Richard Saunders, Guam China’s construction of an airport on Woleai Atoll in the Federated States of Micronesia is drawing heightened scrutiny from defense analysts and policymakers, who warn that the project could have far-reaching military implications in the Pacific. While Beijing presents the development as a civilian infrastructure initiative aimed at improving connectivity for remote…
Francis Tuschek Iran does not seek war, but it is more prepared for open conflict than during last year’s 12-day war with Israel, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Monday. His statement comes after several threats by US President Donald Trump to intervene militarily over an Iranian government crackdown on deadly riots shaking the country,…
Richard Saunders-Taichung Analysts warn that China could exploit the United States’ surprise attack on Venezuela to strengthen its territorial claims over Taiwan and the South China Sea, but they stress that Beijing is unlikely to accelerate any plans for a direct invasion of Taiwan. A report released Monday by the German Marshall Fund cautioned that…
Francis Tuchek, Kaoshiung As more nations conduct oil transactions outside the traditional petrodollar system, the erosion of dollar demand is weakening U.S. Treasury bonds and prompting Trump’s geopolitical maneuvers aimed at securing energy resources. Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, they suggest, have become a focal point in this struggle to preserve the dollar’s role at the…
Richard Sanders, Taipei On January 3, 2026, U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and extradited him to New York to face charges of narco-terrorism and drug trafficking. The move, unprecedented in modern times, immediately drew comparisons to the 1989 capture of Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega, who was tried in Florida for drug trafficking. President…
Richard Saunders, Associate Editor Taiwan enters 2026 with a booming economy driven by AI-related exports, but looming trade tensions cast uncertainty over the year ahead. A historic surge in demand for servers, graphics processors, and other AI hardware pushed growth forecasts sharply upward in 2025 Economists repeatedly upgraded Taiwan’s outlook last year, as global adoption…
Richard Saunders On January 1, 2026, President Lai Ching-te delivered his New Year’s Address at the Presidential Office, urging citizens to embrace resilience and unity as Taiwan enters a pivotal year. Marking the 30th anniversary of Taiwan’s direct presidential elections, Lai reflected on the challenges of 2025, including economic volatility, international tensions, and natural disasters
Francis Tuschek Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has repeatedly stated that reunification with Taiwan is “inevitable,” reiterated the notion in his address to the nation on New Year’s Eve, touting an unbreakable “bond of blood and kinship.” Taiwan has been ruled by Chinese nationalist forces as the Republic of China ever since they retreated to…
Richard Saunders China launched large-scale live-fire military drills around Taiwan on Monday, deploying warships, fighter jets, and artillery in a multi-day operation soon after Washington approved its largest-ever arms sale to the island. The ‘Joint Sword – 2025A’ war games conducted by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) simulate a blockade of key ports, precision strikes…
Francis Tuschek, Washington The US ban on imports of new foreign drones discriminates against Chinese companies and should be lifted, Beijing has said. Shenzhen-based UAV manufacturer DJI, the largest in the world, currently sells more than half of all commercial drones operated in the US. On Monday, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) forbade imports…