Politics: News & Insights

Paraguayan President Mario Abdo Benitez, center, visited Taiwan in February.

International relations

Paraguay's Taiwan ties at stake in presidential election

Another diplomatic domino at risk for Taipei as challenger eyes switch to China

18 April 2023

Taiwan will open a representative office in Mila, its second in Italy. (Source photo by Reuters and graphic by AP)

Taiwan tensions

Taiwan to open second representative office in Italy

Traditionally a China supporter, EU nation is wary of Beijing's threats

17 April 2023

China responded to the meeting between Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy with military exercises and diplomatic moves.

Interview

China's new approach to Taiwan 'harder' to deal with: analyst

Response to Tsai's U.S. visit reveals a more sophisticated diplomatic actor

15 April 2023

The meeting will be a curtain raiser for the leaders summit to be held in Hiroshima, Japan in May.  (Source photos from G-7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting website)

G-7 in Japan

G-7 foreign ministers to meet amid Macron's China storm

Germany's Baerbock says Europe cannot be indifferent to Taiwan tensions

14 April 2023

Ma Ying-jeou did not make himself very welcome in Xi Jinping's China when he suggested Taiwan and the mainland are both parts of the Republic of China, Taiwan's official name and one Beijing has never recognized. (Source photos by Ma Ying-jeou Office/AP and Reuters)

China up close

Analysis: Why Xi Jinping did not meet Taiwan's ex-president

Ma Ying-jeou's usefulness for Beijing likely on the decline

13 April 2023

William Lai was Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's running mate for the 2020 presidential election. Here they celebrate their victory with supporters in Taipei on Jan. 11, 2020. (File photo by AP)

Politics

Taiwan's ruling DPP names William Lai as presidential candidate

Vice president seen as having similar stance as Tsai on China issues

12 April 2023

U.S. airmen with an Air Force drone in Afghanistan in March 2016. Uncrewed vehicles are seen as key to deterring a Chinese attack on Taiwan.

Taiwan tensions

U.S. defense industry plans first Taiwan trip in four years

Contractors to explore co-production of drones and ammunition

11 April 2023

A giant screen at a shopping mall in Beijing on April 10 shows news footage of People's Liberation Army aircraft taking part in exercises around Taiwan.

Taiwan tensions

China sends daily record number of jets near Taiwan

91 aircraft spotted in 24 hours through 6 a.m., 8 vessels still around island

11 April 2023

Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, center, waves as he arrives with his delegation at Pudong airport in Shanghai on March 27.

Taiwan tensions

Taiwan's ex-leader's tour emboldens China, risks backlash at home

Ma Ying-jeou's pronouncements allow Beijing to say Taiwanese want closer ties

11 April 2023

Chinese navy ships take part in a military drill in the Taiwan Strait, in this image made from video footage made available  April 9.

Taiwan tensions

China continues to fly aircraft over median line with Taiwan

Beijing sends planes, ships near island, and sanctions Taipei's de facto U.S. envoy

10 April 2023

The Shandong, China's first fully homebuilt aircraft carrier, in Sanya in 2019: Large carriers are a quintessential element of a blue-water navy. (Li Gang/Xinhua via AP)

Opinion

China's military buildup shows its ambitions go well beyond Taiwan

No one should believe that Beijing would be sated with the takeover of the island

7 April 2023

This handout photo taken on April 5 and released on April 6 by Japan's Ministry of Defense shows the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong in the Pacific Ocean.

Taiwan tensions

Taiwan eyes China aircraft carrier's moves after Tsai-McCarthy talks

Ships told to reject planned Chinese inspections; U.S. lawmakers visit Taipei

6 April 2023

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen and the U.S. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy hold a news conference following a meeting at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

Taiwan tensions

Taiwan's Tsai and U.S. Speaker McCarthy hail 'stronger than ever' bonds

China slams California meeting, vows 'resolute and effective measures'

6 April 2023

Ko Wen-je, chairman of Taiwan People's Party and former Taipei mayor, speaks to Nikkei Asia on April 4 in Taipei. (Photo by Chungi Chen)

Interview

Taiwan can learn from Japan on U.S.-China rift: presidential hopeful

Ko Wen-je says ruling DPP 'pro war,' KMT 'too deferential' to Beijing

5 April 2023

Belize Prime Minister John Briceno and Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen sign a technical cooperation agreement during Tsai's visit on April 3. (Handout photo from the Office of Belize's Prime Minister via Reuters)

Taiwan tensions

Tsai races against diplomatic domino effect in Latin America

Taiwan moves to shore up Belize, Guatemala ties after Honduras sides with China

5 April 2023

Myanmar's Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, head of the military council, conducts an inspection during a parade to commemorate the 78th Armed Forces Day in Naypyitaw on March 27. (Photo by Htet Aung Phyoe)

Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar resistance urges Taiwan, Japan to reject 'sham polls'

Parallel government appeals to Asian democracies after 40 parties dissolved

4 April 2023

Trade

CPTPP trade bloc to give U.K. green light to join

Group now faces more geopolitically charged applications from China and Taiwan

30 March 2023

Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou waves as he arrives with his delegation at Pudong airport in Shanghai on March 27. (Ma Ying-jeou Office via AP)

Taiwan tensions

Taiwan's Ma Ying-jeou lands in China as Tsai Ing-wen heads to U.S.

Ex-leader who met Xi Jinping in 2015 appears keen to rewrite his legacy

27 March 2023

In this image taken from video footage run by China's CCTV, Honduras' Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina Garcia, left, and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang shake hands after a signing ceremony in Beijing on March 26.

Taiwan tensions

Honduras wanted 'billions of dollars' to maintain ties, Taiwan says

China establishes diplomatic relations with the Central American country

26 March 2023

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy in the U.S. Capitol on March 9: The reality is he had no good choices.

Opinion

Juggled plan for McCarthy-Tsai meeting does Taiwan no favors

Change of venue to California likely to encourage China's aggressive stance

24 March 2023

Laura Rosenberger, a former special assistant to President Joe Biden and the National Security Council's senior director for China and Taiwan, was named this week as chair of the American Institute in Taiwan. (File photo by AP)

Taiwan tensions

Biden's China point-woman takes over top Taiwan agency of U.S.

Choice of Rosenberger as AIT chief shows Washington's commitment to island

23 March 2023

The government of Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen has outlined key legislative proposals on how it will govern during a potential wartime emergency. (Source photos by Reuters and Kyodo/Xinhua)

Taiwan tensions

Taiwan to strengthen wartime mobilization amid rising China threat

Opposition criticizes provisions related to media control, student labor

20 March 2023

Honduran President Xiomara Castro addresses the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 20, 2022. She previously proposed switching diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China.

International relations

Honduras to cut ties with Taiwan in turn toward China

Castro says decision is 'sign of my determination to fulfill the government plan'

15 March 2023

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will host a G-7 summit in May. (Photo courtesy of the Cabinet Secretariat of Japan)

Supply Chain

With China in mind, G-7 to call for groupwide supply chains

Economic security to be major topic at Hiroshima summit in May

12 March 2023

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's second and final term ends in May 2024.

Taiwan elections

Taiwan sets next presidential election for January 2024

Successor to Tsai Ing-wen to be chosen with legislative races held at same time

11 March 2023