DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

HONG KONG — China conducted large-scale military drills around Taiwan on Monday in what it said was a warning to “independence forces” on the Beijing-claimed island. The exercises had been expected after Beijing criticized a speech last week by Taiwan President Lai Ching-te. China, which has not ruled out the use of force in achieving its unification goal, views Lai as a separatist and a “troublemaker.” The Chinese military also held two days of “punishment” drills around Taiwan after his inauguration in May. “The existence of the Republic of China is an undeniable fact,” it said in a statement, using the formal name for Taiwan. Lai said in his speech that Taiwan and China were “not subordinate to each other.”“On this land, democracy and freedom are growing and thriving.

Persons: ”, Lai Ching, Lai, Li Xi, Mao Ning Organizations: Taiwan, Chinese Defense Ministry, ‘ Taiwan, Theater Command, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, Mainland Affairs Council, Chinese Communist Party, Foreign Ministry Locations: HONG KONG — China, Taiwan, Beijing, China, ‘ Taiwan Independence, Republic of China, Taiwan Strait, ” China, People’s Republic of China

☆ China launches war games around Taiwan, drawing ire from Taipei, Washington
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te gives a keynote address on national day to mark the 113th birthday of the Republic of China, Taiwan's formal name, in Taipei, Taiwan October 10, 2024. The Chinese military's Eastern Theatre Command said the "Joint Sword-2024B" drills were taking place in the Taiwan Strait and areas to the north, south and east of Taiwan. In 2022, shortly after then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, China fired missiles over the island. Taiwan's China policy making Mainland Affairs Council said that China's latest war games and refusal to renounce the use of force were "blatant provocations" that seriously undermined regional peace and stability. Joseph Wu, the secretary-general of Taiwan's National Security Council, said Taiwan would "stay alert" but would remain "moderate and responsible, maintain status quo across the Taiwan Strait."

Persons: Lai Ching, Ann Wang, Lai, Nancy Pelosi, Joseph Wu, Wu Organizations: Reuters China's, Eastern Theatre Command, ., Affairs Council, Taiwan's, Affairs, Taiwan's National Security Council Locations: Taiwan, Republic of China, Taipei, Taipei and U.S, China, Beijing, Taiwan Strait, Taiwan's China

☆ Taiwan says four iPhone maker staff detained in China under 'strange' circumstances
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

TAIPEI — Four employees of Taiwan's Foxconn, the world’s largest iPhone assembler, have been detained in China under "quite strange" circumstances, Taiwan’s government said. "The circumstances of this case are quite strange," it said. The Mainland Affairs Council said Foxconn had stated the company had "suffered no losses and that the four employees had done nothing to harm the company’s interests." Calls to China's Taiwan Affairs Office seeking comment outside of office hours went unanswered. China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, over the strong objections of the government in Taipei.

Persons: Taiwan's Foxconn, Taiwan’s, Foxconn Organizations: TAIPEI —, Mainland Affairs Council, Reuters, Mainland Affairs, Taiwan Affairs Office Locations: TAIPEI, China, China's Zhengzhou, Taiwan, Beijing, Taipei

☆ Taiwan says four Foxconn employees detained in China
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-10 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Taipei, Taiwan Reuters —Four employees of Taiwan’s Foxconn, the world’s largest iPhone assembler, have been detained in China under “quite strange” circumstances, Taiwan’s government said. The council said Foxconn had stated the company had “suffered no losses and that the four employees had done nothing to harm the company’s interests.”“This has seriously damaged the confidence of companies. Calls to China’s Taiwan Affairs Office seeking comment outside of office hours went unanswered. In June, Taiwan’s government raised its travel warning for China, telling its citizens not to go unless absolutely necessary, following a threat from Beijing to execute those deemed “diehard” Taiwan independence supporters. China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, over the strong objections of the government in Taipei.

Persons: Taiwan’s Foxconn, Taiwan’s, ”, Foxconn, “ Organizations: Taiwan Reuters —, Mainland Affairs Council, Reuters, Taiwan Affairs Office Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, China, China’s Zhengzhou, Henan, Beijing

☆ Most Taiwanese believe China unlikely to invade in coming five years, poll shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-09 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

TAIPEI — Most Taiwanese believe China is unlikely to invade in the coming five years but do see Beijing as a serious threat to the democratic island, a poll by Taiwan’s top military think tank showed on Wednesday. Lee Kuan-chen, another INDSR researcher, said Taiwan's military should continue to boost its defense capacity to build public trust. Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te said on Saturday that it is "impossible" for the People’s Republic of China to become Taiwan’s motherland because Taiwan has older political roots. Taiwan's China policy making Mainland Affairs Council said it was an objective fact that since 1949 the People's Republic of China had never ruled the island. "On the contrary, the Republic of China may be the motherland of the people of the People's Republic of China who are over 75 years old," Lai added, to applause.

Persons: Christina Chen, Chen, Xi Jinping, Yan Zhao, Lee Kuan, Lee, Joe Biden, Lai Ching, Lai, Mao Zedong's, Taiwan Affairs Office's Organizations: Institute for National Defense and Security Research, U.S . Central Intelligence Agency, Getty, Affairs Council, Taiwan Affairs Office, Taiwan Affairs Locations: TAIPEI, China, Beijing, Taiwan, Taipei, AFP, United States, U.S, People’s Republic of China, Republic of China, People's Republic of China, Taiwan's, People's, Republic of China's

☆ Chinese travelers trickle back to a Taiwanese island, mere miles from the mainland
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-08 | by ( Jan Camenzind Broomby | Marylou Costa | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

All that separates the cafe from mainland China are 6 miles of choppy water and a row of anti-invasion spikes along the beach. A row of anti-invasion spikes line a beach on Kinmen, with the Chinese mainland in the distance. Source: Jan Camenzind BroombyAlthough China claims sovereignty over Taiwan, Chinese tourists were prevented from visiting Taiwan for years. But on Feb. 14, two Chinese citizens were killed during a collision between a Taiwanese Coast Guard boat and a Chinese boat, sparking an escalation of tensions. local business owners have felt the impact of the loss of Chinese tourists, who previously contributed nearly $200 million to Kinmen's annual economy.

Persons: Zhang Zhong, Zhang, Camenzind Broomby, Kinmen, Soldiers, Chen Hua Sheng, weren't, Wu Zeng Yun, Beddy Chang, she's, Wu Zeng Yun —, Wu, Lu Wen Shiung, Lu, Chen Yu Jen Organizations: Kinmen, Taiwanese Coast Guard, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, Matsu Joint Services Center, China's Coast Guard, Chinese Coast Guard Locations: China, Taiwan, Beijing, Kinmen, Kinmen County, Covid, Matsu, Taiwanese

☆ Putin's favorite European leader is being shunned and shammed by his peers
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Hungary's leader, Viktor Orbán, is notably warmer to Putin than many in Europe, leaving him isolated. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementHungary's Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, is being condemned by the European Union because of his close ties to Russia. Orbán was stripped of his right to host the EU's Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Budapest in August over his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting, where EU foreign and defense ministers informally discuss international issues, is traditionally hosted by the rotating president of the EU Council, which for now is Hungary.

Persons: Josep Borrell, Viktor Orbán, —, Orbán, Vladimir Putin Organizations: EU, Service, Hungary's, EU's Foreign, EU Council, Business Locations: Hungary, Brussels, Europe, European Union, Russia, Budapest

☆ Taiwan celebrities Mayday, Jolin Tsai in crossfire of political battle as tensions with China rise
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

On Douban, a popular site for reviewing movies, books and music, users compiled a list of nearly 100 Taiwanese celebrities, detailing whether each of them had shared the post. On Saturday, CCTV publicly endorsed Taiwanese celebrities who shared its post, sharing the screenshots of 36 such reposts – fueling a further backlash against those who hadn’t. On Monday, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council weighed in, accusing the Chinese Communist Party of requiring Taiwanese artists to express a political stance. The remarks and retweets by Taiwanese artists of the CCTV unification post came against the backdrop of China’s largest show of force around the island in more than a year. “This is not the first time, and probably not the last, that Taiwanese artists are forced to make a political stand in China,” said the leader.

Persons: Mayday’s, Ashin, ”, –, Xi Jinping, Jolin Tsai, Edgar Su, China’s, Beijing’s, ’, Tsai, “, Lin Chen, ” Lin, Lai Ching, Ichiro Ohara, Lai, Zhu Fenglian, ” Zhu, Lin Organizations: CNN, Party, China, Democratic Progressive Party, Cardiff University, Facebook, Mainland Affairs Council, Chinese Communist Party, Communist, Yomiuri Shimbun, Taiwan Affairs Office, “ Locations: Beijing, Taiwan, China, Taipei, Taiwanese, “, Nanchang ”, Singapore, Weibo, ” Beijing

Even though it was operational for only about a week, the pier helped deliver some 1,000 metric tons of aid into Gaza before breaking apart. That’s well short of the military’s goal of moving 500 tons of aid per day over the pier. The risks however were deemed too great at the time, with unpredictable winter weather and heavy fighting in Gaza. “We assumed a lot of risk in using a military operation for this purpose,” a second senior administration official added. Deputy Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh emphasized that the solution to aid to Gaza remains the land crossings.

Persons: Joe Biden, ”, Biden, It’s, “, they’re, Christine Wormuth, JLOTS, Nikos Christodoulides, Benjamin Netanyahu, Weeks, ‘, Vedant Patel, Sabrina Singh, Max, ’, don’t Organizations: CNN, White House, US Central Command, Army, “ Army, US, Pentagon, Technologies, Maxar, Trident, US Army Central, Reuters, State Locations: Gaza, West, Israel, Rafah, Australia, Virginia, Haiti, Cyprus, France, “, Ashdod

☆ Opinion: A White House state dinner that could help Biden’s election chances
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Opinion Joyce. M. Davis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Today, at a time of turmoil and instability in various parts of the African continent, Kenya is an oasis of relative calm and stability. But it is another matter entirely for an American president to set foot onto African soil in person. Over 90% of its energy comes from renewable sources, and the United States is Kenya’s largest export market. Ruto departs the United States with the new status of “major non-NATO ally” strengthening his administration and providing valuable protection for his country. He is also receiving assurance that the vital African Growth and Opportunity Act, providing African states with duty-free status in the United States, will be extended.

Persons: Joyce M, Davis, Dan Gleiter, William Ruto, Rachel Ruto, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Biden, —, Uhuru Kenyatta —, Ruto, Jill Biden, Kamala Harris —, Ruto’s, ”, He’ll, Americans — Organizations: Patriot -, World Affairs Council, CNN, Washington, Black, Americans, Biden, White, Criminal Court, United, Kenyan, America, Delta Airlines, Kenya Airways, NATO, Twitter, Facebook, African, voters Locations: Harrisburg , Pennsylvania, Kenya, Nairobi, United States, Kenyan, Africa, America, US, East, Central Africa, China, Russia, Washington, Haiti

☆ Putin is coasting towards another term in power. Here’s what to know about Russia’s presidential election
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —Russia is holding a presidential election that is all but certain to extend Vladimir Putin’s rule throughout this decade and into the 2030s. But this is not a normal election; the poll is essentially a constitutional box-ticking exercise that carries no prospect of removing Putin from power. But that is not to say Russians expect the election to change the direction of the country. Russia’s elections are neither free nor fair, and serve essentially as a formality to extend Putin’s term in power, according to independent bodies and observers both in and outside the country. In order to vote against Putin, you just need to vote for any other candidate,” he said on February 8.

Persons: Vladimir Putin’s, Putin, Alexey Navalny, Natalia Kolesnikova, Joseph Stalin, Putin’s, Dmitry Medvedev, euphemistically, —, Abbas Gallyamov, Gallyamov, ”, Callum Fraser, Nikolay Kharitonov, Leonid Slutsky, Vladislav Davankov, Davankov, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Boris Nadezhdin, Yekaterina Duntsova, Duntsova, Leonid Volkov, Volkov, Stringer, Alexey Navalny –, –, Yulia Navalnaya, “, “ Putin, Don’t, Navalnaya Organizations: CNN, Russian, Duma, Getty, Levada, Central, Commission, Royal United Services Institute, Communist Party, Slutsky, Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, Kremlin, CEC, Freedom, Putin, European Union, Foreign Affairs Locations: Russia, Ukraine, AFP, Soviet, Lithuanian, Vilnius, Chechen, Grozny, Moscow, Russian

Boat tours around Kinmen are still operating, though under a closer watch by Taiwan’s coast guard. Officers visit each boat before they set sail and warn captains not to stray into Chinese waters. “In the past, whenever a mainland ship crossed the median line (into Taiwan’s waters), our cannons would fire toward it without warning,” Hung said. On Monday, five Chinese coast guard ships entered prohibited or restricted waters around Kinmen, but left shortly after being warned away by Taiwan’s coast guard, according to a Taiwan minister. Last week, Chinese coast guard officers boarded a Taiwanese tour boat for inspection, an unprecedented move that startled passengers on board.

Persons: ”, Hung Ho, cheng, Hung, Mao Zedong’s, Chiang Kai, John Mees, Kinmen, ” Hung, Sam Yeh, Kuan, ” Kuan, Chang, Wu Chia, chiang Organizations: Taiwan CNN —, Residents, Mao Zedong’s Communist, Nationalist, CNN, Mao’s Communist, Taiwan, Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council, Tourism Association Locations: Kinmen, Taiwan, China, China’s, Beijing, It’s, Staten Island, “, Taipei, Xiamen, AFP, Taiwanese, China's Xiamen

☆ Taiwan minister says 5 China coast guard ships entered waters around Kinmen
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Chinese coast guard ships entered prohibited or restricted waters around Taiwan's frontline islands of Kinmen on Monday, a Taiwan minister told reporters on Tuesday amid a rise in tension with Beijing. Five Chinese coast guard ships entered prohibited or restricted waters around Taiwan's frontline islands of Kinmen on Monday, a Taiwan minister told reporters on Tuesday amid a rise in tension with Beijing. China's coast guard this month began regular patrols around the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen islands, which are close to China's shores, after two Chinese nationals died trying to flee Taiwan's coast guard after their boat entered prohibited waters. Kuan Bi-ling, head of Taiwan's Ocean Affairs Council, told reporters the Chinese boats left the area shortly after Taiwan's coast guard told them to leave. Six Chinese coast guard officers last week boarded a Taiwanese tourist boat carrying 11 crew and 23 passengers to check its route plan, certificate and crew licenses, leaving around half an hour later, Taiwan's coast guard said.

Persons: Lai Ching Organizations: Taiwan's Ocean Affairs Council Locations: Kinmen, Taiwan, Beijing, Five, China's, Taiwan's, China, Taipei

☆ Russia’s presidential election is nearing. We already know who the winner will be
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Russia is nearing a presidential election that is all but certain to extend Vladimir Putin’s rule throughout this decade and into the 2030s. The president’s dominance over the Russian electoral system has already been reinforced as the election looms. Voting will be held from Friday March 15 until Sunday March 17, the first Russian presidential election to take place over three days. The region makes up more than a third of Russia’s total territory but has only about 5% of its population. In order to vote against Putin, you just need to vote for any other candidate,” Navalny said on February 8.

Persons: Vladimir Putin’s, Putin, Alexey Navalny, Maxim Shemetov, Joseph Stalin, Putin’s, Dmitry Medvedev, ” Callum Fraser, Nikolay Kharitonov, Leonid Slutsky, Vladislav Davankov, Davankov, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Boris Nadezhdin, Yekaterina Duntsova, Duntsova, Leonid Volkov, Volkov, Vladimir Nikolayev, euphemistically, Abbas Gallyamov, Gallyamov, Alexey Navalny –, –, ”, ” Navalny, Yulia Navalnaya, “, “ Putin, Don’t Organizations: CNN, Russian, Duma, Federal, Reuters, Kommersant, CEC, Royal United Services Institute, Communist Party, Slutsky, Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, Kremlin, Freedom, Putin, Levada, EU, Foreign Affairs Council, European Union Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Russia’s, Soviet, AFP

☆ China’s coast guard has triggered ‘panic’ in Taiwan. That’s only part of Beijing’s plan
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Nectar Gan | Wayne Chang | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“It’s super scary,” a passenger told Taiwan’s United Daily News in a video upon returning to shore under the escort of a Taiwanese coast guard ship on Monday. “(The Chinese coast guard) chose a tourist vessel because it’s high profile – you would expect lots of people on the boat with cameras and phones,” he said. The stakes are high, as the increased presence and closer proximity of Chinese and Taiwanese coast guard vessels raise the specter of miscalculations that could potentially spiral into open conflict. Speaking to reporters about the inspection by the Chinese coast guard, Taiwan’s Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-kcheng highlighted such risks, saying the defense ministry is “very concerned” about potential miscalculations. Taiwan's coast guard inspects a vessel that capsized during a chase off the coast of Kinmen on February 14, 2024.

Persons: King Xia, ” Kuan, Taiwan’s, Ian Chong, Chong, ”, “ They’re, Chiu Kuo, Lai Ching, China’s, Nancy Pelosi’s, Tian Feilong, It’s, Tian, “, Lai Organizations: Taipei CNN, Taiwan’s United Daily News, Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council, Democratic Progressive Party, National University of Singapore, South China, Taiwan’s, Taiwan Coast Guard Administration Locations: Hong Kong, Taipei, Taiwanese, Kinmen, China’s, Beijing, Taiwan, Xiamen, China, East, South, Taiwan's, Nauru, Taiwan Strait

☆ Taiwan minister says China coast guard triggers panic by boarding Taiwan tourist boat
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The boarding of a Taiwanese tourist boat by China's coast guard triggered panic among Taiwanese people, a Taiwan minister said on Tuesday, as tensions rise across the sensitive Taiwan Strait. This comes after China announced on Sunday that its coast guard would begin regular patrols and set up law enforcement activity around the Taiwan-controlled islands of Kinmen. The boarding of a Taiwanese tourist boat by China's coast guard triggered panic among Taiwanese people, a Taiwan minister said on Tuesday, as tensions rise across the sensitive Taiwan Strait. Six Chinese coast guard officers on Monday boarded a Taiwanese tourist boat carrying 11 crew members and 23 passengers to check its route plan, certificate and crew licenses, leaving around half an hour later, Taiwan's coast guard said. Kuan said it was common for Chinese and Taiwanese tourist boats to accidentally entered the other side's waters.

Persons: Kuan Organizations: Taiwan's Ocean Affairs Council Locations: Taiwan, China, Kinmen, Taiwan Strait, Taiwan's, Taipei

☆ Navalny’s mother asks Putin to release her son’s body in video filmed outside Arctic penal colony
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Joshua Berlinger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Alexey Navalny’s family has made a direct plea to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the release of the Russian dissident’s body, five days after he died behind bars in a penal colony. Standing in the snow outside the facility where her son was imprisoned, Lyudmila Navalnaya addressed Putin directly, saying she has not been told where Navalny’s body is. Navalny’s lawyer tried to call a number on the building’s door, but he was told the body was not there. Navalny’s lawyer tried to call a number on the building’s door, but he was told the body was not there. Two days later, Navalnaya was rebuffed in person at the morgue, Yarmish said, adding that staff refused to say whether the body was inside.

Persons: CNN — Alexey Navalny’s, Vladimir Putin, Lyudmila Navalnaya, Putin, ” Navalnaya, Navalny, Navalny “, ”, Navalnaya, Kira Yarmish, Yarmish, Navalny’s, Novichok, Yulia Navalnaya, “, Dmitry Peskov, Alexey, Don’t, Oleg, ministry’s, Oleg Navalny Organizations: CNN, Staff, European Union Foreign Affairs, EU, Munich Locations: Russian, Putin’s, Soviet, Russia, Germany

☆ China ramps up patrols near Taiwan’s outlying islands following death of Chinese fishermen
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Nectar Gan | Wayne Chang | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —China is increasing patrols in waters near a group of frontline islands controlled by Taiwan, as tensions rise after two Chinese fishermen drowned during a pursuit by Taiwan’s coast guard who accused them of trespassing. The patrols are likely to put Chinese coast guard vessels in closer proximity to their Taiwanese counterparts, potentially raising the risk of miscalculation and conflict. Two survived after being rescued by Taiwan’s coast guard, while the other two were found unconscious and confirmed dead after being taken to the hospital in Kinmen. Taiwan's coast guard inspects a vessel that capsized during a chase off the coast of the Kinmen islands on February 14, 2024. Over the past three years, 20 people from mainland China have been rescued by Taiwan’s coast guard, according to Kuan.

Persons: Gan Yu, Taiwan’s, “, ” Kuan Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Sunday, Democratic Progressive Party, China’s Taiwan Affairs, Taiwan Coast Guard Administration, Chinese Communist Party, Taiwan, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, “ Fishermen, Mainland Affairs, Ocean Affairs Council, Kuomintang Locations: Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Fujian, Xiamen, Taiwan’s, Kinmen, Beijing, Taiwan's, “, Kuan, Taipei

☆ Taipei protests against Beijing’s ‘unilateral’ change of flight path closer to sensitive median line
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Wayne Chang | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Taipei, Taiwan CNN —Taiwan has protested against China’s “unilateral” adjustment of civil aviation flight routes that could result in civilian aircraft flying closer to the sensitive Taiwan Strait median line, adding pressure on Taipei in its aviation safety and aerial defense. This means all southbound flights will no longer need to veer off six nautical miles to the west from the designated route – as agreed by Beijing and Taipei in 2015 – and can now fly on the original path, bringing the aircraft closer to the median line and the Taipei Flight Information Region. In 2015, China unilaterally declared the operation of M503 route, prompting protests from Taipei. After negotiations with Taipei, Beijing agreed at the time to move the route six nautical miles to the west of its original path. The median line dividing China and Taiwan has been a tacit understanding between both sides not bound by any legal pact.

Persons: China’s, ” Organizations: Taiwan CNN, China’s Civil Aviation Administration, Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration, Mainland Affairs Council, MAC, Communist Party Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, Beijing, Shanghai, China, Fuzhou, Xiamen, Fujian province, Matsu, Taiwan Strait

☆ 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

☆ Morning Bid: Powell pushback puts cloud 9 beyond reach
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell answers a question during a press conference following a closed two-day meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee on interest rate policy at the Federal Reserve in Washington, U.S., November 1, 2023. Curiously, there was little change in that basic market pricing after Powell spoke - with end-2024 futures still pointing at a rate of 4.50-4.75% versus the current 5.25-5.50%. But the Treasury market did suffer a bigger jolt - as they were also undermined by poor demand at the latest long bond auction. But others pointed to a ransomware attack on the U.S. arm of The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, which reportedly disrupted trades in the Treasury market on Thursday. Whatever the main cause, fresh bond market jitters were enough to knock the S&P500 out of its winning streak and close almost 1% lower.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Kevin Lamarque, Mike Dolan, Jerome Powell's pushback, Powell's, Powell, 5bps, Sterling, Janet Yellen, Lorie Logan, Raphael Bostic, Christine Lagarde, Joachim Nagel, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: Federal, Committee, Federal Reserve, REUTERS, Veterans, Commercial Bank of China, Treasury, University of Michigan, Dallas Federal, Atlanta Fed, European Central Bank, Financial Affairs, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, United States, HK, Washington, Beijing, Atlanta

Russia has issued carefully calibrated criticism of both sides in the war between Israel and Hamas. It also expects the Israel-Hamas war to distract attention from the fighting in Ukraine and erode support for Kyiv. Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants on towns in southern Israel. Unlike Putin, who carefully balanced his statements, other Russian officials were more blunt in their criticism of Israeli strikes on Gaza. But this position also threatens Russia's friendly ties with Israel, which hasn’t joined Western sanctions against Moscow or given weapons to Ukraine.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Israel, ”, Putin, Joe Biden, Rishi Sunak, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Konstantin Kosachev, Ramzan Kadyrov, assailing, hasn’t, Andrei Kortunov, Amir Weitmann, “, Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Solovyov, Yevgeny Satanovsky, Mikhail Bogdanov, Maria Zakharova detests, ” Alexander Baunov, ” Izabella Tabarovsky Organizations: Kyiv, Washington, Security, U.S, British, Palestinian Authority, Hamas, Moscow, Russian International Affairs Council, The, Likud, Kremlin, RT, Ukraine, Foreign, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, Kennan Institute Locations: Russia, Israel, Moscow, Ukraine, Russian, Gaza, Nazi, Leningrad, Palestinian, China, Beijing, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Chechnya, assailing Israel, Maria Zakharova detests Israel, israel, russia, ukraine

Concerns have mounted in recent months about a spate of disinformation related to parliamentary elections in Slovakia on Sept. 30 and Poland next month as well as European Parliament elections next year. The companies and other online platforms have submitted data on their activity in the last six months to fight fake news as part of the EU code of practice on disinformation. "Today, this is a multi-million euro weapon of mass manipulation ..."The 'very large platforms' must address this risk. Especially as we have to expect that the Kremlin and others will be active before elections." After the last European Parliament elections in 2019, Russia's Security Council described accusations that Moscow had spread disinformation to sway voters as absurd.

Persons: Vera Jourova, John Thys, Alphabet's, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Russia's Wagner, Jourova, Elon, Musk, Meta, Foo Yun Chee, Kevin Liffey Organizations: European Commission, General Affairs Council, Rights, Google, Microsoft, Kremlin, Russia's Security, Internet Research Agency, Digital Services, Twitter, Facebook, Thomson Locations: Luxembourg, Rights BRUSSELS, Europe, Slovakia, Poland, Moscow, Washington, Russia, Ukraine

Chen told CNN he “felt sad, angry and afraid” after receiving such a call on July 21, when police told him to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. When evening fell, he crossed the border into the Laos mountains, he told CNN – and by early August, he’d crossed the Mekong River and entered Thailand. Many Chinese dissidents do not feel safe in Thailand given the government’s often friendly links with Beijing, and in the past dissidents based there have turned up in Chinese custody. Soon after posting his video, Chen was taken for questioning by Taiwan’s immigration authorities and the Mainland Affairs Council, he told CNN. Laos lies across China’s southwestern border and has long been a common, albeit risky, exit point for Chinese dissidents trying to leave the country.

Persons: Taiwan CNN —, Chen Siming, Chen, Xi Jinping, “, ”, he’d, Beijing’s, Jiang Yefei, Dong Guangping –, Lu Siwei, Lu, Wang Dan Organizations: Taiwan CNN, CNN, United Nations, Refugees, Taoyuan International Airport, Chinese Communist Party, Communist Party, Mainland Affairs Council, UNHCR, Taiwan Affairs Office Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, United States, Canada, Thailand, China, Beijing, Laos, Guangzhou, Taoyuan, Hong Kong, West, Southeast Asia

Search resuls for: "Affairs Council"

25 mentions found