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☆ Taiwan Sees US Support Unchanged No Matter Who Wins Election
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( March | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan's foreign ministry said on Thursday it believes U.S. support will remain unchanged no matter who wins the presidential election, but it will stay on guard for Taiwan-China issues being "manipulated" as the campaign heats up. In a report to lawmakers, Taiwan's foreign ministry noted that even though the U.S. election's outcome was not certain, there was cross-party support for the island. Taiwan will continue to have balanced exchanges with both parties, but needs to be on guard for how Taiwan-China issues may feature in the election, the ministry added. Meeting Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen in Taipei on Thursday, U.S. "This includes a strong Taiwan maritime strategy and how we can work together on shared goals to counter China on their increasingly aggressive actions in the region."

Persons: Trump, Joe Biden, Tsai Ing, Jack Bergman, Bergman, Donald Norcross, Jimmy Panetta, Taiwan's, Ben Blanchard, Fabian Hamacher Organizations: Taiwan, Republican, House Armed Services, Democratic Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, U.S, Taipei, United States

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan on Sunday condemned what it said were “fallacious comments” by China following the self-governing island's presidential and parliamentary election the previous day. The verbal sparring did not bode well for the future of Taiwan's relations with China under the winner, President-elect Lai Ching-te, or for China's relations with the United States. The institute is the de-facto U.S. Embassy, since the United States does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. China regards Taiwan as a renegade province and says that it should not even have a foreign ministry or any official relations with foreign governments. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in its statement that "the Taiwan question is China’s internal affair.

Persons: bode, Lai Ching, Stephen Hadley, State James Steinberg, Tsai Ing, China's, ” Lai, Tsai, ” Chen Binhua Organizations: —, Sunday, Former National Security, State, American Institute, U.S, Embassy, Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwan's Foreign, Foreign Ministry, Taiwan Affairs, Chinese Foreign Ministry, Kuomintang, Nationalist Party, Taiwan People's Party, Taiwan Affairs Office, State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, Taiwan Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, — Taiwan, China, United States, U.S, Taipei

☆ Incoming Guatemala President Meets With Taiwanese Officials Ahead of Inauguration
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - Guatemala's President-elect Bernardo Arevalo met with Taiwan's foreign minister to discuss strengthening commercial ties on Saturday, the Central American nation's incoming government said in a statement. Arevalo has said he aims to expand ties with China while maintaining diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The Central American country is one of only 13 nations that maintain diplomatic ties with Chinese-claimed Taiwan. Honduras in March ended its decades-long relationship with Taipei in favour of Beijing following the election in late 2021 of Xiomara Castro as president. Herrera met earlier with Wu and Taiwanese Ambassador Miguel Li-jey Tsao to discuss "possibilities of cooperation," according to an earlier statement.

Persons: Bernardo Arevalo, Arevalo, Karin Herrera, Xiomara Castro, Joseph Wu, Arevalo's, Herrera, Wu, Miguel Li, Tsao, Sofia Menchu, Cassandra Garrison, Marguerita Choy, Diane Craft Organizations: GUATEMALA CITY, Central American, The Central, Taiwan's Locations: GUATEMALA, China, Taiwan, Honduras, Taipei, Beijing

But the $290 billion outlay comes without a parallel plan to prepare Yonaguni for a possible humanitarian crisis that residents like Sakihara say could quickly overwhelm their shores. Tokyo, they said, has no plan to deal with them, and locals' pleas for help have gone unanswered. A spokesperson for Japan's Cabinet Secretariat said that "if large numbers of refugees came to Japan, relevant government departments would work together to respond". Even if he had a refugee plan, Kishida would still face an obstacle: his contentious relationship with the Okinawa government that administers Yonaguni. NOT ENOUGH TO SHAREBack in Yonaguni, resident Satoshi Nagahama, 33, was surprised to learn the government had no humanitarian plan for refugees.

Persons: Sonkichi Sakihara, chancing, Kenichi Itokazu, Itokazu, Hirokazu Matsuno, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Lai Ching, Matsuno, Fumio Kishida, Kevin Maher, Maher, Yoshihide Yoshida, Japan's, shouldn't, Kishida, Denny Tamaki, it's, Hironobu, Satoshi Nagahama, Sakihara, Koji Sugama, Tim Kelly, Kaori Kaneko, Yukiko Toyoda, Ben Blanchard, Kentaro Sugiyama, David Crawshaw Organizations: Reuters Graphics Reuters, Reuters, U.S, Japan Coast Guard, Migration Policy Institute, Nations, NMV Consulting, State Department, Defense Forces, it's, University's Research, of Disaster Management, Thomson Locations: YONAGUNI, Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan, China, Beijing, Tokyo, Yonaguni, Taipei, Myanmar, Europe, East, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Washington, East Asia, Okinawa

In a post on his Facebook page, Lai said he would formally present Hsiao as his running mate on Monday afternoon. "Bi-khim's relationships in D.C. will be invaluable to a President Lai, if he is elected, she's going to bring all of those relationships into his government and he doesn't have those," he told Reuters. The United States, as with most countries, has no formal ties with Taiwan, but is the island's most important international supporter and arms supplier. 'INDEPENDENCE ACT'Like Lai, Hsiao is despised by China, which has twice placed sanctions on her, most recently in April, saying she was an "independence diehard". The DPP champions Taiwan's separate identity from China.

Persons: Hsiao, khim, Morris Chang, Carlos Barria, Lai Ching, Lai, Democratic Progressive Party's, Rupert Hammond, Chambers, Chen Shui, Ben Blanchard, Yimou Lee, Muralikumar Anantharaman Organizations: APEC, Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Rights, Democratic Progressive, U.S ., Taiwan Business Council, Reuters, The, ACT, Taiwan Affairs Office, DPP, Kuomintang, KMT, Taiwan People's Party, Facebook, Thomson Locations: U.S, Asia, San Francisco , California, Rights TAIPEI, United States, January's, Washington, Beijing, Taiwan, China, The United States, Japan

☆ Taiwan's former U.S. envoy, vilified by China, is named vice presidential candidate
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Representative to the United States, Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office T.H. Lai, vice president and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) presidential candidate, has led in most opinion polls ahead of the election, which is taking place as Taiwan comes under increased pressure from China to accept its sovereignty claim. The United States, as with most countries, has no formal ties with Taiwan, but is the island's most important international supporter and arms supplier. 'INDEPENDENCE ACT'Like Lai, Hsiao is despised by China, which has twice placed sanctions on her, most recently in April, saying she was an "independence diehard". The DPP's smooth handling of its vice presidential nominee stands in contrast with efforts by Taiwan's two main opposition parties to agree on a joint ticket.

Persons: Hsiao, Lai Ching, Lai, Democratic Progressive Party's, Rupert Hammond, Chambers, Chen Shui Organizations: Cultural, T.H, Sheraton, Democratic Progressive, U.S ., Taiwan Business Council, Reuters, The, ACT, Taiwan Affairs Office, DPP, Kuomintang, KMT, Taiwan People's Party, Facebook Locations: United States, Taipei, Sheraton New York, New York City, January's, Washington, Beijing, Taiwan, China, U.S, The United States, Japan

☆ Taiwan's Former US Envoy, Well-Known in U.S., Vilified by China, Named VP Candidate
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

Persons: Ben Blanchard, Yimou Lee, Lai Ching, Lai, Democratic Progressive Party's, Hsiao, Rupert Hammond, Chambers, Chen Shui, Muralikumar Anantharaman Organizations: Democratic Progressive, U.S ., Taiwan Business Council, Reuters, The, ACT, Taiwan Affairs Office, DPP, Kuomintang, KMT, Taiwan People's Party, Facebook Locations: Yimou Lee TAIPEI, United States, January's, Washington, Beijing, Taiwan, China, U.S, The United States, Japan

“Planet Earth is big enough for the two countries to succeed,” Xi told Biden. Before leaving for California, Kishida told reporters a meeting with Xi had not yet been decided on. The aura of goodwill generated by the meeting was marred somewhat, however, by a comment by Biden. “I feel that China-U.S. relations have eased, and maybe the next step will be cooperation,” said Xu Jiaguang a 31-year-old firefighter. ___Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo and video producer Caroline Chen in Beijing contributed to this report.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi, lunching, they’re, ” Xi, Biden, ”, Jeff Liu, Fumio Kishida, Kishida, Madoka Fukuda, ” Biden, Mao Ning, Xu Jiaguang, Gao Kexin, Mari Yamaguchi, Caroline Chen Organizations: Foreign, South, . Security, Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Kookmin Ilbo, Economic Cooperation, Communist Party . Tokyo, Tokyo's Hosei University, Foreign Ministry, China -, U.S, Associated Press Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, California, China, Beijing, U.S, Taiwan Strait, North Korea, Seoul, Pyongyang, Russia, South Korea, Japan, Asia, San Francisco, United States, China - U.S, Tokyo

[1/2] Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden at Filoli estate on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Woodside, California, U.S., November 15, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Acquire Licensing RightsWOODSIDE, California, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping told U.S. President Joe Biden during their four-hour meeting on Wednesday that Taiwan was the biggest, most dangerous issue in U.S.-China ties, a senior U.S. official told reporters. Xi was trying to indicate that China is not preparing for a massive invasion of Taiwan, but that does not change the U.S. approach, the official said. "President Biden responded very clearly that the long-standing position of the United States was ... determination to maintain peace and stability," the official said. "President Xi responded: look, peace is ... all well and good but at some point we need to move towards resolution more generally," the official said.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Kevin Lamarque, Xi, Biden, Washington, Jeff Liu, Liu, Trevor Hunnicutt, Jeff Mason, Ben Blanchard, Andrea Shalal, Sandra Maler, Stephen Coates, Tom Hogue Organizations: U.S, Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Rights, Biden, Senior U.S, People's Liberation Army, Thomson Locations: Filoli, Asia, Woodside , California, U.S, Rights WOODSIDE , California, Taiwan, China, United States, Taiwan Strait, Taipei, Beijing

HELSINKI (AP) — Estonia will allow Taiwan to open a nondiplomatic representative office of Taipei in the Baltic country to boost economic and cultural ties with the self-governing island but pledged to stick with the “One China” policy in political relations. China claims Taiwan, an island about 160 kilometers (100 miles) off its east coast, as its territory. Political Cartoons View All 1234 ImagesNevertheless, some countries, like the United States, maintain unofficial relations with Taiwan or allow its economic or cultural representative office — under Taipei’s name — on their territory. As part of the One China policy, we will not develop political relations with Taiwan,” Tsahkna said. Wu will deliver a speech on Taiwan's foreign policy and attend a discussion panel by a local think tank in the capital, Tallinn, on Nov. 8.

Persons: Margus Tsahkna, ” Tsahkna, “, ”, Tsahkna’s, Joseph Wu, Wu, Wu isn’t, won’t, Tsahkna Organizations: HELSINKI, —, European Union, NATO, EU, ” Locations: — Estonia, Taiwan, Taipei, Baltic, China, Estonia, Beijing, United States, “ Estonia, “, Estonia’s, Tallinn, Lithuania, Vilnius

☆ Fearing China, South Korea targets firms building Taiwan navy submarines
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Ju-Min Park | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

SI Innotec, which was fined in August 2022, and Park, who received a suspended prison sentence, deny wrongdoing and have appealed. The equipment was not designed solely for military purposes and did not involve sensitive technology, SI Innotec told Reuters. SI Innotec said the contract, at CSBC's request, listed the equipment's primary use as for wind power generation. "The accused were fully aware that the subject equipment would be used to manufacture a military submarine", the court ruled. It was at this point that Seoul's foreign ministry told DAPA it disapproved of the deal, one of them said.

Persons: Tsai Ing, Narwhal, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Park Mal, sik, China's, DAPA, Moon Jae, Taiwan's, Innotec, SI Innotec, Moo, sik —, —, Yang Hyang, Yang, KHNT's, KHNT, Cho Hyeon Gyu, 1,343.1000, Ben Blanchard, Faith Hung, Tian, Katerina Ang, Josh Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Administration, Keumha Naval Technology, South, Police, Foreign Ministry, Democratic Progressive Party, Indigenous Defense, South Korean, Foreign Trade, SI, Thomson Locations: Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Rights SEOUL, Beijing, Seoul, U.S, China, South Korea, Park, Taipei, Netherlands, Pacific, Beijing . U.S, Changwon, Korea

☆ Asked About Taiwan, Deputy UN Chief Says Exclusion of Anyone Can Harm Global Goals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Michelle NicholsUNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Exclusion of anyone harms efforts to achieve global development goals, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said on Friday when asked about Taiwan's appeal to be included in the campaign. "We said leave noone behind and I think member states have to find a way to make sure that we are not in that position where we're excluding people. The 1971 resolution replaced the then-government of the Republic of China that had been pushed to Taiwan following China's civil war. Taiwan has long called on the United Nations to admit it as a member. "So, keeping Taiwan out of the United Nations is immoral, is unjust and is something that we have to make change to."

Persons: Michelle Nichols UNITED, Amina Mohammed, Mohammed, China's U.N, Zhang Jun, Zhang, U.N, Farhan Haq, Joseph Fu, Michelle Nichols, Michael Martina, Grant McCool Organizations: Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS, Reuters, United Nations, General, Sustainable, Taiwan, United Locations: Taiwan, People's Republic of China, China, Republic of China, United, United Nations

☆ Asked about Taiwan, deputy UN chief says exclusion of anyone can harm global goals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Exclusion of anyone harms efforts to achieve global development goals, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said on Friday when asked about Taiwan's appeal to be included in the campaign. "We said leave noone behind and I think member states have to find a way to make sure that we are not in that position where we're excluding people. The 1971 resolution replaced the then-government of the Republic of China that had been pushed to Taiwan following China's civil war. Taiwan has long called on the United Nations to admit it as a member. "So, keeping Taiwan out of the United Nations is immoral, is unjust and is something that we have to make change to."

Persons: Amina Mohammed, Mohammed, China's U.N, Zhang Jun, Zhang, U.N, Farhan Haq, Joseph Fu, Michelle Nichols, Michael Martina, Grant McCool Organizations: UNITED, United Nations, General, Sustainable, Taiwan, United, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, People's Republic of China, China, Republic of China, United, United Nations

“Listen up, Taiwan is not part of the PRC [and] certainly not for sale!” Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said in a Wednesday statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, referring to the country by its official name, the People’s Republic of China. Joseph Wu is Taiwan's foreign minister. China tiesMusk’s comments were made in response to a question about the challenges faced by American businesses in China. In recent years, some Chinese government ministries have banned the company’s vehicles from entering their premises over purported security fears. In Taiwan, Tesla has a sales and charging network.

Persons: Elon Musk, ”, “, Joseph Wu, Sam Yeh, Wu, Musk, ” Musk, Tesla’s, ” Tesla, BYD, Tesla Organizations: Hong Kong CNN — Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, US Pacific Fleet, Communist, Taiwan, Getty, CCP, Chinese Communist Party, Musk Locations: Hong Kong, China, Summit, Los Angeles, United States, Taiwan, Hawaii, Beijing, PRC, People’s Republic of China, AFP, Shanghai

☆ Taiwan hopes Pope's China engagement helps 'worsening' religious freedom
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Pope Francis attends a welcome ceremony at the bishop's house during his Apostolic Journey, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia September 1, 2023. China's foreign ministry said the pope's blessing reflected friendship and goodwill, noting China and the Vatican had maintained communication in recent years. "We hope that Vatican-China exchanges will help improve China's worsening religious freedom and human rights issues," it added. China's constitution guarantees religious freedom, but in recent years the government has tightened restrictions on religions seen as a challenge to the authority of the ruling Communist Party. Taiwan puts no restrictions on freedom of faith and has a thriving religious community that includes Christians, Buddhists and Muslims.

Persons: Pope Francis, Pope Francis messaged, Xi Jinping, Francis, Xi, Ben Blanchard, William Mallard Organizations: Vatican, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Catholic Church, Communist Party, Taiwan, Thomson Locations: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Rights TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, Taipei, Beijing, China's

☆ Central America parliament expels Taiwan, makes China permanent observer
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Ismael Lopez | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Aug 21 (Reuters) - The Central American Parliament on Monday voted to expel Taiwan after more than two decades as a permanent observer and replace it with China, whose growing economic influence in Latin America has increasingly marginalized Taipei. The six-nation parliament, known as Parlacen, met in the Nicaraguan capital Managua where local legislators proposed adding China, which claims democratically ruled Taiwan as its own territory. Beijing has expanded its influence in Central America with Parlacen members Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama and the Dominican Republic breaking off diplomatic ties with Taiwan in recent years. Guatemala, the most populous country in Central America, is the only Parlacen member that still recognizes Taiwan. The United States recognizes China diplomatically but has unofficial ties with Taipei, and the Biden administration has said it opposes efforts to change the status quo in Taiwan.

Persons: Parlacen, Senators Tim Kaine, Marco Rubio, Biden, Ismael Lopez, Ben Blanchard, Sarah Morland Organizations: Central American, United Nations, U.S, Senators, Democrat, Republican, Foreign, United, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, China, America, Taipei, Nicaraguan, Managua, Parlacen, Beijing, Central America, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Xinjiang, U.S, Belize, Paraguay, Americas, United States

☆ Taiwan steeling itself for Chinese drills over VP's US visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Yimou Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The United States has described the stopovers as routine and no reason for China to take "provocative" action. Neither Taiwan nor the United States have given details of Lai's schedule on his stopovers. That includes the prospect of a visit to the United States by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, which could pave the way for a meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Taiwan believes the scale of the exercises could be smaller than those in April, the Taiwanese official said. Chinese state television this month ran an eight-part series on the People's Liberation Army, some of which focused on Taiwan.

Persons: William Lai's stopovers, Lai, Tsai Ing, Kevin McCarthy, Biden, Wang Yi, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, China, Jeff Liu, Yimou Lee, Ben Blanchard, Liz Lee, Michael Martina, Robert Birsel Organizations: United, House, Taiwan Affairs Office, People's Liberation Army, China's Eastern Theatre Command, Reuters, Chinese Foreign, American Institute, The U.S . State Department, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, China, Taiwan, United States, U.S, Beijing, Los Angeles, Taiwan Strait, New York, Paraguay, San Francisco, stoke, Virginia, The, Taipei, Washington

☆ Exclusive: Taiwan probes alleged leak of classified reports, diplomatic cables
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Yimou Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

TAIPEI, July 21 (Reuters) - Taiwan is investigating a potential leak of official documents including diplomatic cables and classified reports on the island's sensitive bid to join a global trade pact, according to two officials familiar with the probe. Taiwan and China both applied in 2021 to join the CPTPP, a landmark trade pact between 11 countries - Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. Beijing has said it strongly opposes Taiwan's membership because Taiwan is part of China and therefore ineligible to join international bodies on its own. Taiwan is however a member of the World Trade Organization, designated as a separate customs territory called Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu. Taiwan strongly rejects Chinese sovereignty claims and says only Taiwanese people can decide their future.

Persons: Taiwan's, Tsai Ing, China's, Yimou Lee, John Geddie Organizations: Reuters, Trans, Pacific, Taiwan's, National Security Bureau, World Trade Organization, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, Japan, Vietnam, Washington, United States, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Britain, Beijing, Matsu, Lincoln

☆ Paraguay president-elect to visit 'great friend' Taiwan's Tsai
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] President-Elect Santiago Pena, a 44-year-old economist who won 43% of the vote on Sunday in the Presidential election, speaks during a news conference in Asuncion, Paraguay May 2, 2023. REUTERS/Cesar Olmedo/File PhotoTAIPEI, July 9 (Reuters) - Paraguay's president-elect, Santiago Pena, will visit Taiwan this week and meet "great friend" President Tsai Ing-wen, he said on Sunday, shoring up a relationship at a time China is working to entice the island's dwindling allies. Pena said on his Twitter account he would visit Abu Dhabi, then go to Taiwan to meet Tsai, who he described as a "great friend". He will be in Taiwan for the 66th anniversary of diplomatic ties on Wednesday, the ministry said. Diplomatic sources have told Reuters that Lai might attend as Taiwan's representative, likely transiting the United States to meet U.S. officials.

Persons: Santiago Pena, Cesar Olmedo, Tsai Ing, shoring, Pena, Tsai, William Lai, Wang Mei, Lai, Ben Blanchard, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, Democratic Progressive, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Asuncion , Paraguay, TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, Paraguay, American, Honduras, Beijing, Central America, Caribbean, U.S, America, Washington, Abu Dhabi, United States

TAIPEI/PRAGUE, June 8 (Reuters) - Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu will make a previously unannounced visit to Europe next week, four sources briefed on the matter said, and is expected to appear with the Czech president at one event in a diplomatic breakthrough. Taiwan, which is claimed by China, has no formal diplomatic ties with any European country except the Vatican. Taiwan's foreign ministry declined to comment on Wu's Europe travel plans. In January, then-Czech President-elect Pavel and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen spoke by telephone shortly after his election, in a diplomatic coup for Taiwan that infuriated China. Beijing views Taiwan as being part of "one China" and demands other countries recognise its sovereignty claims, which Taiwan's democratically-elected government rejects.

Persons: Joseph Wu, Wu, Petr Pavel, Zdenek Hrib, Pavel, Tsai Ing, Ben Blanchard, Robert Muller, Ryan Woo, Andrew Gray, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Taiwan Foreign, European Union, Service, Prague, Copenhagen Democracy Summit, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, PRAGUE, Europe, Czech, Taiwan, China, Vatican, Beijing, Central, Eastern, Ukraine, Brussels, Prague, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bratislava, Copenhagen, Denmark, Vilnius, Lithuania

☆ US urges WHO to invite Taiwan to observe May meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, May 9 (Reuters) - The United States is encouraging the World Health Organization to invite Taiwan as an observer at its annual meeting in Geneva from May 21 to 30, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday, in remarks that provoked criticism from China. "Inviting Taiwan as an observer would exemplify the WHO’s commitment to an inclusive, 'health for all' approach to international health cooperation," Blinken said in a statement. Excluded from most global groups due to Beijing's objections, Taiwan says its exclusion from the WHO hampered efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. In Beijing, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry said the United States' comments were confusing the public, and urged it to avoid using the WHO assembly meeting to "hype up" Taiwan-related issues. "Taiwan's participation in the activities of international organisations, including WHO, must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle," Wang Wenbin told a regular press conference on Wednesday.

☆ China says hopes Germany supports peaceful Taiwan 'reunification'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang attend a joint press conference at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, April 14, 2023. Suo Takekuma/Pool via REUTERSBEIJING, April 15 (Reuters) - China's top diplomat Wang Yi "hopes and believes" Germany will support China's "peaceful reunification" with Taiwan, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday. Wang made the remarks at a meeting with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who is visiting China until Saturday, adding that China once supported Germany's reunification. Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday it strongly approved of Baerbock's comments. "The Foreign Ministry thanks many high-level officials in the executive departments of various countries, including Germany, for their solidarity with Taiwan," it said.

☆ Macron comments leave senior Taiwanese official 'puzzled'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TAIPEI, April 12 (Reuters) - Comments by French President Emmanuel Macron on Taiwan are puzzling, a senior Taiwanese politician said, wondering whether France's founding ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity are now out of fashion. He also called for the European Union to reduce its dependence on the United States and to become a "third pole" in world affairs alongside Washington and Beijing. Taiwan parliament speaker You Si-kun, writing on Facebook late Tuesday above a screengrab of a report about Macron's comments on Taiwan, questioned the French commitment to freedom. "Are 'liberté, égalité, fraternité' out of fashion?," he wrote, referring to the official French motto of "liberty, equality, fraternity". "The actions of President Macron, a leading international democracy, leave me puzzled."

☆ China to close airspace north of Taiwan April 16-18, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 12 (Reuters) - China is planning to close the airspace north of Taiwan from April 16 to 18, four sources with knowledge of the matter said, a move that could disrupt flights around the region. China and Taiwan's foreign ministries did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It comes as China rounds off several days of military training around self-ruled Taiwan, a response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's recent meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California which infuriated Beijing. One senior official with direct knowledge of the matter said the flight ban would affect 60%-70% of flights going between Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia, as well as flights between Taiwan and South Korea, Japan and North America. Reporting by Yimou Lee in Taipei and Sakura Murakami and Tim Kelly in Tokyo; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Christian SchmollingerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

"Wow, the PRC (People's Republic of China) just sanctioned me again, for the second time," Hsiao tweeted in response to the announcement. Taiwan's Foreign Ministry reacted angrily, saying China had no right to "butt in" when it came to Tsai's overseas trips and that Beijing was "deceiving itself" if it thought the sanctions would have any effect. China has also banned the leaders from entering the country, and frozen any properties they have in China, it said. Chinese sanctions will have little practical impact as senior Taiwanese officials do not visit China while Chinese courts do not have jurisdiction in Taiwan. Others on the August sanctions list include Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu; Wellington Koo, Secretary-General of Taiwan's National Security Council; and DPP politicians.

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