High school students train to shoot using a videogame in the Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung. (Photo by Nikkei)
Comment

Will China really invade? Caution and optimism in Taiwan

Complacency over island's security grows ahead of January presidential vote

4 December 2023
Retired Lt. Gen Koichiro Bansho, former commander of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's Western Army, spoke to Nikkei Asia in Washington on Nov. 30. (Photo by Ken Moriyasu)
Interview

In Taiwan crisis, Japan to play role like Poland to Ukraine: ex-general

Former SDF top brass says country should prepare to take in 100,000-plus refugees

1 December 2023
Ukrainian tanks conduct a military exercise amid the war with Russia. U.S. analysts increasingly think China will be unable to sustain a protracted war like Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. 
Indo-Pacific

A protracted Taiwan war likely to favor U.S. over China, analysts say

But an election win by Trump, who advocates America-first policy, seen as risk to Taipei

30 November 2023
Alexander Yui speaks at a press conference in Taipei on July 17.
International relations

Taiwan picks new U.S. envoy, tapping representative to EU

Alexander Yui replaces a well-connected predecessor who is running for vice president

29 November 2023
Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua says Taiwanese companies have reached a milestone in investing more in Southeast and South Asia than China for the first time in 2022. (Photo by Lai Yung-hsiang)
Interview

Taiwan to continue shifting investment away from China, minister says

Southeast and South Asia benefiting as Beijing piles on pressure before elections

29 November 2023
From left: Taiwan's presidential contenders Hou Yu-ih, Lai Ching-te and Ko Wen-je. Polls show Lai in the lead, but the outcome is expected to remain unpredictable until the end. (Source photos by Reuters)
The Nikkei View

Taiwan's presidential vote is a chance to show the power of democracy

Island's residents should make their will clear despite interference from China

29 November 2023
From left: Taiwan's presidential contenders Hou Yu-ih, Lai Ching-te and Ko Wen-je. Their race has been compared to giving voters "a choice between war and peace." (Source photos by Reuters)
Taiwan elections

Who are the candidates in Taiwan's three-way presidential race?

Winner of Jan. 13 election will succeed Tsai Ing-wen and set course for island democracy

24 November 2023
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, right, with NATO leaders in Lithuania in July: Combined efforts by the U.S. and its allies have powered Kyiv's defiance of Moscow. (Pool via Reuters) 
Opinion

U.S. does not have to choose between Ukraine and Taiwan

Allies make the difference in supporting America's stability mission

24 November 2023
Hsiao Bi-khim at an APEC meeting in San Francisco on Nov. 17. In her political career, Hsiao once beat a powerful three-term lawmaker in opposition-controlled Hualien County, then overcame a recall vote pushed by conservatives over Hsiao's support for same-sex marriage.
Taiwan elections

Taiwan's presidential front-runner picks U.S. envoy as running mate

Hsiao Bi-khim's international experience, political success seen as plus for campaign

20 November 2023
Taiwan People's Party Chairman Ko Wen-je speaks to the media about the results of a poll-of-polls to pick a unified opposition presidential candidate in Taipei on Nov. 18.
Taiwan elections

Taiwan opposition bid to field joint presidential candidate falls flat

As registration deadline looms, squabbling over opinion polls clouds outlook

18 November 2023
U.S. President Joe Biden greets China's President President Xi Jinping at the Filoli Estate in Woodside, Calif., on Nov, 15. (The New York Times via AP, Pool)
APEC

Why Xi tried to assure U.S. he has no plans for Taiwan invasion

Chinese leader plays for stability while facing economic stress at home

18 November 2023
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin attends an expanded meeting of ASEAN defense ministers meeting in Jakarta on Nov. 16. (Pool via AP)
International relations

U.S. committed to arming Taiwan after Biden-Xi talks: Austin

Defense chief calls for 'substantive' dialogue with China amid rapprochement

17 November 2023
U.S. President Joe Biden greets Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Filoli Estate, 45 kilometers south of San Francisco.
APEC

Biden calls Xi 'dictator' after cautious remarks on Taiwan

Off-hand comment risks souring ties with Beijing after carefully planned summit

16 November 2023
Taiwan has turned into a regional hub for wind energy companies. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Interview

Taiwan steps up climate leadership with ambitious reforms

U.N. climate conference again excludes Taiwanese

13 November 2023
Experts say that China is conducting a multipronged attack on Taiwan in trade, military and information spheres. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Xinhua/AP and Reuters) 
Taiwan elections

China doubles down on Taiwan threats as election nears

Beijing backs opposition KMT's picture of vote as choice of 'war and peace'

10 November 2023
Deliveries on Taiwan's order of 66 F-16 fighter jets have been pushed back to 2024.
Defense

Taiwan waiting for U.S. F-16s and tanks in $19bn arms sale backlog

New analysis shows details of extensive delivery delays

10 November 2023
Former Taiwanese military chief Lee Hsi-min believes the island should shift its focus away from large warships and fighter jets. 
Interview

Ex-Taiwan military chief says U.S. help will take 'weeks' in crisis

Lee Hsi-min calls for asymmetric approach focused on mobile precision arms

4 November 2023
Taiwan Space Agency Director-General Wu Jong-shinn speaks at the shipment ceremony of Triton, Taiwan's first locally built weather satellite in Hsinchu, Taiwan, on July 14.
Aerospace & Defense Industries

Taiwan marks milestone with first domestic-made weather satellite

Advance for space industry comes as island holds biggest-ever space exhibition

3 November 2023
Hou Yu-ih, the Kuomintang's presidential candidate, greets veterans in Kinmen in August.
Taiwan elections

Taiwan opposition struggles to join hands on presidential race

Kuomintang and Taiwan People's Party fail to strike deal as ruling party candidate leads

31 October 2023
A Chinese fighter jet is refueled during military exercises around Taiwan in this photo released on April 9.
Taiwan tensions

Taiwan's election may open 'window' for better China ties, report says

International Crisis Group warns that conflict risks are rising

27 October 2023
Foxconn founder and Taiwan presidential hopeful Terry Gou faces a tax probe into Foxconn by Chinese authorities.
Taiwan elections

Foxconn's Gou caught up in U.S.-China tug of war over Taiwan election

Billionaire's independent candidacy seen as potential spoiler for opposition

27 October 2023
Taiwan People's Party's presidential candidate Ko Wen-je speaks to media in Taipei on Oct. 24.
Taiwan elections

Taiwan presidential hopeful calls for better economic ties with China

Ko Wen-je says he's willing to sign a pact with Beijing but warns about coercion

24 October 2023
U.S. President Joe Biden delivered a prime-time address to the nation calling for support for Israel, as well as for Ukraine.
Middle East crisis

Biden invokes FDR's 'arsenal of democracy' to boost arms making

Budget request includes additional funding for submarines to Australia under AUKUS

22 October 2023
From left to right, Taiwanese presidential candidates Lai Ching-te, Hou Yu-ih, Ko Wen-je and Terry Gou. (NIKKEI montage/Source photos by Hideaki Ryugen)
Taiwan elections

Taiwan's presidential front-runner faces potential coalition

Lai Ching-te also must watch Foxconn founder Terry Gou's wild-card candidacy

13 October 2023
Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen speaks at National Day celebrations in Taipei on Oct. 10. 
Taiwan tensions

Tsai stresses Taiwan's resolve as China steps up pressure

President calls for 'peaceful coexistence' in speech ahead of January elections

10 October 2023