trump on Sunday, hoping to forge a plan to end the war in Ukraine, but the American leader’s call with Russian President Vladimir Putin just before the meeting suggests obstacles to peace remain. Zelensky has said he hopes to soften a US proposal for Ukrainian forces to withdraw completely from the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, a Russian demand that would mean ceding some territory held by Ukrainian forces. Just before Zelensky...

Politics

2 w. ago What next for Taiwan’s Lai as US$37 billion defence boost frozen by KMT, allies?

Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te’s plan to push through a NT$1.2 trillion (US$37 billion) special military spending package has been thrown into limbo as political clashes escalate over fiscal reform and a controversial court ruling. Taiwan’s opposition-controlled legislature has blocked the cabinet-proposed “Special Act on Strengthening Defence Resilience and Asymmetric Warfare Capabilities” from committee review four times since Lai unveiled the plan in late November. The procedural...

Economics

3 w. ago Message to Beijing? Japan approves historic $58B defence spend as China

Message to Beijing? Japan approves historic $58B defence spend as China-Taiwan tensions boil  MSN

Economics