Jake Saunders, Kuala Lumpur Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te on Friday proposed a nearly $40 billion military buildup amid tensions with Beijing. This came just days after the head of the self-governing island’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), traveled to the mainland seeking rapprochement in the first such visit in a decade. Taiwan became a…
Richard Saunders, Phnom Penh The leader of Taiwan’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), is traveling to mainland China, marking the first such visit since 2016. Known as a vocal opponent of the island’s possible independence, Cheng Li-wun was invited by Chinese President Xi Jinping for what she has described as a peace-building mission. Taiwan…
Richard Saunders, Taipei TAIPEI, March 25 – Taiwan on Tuesday called on Denmark to correct its designation of Taiwanese residents’ nationality as “China,” warning the move could damage bilateral ties and lead to retaliatory measures. Denmark in 2024 changed the nationality listed on residence permits from “Taiwan” to “China,” a decision Taiwan’s foreign ministry said…
Richard Saunders- Subic Bay When British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Beijing in late January, his visit signaled more than a revival of diplomatic routine. It marked London’s entry into a new phase of foreign policy calculation, one defined by economic necessity and geopolitical restraint, as Western capitals recalibrate their approaches to China amid…
Francis Tuschek, Tokyo China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, expressed deep concern over comments made by Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan, deeming them “shocking” in a statement released on Sunday. This incident marks a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions that have persisted for more than two weeks. Wang, the highest-ranking Chinese official to address…
Martin Haffner, Associate Editor The US and Chinese armed forces conducted “frank and constructive” discussions on maritime security this week, as announced by the Chinese navy on Thursday. This engagement marks a significant step in restoring military communications between the two countries after months of heightened trade tensions. The discussions, held from Tuesday to Thursday…
Jake Sanders,Editor The US and China have agreed to reopen top-level military-to-military channels following a recent bilateral meeting of their top brass in Malaysia, according to War Secretary Pete Hegseth. The communications are a key de-escalation mechanism that Beijing cut in 2022 after a formal visit to Taiwan, a self-governed region viewed by Beijing as…
Ed Castro China has agreed to suspend its latest rare earth export controls in exchange for reciprocal US cuts on tariffs and restrictions, the Chinese Commerce Ministry said in a statement published on its website on Thursday. Beijing’s earlier limits on the critical materials remain in place. The agreement followed a face-to-face meeting between Chinese…
Francis Tuschek, Quito,Equador In a significant diplomatic move, earlier this month China was admitted as an observer in the Andean Community—comprising Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru—marking a notable expansion of its influence in Latin America. While the gesture may appear symbolic on the surface, analysts see it as a strategic step in China’s broader effort…
Ed Castro US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated yesterday that Taiwan should not worry about being used as a bargaining chip in ongoing US-China trade talks. During a flight from Israel to Qatar en route to Asia, Rubio reassured that no trade deal would jeopardize Taiwan’s position or result in favorable trade treatment in…