Philippines Eyes Closer Military Ties with Taiwan
Richard Sanders, Singapore — The Philippines is actively pursuing deeper security cooperation with Taiwan and a broader coalition of nations committed to deterring what Manila describes as China’s “nefarious plans” in the region, Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro declared over the weekend. Speaking on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in…
Antichrist talk with Palantir’s Peter Thiel scrapped
Frank Williams, Kampot The Vienna Festival cancelled a scheduled appearance of US-German tech mogul Peter Thiel after facing mounting criticism from its sponsors and a mass exodus of other participants. The co-founder of PayPal and Palantir Technologies, widely known for his controversial right-wing and “transhumanist” views, was expected to participate in a discussion titled ‘Armageddon…
Taiwan Vows Stronger Defenses and Economic Resilience Against China’s Growing Pressure
Francis Tuschek, Taipei, May 31, 2026 — Taiwan’s President William Lai declared Friday that the island will accelerate efforts to strengthen its military capabilities and economic resilience in the face of escalating threats from Beijing, framing the strategy as one of deterrence through strength rather than provocation. Speaking at the Presidential and Youth Forum hosted…
Trump to step up Cuba regime change campaign – lessons for Taiwan
Frank Williams, Kampot US President Donald Trump is set to escalate Washington’s economic pressure campaign on Cuba in an attempt to force regime change, Axios reported on Friday, citing sources. The island is already enduring near-total fuel starvation and daily blackouts stretching up to 20 hours. The US has thus far opted for a phased…
Iran Signals Possible Fees on Undersea Cables
Richard Sanders, Taipei Iran has signaled that it may begin charging fees for the use of undersea communication cables passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a move that has intensified concerns over the security of digital infrastructure in the Persian Gulf. Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesman for the operational command of the Iranian Armed Forces, said Tehran…
China restricts travel for AI talent – Bloomberg
Frank Williams, Phnom Penh China is restricting overseas travel for leading AI specialists from companies including Alibaba and DeepSeek, as Beijing pushes for greater self-reliance in artificial intelligence, robotics, and semiconductors, Bloomberg has reported. Citing anonymous sources, the outlet claimed on Tuesday that Chinese authorities have begun requiring advanced AI researchers, executives, startup founders, and…
Pope demands AI weapons be ‘disarmed’
Richard Sanders, Taipei Pope Leo XIV has issued a sweeping warning on the dangers of artificial intelligence in warfare, arguing that the technology is helping to “normalize war” and shifting decisions of life and death to opaque “technological actors” beyond democratic control. The American-born pontiff set out his concerns in a major encyclical released on…
US defense delegation visits Taipei
Richard Sanders, Taipei The US-Taiwan Business Council (USTBC) today announced that its 9th annual defense delegation will take place May 26-29, 2026. Led by General (Ret.) Charles A. Flynn, the delegation of 41 senior executives is visiting Taiwan to promote expanded bilateral cooperation with the United States and in support of the national security goals…
Anduril Founder Warns of China Threat and U.S. Arsenal Strain
Richard Sanders in Kaohsiung Anduril Industries founder Palmer Luckey has rapidly become one of the most talked-about figures in Taiwan’s defence circles. Known for his unconventional scruffy style – Hawaiian shirts, flip-flops, and blunt public commentary – Luckey is increasingly viewed by some in Taiwan’s military community as a Silicon Valley defence entrepreneur in the…
Trump announces ‘finalization’ of Iran deal
Richard Sanders, Kaoshiung US President Donald Trump has said that a peace agreement with Iran has been “largely negotiated” and is now being finalized, signaling a potential breakthrough after nearly three months of war and repeated threats of renewed American strikes. Trump said he had held what he described as a “very good call” from the Oval Office with leaders…
