Taiwan

Taiwan-based TSMC, the world's largest computer chip maker, plans to increase its capital spending by about 40% this year after it reported a 35% jump in its net profit for the latest quarter thanks to the boom in artificial intelligence, the company said Thursday. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp., a major supplier to companies including Nvidia and Apple, reported a net profit of 506 billion new Taiwan dollars ($16 billion) for the October-December quarter, a 35% surge from a year earlier, better than analysts' estimates. TSMC said Thursday that its revenue in the last quarter increased 21% from a year earlier to more than 1.046 trillion new Taiwan dollars ($33 billion). TSMC said it plans to boost its capital expenditure budget to $52 billion-$56 billion for 2026, up from about $40 billion last year. The company's shares have climbed more than 8% since the beginning of the year, reflecting its strong position in the AI-driven market. Other tech giants including Microsoft,

Efforts to prevent the poaching of Taiwan's talent and outflow of intellectual property appear to have intensified since President Lai Ching-te took office in 2024

A week in which longtime tensions between neighbours China and Japan ratcheted up economically end politically drew to a close with no sign of improvements Friday as the Chinese ambassador in Tokyo rebuffed his host nation and the Japanese reported delayed shipments to suppliers in China because of the spat. The two developments capped a week where China made clear its displeasure with Japan by instituting new export controls, condemning what it called Tokyo's renewed militarism and cosying up to another regional neighbour, South Korea, during its leader's visit to Beijing. On Friday, the Chinese Communist Party's flagship newspaper, People's Daily, kept the jabs coming. New militarism will lead Japan back into the abyss, it said in an editorial. History serves as a stark warning, yet the Japanese right wing is repeating its old tricks. It was the latest in several days of pointed Chinese criticism toward Japan after its prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, suggested in November that sh

In Taiwan, they say, China's military has an adversary which has prepared for years against a "decapitation operation" on its leaders, besides extensive air defences and radar capabilities

Trump also denied suggestions that a US strike on Venezuela could set a precedent for China or Russia

Of the eight, two crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern and eastern ADIZ

Earlier, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence detected the presence of five Chinese vessels, an official ship and a balloon operating around its territorial waters as of 6am (local time) on Sunday

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is set to begin his visit to China on Sunday as Beijing looks to deepen ties with the country after heightened tensions between China and Japan over Taiwan, a self-ruled island it claims as its sovereign territory. Lee's four-day trip is his first visit to China since taking office in June. It comes at a time of heightened tensions between China and Japan, after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in November said that her country's military could get involved if China were to take action against Taiwan. During his stay, Lee will meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, their second meeting in just two months. Lee signals commitment to China's ties ------------------------------------------ Ahead of his trip, Lee gave an interview to China's state broadcaster CCTV at Seoul's Cheong Wa Dae, the presidential office also known as the Blue House. Lee was quoted as saying that it was his first interview held in the presidential palace and th

The South Korean leader also discussed trade relations, highlighting that both nations are closely connected economically and can benefit from expanding cooperation in emerging industries

China's recent large-scale military exercises around Taiwan have triggered widespread disruption to regional air travel, prompting renewed concerns

China's new large-scale military drills surrounding Taiwan has drawn sharp international criticism, with governments and lawmakers warning that China's actions risk destabilising the Indo-Pacific

Since Lai took office in May 2024, China has escalated pressure on archipelago of 23 million people it regards as its territory

The latest detection comes a day after China launched large-scale joint military drills around Taiwan, deploying its army, navy, air force and rocket forces

Donald Trump said he was not concerned about China's military drills near Taiwan, adding that he did not believe Chinese President Xi Jinping intended to attack Taiwan

For a second day, China's military on Tuesday dispatched air, navy and missile units to conduct joint live-fire drills around the island of Taiwan, which Beijing called a stern warning against separatist and external interference forces. Taiwan said it was placing forces on alert and called the Chinese government the biggest destroyer of peace. Taiwan's aviation authority said more than 100,000 international air travelers would be affected by flight cancellations or diversions. The two days of drills dubbed Justice Mission 2025 came after Beijing expressed outrage at what could be the largest-ever U.S. arms sale to the self-ruled territory, and at a statement by Japan's prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, saying its military could get involved if China takes action against Taiwan. China says Taiwan must come under its rule. China's military did not mention the United States and Japan in its statement on Monday, but Beijing's foreign ministry accused Taiwan's ruling party of trying to

Taiwan on Monday condemned China's joint military drills around the island, disregarding international norms and using military intimidation to threaten neighbouring countries. Taiwan's Defence Ministry on Monday said in a post on X that rapid response exercises were underway, with forces on high alert to defend the island In a separate statement, it said it had deployed appropriate forces in response, conducting combat readiness drills. The Chinese Communist Party's targeted military exercises further confirm its nature as an aggressor and the biggest destroyer of peace, the ministry said. Monday's drills heightened tensions on both sides. Karen Kuo, spokesperson for the Taiwanese president's office, said the operation was undermining the stability and security of the Taiwan Strait and Indo-Pacific region and openly challenging international law and order. Our country strongly condemns the Chinese authorities for disregarding international norms and using military intimidation t

The Chinese military said on Monday it was dispatching air, navy and rocket troops to conduct joint military drills around Taiwan to warn against what it called separatist and "external interference" forces. The drills came after Beijing expressed anger at a statement by Japan's prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, that its military could get involved if China were to take action against Taiwan, the self-governing island that the world's second-biggest economy says must come under its rule. But the Chinese military did not mention Japan in its statement on Monday morning. Taiwan, an island off the southeastern coast of China, separated from the mainland in 1949 amid Civil War. It has operated since then with its own government, though the mainland's government claims it as sovereign territory.

The epicenter was off Taiwan's northeastern coast, some 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) east of Yilan County, according to the agency's preliminary reading based on the Richter scale

China on Friday announced strong countermeasures against several US defence companies and senior executives in response to Washington's recent decision to approve large-scale arms sales to Taiwan, Global Times reported.The Chinese Foreign Ministry said it will impose sanctions on 20 US defence-related companies and 10 senior executives who have been involved in supplying weapons to Taiwan in recent years. The action has been taken under China's Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law and will come into effect immediately.According to the ministry, the targeted companies include Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, L3Harris Maritime Services, Boeing in St. Louis, Gibbs & Cox, Advanced Acoustic Concepts, VSE Corporation, Sierra Technical Services, Red Cat Holdings, Teal Drones, ReconCraft, High Point Aerotechnologies, Epirus, Dedrone Holdings, Area-I, Blue Force Technologies, Dive Technologies, Vantor, Intelligent Epitaxy Technology, Rhombus Power and Lazarus Enterprises.Under the sanctions, .

Under the sanctions, the affected companies' all assets within China will be frozen and Chinese organisations and individuals are also prohibited from conducting transactions with these firms