-
Scientists were not surprised that Taiwan was hit by the biggest earthquake in 25 years
The 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Taiwan on September 29 was one of the strongest earthquakes to hit the country in 19 years. It occurred at a relatively shallow 35 km deep, causing stronger tremors than those produce by quakes that erupt farther below the Earth’s surface, reports said. The earthquake left one person dead…
-
The Strong earthquake rocks Taiwan collapsing buildings and triggering warnings
A major earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 hit Taiwan on Tuesday morning, killing at least three people and injuring 17, according to reports. The epicentre of the earthquake was in the eastern province of Hualien, near the city of Hualien. Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring agency gave a magnitude of 7.2 and the US Geological Survey…
-
The next president for Taiwan will be chosen based on the threat posed by China and island’s stability
Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party’s Lai Ching-te has been elected the country’s new President after a three-way election. Ching-te received more than 55% of the votes in the election which was held over a period of more than a month. Former President Wu Den-yih’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) received about 40% of the votes, while the…
-
Here’s why Taiwan’s election has me worried about the future
Taiwan President-elect Lai Ching-te of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has said that he will cooperate with opposition parties to resolve the problems Taiwan faces. “The elections have told us that people expect an effective government as well as strong checks and balances,” Lai said, adding that he will cooperate with opposition parties to resolve the…
-
Two opposing visions face off in Taiwan’s election as China looms large
Ahead of Taiwan’s presidential and legislative elections on Saturday, the candidate for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Su Ching-hsiung, said that the country’s politics has an eternal question about China. He added that a declaration of formal independence from China would cross a diplomatic red line. “It doesn’t matter which political party is in power…
-
Taiwan has elections that have me worry about the future
Taiwan’s ruling KMT party, led by Tsai Ing-wen, is expected to win the upcoming presidential and legislative elections on Saturday. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party ( DPP) and the China Kuomintang (KMT) are contesting for the presidential and legislative seats respectively. Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Progressive Party ( DPP) and KMT are contesting for the…
-
Taiwanese elections have me worried about the future
Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Su Tseng-chang has said, “There’s too many people who think the Kuomintang (KMT) is too pro-China. They’re saying if you vote for the Democrats, you’re going to end up fighting with China in a war, because Taiwan should never try to make any friends on the global stage.” Su…
-
Here are some things to look out for in Biden and Xi’s meeting
Former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, during her visit to Taiwan in 2018, had said that US military leaders’ exposure to China has increased their “moderateness”. She added that it has also affected how they view the situation and they become “more moderate”. Pelosi was on a two-day visit to Taiwan in October last year.
-
The U.S. says that China’s military is making risky moves
The US has said that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China is preparing to unite Taiwan with the country by force if necessary by Beijing. A senior Defence Department official added that those were demonstrated in certain respects during their response to then-Speaker Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, to President Tsai’s transit of the US.
-
There is a snapshot of US intelligence officials watching China
China cannot dictate how Taiwan makes friends, China’s Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei told CNN during his recent visit to the US. He further said that China cannot dictate how friends show their support for Taiwan. “China cannot dictate how Taiwan makes friends. China can’t dictate how friends show their support for Taiwan,” he added.
-
Taiwanese foreign minister tells CNN that military drills suggest China is ready to begin a war against Taiwan
Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou has said that the cost of a visit to the country is too high. This comes after China conducted military drills on Taiwan. Earlier, Taiwan’s President sailed back from a 10-day visit to Central America and the US. “China cannot dictate what Taiwan does. And China cannot dictate how our friends…
-
China appears to have attempted the first aircraft carrier strike in Taiwan
China has conducted military drills on the Taiwan Strait and Islands for the first time in over two years as part of its Operation Joint Sword, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported. Multiple PLA services carried out simulation precision strikes on key targets in and around Taiwan over the weekend. The drills were launched two days…
-
Fighter jets fly after the leader’s visit to the U.S
The Chinese military said it has started three days of military exercises around Taiwan. It comes after Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen met the US House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, in defiance of repeated threats by China. China had launched a series of military drills and fired missiles over Taiwan after Pelosi visited the island in August.
-
The Taiwan meeting matters because of it
The White House on Monday declined to comment on the planned meeting between US House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen. “An official visit by the US to Taiwan isn’t a necessity in order to maintain Washington’s ‘One China’ policy,” the White House said in a statement. McCarthy is on a five-day…
-
Beijing promised to fight back and this time it has more to lose
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has arrived in the United States on her first official overseas visit since she took office in 2017. Chinese President Xi Jinping will also visit Taiwan on September 11 during his two-day visit to the country. The US maintains an unofficial relationship with Taiwan and Tsai is therefore not an official…
-
China is watching the meeting between Taiwan’s President and Kevin McCarthy
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen is scheduled to meet US National security adviser Kevin McCarthy during her visit to the US this week. China considers Taiwan a part of its territory, but the US has never officially recognised the island as part of China. Tsai is also scheduled to meet French President Emmanuel Macron and European…
-
President Tsai Ing-wen leaves for New York to start her Central American tour
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen departed for the US on Wednesday for a 10-day trip, which includes stops in New York City and Los Angeles on either side of her visits to Guatemala and Belize. The US said it believes China will use Tsai’s transit as an excuse to carry out “aggressive or coercive activities” aimed…
-
Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan Chase says thatUkraine invasion is a top economic concern
US President Joe Biden has said he “not think there’s any imminent attempt on the part of China to invade Taiwan”. “We need to work together to tackle global issues, including climate change, debt relief, and food security,” he added. Biden further said that it was useful for the US position on Taiwan and its…
-
The chipmaker TSMC plans to hire 6,000 employees in the coming years
Taiwan Semiconductors Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has confirmed that it is recruiting engineers and production line operators across its home base of Taiwan. TSMC said that it is recruiting from both experienced professionals and first-time job seekers. It added that the company needs the approval of the Taiwan Ministry of Economic Affairs to move its most…
-
The heat is cooling but China and the US are still on a collision course
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is in the US to meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, said he will visit the US early next year to follow up on the meeting between Xi Jinping and Blinken on December 30. China has demanded that the US not interfere in its development and respect China’s…
-
Taiwan faces pressure from China and increases its military service.
Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen said the island nation will extend the period of military service for all eligible men from four months to a year because of threats from China. “I think Taiwan is a democracy that does not want a war,” she added. Taiwan, a self-governing democracy with over 24 million people, shortened its…
-
Thank You, President XI Jinping.
China and the United States are unlikely to have a disagreement over Taiwan in the coming years, Chris Li from the Asia-Pacific Initiative at Harvard University said. China’s strategy toward Taiwan hasn’t fundamentally changed, he added. However, there’s a perception that Beijing is more and more focused on no longer just deterring independence, Li further…