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☆ China Says No Banned Areas Around Taiwanese Islands After Two Killed
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

BEIJING (Reuters) - There are no off limits or restricted areas for fishing around a group of Taiwanese islands close to China's coast and Beijing reserves the right to take further measures after two Chinese nationals died near the islands, the government said. Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained in recent years about Chinese fishing boats and other vessels operating in Taiwan-controlled waters, especially around the Kinmen and Matsu islands which sit a short distance from China's coast. Late on Saturday, China's Taiwan Affairs Office, which has already condemned Taipei for the incident near Kinmen's Beiding islet, said the deaths had caused "strong indignation" in China. China's Taiwan Affairs Office said the government had goodwill towards Taiwan's people, but will never tolerate Taiwan's disregard for the safety of Chinese fishermen. "The mainland reserves the right to take further measures, and Taiwan shall bear all the consequences," it added, without elaborating.

Persons: Kinmen, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan, Xu Hao, Ben Blanchard Organizations: China's Taiwan Affairs Office, Fishermen, Taiwan Affairs Office, Taiwan Affairs Office's, Beijing Locations: BEIJING, China's, Beijing, Taiwan, China, Taipei, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Shanghai, Taipei Mayor, Taiwan Affairs Office's Shanghai

☆ Taiwan Stops New Group Trips to China Amid Tourism, Air Route Spat
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan's Tourism Administration on Wednesday told travel agents to stop organising new group tours to China since Beijing has yet to allow such trips to the island by Chinese tourists and has altered a flight path in the sensitive Taiwan Strait. China claims democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory despite the strong objections of the government in Taipei. But "considering the change in the situation", including China not allowing Chinese to visit Taiwan and China's altering of a flight route through the Taiwan Strait last week, Taiwanese travel agencies cannot arrange any more tours, the Tourism Administration said in a statement. China has downplayed the furore, saying it is a routine measure to alleviate air space pressure. Taiwanese are still able to visit China on individual trips, while Chinese who live in third countries have since last September been allowed to come to Taiwan again as tourists.

Persons: Taiwan's, Ben Blanchard, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: Administration, Wednesday, Tourism Administration, Taiwan Affairs Office Locations: TAIPEI, China, Beijing, Taiwan Strait, Japan, Taiwan, Taipei

☆ Taiwan Reports First Major Chinese Military Activity After Election
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

By Ben Blanchard and Michael MartinaTAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan's defence ministry said it detected 18 Chinese air force planes operating around Taiwan and carrying out "joint combat readiness patrols" with Chinese warships on Wednesday, the first large-scale military activity after the Taiwanese election. Taiwan's defence ministry said that starting around 7:50 p.m. (1150 GMT) on Wednesday it had detected 18 aircraft including Su-30 fighters operating off northern and central Taiwan and to the island's southwest. Eleven of those aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait's median line, or areas close by, working with Chinese warships to carry out "joint combat readiness patrols", the ministry added. Taiwan sent its own forces to monitor, its defence ministry said. There was no immediate response from China's defence ministry.

Persons: Ben Blanchard, Michael Martina TAIPEI, Democratic Progressive Party's, Lai Ching, Biden, Lai, Vincent Chao, Xi Jinping, Chao, We're, David Brunnstrom, Michael Martina, Gareth Jones, Mark Potter, Jamie Freed Organizations: Taiwan, Democratic Progressive, China's Taiwan Affairs Office, U.S . State Department, U.S . Institute of Peace, U.S Locations: Taiwan, China, Taipei, Beijing, Taiwan Strait, U.S, United States, Washington

☆ Why China hates the new president of Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

"Lai Ching-te clings stubbornly to the separatist position for 'Taiwan independence.' A matter of Taiwan's independenceIn 2017, while he was premier, Lai referred to himself as a "pragmatic worker for 'Taiwan independence.'" AdvertisementLai has pledged to maintain status quo and stability in Taiwan, but China isn't backing down on its stance either. "I think China hates him, really hates him," Wu Xinbo, an international relations professor at Shanghai's Fudan University, told Reuters, referring to Lai. "It is because if he is elected as the leader of Taiwan, he may come to advance his goal of Taiwan independence, which will provoke a crisis across the Taiwan Strait," added Wu.

Persons: William Lai Ching, Taiwan's, Lai, —, Wiliam Lai Ching, Lai Ching, Xi Jinping, Wu Xinbo, Wu, Wang Yi, Jeremy Mark, William Lai, Chong Ja Ian, Chong, Tsai Ing Organizations: Democratic Progressive Party, Service, China's Taiwan Affairs Office, Chinese Communist Party, Shanghai's Fudan University, Reuters, Analysts, Lai's, Atlantic Council, Eurasia Group, KMT, National University of Singapore, Carnegie China, Channel News Asia Locations: China, Beijing, Taiwan, South America, Taiwan Strait, Taiwan's

☆ Vote counting begins in closely watched Taiwan election
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

With China intensifying its rhetoric on its claim over Taiwan, global observers are billing this Taiwan election as highly pivotal for security in the Asia-Pacific at a time of testy U.S.-China relations. If Lai and Hsiao win the Jan. 13 vote for the Taiwan presidential office, it would mark the first time any political party has stayed in office for more than two consecutive terms since Taiwan introduced direct presidential elections in 1996. Campaign posters for various legislative member candidates in Taipei, Taiwan, on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. China's Taiwan affairs office has characterized the self-ruled island's election as a choice between "peace and war, prosperity and decline." "China has always meddled whenever there is an election in Taiwan, but this time, it's the most serious."

Persons: Hou Yu, Hei Leung, Ko Wen, policymaking, Tsai Ing, Ko, Cynthia Wu, Jing Bo, jiun, Sam Yeh, Jing, Tsai, Lai Ching, Hsiao, United States —, Lai, Timothy S, Rich, Jaw Shaw, kong, Hou, Kevin Luo, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Xi, Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Rong Xu, Democratic Progressive Party Lai Ching, Yasuyoshi Chiba, DPP's Lai, Weeks Organizations: ih, Anadolu, Getty, Democratic Progressive Party, Kuomintang, Taiwan People's Party, China, Local, KMT, Taiwan Studies, University of Oxford, AFP, Taiwan, Rich Western Kentucky University, Taiwan's National Police Agency, New, DPP, University of Minnesota, Western Kentucky University, U.S, China -, APEC, CNBC, Former U.S, Bloomberg, Taiwan's DPP, Beijing, Cross Straits Service Locations: Taichung, Taiwan, Taipei, Asia, Pacific, U.S, China, Hsinchu, United States, Overconfidence, New Taipei City, China - U.S, Beijing, Taiwan Strait, Kaohsiung

☆ Exclusive: China lures hundreds of Taiwan politicians with cheap trips before election
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Yimou Lee | Thomson Reuters | Yimou Lee Is A Senior Correspondent For Reuters Covering Everything Taiwan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Across Taiwan security agencies are looking into more than 400 visits to China in the past month, most led by local opinion leaders such as borough chiefs and village heads, a Taiwan security official looking into China's activities told Reuters. He said it was "self-evident" Beijing was trying to sway Taiwan elections through means including free trips for politicians. More than 300 borough chiefs or village heads from populous central Taiwan alone have participated in such trips to China in the past few months, this person said. "Certain borough chiefs have become the window of contacts in Taiwan for some Chinese units." Chinese officials allegedly asked participants to support certain political parties and "oppose Taiwan independence", the prosecutors said in a statement.

Persons: Tsai Ing, Chiu Tai, Hsing Tai, chao, Yimou Lee, Ben Blanchard, William Mallard Organizations: Beijing, Reuters, China's Taiwan Affairs Office, Mainland Affairs Council, Chinese Communist Party, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, Beijing, China, Taiwan, Taipei, Shanghai, New Taipei City, Kaohsiung

☆ Taiwan president: China too 'overwhelmed' to consider invasion
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTAIPEI, Nov 30 (Reuters) - China's leadership is too "overwhelmed" with its internal problems to consider an invasion of Taiwan, President Tsai Ing-wen said in an interview with the New York Times. But Tsai, in a transcript of the interview her office published on Thursday, said China had too many issues at the moment. And my thought is that perhaps this is not a time for them to consider a major invasion of Taiwan," she said. Tsai and her government have repeatedly called for talks with China but been rebuffed, as Beijing views Tsai and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as separatists. The DPP's Lai Ching-te, currently vice president, is the frontrunner to be Taiwan's next president according to opinion polls.

Persons: Tsai Ing, Ann Wang, Tsai, Lai Ching, Lai, Hsiao Bi, Chen Binhua, Chiu Tai, Chiu, Ben Blanchard, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, New York Times, Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwan Affairs Office, Mainland Affairs Council, Thomson Locations: Taichung, Taiwan, Rights TAIPEI, China, Beijing, United States, Taipei, Lincoln

☆ Taiwan's presidential election is a three-way race. These are the parties vying to replace Tsai Ing-Wen.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Candidates from the more established Kuomintang and the smaller Taiwan People's Party could not agree on the leader for a combined ticket. Taiwan's president and vice president are directly elected, serve one term of four years and may be re-elected for one additional term. Taiwan's elections kick off a year that is littered with numerous elections globally at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions as two major wars rage on. The outcome of Taiwan's elections will likely go some way in influencing testy U.S.-China ties and impact security in Asia-Pacific more broadly. These are the three parties contesting Taiwan's Jan. 13 polls to elect a new president.

Persons: Foxconn, Joe Biden's, bookends, Xi Jinping, Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Taiwan's Jan Organizations: Democratic Progressive Party, Apple, Taiwan People's Party, U.S, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, APEC, Taiwan, ., Taiwan's Locations: China, Kuomintang, Taiwan, Taiwan Strait, Beijing, Asia, Pacific, San Francisco

☆ 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

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 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

Lai, vice president and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) presidential candidate, has almost consistently led opinion polls ahead of an election taking place amid increased Chinese pressure on Taiwan to accept Beijing's sovereignty claims. Vincent Chao, spokesperson for the Lai campaign, declined to comment on Hsiao's role but said an announcement on a running mate would be made on Monday. Randall Schriver, the former U.S. assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, described Hsiao as a "good partner in promoting U.S.-Taiwan relations." The DPP-led government says only Taiwan's people can decide their future, and has repeatedly offered talks with Beijing but been rebuffed. Like Lai, Hsiao is detested by China, which has on two occasions placed sanctions on her, most recently in April, saying she is an "independence diehard".

Persons: Lai Ching, Lai, Democratic Progressive Party's, Hsiao, Vincent Chao, Ivan Kanapathy, Randall Schriver, Chen Shui, Ben Blanchard, Yimou Lee, Michael Martina, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Democratic Progressive, APEC, Asia, U.S . National Security Council, Reuters, Georgetown University, Patriot, Pacific Security Affairs, U.S, DPP, Taiwan Affairs Office, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, United States, Washington, Taiwan, San Francisco, U.S, Taipei, Ukraine, China, Beijing, Japan

☆ Amid Foxconn probe, China tells Taiwan firms to play positive role in ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A Foxconn shareholder poses for photos after the annual shareholder meeting in New Taipei City, Taiwan May 31, 2023. REUTERS/Ann Wang Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Taiwanese companies should assume their social responsibilities and play a "positive role" in promoting the peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Strait, China's government said on Wednesday, amid a probe into major Apple supplier Foxconn. "While sharing development benefits and growth dividends on the mainland and achieving rapid development, Taiwan enterprises should also assume corresponding social responsibilities and play a positive role in promoting the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations." China believes Lai, who is leading opinion polls, is a separatist bent on a formal declaration of independence. "As pointed out by the media on the island, Lai Ching-te has now changing from a Taiwan independence maniac to a Taiwan independence liar," she said.

Persons: Ann Wang, Zhu Fenglian, Zhu, Lai Ching, Democratic Progressive Party's, Lai, Ben Blanchard, Jacqueline Wong, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Apple, Global Times, Taiwan Affairs Office, Taiwan, Democratic Progressive, Beijing, Thomson Locations: New Taipei City, Taiwan, Rights BEIJING, Taiwan Strait, China, Beijing

☆ China's defence ministry blasts Pentagon's annual report
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Bernard Orr | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The flags of the United States and China fly from a lamppost in the Chinatown neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., November 1, 2021. REUTERS/Brian Snyder Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Oct 25 (Reuters) - China's defence ministry on Wednesday denounced the U.S. Defense Department's annual report on China, saying it distorts the country's security policy and military strategy. "The so-called report on China's military power released by the United States is full of all kinds of wrong content, including the statement on the Taiwan issue," a spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office said at a media briefing on Wednesday. But he added the difficulties and obstacles facing relations between the two militaries are created by the United States. The United States accepted China's invitation after China turned down a meeting a few months ago between the two countries' defence chiefs.

Persons: Brian Snyder, Wu Qian, Wu, Defence Ministry's Wu, Bernard Orr, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Defense, Pentagon, Congress, Defence Ministry, Taiwan Affairs, Defence, United, Thomson Locations: United States, China, Chinatown, Boston , Massachusetts, U.S, Rights BEIJING, People's Republic of China, South, Taiwan, United, Beijing

TAIPEI, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Taiwan seeks "peaceful coexistence" with China with free and unrestricted interaction but the island will be democratic for generations to come, President Tsai Ing-wen said in her last national day speech on Tuesday. Speaking in front of the presidential office, Tsai said the strength of international support for Taiwan had reached an "unprecedented height". There was no immediate response from China's Taiwan Affairs Office. Beijing says Taiwan's government must accept that both China and Taiwan belong to "one China", which Tsai has refused to do. The Republic of China remains Taiwan's formal name, though the government tends to stylise it as the Republic of China, Taiwan, to distinguish it from the government in Beijing.

Persons: Tsai Ing, heightening, Tsai, Scott Morrison, China's, Mao Zedong's, Yimou Lee, Ben Blanchard, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Taiwan, China's Taiwan Affairs Office Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, Beijing, Taiwan Strait, United States, Taipei, Asia, Republic of China, People's Republic of China, The Republic of China, Lincoln

☆ Taiwan elects its own leaders so is already independent: presidential frontrunner
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Taiwan's Vice President William Lai announces his "National Project of Hope" ahead of the upcoming presidential election in Taipei, Taiwan September 6, 2023. In an interview with Japanese media, a transcript of which his campaign team released on Friday, Lai was asked on his position on Taiwan independence. Taiwan regularly elects leaders at all levels of government, right from the grassroots up to the president, Lai said. Therefore, there is no need to declare Taiwan's independence again," he added. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen cannot stand again after two terms in office.

Persons: William Lai, Ann Wang, Lai, Tsai Ing, Mao Zedong's, Ben Blanchard, Lincoln Organizations: of, REUTERS, Rights, Taiwan Affairs Office, Kuomintang, Thomson Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, Rights TAIPEI, China, Beijing, Republic of China, People's Republic of China

☆ Taiwan Elects Its Own Leaders So Is Already Independent: Presidential Frontrunner
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

In an interview with Japanese media, a transcript of which his campaign team released on Friday, Lai was asked on his position on Taiwan independence. Taiwan regularly elects leaders at all levels of government, right from the grassroots up to the president, Lai said. If it is not sovereign and independent, how can there be a presidential election? Therefore, there is no need to declare Taiwan's independence again," he added. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen cannot stand again after two terms in office.

Persons: William Lai, Lai, Tsai Ing, Mao Zedong's, Ben Blanchard, Lincoln Organizations: Taiwan Affairs Office, Kuomintang Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, Beijing, Republic of China, People's Republic of China

☆ Taiwan says China has 'very diverse' ways of interfering in election
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsTAIPEI, Oct 4 (Reuters) - China has "very diverse" ways of interfering in Taiwan's elections in January, from military pressure to spreading fake news, including manipulating opinion polls, a senior Taiwanese security official said on Wednesday. Ahead of elections, Taiwan routinely flags the risk of interference from Beijing, which claims the democratically governed island as its own, saying China seeks to sway the outcome to candidates who may be more favourable toward the country. "The way the Chinese Communists interfere in elections is very diversified," Taiwan National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen told lawmakers during a parliamentary committee session. China can use military pressure, economic coercion or fake news to create a false choice between "war or peace" in the election, seeking to frighten voters, Tsai said. China has increased military activities around Taiwan since the last election in 2020, and regularly sends warships and fighters into the seas and skies near the island.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Tsai Ming, Tsai, William Lai, Lai, Xi Jinping, Ben Blanchard, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Taiwan National Security, Taiwan Affairs Office, Taiwan, Democratic Progressive Party, People's Liberation Army Rocket Force, Thomson Locations: Rights TAIPEI, China, Taiwan, Beijing

☆ Taiwan says China knows armed threats backfire on influencing elections
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

China has never renounced the use of force to bring democratically governed Taiwan under its control, viewing the island as one of its provinces. In 1996, China lobbed missiles into the Taiwan Strait to try to intimidate the island's voters against voting for Lee Teng-hui as president, who Beijing despised for his perceived pro-independence sympathies. That triggered the so-called Third Taiwan Strait Crisis, in which the U.S. Navy carried out a massive show of force in the strait. Lai has said he does not seek to change the status quo, and has repeatedly offered talks with Beijing. Wu said China was preparing for a possible attack against Taiwan, including how the People's Liberation Army would deal with U.S. intervention.

Persons: Lee Teng, Lee, William Lai, it's, Joseph Wu, Lai, Wu, Ben Blanchard, Gerry Doyle Organizations: U.S . Navy, Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwan Affairs Office, People's Liberation Army, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, Beijing, China, Taiwan Strait, Taipei, Japan, Australia, United States

☆ China says aim of its drills near Taiwan is to combat 'arrogance' of separatists
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Solider miniatures are seen in front of displayed Chinese and Taiwanese flags in this illustration taken, April 11, 2023. "The purpose is to resolutely combat the arrogance of Taiwan independence separatist forces and their actions to seek independence," Zhu said. "The provocation of Taiwan independence continues all day long, and the actions of the People's Liberation Army to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity are always ongoing," she added. "I hope that the majority of Taiwanese compatriots will clearly distinguish between right and wrong, resolutely oppose Taiwan independence, and work with us to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait." Taiwan's defence ministry last week also took the unusual step of announcing it was monitoring Chinese drills in Fujian province, opposite Taiwan.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Zhu Fenglian, Zhu, Li Shangfu, Taiwan's, Yimou Lee, Ben Blanchard, Himani Sarkar, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Taiwan Affairs, People's Liberation Army, Defence, Reuters, Democratic Progressive Party, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Rights BEIJING, Taiwan, Taipei, China, Shandong, Beijing, Fujian

☆ China Says Aim of Its Drills Near Taiwan Is to Combat 'Arrogance' of Separatists
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has said this month that it had observed dozens of fighters, drones, bombers and other aircraft, as well as warships and the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong, operating nearby. The increased frequency of China's military activities has raised the risk of events "getting out of hand" and sparking an accidental clash, the island's defence minister said on Saturday. "The purpose is to resolutely combat the arrogance of Taiwan independence separatist forces and their actions to seek independence," Zhu said. "The provocation of Taiwan independence continues all day long, and the actions of the People's Liberation Army to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity are always ongoing," she added. "I hope that the majority of Taiwanese compatriots will clearly distinguish between right and wrong, resolutely oppose Taiwan independence, and work with us to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait."

Persons: Zhu Fenglian, Zhu, Taiwan's, Ben Blanchard, Himani Sarkar, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Taiwan Affairs, People's Liberation Army, Democratic Progressive Party, Beijing Locations: BEIJING, Taiwan, Taipei, China, Shandong, Beijing

Taiwan's constitution states that the Republic of China is a sovereign state, and that has been a consensus shared by all Taiwan's main political parties. The Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong's communists, who set up the People's Republic. "It is because if he is elected as the leader of Taiwan, he may come to advance his goal of Taiwan independence, which will provoke a crisis across the Taiwan Strait." China's Taiwan Affairs Office said his comments were "weird" and "deceitful" given that his "Taiwan independence nature" had not changed. China has demanded Taiwan's government accept that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to "one China," something Tsai and Lai have refused to do.

Persons: William Lai, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Lai, Tsai Ing, Mao Zedong's, Wu Xinbo, Joseph Wu, George Yin, Yin, Tsai's, Lai ., Xi Jinping, Taiwan's, Tsai, Meng Chih, cheng, Ben Blanchard, Sarah Wu, Martin Pollard, Casey, Sonali Paul Organizations: International Airport, REUTERS, Rights, Shanghai's Fudan University, National Taiwan University, Taiwan Affairs Office, Cheng Kung University, Casey Hall, Thomson Locations: United States, New York, Paraguay, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Rights TAIPEI, China, Beijing, Taiwanese, Republic of China, People's Republic of China, The Republic of China, Republic, Republic of Taiwan, Hong Kong, Shanghai

☆ Taiwan boosts counter-espionage effort after suspected China infiltration
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Taiwan's armed forces hold two days of routine drills to show combat readiness ahead of Lunar New Year holidays at a military base in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, January 11, 2023. REUTERS/Ann WangTAIPEI, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Taiwan's military vowed on Wednesday to step up counter-espionage efforts as authorities investigated several serving and former military officers suspected of spying for China. China, which is pressing the island to accept its sovereignty, has in recent years mounted a sustained espionage campaign to undermine democratically governed Taiwan's military and civilian leadership, a Reuters investigation has found. "Betraying your own fellow soldiers and country should be punished by law strictly," he said, adding that authorities had been working hard to prevent such incidents happening again. China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Persons: Ann Wang, Hsiao, Alex Huang, Yimou Lee, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, army's Aviation, Special Forces Command, Central News Agency, CNA, Chinese Communist Party, Taiwan Affairs Office, Thomson Locations: Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Ann Wang TAIPEI, China, Taoyuan, Taipei

☆ China aims to sap Taiwan morale with 'escape plan' misinformation, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Yimou Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

TAIPEI, July 7 (Reuters) - China has launched a misinformation campaign that includes news reports Taiwan's president has an "escape plan" in the event of a Chinese invasion, aiming to sap morale as Beijing presses the island to accept its sovereignty, Taiwan officials said. China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to a request for comment. The officials said the Chinese campaign was overseen by Beijing's Central Leading Group for Taiwan Affairs, which is chaired by President Xi Jinping, and carried out by various government units including the Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing. "They want to sell fear," said one of the sources, a senior official familiar with Taiwan's security planning. Reporting By Yimou Lee; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Rob BirselOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Han Kuang, Tsai Ing, Xi Jinping, Yimou Lee, Ben Blanchard, Rob Birsel Organizations: Reuters, Taiwan Affairs Office, Taiwan, U.S, China's Taiwan Affairs Office, Beijing's Central, Group, Taiwan Affairs, Affairs Office, People's Liberation Army, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, China, Beijing, Taiwan, United States, Taipei, Hong Kong, U.S, Pacific

☆ China aims to sap Taiwan morale with 'escape plan' misinformation - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Yimou Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

TAIPEI, July 7 (Reuters) - China has launched a misinformation campaign that includes news reports Taiwan's president has an "escape plan" in the event of a Chinese invasion, aiming to sap morale as Beijing presses the island to accept its sovereignty, Taiwan officials said. China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to a request for comment. Some of the media reports were first published by online news sites run by China's Taiwan Affairs Office before appearing in media outlets in Taiwan and Hong Kong, according to the officials and a Reuters review of the reports. The officials said the Chinese campaign was overseen by Beijing's Central Leading Group for Taiwan Affairs, which is chaired by President Xi Jinping, and carried out by various government units including the Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing. "They want to sell fear," said one of the sources, a senior official familiar with Taiwan's security planning.

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