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☆ Taiwan's wind industry braves cross-strait risks in clean energy boom
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Sarah Wu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

With large swathes of Taiwan's territorial waters restricted due to defense, shipping and other uses, offshore wind developers will soon run out of space. It's a question of whether you want to pay the price," insurance broker Clive Lin told offshore wind developers in a packed lecture hall in Taipei. Political risk insurance is typically not covered in mainstream insurance policies, so developers have to buy it additionally. The risk of a military confrontation and its impact on Taiwan's wind farms are hard to quantify, analysts say. "In a kinetic conflict invasion, Taiwan's going to have so many other problems, offshore wind is going to be way down on the list," Cancian said.

☆ Helene von Roeder to become new CFO of Germany's Merck
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

[1/2] People sit next to a Merck logo at SEMICON Taiwan in Taipei, Taiwan, September 14, 2022. REUTERS/Ann WangMay 8 (Reuters) - Germany's Merck KGaA (MRCG.DE) has appointed Helene von Roeder as the new chief financial officer and member of the Executive Board after Marcus Kuhnert has decided to step down, the drugmaker announced on Monday. The changes would become effective from July 1, the company added. German real estate company Vonovia (VNAn.DE) announced this month that von Roeder would be leaving its management board at her own request as of July 1. (This story has been refiled to make it clear that the company is Germany's Merck)Reporting by Anastasiia Kozlova and Amir Orusov Editing by Miranda MurrayOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Taiwan says F-16 deliveries delayed, working to minimise damage
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] 12 F-16V fighter jets perform an elephant walk during an annual New Year's drill in Chiayi, Taiwan, January 5, 2022. REUTERS/Ann WangTAIPEI, May 4 (Reuters) - Taiwan Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said on Thursday that the delivery of 66 advanced new F-16Vs from the United States has been delayed due to supply chain disruptions and the ministry was working to minimise the damage and "make up deficiencies". Speaking to reporters at parliament, Chiu said Taiwan had asked the United States to "make up the deficiency", including prioritising spare part deliveries for the existing fleet. The ministry is using diplomatic channels, such as via the de facto U.S. embassy in Taipei, to resolve the problem, Chiu said. Neither the de facto embassy, the American Institute in Taiwan, nor Lockheed Martin immediately responded to a request for comment.

☆ Guatemala not asking Taiwan for 'free money', does not owe debt like Honduras
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] A Taiwan and Guatemala flag is seen at an investment event in Taipei, Taiwan April 24, 2023. REUTERS/Ann WangTAIPEI, April 24 (Reuters) - Guatemala is not asking for "free money" from Taiwan and does not owe debt in the same way Honduras does, but is looking for long-term investment and trade, senior Guatemalan financial officials said on Monday. Guatemala is one of only 13 countries to maintain formal diplomatic ties with Chinese-claimed Taiwan. Honduras abandoned Taipei for Beijing last month after asking for almost $2.5 billion in aid. "We heard it in the news, but we are focused on solutions that we need for our country," Rosales said of China's comments.

☆ China launches weather satellite, flights avoid no-fly zone to north of Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Ann WangBEIJING/TAIPEI, April 16 (Reuters) - China launched a weather satellite on Sunday as civilian flights altered their routes to avoid a Chinese-imposed no-fly zone to the north of Taiwan which Beijing put in place because of the possibility of falling rocket debris. The no-fly announcement rattled regional nerves as it followed shortly after China staged new war games around Taiwan, which Beijing views as sovereign Chinese territory. Flights to and from Taiwan and China, Taiwan and South Korea and Taiwan and Japan were amongst those detouring around the zone on Sunday morning, according to routes tracked on Flightradar24. The zone is in an area over the East China Sea slightly northeast of Taiwan that routinely sees heavy civilian flight traffic. China has denounced what it has called hype around China's space activities and an attempt to escalate confrontation across the Taiwan Strait.

☆ Taiwan faces choice of 'peace and war', ex-president says after China trip
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou arrives at Taoyuan international airport after concluding his 12-day trip to China in Taoyuan, Taiwan April 7, 2023. Ma is the first former Taiwanese president to ever visit China. Since the defeated Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war to Mao Zedong's communists, no serving island leader has visited China. The future is a choice between peace and war," Ma told reporters at Taiwan's main airport after arriving from Shanghai at the end of his 12-day visit to China. Ma said Taiwan could share a "common political basis" with China, which would be in the best interests of the people of Taiwan.

If a nuclear attack were headed toward the US, residents would have fewer than 30 minutes to prepare. Russian Presidential Press Service/APA nuclear attack remains highly unlikely, but it's not out of the question, experts say. Redlener said the best way to learn of an impending nuclear attack would probably be TV or radio. Survivors of a nuclear attack would have about 15 minutes before sandlike radioactive particles, known as nuclear fallout, reached the ground. A sign for a nuclear fallout shelter on a residential block in Brooklyn.

☆ Czech parliament speaker, in Taiwan, says we'll always stand with you
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] The Speaker of the Chamber of the Deputies of Czech Republic Marketa Pekarova Adamova makes a speech at the Parliament in Taipei, Taiwan March 28, 2023. REUTERS/Ann WangTAIPEI, March 28 (Reuters) - The speaker of the lower chamber of the Czech parliament told Taiwanese lawmakers on Tuesday that her country and Taiwan are bound together by freedom and democracy, pledging to always stand with the island's people. Addressing Taiwan's parliament, Marketa Pekarova Adamova said Taiwan and the Czech Republic share the same story. Although the Czech Republic does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Pekarova Adamova is visiting with a delegation of some 150, mostly businesspeople. Pekarova Adamova's trip to Taiwan follows one by Senate speaker Milos Vystrcil in 2020.

[1/5] Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou speaks to the media at the airport before departing on a visit to China, as for the first time a former or current Taiwanese leader will be visiting since the defeated Republic of China government fled to the island in 1949, in Taoyuan, Taiwan March 27, 2023. REUTERS/Ann WangTAOYUAN, Taiwan, March 27 (Reuters) - Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou left for China on Monday on a landmark trip, saying he hoped to bring about peace and improve relations through the interactions of young people. Ma, in office from 2008-2016, will be the first former or current Taiwanese president to visit China since the defeated Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 at the end of a civil war with the Communists, where it remains to this day. Ma met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Singapore in late 2015 shortly before the current Taiwan president, Tsai Ing-wen, won an election. The KMT says outreach to China is needed now more than ever given the tensions across the Taiwan Strait.

☆ Taiwan says it has contingency plans for China moves while president abroad
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Ann Wang/File PhotoTAIPEI, March 22 (Reuters) - Taiwan's defence ministry has contingency plans for any moves by China during Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's overseas visit, Deputy Defence Minister Po Horng-huei said on Wednesday ahead of Tsai going to the United States and Central America next week. Asked by reporters on the sidelines of a parliament session whether China was likely to stage more drills when Tsai is abroad, Po said the armed forces were prepared. "When it comes to what the Chinese communists have done in the past, the defence ministry can have a grasp on it, and will consider the worse scenario," he said. "During the president's overseas visit, the defence ministry has contingency plans for all moves" by China, Po added, declining to give details. China, which has condemned Tsai's planned U.S. stop over, has continued its military activities around Taiwan since August, though on a much reduced scale.

☆ TSMC founder says he supports US efforts to slow China's chip advances
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Sarah Wu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Morris Chang, the founder of the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), speaks on stage during a Chip War book event in Taipei, Taiwan March 16, 2023. In Taiwan, TSMC, Asia's most valuable listed company and a major Apple Inc (AAPL.O) supplier, is widely regarded as the "sacred mountain protecting the country," because of its economic importance. U.S. "onshoring" and "friendshoring" efforts to boost chip manufacturing stateside or in allied countries present a predicament for Taiwan. TSMC is expanding its global production footprint, even as it keeps its most advanced technology in Taiwan. Meanwhile, the Chinese government is plowing billions into bolstering its chip sector, but Chang said China's chip manufacturing technology lags that of Taiwan by "at least five or six years".

"We are taking notes from Zelenskiy," a senior Taiwan security official said, referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's strong presence on social media. "We can't even fix sea cables on our own," the official said. "What if one day all 14 of Taiwan's undersea cables connecting us to the outside world break? Taiwan's military has long prepared back-up plans, including a fibre-optic network for communications within Taiwan, satellites, high-frequency radio, and microwave systems. "So the first step (for China) - with about 99 percent likelihood - is to cut our sea cables," Huang said.

[1/6] A view shows Cardinal III UAV on display as Taiwan's Defence Ministry showcases its domestically developed drones to the press in Taichung, Taiwan March 14, 2023. The war in Ukraine has lent new urgency to Taiwan military's efforts to bolster defence including a push to develop drones. NCSIST head Art Chang said the war in Ukraine had focused attention on drones, and his institution had teamed up with Taiwan companies to build a "national team" to develop military drones. President Tsai Ing-wen has championed the idea of "asymmetric warfare" to make Taiwan's forces more mobile and harder to attack. China has sent its drones to areas close to Taiwan to test its responses, the island's defence ministry has said.

Two lawmakers with knowledge of the exports and two former officials said the approvals reflected Britain’s increased willingness to support Taiwan. One of the lawmakers, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, said authorising the export licences amounted to giving a "green light" to better equip Taiwan. It shows the government authorised 25 export licences to Taiwan during the first nine months of 2022 under the categories "components for submarines" and "technology for submarines." Taiwan has for decades been unable to buy conventional submarines from other countries because of their concerns of angering China. Asked about the decision to approve the increase in export licences, the official said: "You just don't do something like this without thinking through the implications very carefully."

That money was to be given in $2 billion annual installments of Foreign Military Financing, or FMF, grants over five years. Republicans accused Biden's administration of failing to advocate strongly enough for the Taiwan grants, given that his fellow Democrats controlled both the Senate and House last year. "Securing FMF funding is always a challenge given the tight budget constraints, even for priority partners like Taiwan," said Eric Lee of the Project 2049 Institute think tank. "I would prefer to see a revival of FMF grants, but with clear strings attached," said Michael Hunzeker, a Taiwan military expert at George Mason University. Grants to buy specific weapons could be made on condition of Taiwan showing further moves toward asymmetric defense, he said.

☆ Paraguay president seeks to calm China jitters on Taiwan trip
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and visiting Paraguay President Mario Abdo Benitez attend a welcome ceremony in front of the Presidential building in Taipei, Taiwan, February 16, 2023. Paraguay is one of only 14 countries to have formal diplomatic relations with Chinese-claimed Taiwan, and Beijing has been stepping up efforts to get those remaining allies to abandon Taipei. "Nobody is going to dare to go ahead with a process of diplomatic rupture with the Republic of China, Taiwan," he said, referring to Taiwan's official name. Santiago Pena, the ruling Colorado Party candidate, has said Paraguay's relations with Taiwan would remain intact if he wins on April 30. China views Taiwan as one of its provinces, with no right to state-to-state ties, a position Taipei hotly disputes.

☆ Destiny unites us, Paraguay leader says as Taiwan ties hang in balance
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and visiting Paraguay President Mario Abdo Benitez arrive at the welcome ceremony in front of the Presidential building in Taipei, Taiwan, February 16, 2023. Speaking at a welcome ceremony in Taipei attended by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, Abdo said the Taiwanese people deserve the highest admiration, respect, and affection from his country. Tsai, recalling her two trips to Paraguay as president, said the two sides continued to deepen their friendship. Paraguay's Taiwan ties have been under pressure in recent years, especially from the country's beef producers and farmers, who see the relationship as an obstacle to gaining access to the world's largest market for their products. China views Taiwan as one of its provinces, with no right to state-to-state ties, a position Taipei hotly disputes.

[1/4] Taiwan's Air Force's Mirage 2000-5 aircraft is seen at Hsinchu Air Base, in Hsinchu, Taiwan, January 11, 2023. REUTERS/Ann WangHSINCHU, Taiwan, Jan 11 (Reuters) - A Taiwan air force officer revealed details on Wednesday of a rare interaction between the island's military and NATO, describing how he had attended a six month academic programme with senior officials in Italy. Speaking to reporters on a trip to the Hsinchu air base in northern Taiwan, air force Lieutenant Colonel Wu Bong-yeng said he had attended a six month course at the NATO Defence College in Rome in 2021, returning to Taiwan in January last year. Taiwan's defence ministry told Reuters that Wu was not the first officer it had sent to the defence college. In August, China staged large-scale war games around Taiwan to express anger at then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visiting Taipei.

☆ Former NATO boss urges countries to show China consequences if it attacks Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Former NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen speaks to the media at a press event in Taipei, Taiwan, January 5, 2023. REUTERS/Ann WangTAIPEI, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Democratic countries should make it clear the "severe economic consequences" China would face should it move against self-governed Taiwan, the former NATO secretary-general said during a visit to the island on Thursday. China, which claims Taiwan as its own despite strong objections of the democratic island, has been ramping up pressure on Taiwan to assert its sovereignty claims, including almost daily Chinese air force missions near the island over the past three years. China reserves the right to use force to bring Taiwan under its control if necessary. "All those who believe in a democratic Taiwan and rule- based international order must work to ensure Ukraine prevails.

☆ TSMC starts volume production of most advanced chips in Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TAINAN, Taiwan, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd (TSMC)(2330.TW), began mass production of its most advanced chips in southern Taiwan on Thursday and the company's chairman said it would continue to expand capacity on the island. The long-awaited mass production of chips with 3-nanometre technology comes as attention focuses on the world's largest contract chipmaker's investment plans at home and abroad. TSMC has a dominant position as a maker of advanced chips used in technology from cellphones to fighter jets. Taiwan's government has dismissed concerns about a "goodbye to Taiwan" trend for the chip industry, saying the island's position as a major semiconductor producer and maker of the most advanced chips is secure. TSMC said it was working to build factories for the next generation 2-nanometre chips, which were planned to be manufactured in northern and central Taiwan.

☆ China stages 'strike drills' around Taiwan, citing provocation
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A Taiwan flag can be seen at Liberty Square in Taipei, Taiwan, July 28, 2022. REUTERS/Ann WangBEIJING, Dec 25 (Reuters) - China's military said it had conducted "strike drills" in the sea and airspace around Taiwan on Sunday in response to unspecified "provocation" from the democratically-governed island and the United States. "This is a resolute response to the current escalation of collusion and provocation from the United States and Taiwan," it added, without giving details. The ministry publishes a daily report at 9 a.m. (0100 GMT) of Chinese military activities near the island over the previous 24 hours. The United States is Taiwan's most important international backer and arms supplier, despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

☆ Foxconn unit to sell entire equity stake in Tsinghua Unigroup
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] The logo of Foxconn is seen outside a building in Taipei, Taiwan November 10, 2022. REUTERS/Ann WangHONG KONG, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Taiwan's Foxconn (2317.TW), the world's largest contract electronics maker, said on Friday its subsidiary in China has agreed to sell entire equity stake in embattled Chinese chip conglomerate Tsinghua Unigroup. Foxconn disclosed in July that it was a shareholder of Tsinghua Unigroup. Xingwei controls a 48.9% stake in a different entity that itself holds a 20% stake in the vehicle that owns all of Unigroup. ($1 = 6.9708 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Meg Shen, Editing by Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Foxconn unit to sell stake in Chinese chip firm Unigroup
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Ann WangTAIPEI, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Taiwan's Foxconn (2317.TW), the world's largest contract electronics maker, said on Friday its subsidiary in China has agreed to sell its entire equity stake in embattled Chinese chip conglomerate Tsinghua Unigroup. Foxconn, a major Apple Inc (AAPL.O) supplier and iPhone maker, disclosed in July it was a shareholder of Tsinghua Unigroup. Xingwei controls a 48.9% stake in a different entity that holds a 20% stake in the vehicle owning all of Unigroup. The company has been seeking to acquire chip plants globally as a worldwide chip shortage rattles producers of goods from cars to electronics. Originating as a branch of China's prestigious Tsinghua University, Tsinghua Unigroup emerged in the previous decade as a would-be domestic champion for China's laggard chip industry.

☆ Taiwan pledges deeper Japan security cooperation as senior lawmaker visits
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen gives a speech on National Day in Taipei, Taiwan, October 10, 2022. REUTERS/Ann WangTAIPEI, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen pledged on Saturday to deepen security cooperation with Japan to ensure freedom in the Indo-Pacific, during a meeting with a senior member of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Meeting in the presidential office in Taipei, Tsai thanked Koichi Hagiuda, the LDP's policy chief, for Japan's support over issues like maintaining security in the sensitive Taiwan Strait. "We have seen in recent years Taiwan-Japan relations have become ever closer," she said. Japan has watched with growing concern China's belligerence towards Taiwan as Beijing seeks to assert its sovereignty claims over the island.

☆ Eye of the storm: Taiwan at the centre of Sino-U.S. tensions
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Ben Blanchard | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

China likewise views Tsai as a separatist for refusing to accept Beijing's long-standing position that China and Taiwan both belong to "one China". Since Pelosi's visit, China has continued with its military activities near Taiwan, though on a reduced scale. WHY IT MATTERSA newspaper front page reporting about U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi is pictured in Taipei, Taiwan, August 2, 2022. The United States has long stuck to a policy of "strategic ambiguity" and not making clear whether it would respond militarily to an attack on Taiwan. Anti-China sentiment continues to build in the United States, and in its newly Republican-controlled House, along with support for Taiwan.

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