Page 7 - Taiwan

China slams Taiwan's President Lai for speech mentioning independence

China's fear is that Lai will go beyond those words and formalise independence with steps such as writing it into the constitution

China sends scores of warplanes across central line in Taiwan Strait

China sent 74 warplanes toward Taiwan between late Thursday and early Friday, 61 of which crossed the central line in the Taiwan Strait that unofficially divides the sides, an unusually large number as tensions remained heightened in the region. It wasn't clear why so many planes were scrambled between late Thursday and early Friday, as tabulated by Taiwan's Defence Ministry. The planes were sent in two separate tranches, it added. China considers Taiwan its own territory and uses such deployments to advertise its threat to encircle and possibly invade the self-governing island. China also hopes to intimidate Taiwan's population of 23 million and wear down its equipment and the morale of its armed forces. On Thursday, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed and welcomed the transit of the British Royal Navy's off-shore patrol craft HMS Spey through the Taiwan Strait a day earlier. The ship's transit, the ministry said, once again (reaffirmed the Strait's) status as ...

NZ Prime Minister Luxon discusses trade with Chinese Prez Xi jinping

The prime minister of New Zealand stressed the importance of his country's trade ties with China in a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Friday. Christopher Luxon, on his first visit to China since becoming prime minister in late 2023, flew to Beijing after two days of meetings with officials and business leaders in Shanghai, China's commercial centre. He wants to maintain healthy trade relations with China, an important market for New Zealand products, despite differences over regional and global security issues and China's growing divide with the United States. Our trade and economic links are complementary and contribute to prosperity in both countries, he was quoted as saying in a news release following his meeting with Xi. Luxon said he raised the necessity of reducing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region and the importance of what he called the key role that China can play in helping to resolve global challenges such as the war in Ukraine. In a complex world, open dial

Taiwan prez instructs military to boost surveillance to counter China

President Lai said the United States Indo-Pacific Command has raised its Force Protection Condition level across the region

US-China tech fight widens after Taiwan blacklists Huawei, chipmaker SMIC

Taipei this month added Huawei Technologies Co. and its main chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. to its entity list, barring the island's firms from doing business with the pair

Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn's India share in global assets hits 11%

From outside the top 5 to third place globally in two years, India now outpaces Taiwan, US, and Mexico

Taiwan adds China's Huawei, SMIC to export control list amid trade tensions

Taiwan's Commerce Ministry has added Chinese chipmakers Huawei Technologies and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) to its export control list, as trade and technology frictions between the self-ruled island, China and the United States increase. Inclusion on the strategic high-tech commodities list means Taiwanese companies will need to obtain export permits before selling goods to the respective companies. Other entities on the list include organizations such as the Taliban and al-Qaeda, as well as other companies in China, Iran and elsewhere. The export control entities list was last updated on Sunday. Neither Huawei nor SMIC initially commented on their inclusion. Huawei and SMIC have both been sanctioned by the US. The two companies are producing China's most advanced homegrown artificial intelligence chips in an effort to compete with US-based Nvidia and supply Chinese tech firms with the much-needed chips amid export curbs. Taiwan is home the world's larges

Chinese aircrafts and vessels detected around Taiwanese territory

Taiwan's Ministry of Defence said it detected 15 sorties of Chinese aircraft and seven Chinese vessels operating around its territorial waters as of 6am (local time) on Friday.Of the 15 aircraft, nine entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ (Air Defence Identification Zone).In a post on X, the MND said, "15 sorties of PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 9 out of 15 sorties entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly."On Thursday, the MND said it detected 10 sorties of Chinese aircraft and seven Chinese vessels.In a post on X, the MND said, "10 sorties of PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 8 out of 10 sorties entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly."US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth stated on Tuesday that China poses a

Earthquake of 5.9 magnitude rattles Taiwan; no loss of life reported

The quake hit seconds after cell phone alarms went off at 7:01 pm Buildings in the capital of Taipei shook for about a minute. There were no immediate reports of major damage

Taiwan detects 43 Chinese aircraft, 6 naval vessels in its territory

Twenty-five sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern, central and southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone

Why US-China tariff tensions are troubling these Taiwanese PC giants

MSI and Gigabyte rush shipments to the US ahead of July 9, when a trade truce reducing tariffs on Chinese exports is set to expire, threatening costs and supply chains

China: Warrants for alleged Taiwanese hackers issued, business banned

China issued warrants on Thursday for 20 Taiwanese people it said carried out hacking missions in the Chinese mainland on behalf of the island's ruling party, while separately banning dealings with a Taiwanese company whose owners mainland authorities called hardcore Taiwan independence supporters". Police in the southern manufacturing hub of Guangzhou said they were led by a man named Ning Enwei on behalf of Taiwan's independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party but did not identify their alleged crimes. Meanwhile, China's government said all commercial contact had been banned with the Sicuens International Company Ltd., which it says are led by businessman Puma Shen and his father, calling the two men independence supports. Websites mentioning Sicuens say it specializes in sourcing bicycle parts from China. Shen is also the head of the Kuma Academy, an organization that encourages Taiwanese people to prepare for possible invasion. China considers Taiwan its own territory, to

What are China's grey zone tactics, and why Taiwan is vary of them?

China uses hybrid tactics-military drills, economic leverage, and psychological pressure-to steadily reshape Taiwan's security landscape while avoiding direct confrontation

India and Taiwan: Charles Li's book offers key insights on bilateral ties

By giving up diplomatic relations with Taiwan and recognising PRC, India has voluntarily limited its negotiating space with China

Taiwan spots PLA jets, 10 warships near its waters; one enters ADIZ zone

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) is planning to introduce stricter regulations requiring civil servants at all levels to report or seek approval before visiting China or its territories

Taiwan's President pledges to buy more American goods as 32% tariff looms

Taiwan's president on Tuesday pledged to buy more American goods, including natural gas and oil, as the self-governing island seeks closer ties with the US while threatened with a 32% tariff from the Trump administration. By purchasing more US products that also include weapons and agricultural goods, Taiwan would not only create "more balanced bilateral trade" with the US but also boost its energy autonomy and resilience, said Lai Ching-te, the island's leader, while hosting a US congressional delegation. Lai also said the island would be willing to participate in US efforts to reindustrialise and lead the world in artificial intelligence. Rep. Bruce Westerman, chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, told Lai that the US produces a lot of food and fibre and is "always looking for more friends to share that with." Trade and economic ties between Taiwan and the US have grown closer in recent years. The island faces rising pressure from China, which sees the island as part of

Taiwan MND detects over 60 sorties of Chinese aircraft in its territory

From early morning until 8:15 am (UTC+8), a total of 61 PLA aircraft sorties and several naval vessels were detected, with many aircraft crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait

Why China's J-10C fighter jets should be a concern for US and Taiwan

US still leads in military aircraft, outnumbering several nations combined, but much of its fleet is ageing as China's air force rapidly expands, according to World Air Forces 2025 report

Taiwan sees 15 sorties of Chinese aircraft, eight vessels in its territory

According to Taiwan's MND, 15 out of the 15 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ)

China's small boat landings on Taiwan spark new security concerns

China has long sought to intimidate Taiwan with its massive navy, air force and the world's largest standing army, but it's mere dinghies that are now causing the most consternation. Taiwan's coast guard has documented five cases totalling 38 Chinese citizens crossing the 160-kilometre (100-mile) wide Taiwan Strait separating the self-governing island democracy from the authoritarian Chinese mainland, according to the body's deputy director-general Hsieh Ching-chin. That includes at least one case posted to Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, in which a man speaking with a strong mainland Chinese accent is seen planting a Chinese flag on what he says is a Taiwanese beach. Scenes in the background appear to show a stretch of coastline south of the capital Taipei. China claims Taiwan as its own territory, to be conquered by force if necessary. The man has not been found or publicly identified, and Taiwanese authorities are seeking to ascertain whether he received help from anyone o