Richard Sanders As geopolitical tensions rise in East Asia, Taiwan is taking a closer look at Ukraine’s wartime resilience, prompting a national debate over whether the island should adopt a more decentralized, militia‑style defense model. Analysts say the comparison is instructive—but not straightforward. Ukraine’s experience since Russia’s full‑scale invasion in 2022 has become a global…
Richard Saunders In a recent CNBC interview, US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick suggested that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) might increase its investment in the United States to over $200 billion, potentially creating 30,000 new jobs in the process. Lutnick’s comments came in the context of his criticism of the CHIPS Act, where he…
Richard Sanders In a recent unveiling of the National Security Strategy (NSS) by the Trump administration, analysts spotlighted a notable shift in rhetoric concerning China, especially in relation to Taiwan. Unlike the Biden administration’s strong assertions regarding China as “America’s most consequential geopolitical challenge,” the new NSS takes a more subdued approach, focusing significantly on…
Martin Haffner, Associate Editor The US has approved the sale of technology and support for Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jets, the Pakistani website Dawn reported on Wednesday. The proposed sale aims to modernize Pakistan’s F-16 fleet and address operational safety concerns, the report said, citing a December 8 letter from the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency…
Martin Haffner. Associate Editor The White House has released President Donald Trump’s updated national security strategy, a comprehensive 33-page document that reinforces the “America First” doctrine while realigning U.S. foreign policy. This new strategy emphasizes redefining military presence in the Western Hemisphere, alongside a notably aggressive stance towards Europe. At its core, the strategy advocates…
Richard Sanders, Taipei US President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act, requiring the State Department to review and update guidelines for official US-Taiwan interactions at least once every five years. Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung welcomed the move, calling it “a major step forward in US-Taiwan relations.” The Presidential Office said…
Richard Sanders, Taipei China’s ambitious initiative to enhance its high-tech military capabilities faces significant challenges due to a growing corruption crisis, which raises concerns about the nation’s true military strength. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) recently reported that major state-owned defense companies in China experienced the steepest decline among the world’s top arms…
Richard Sanders, Taipei In a significant move to safeguard Taiwan’s democracy, Democratic Progressive Party legislators Wang Ting-yu and Wang Yi-chuan have put forth amendments to the Anti-Infiltration Act aimed at preventing the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from infiltrating Taiwanese society through “united front” propaganda masquerading as free speech. The proposed changes to Article 5 of…
Francis Tuschek, Okinawa China’s humanoid robotics industry risks facing a bubble as a result of the current investment frenzy, the country’s economic planning commission has warned. This is something Taiwan will need to look closely at moving forward, especially with regards to military robots. Speaking to reporters in Beijing on Thursday, a spokesperson for the…
Richard Sanders In a significant move to bolster national security, President William Lai (賴清德) announced yesterday a special defense budget of NT$1.25 trillion (approximately US$39.9 billion), which aims to enhance Taiwan’s military capabilities, including a state-of-the-art “Taiwan dome” air defense system. This funding, set to span eight years from next year through 2033, was detailed…