Politics

A Chinese bomber flies near the Taiwan air defense identification zone in September 2020: China seeks to establish a new normal for Taiwan. (Handout photo from Taiwan Ministry of National Defense)
Opinion

Why China is intensifying its military flights against Taiwan

Main goal is to convince Taipei to quit defending itself

20 February 2022
Taiwan has accused Chinese companies of "infiltrating" the island's chip supply chain, a cornerstone of its economy.  
Semiconductors

Taiwan takes aim at China with draft laws on chip sector espionage

'Economic espionage' would carry up to 12-year prison sentence

17 February 2022
Visitors stand in front of exhibits showing U.S. President Richard Nixon's 1972 visit to China at an exhibition in Beijing in 2019.
International relations

China plans events with U.S. to mark 50th anniversary of Nixon visit

Beijing seeks to ease tensions but also takes swipe at Biden's involvement with Taiwan

11 February 2022
Patriot surface-to-air missile launchers are used during a drill at an air base in Taiwan.
International relations

U.S. approves $100m deal for Taiwan missile defense upgrades

Second planned sale under Biden comes amid cross-strait tensions

9 February 2022
A Taipei official checks Japanese apples for radiation in 2011, shortly after the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Over a decade later, Taiwan is removing a blanket ban on food imports from five Japanese prefectures.
International relations

Taiwan to lift blanket ban on Fukushima food amid CPTPP push

Tsai removes thorny issue with Japan as she seeks support for joining trade pact

8 February 2022
Beijing says it wants to extend a bridge in southeast China all the way across the Taiwan Strait by 2035. (Photo by Tsukasa Hadano)
The age of 'Great China'

Beijing's bullish bridge to Taiwan and the age of 'Great China'

Trap atop the hill: omens of China's decline drive Xi Jinping to aggressiveness

1 February 2022
During last year's presidential election, Xiomara Castro said she planned to establish diplomatic and commercial ties with mainland China.
International relations

New Honduran president drops push to ditch Taiwan for China

Castro signals change in plans with eye on all-important ties with U.S.

29 January 2022
Taiwanese athletes, under the name "Chinese Taipei," participate in the opening ceremony of the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.
Beijing Winter Olympics

Team Taiwan to skip Olympic ceremonies amid name row

Chinese official's use of 'Taipei, China,' raised concerns among athletes from the island

29 January 2022
Taiwan's Vice President William Lai, right, speaks with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris during the Honduras president's inauguration ceremony in Tegucigalpa on Thursday.
International relations

Taiwan's vice president meets Kamala Harris in Honduras

William Lai 'talked briefly and interacted naturally' with U.S. counterpart

28 January 2022
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Indo-Pacific

Amid Ukraine crisis, U.S. reminds China nuclear-armed sub is close

Rare Guam port of call shows Washington has not forgotten Taiwan

26 January 2022
China sent multiple J-16 fighters and reconnaissance planes into Taiwan's ADIZ on Jan. 23. (File photos courtesy of Taiwan's Defense Ministry) 
Indo-Pacific

China sends 39 aircraft into Taiwan ADIZ, countering big U.S. drill

Largest incursion since October includes 34 jet fighters and a bomber

24 January 2022
U.S. President Joe Biden holds a virtual summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Indo-Pacific

Biden and Kishida plan Quad summit in Japan in late spring

Leaders agree to launch 'economic 2-plus-2' at 1st full meeting

22 January 2022
The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Taiwanese Vice President William Lai plans to make a stop in the U.S. city on his way to Honduras.
US-China tensions

Taiwan VP to stop in Los Angeles and San Francisco during trip abroad

China objects to William Lai's U.S. stopovers on his way to Honduras

21 January 2022
Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan's de facto ambassador to the U.S., speaks to Nikkei in Washington on Jan. 18. (Photo by Ryo Nakamura)
Interview

Taiwan wants to join Biden's Indo-Pacific economic framework

To counter China's coercion, democracies need to unite, Washington envoy says

20 January 2022
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian gestures during a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing on Jan. 19.
International relations

China 'shocked' by Slovenia's plans to upgrade Taiwan ties

European country follows Lithuania in allowing representative office under 'Taiwan' name

19 January 2022
Honduras' president-elect, Xiomara Castro, gestures during a ceremony to receive her presidential credentials at the Plaza Juan Carlos hotel, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on Dec. 30. 
International relations

Taiwan to send VP Lai to Honduran President Castro's inauguration

Taipei says it will work with new leader to deepen relations

19 January 2022
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen is seeking reduce the island's trade dependence on China with her New Southbound Policy of deepening economic ties with 18 countries in Southeast Asia, South Asia and Australasia. (Nikkei montage/Reuters/AP)
International relations

Taiwan makes new push to drum up Southeast Asia investment

'New Southbound Policy' helps region but Taipei could do more, experts say

18 January 2022
Prior to winning November's presidential election in Honduras, Xiomara Castro of the leftist Liberty and Refoundation Party said if victorious, she would open diplomatic ties with China. But her team has since backtracked on that stance.
15 January 2022
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen oversees a military drill in Penghu. China's People's Liberation Army is said to envision a Taiwan takeover in 14 hours, far less than the 24 hours that the U.S. and Japan would need to respond. (Taiwan Presidential Office/Handout via Reuters)
Indo-Pacific

Taiwan should destroy chip infrastructure if China invades: paper

U.S. scholars propose deterrence strategy to make island 'unwantable'

5 January 2022
Elections in Asia this year will be an important test of several countries' political mood and institutions.
Asia Insight

From Philippines to South Korea: A guide to a busy election year

Democracy under pressure in Asia as pendulum swings toward authoritarianism

4 January 2022
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen waves at the end of a ceremony for military officials in Taipei on Dec. 28.
International relations

Taiwan calls on China to curb military expansion

'We both shoulder the responsibility of maintaining regional peace,' Tsai says

1 January 2022
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers his New Year's address to the nation on Dec. 31. (Xinhua via Kyodo)
Politics

Xi says 2022 party congress will be 'major event' for China's politics

Statement seen as hint at staying in power for 3rd term

1 January 2022
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Podcast

Asia Stream: The stories that mattered in 2021

A look back at biggest stories of the year and what to expect in 2022

24 December 2021
Tsai Ing-wen, pictured on Dec. 18: Chinese leaders despise Tsai because she has refused to endorse the 1992 consensus.
Opinion

Taiwan would be better off alone

Cutting all diplomatic ties would free Taipei from a competition it cannot win

23 December 2021
German tire company Continental is facing pressure from China over the use of parts made in Lithuania.
International relations

China said to arm-twist Continental on Lithuania business

Diplomatic spat over Taiwan spills over to global auto supply chain

18 December 2021