Soldiers participate in a drill in New Taipei City, Taiwan, on July 23.
Taiwan tensions

Taiwan's defense budget will hit new record next year, president says

Lai says $19.7bn plan will help 'ensure peace and prosperity'

6 August 2024
Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te, left, and Defense Minister Wellington Koo Li-hsiung, center, attend a ceremony with new army recruits at a military camp in Taichung in June.
Asia Insight

Taiwan turns to own 'Iron Duke' Wellington Koo to deter China

Civilian defense minister aims to sharpen asymmetric warfare capabilities

6 August 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris could become the first female U.S. president.
U.S. elections 2024

Harris could become the 1st female U.S. leader; Asia's had several

Over 13 Asian countries and regions including Australia and Taiwan have had women heads

4 August 2024
A security staff member confiscates a towel with the word "Taiwan" on it at Porte de La Chapelle Arena in Paris on Aug. 2.
Sports

Taiwan protests confiscation of fan's 'Taiwan' towel at Olympic site

At same event, another Taiwanese had a banner snatched by an unknown man

3 August 2024
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te arrives to speak to a gathering of foreign lawmakers in Taipei on July 30, telling the conference Taiwan will work with others to protect democracy from "the threat of authoritarian expansionism."
Taiwan tensions

Taiwan president urges democracies to unite

Lai Ching-te makes the call at Taipei's largest gathering of foreign lawmakers

30 July 2024
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested Taiwan pay the U.S. for its defense. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by AP and Taiwan Military News Agency/Taiwan's Defense Ministry/AP)
Comment

Would Trump defend Taiwan?

Former U.S. president may see issue simply as leverage in China talks

26 July 2024
Joseph Wu, Taiwan's previous foreign minister, left, and Filip Grzegorzewski, head of the European Union office in Taipei, commemorate 20 years of ties between the EU and Taiwan in Taipei in June 2023.
Opinion

Europe must prepare militarily and economically for a Taiwan war

Once merely aware of the risks, European leaders now have deep concerns

25 July 2024
Taiwanese chip and tech are being buffeted by political uncertainty in the U.S. as the presidential election approaches.
Technology

Taiwan tech stocks hit as Biden drops out of U.S. race

Analysts say high valuations and political uncertainty are increasing volatility

22 July 2024
Soldiers handle their guns during last year's Han Kuang drills in New Taipei City, Taiwan. The Defense Ministry is seeking to make the exercises more closely resemble real-world combat scenarios.
Taiwan tensions

Taiwan starts annual defense drills with emphasis on realistic combat

New administration revamps exercises as China cranks up pressure

22 July 2024
A Taiwanese fishing boat sets sail to Taiping Island, Taiwan's sole holding in the disputed Spratly Islands, in protest against a tribunal's ruling on the South China Sea on July 20, 2016. 
Opinion

The tragic cost of Taiwan's silence on its South China Sea claims

Pressure from Washington undermines Taiwan's sovereignty and self-advocacy

22 July 2024
The Japan Coast Guard patrol vessel Sagami took part in the joint exercise. (Japan Coast Guard)
Taiwan tensions

China protests Japan-Taiwan joint coast guard drill

Taipei says it conducted search and rescue exercise with Japanese counterpart

19 July 2024
Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung speaks to foreign media in Taipei on July 19. (Photo by Lauly Li)
International relations

Taiwan to go global with 'New Southbound Fund,' foreign minister says

Top diplomat seeks cooperative tech investment and a 'democracy supply chain'

19 July 2024
U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump has suggested Taiwan should "pay us for defense" and is expected to pose challenges for Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te. (Source photos by Reuters)
Taiwan tensions

Taiwan braces for transactional Trump after 'pay for defense' remark

Experts see pressure to lift military budget, risk of becoming China bargaining chip

18 July 2024
Tighter U.S. restrictions on exporting chip technology to China could be a big blow to companies like Tokyo Electron and ASML.
Semiconductors

Chip stocks tumble on fears of China tech curbs, Trump's Taiwan remarks

TSMC, Tokyo Electron, Nvidia decline in global tech sell-off

18 July 2024
Donald Trump chose Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance to be his vice presidential running mate.
Opinion

J.D. Vance pick as Trump VP signals support for Taiwan over Ukraine

Ohio senator's China views line up with foreign policy thinkers that prioritize Asia

17 July 2024
Weng Hsiao-ling, a lawmaker from the main opposition Kuomintang, explains her plans to change the way the Constitutional Court functions on July 11. (Taiwan Foreign Correspondents' Club photo)
Politics

Taiwan opposition seeks top court rule change as key decisions loom

Call to lift minimum number of judges raises concerns over bench's ability to function

12 July 2024
Taiwan's newly appointed Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, left, stands with President-elect Lai Ching-te in April, ahead of Lai's inauguration. Lin is working to rev up Taipei's economic diplomacy, officials say. (Photo by AFP/Jiji)
International relations

Taiwan foreign minister steps up economic diplomacy under China pressure

Lin Chia-lung aims to establish overseas industrial zones, insiders say

11 July 2024
The Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong in April 2023: The warship passed close to the Philippines on its way to drills in the Pacific, Taiwan's defense minister said on July 10. (Handout via Reuters)
South China Sea

Chinese carrier passes near Philippines on way to drills: Taiwan

Shandong, J-16 fighters and H-6 bombers head to western Pacific

10 July 2024
Image of J-31B made public by Shenyang Aircraft Industry Group. (Photo taken from the company's social media account)
Defense

China develops new stealth aircraft likely to be deployed on carriers

J-31B expected to raise People's Liberation Army's fighting capabilities

8 July 2024
Cheng Wen-tsan, left, at 2021 ceremony in Taipei. Cheng, head of the Straits Exchange Foundation, is under investigation for bribery.
Taiwan tensions

Taiwan probes official who deals with China over bribery suspicions

Prosecutors seek to detain Cheng Wen-tsan, head of Straits Exchange Foundation

6 July 2024
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott spoke with Nikkei in Austin. (Photo by Ryosuke Hanafusa)
Semiconductors

Texas governor pursues Japan, Taiwan, South Korea chip investments

Armed with $1.4bn fund, Abbott embarks on economic mission to lure businesses

6 July 2024
A control room of Taiwan TV station CTi in December 2020. The pro-China broadcaster's license was not renewed by the regulatory authority, which now faces a political opposition-driven probe over its approval of another channel, Mirror TV.
Taiwan under Lai

Taiwan opposition wields new powers in bid to reshape media landscape

Regulator faces investigation as ruling party and journalists raise alarm

5 July 2024
The Taiwan Stock Exchange partnered with the Singapore Exchange for the first time to host a pitch event for institutional investors in the city-state, held at SGX in April. (Singapore Exchange and Taiwan Stock Exchange)
Taiwan tensions

Singapore hooks Taiwan companies shunning China's investors

Taiwanese firms chase funds in city-state as cross-strait tensions rise

4 July 2024
Anti-landing barricades are pictured on the beach in Kinmen, Taiwan, on Feb. 21, with the Chinese city of Xiamen in the background.
Taiwan tensions

Taiwan says China has seized fishing boat, escalating tensions

Vessel was operating near Taiwan-administered Kinmen islands

3 July 2024
Chinese Chengdu J-10 fighter jets are among the aircraft that have crossed the Taiwan Strait median line. (Taiwan Defense Ministry)
Taiwan tensions

China pressures Taiwan's Lai with most military flights in nearly 2 years

175 flights crossed median line in June, raising concerns of unintentional clash

3 July 2024