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☆ China's military exercises last week 'looked like a rehearsal' for a Taiwan invasion, US' top officer in the Pacific says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

China's large-scale military exercises surrounding Taiwan last week "looked like a rehearsal" for an invasion, the US' top officer in the Pacific said. Related storiesIn the aftermath of the exercises, US lawmakers and officials have been responding with clear shows of support for Taiwan. The US would be dependent on Japan's bases to threaten a Chinese threat to Taiwan, as President Joe Biden has vowed. Taiwan's army held a military exercise following China's large-scale joint military drill around Taiwan on May 23, 2024. TAIWAN Military News Agency, Ministry of National Defense, R. O. C. / HANDOUTLast week's exercises weren't the first time China has held provocative exercises around Taiwan.

Persons: Adm, Samuel Paparo, Paparo, Joe Biden, Michael McCaul, McCaul, Nancy Pelosi, Party's Lai Ching, Tsai Ing Organizations: Service, Business, Pacific, Japan's Nikkei, TAIWAN Military News Agency, Ministry of National Defense, Democratic Locations: Taiwan, Beijing, US, China, United States, Taiwan's, Japan

☆ China's military isn't just putting on a show of force. It's rehearsing for the real deal, an assault on Taiwan.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewChina's large-scale military drills around Taiwan aren't just a show of force in response to the remarks of the democratic island's new president. China says the joint force live-fire exercise, lasting two days, is a test of its ability to launch a full-scale, lethal assault on Taiwan and ultimately force it to succumb to Beijing's rule. An outdoor screen shows a news coverage of China's military drills around Taiwan, in Beijing on May 23, 2024. AdvertisementA screen grab captured from a video shows the Taiwan army conduct military exercise following China's large-scale joint military drill around Taiwan on May 23, 2024. The use of force against Taiwan could take different forms, from an all-out assault to something like a blockade.

Persons: —, It's, Stephen McDonell, Z1FdXUvXmN, JADE GAO, Party's Lai Ching, Lai Organizations: Service, Taiwan aren't, Business, People's Liberation Army, BBC China, China Central Television, People’s Liberation Army, Eastern, Command, Getty, China's Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, Democratic, Taiwan's Military News Agency, Anadolu, Getty Images Locations: Taiwan, China, Beijing, Taiwan's, Getty Images Beijing

☆ China built a mock-up of key area in Taiwan's capital city at a desert training site, satellite images show
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Satellite images show China's mock-up of Taiwan's presidential office at a desert training site. AdvertisementOut in the desert at a military training site, China has built a mock-up of a key area of Taiwan's capital city where the presidential office and other government buildings are located, satellite images show. Related storiesThe office mock-up was a convincing replica. A general view of the Presidential Office Building in Taipei. People watch a video about China's military advancements at the Military Museum in Beijing on March 3, 2024.

Persons: —, Joseph Wen, Wen, it's, Walid Berrazeg, Chiu Kuo, cheng, John Aquilino, GREG BAKER, Party's Lai Ching, Hou Organizations: Service, Alxa League, Planet Labs, Business, Planet, CCTV, Presidential, Rocket Force, Alxa, US, Pacific Command, US Armed Services House Committee, Military Museum, Getty Images, Democratic, ih Locations: China, Taiwan, Alxa, Mongolia, Taipei, Taiwan's, Zhurihe, Inner Mongolia, Beijing, AFP, Getty Images China, It's

☆ Problems in China have US intelligence worried the rising military power may become 'even more aggressive and unpredictable'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

China may act "even more" aggressively and unpredictably thanks to its domestic problems, US intel said. China's demographic issues, as well as economic challenges, put its leadership and military in difficult positions. US intel suggested China's global leadership and military ambitions are meeting resistance. AdvertisementAs China grapples with mounting domestic challenges, its already concerning behavior on the world stage may become even more aggressive and unpredictable, according to US intelligence. "China's serious demographic and economic challenges may make it an even more aggressive and unpredictable global actor," the threat assessment said.

Persons: —, Xi Jinping, Yang Jie, That's Organizations: intel, Service, US Intelligence Community, National Intelligence, Pentagon, People's Liberation Army Navy, Getty, Democratic Progressive Party's, East China, East China Seas, Liberation Army, Chinese Communist Party, CCP, Force Locations: China, United States, China's, Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, Xinhua, Taiwan, Beijing, South, East, East China Seas, Philippine, PRC, People's Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui province, COVID

☆ Taiwan elects parliament speaker ruling party views as pro-China
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Elected Legislators attend a swearing-in ceremony at the chamber of the Legislative Yuan on the first day of session in Taipei on Feb. 1, 2024. Taiwan's parliament on Thursday elected a former presidential candidate for the largest opposition party as its new speaker, who will be responsible for hosting visiting foreign lawmakers and who the ruling party has said is pro-China. The Democratic Progressive Party's, or DPP, Lai Ching-te last month won the presidential election but the party lost its majority in parliament. China, which claims Taiwan as its own despite the objections of the government in Taipei, views the DPP as separatists. Han Kuo-yu, from the largest opposition party the Kuomintang, or KMT, and who badly lost the presidential election to the DPP's Tsai Ing-wen in 2020, won the election for the speakership.

Persons: Yuan, Lai Ching, Han Kuo, Tsai Ing, Nancy Pelosi Organizations: Democratic Progressive, Kuomintang, KMT, . Locations: Taipei, Taiwan's, China, Taiwan

☆ 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

☆ China's Taiwan approach 'has been counterproductive,' Blinken says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday that China's growing aggression toward Taiwan has undermined the country's own interests. "I think the approach that they've shown in recent years has actually been totally counterproductive to their interests," Blinken said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street." Blinken's comments come days after Taiwan voters elected the Democratic Progressive Party's Lai Ching-te to serve as the next president. In the weeks leading up to the election, Taiwan officials reported several attempts by the Chinese government to sway the election via escalating military pressure and disinformation campaigns. At Davos, Blinken reiterated the official U.S. stance on Taiwan and China, which simultaneously supports Taiwan's democratic systems but does not support its independence.

Persons: Antony Blinken, CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin, Blinken, Party's Lai Ching, Lai, Joe Biden's, Xi Jinping, we've Organizations: State, Economic, Taiwan, Democratic, White Locations: U.S, Davos, Switzerland, Taiwan, CNBC's, China, Beijing, China's Taiwan

☆ Asia markets largely poised to fall after Taiwan elections; China GDP and Japan inflation in focus this week
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

(Photo by Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP) (Photo by YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images) Yasuyoshi Chiba | Afp | Getty ImagesAsia-Pacific markets are set to fall after Taiwanese voters handed the Democratic Progressive Party another presidential victory, delivering the ruling party an unprecedented third-straight presidential term. The DPP's Lai Ching-te, the incumbent vice-president, emerged as the winner of the self-governing island's presidential contest with more than 40% of the popular vote. Investors will be closely watching China's fourth quarter gross domestic numbers due out on Wednesday, while Japan will also release inflation figures for December on Friday. Futures contract in Chicago was at 35,635 and its counterpart in Osaka at 35,590, after the Nikkei hit levels not seen since February 1990 last week. In contrast, futures for Hong Kong's Hang Seng index stood at 16,306 pointing to a stronger open compared to the HSI's close of 16,244.58

Persons: Democratic Progressive Party's, Yasuyoshi CHIBA, YASUYOSHI CHIBA, Yasuyoshi Chiba, Lai Ching Organizations: Democratic Progressive, Getty, Afp, Democratic Progressive Party, Nikkei Locations: Taipei, AFP, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Australia, Chicago, Osaka

☆ Dollar wobbles; yuan on guard ahead of China data dump
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The dollar ebbed on Monday on renewed expectations of a rate cut by the Federal Reserve in March, while the Chinese yuan struggled near a one-month low ahead of a slew of economic data this week. The offshore yuan languished near a one-month low of 7.1925 per dollar hit on Friday, and was last at 7.1861 per dollar. "I think more PBOC (People's Bank of China) easing is coming this year," said Carol Kong, a currency strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. "I don't think (Monday's move) will materially weigh on the (yuan) because a rate cut is more or less priced in. The Australian dollar , often used as a liquid proxy for the yuan, edged 0.07% higher to $0.6690.

Persons: China's, Sterling, Chris Weston, Carol Kong, Party's Lai Ching, te, Goldman Sachs Organizations: Federal Reserve, Traders, U.S, Treasury, CPI, PPI, Bank of, People's Bank of China, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Australian, New Zealand, Democratic, Taiwan Locations: Asia, U.S, Bank of Japan, China, Taiwan

☆ Nauru's Decision to Break Ties With Taiwan 'Unfortunate' - US Official
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Corrects dateline location to Taipei, not Beijing)TAIPEI (Reuters) - The U.S. official who heads the body that handles unofficial ties with Taiwan said on Tuesday that Nauru's decision to break ties with Taiwan was "unfortunate." On Monday, the Pacific Islands nation of Nauru said it was breaking ties with Taiwan in favour of China, in what Taipei called a clear act of post-election maliciousness by Beijing. "We encourage all countries to engage with Taiwan," Laura Rosenberger, chair of the Virginia-based American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), told reporters in Taipei. In the poll's run-up, China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, had repeatedly called him a dangerous separatist. (This story has been corrected to fix the dateline location to Taipei, not Beijing)(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)

Persons: Laura Rosenberger, Democratic Progressive Party's, Lai Ching, Ben Blanchard, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: U.S, American Institute, Democratic Progressive Locations: Taipei, Beijing, TAIPEI, Taiwan, Nauru, China, Virginia

☆ Veteran investor David Roche says the market is getting it wrong on Taiwan's election result
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen speaks as Lai Ching-te, Taiwan's vice president and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) presidential candidate looks on during a campaign rally ahead of the elections in Taipei, Taiwan, January 11, 2024. Carlos Garcia Rawlins | ReutersTaiwan's election results place the island on a "collision course with China" and the market reaction has been too sanguine, according to veteran investor David Roche. Beijing has already dismissed the outcome of Saturday's elections, which saw the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's Lai Ching-te elected president alongside a split parliamentary vote. The DPP rejects the so-called "One China principle" and advocates a separate and distinct Taiwanese national identity. Xi has repeatedly stated that Taiwan will be reunified with China, and has not ruled out using military force to achieve his goals.

Persons: Tsai Ing, Lai Ching, Democratic Progressive Party's, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, David Roche, Party's Lai Ching, Roche, CNBC's, Lai, Xi Jinping, Xi Organizations: Democratic Progressive, Reuters, Democratic, DPP, Independent, CSI, Chinese Communist Party, Citi, KMT Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, China, Beijing

☆ Taiwan made its choice on who will lead it into an uncertain future as China remains hellbent on controlling it, and tough times may lie ahead
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Read previewTaiwan has elected its new president, the Democratic Progressive Party's Lai Ching-te, who is also the current Vice President. While experts still assess that an invasion of Taiwan remains unlikely in the near future, that doesn't diminish concerns about other ways China could squeeze the island. AdvertisementTaiwan's Vice President and presidential candidate for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Lai Ching-te (C) casts his ballot to vote on January 13, 2024, in Tainan, Taiwan. Nevertheless, the win marks the first time a political party in Taiwan has won a presidential election three times in a row. The supporters of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) cheer at an election campaign on January 12, 2024 in Tainan, Taiwan.

Persons: —, Party's Lai Ching, Lai's, Lai, Tsai Ing, Lai Ching, Tsai, Getty Images Lai, Hou, Ko Wen, Amanda Hsiao, Annabelle Chih, Nancy Pelosi, flack, Annice Lyn, He's, Hsiao, Hao, Hou Yu, Beijing's, Chuan Kang, Xi Jinping, It'll, Joe Biden's, Xi, Biden, it's, BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI Organizations: Service, Democratic, Taiwan, Business, Democratic Progressive Party, Getty Images, ih, Taiwan's People Party, Kuomintang, KMT, Getty, Washington, NBC, US, People's Liberation Army Locations: Taiwan, China, Beijing, Taipei, New Taipei City, AFP, Tainan, Taichung, Taipei , Washington, San Francisco

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Ruling-party candidate Lai Ching-te emerged victorious in Taiwan’s presidential election on Saturday, a result that will determine the trajectory of the self-ruled democracy’s contentious relations with China over the next four years. Beijing strongly opposes Lai, the current vice president who abandoned his medical career to pursue politics from the grassroots to the presidency. It's the first time a single party has led Taiwan for three consecutive four-year presidential terms since the first open presidential election in 1996. Its candidate, Hou Yu-ih, also had promised to restart talks with China while bolstering national defense. Evelyn Ni traveled from China especially to get a taste of Taiwan’s election.

Persons: Lai Ching, Lai, Tsai Ing, Hou Yu, Hou, “, I’m, David Chiau, Ko Wen, Ko, Chen Binhua, Beijing wouldn't, ” Chen, Antony Blinken, ” Blinken, Evelyn Ni, Tony Chen, ”, Xi Jinping, Stacy Chen, Gabrielle Reid, Sung Organizations: Democratic, Nationalist, KMT, ih, Taiwan People’s Party, DPP, Cabinet's Taiwan Affairs Office, Biden, Associated Press Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, Beijing, Japanese, United States, Taipei, Russia, Ukraine, South China

☆ Biden: US Does Not Support Taiwan Independence
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Steve Holland, Nandita Bose and Trevor HunnicuttWASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden said on Saturday the United States does not support the independence of Taiwan, after Taiwanese voters rebuffed China and gave the ruling party a third presidential term. "We do not support independence..." Biden said, when asked for reaction to Saturday's elections. The United States switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979 and has long said it does not support a formal declaration of independence by Taiwan. It does, however, maintain unofficial relations with the self-governed island and remains its most important backer and arms supplier. In a show of support for the government, Biden plans to dispatch an unofficial delegation to the self-governed island, according to a senior Biden administration official.

Persons: Steve Holland, Nandita Bose, Trevor Hunnicutt WASHINGTON, Joe Biden, Democratic Progressive Party's, Lai Ching, Biden, Lai, Antony Blinken, Xi Jinping, Donald Trump, Tsai Ing, Jimmy Carter, Trevor Hunnicutt, Diane Craft, Michael Perry Organizations: Democratic Progressive, United, U.S ., Biden Locations: United States, Taiwan, China, Beijing, Taipei, Republic of Taiwan, Washington, U.S, California

☆ Taiwan election about choosing whether to embrace China, frontrunner says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Ben Blanchard | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Taiwan's Vice President Lai Ching-te and running mate Hsiao Bi-Khim pose for a photo after registering for the upcoming presidential election at the Central Election Commission in Taipei, Taiwan November 21, 2023. Lai Ching-te, vice president and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) presidential candidate, has led in most opinion polls ahead of the election. Speaking to reporters and supporters after formally registering his candidacy with the election commission, Lai said Taiwan's security was an international issue and the whole world was watching this election. "The people of Taiwan have to choose between trusting Taiwan, allowing Taiwan to continue to move forward on the road of democracy, and relying on China, following the old path of the one-China principle, and walking into the embrace of China," he said. Like Lai, Hsiao is despised by China, which has twice placed sanctions on her, most recently in April, saying she was an "independence diehard".

Persons: Lai Ching, Hsiao Bi, Ann WAng, Democratic Progressive Party's, Lai, Hsiao, colluding, Ben Blanchard, Lincoln Organizations: Central, Commission, REUTERS, Rights, Democratic Progressive, Kuomintang, KMT, Taiwan People's Party, Taipei, Thomson Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, Rights TAIPEI, China, Beijing, United States

☆ Taiwan Election About Choosing Whether to Embrace China, Frontrunner Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

Lai Ching-te, vice president and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) presidential candidate, has led in most opinion polls ahead of the election. Speaking to reporters and supporters after formally registering his candidacy with the election commission, Lai said Taiwan's security was an international issue and the whole world was watching this election. "The people of Taiwan have to choose between trusting Taiwan, allowing Taiwan to continue to move forward on the road of democracy, and relying on China, following the old path of the one-China principle, and walking into the embrace of China," he said. Like Lai, Hsiao is despised by China, which has twice placed sanctions on her, most recently in April, saying she was an "independence diehard". "Taiwan independence means war.

Persons: Ben Blanchard, Lai Ching, Democratic Progressive Party's, Lai, Hsiao, colluding, Lincoln Organizations: Democratic Progressive, Kuomintang, KMT, Taiwan People's Party, Taipei Locations: Ben Blanchard TAIPEI, China, Taiwan, Beijing, United States

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 opposition talks deadlocked, with no signs of compromise
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The issue of China, which views Taiwan as its territory, looms over the Jan. 13 parliamentary and presidential elections. China has stepped up military and political pressure, including high-profile war games, to press the island to accept the sovereignty claims that Taiwan rejects. The parties on Saturday failed to reach agreement on how to interpret opinion polls and thus decide on who will stand for which position. China detests frontrunner Lai, regarding him as a separatist, and has rebuffed repeated calls from him for talks. Hou especially has vowed to renew dialogue with Beijing, and says Lai is a dangerous supporter of Taiwan independence.

Persons: Ko Wen, je, Democratic Progressive Party's, Lai Ching, Hou Yu, Eric Chu, Lai, Hou, Ko, Hsiao, Ben Blanchard, Tom Hogue Organizations: Kuomintang, KMT, Taiwan People's Party, Democratic Progressive, ih, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, China, Taiwan, Taipei, Beijing, United States

☆ 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

☆ Clock ticking as Taiwan opposition bicker over joint presidency bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Ben Blanchard | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The issue of China, which views Taiwan as its territory, looms over the Jan. 13 parliamentary and presidential elections. China has stepped up military and political pressure, including high-profile war games, to press the island to accept its sovereignty claim, which Taiwan rejects. But both parties failed to reach agreement on how to interpret opinion polls and thus decide who will stand for what position by an originally scheduled deadline of Saturday. China detests frontrunner Lai, regarding him as a separatist, and has rebuffed repeated calls from him for talks. Hou especially has vowed to renew dialogue with Beijing, and says Lai is a dangerous supporter of Taiwan independence.

Persons: Democratic Progressive Party's, Lai Ching, Hou Yu, Ko, Lai, Hou, Hsiao, Eric Chu, Tsai Ing, Ben Blanchard, William Mallard, Kim Coghill Organizations: Kuomintang, KMT, Taiwan People's Party, Democratic Progressive, ih, Former Taipei, DPP, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, China, Taiwan, Beijing, United States, Chiayi

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

The issue of China, which views Taiwan as its territory, looms over the Jan. 13 parliamentary and presidential elections. It will unite Taiwan," Hou told business leaders after the talks. China cut off routine talks with Taiwan after President Tsai Ing-wen of the DPP took office in 2016. OPPOSITION CHALLENGEChen Yi-fan, an assistant professor of diplomacy and international relations at Taiwan's Tamkang University, said if Hou and Kou did not work together then Lai would certainly win. Lai says only Taiwan's people can decide their future and has repeatedly offers talks with Beijing, which has rejected the offers.

Persons: Eric Chu, Hou Yu, Ma Ying, Ko Wen, Lai Ching, Democratic Progressive Party's, Hou, Tsai Ing, Chen Yi, Kou, Lai, Chen, Ma, Hsiao Hsu, Hsiao, China detests Lai, Ko, Terry Gou, Gou, TPP, Ben Blanchard, Yimou Lee, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Robert Birsel Organizations: Taiwan's Kuomintang, KMT, ih, Kuomintang, Taiwan People’s, Democratic Progressive, Taiwan People's Party, Taiwan's Tamkang University, Beijing, DPP, Apple, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, Taipei, TAIPEI, China, Beijing, U.S, United States

☆ Taiwan's opposition parties to decide on joint presidential ticket
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

(L-R) Eric Chu, Taiwan's main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) chairman, Hou Yu-ih, KMT presidential candidate, Ma Ying-jeou, former Taiwan president and Ke Wen-je, presidential candidate from the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) pose following a meeting in Taipei on November 15, 2023. The issue of China, which views Taiwan as its territory, looms over the Jan. 13 parliamentary and presidential elections. Taiwan's two main opposition parties, which have vowed to renew talks with China, agreed on Wednesday to make a decision on a joint presidential ticket for January's elections, as the front-running ruling party decried interference from Beijing. It will unite Taiwan," Hou told business leaders after the talks. Lai says only Taiwan's people can decide their future and has repeatedly offers talks with Beijing, which has rejected the offers.

Persons: Eric Chu, Hou Yu, Ma Ying, Ke Wen, Sam Yeh, Lai Ching, Democratic Progressive Party's, Ko Wen, Hou, Tsai Ing, Chen Yi, Kou, Lai, Chen, Ma, Hsiao Hsu, Hsiao, China detests Lai, Ko, Terry Gou, Gou, TPP Organizations: Kuomintang, KMT, ih, Taiwan People's Party, SAM YEH, Getty, Democratic Progressive, Taiwan's Tamkang University, Beijing, DPP, Apple Locations: Taiwan, Taipei, AFP, China, Beijing, U.S, United States

☆ Crowds throng Taipei as Taiwan celebrates east Asia's largest Pride march
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Friends greet each other at the annual Taiwan's Pride parade in Taipei, Taiwan October 28, 2023. Lai then joined the DPP delegation, marching behind a banner reading "Democracy Supports Gays" as supporters yelled out "Hello Mr. President". The streets of central Taipei were packed for the annual parade, the 21st since it began and including go-go dancers and drag queens. Taiwan's openness on LGBTQ+ issues stands in marked contrast with its giant neighbour China, which claims the island as its own territory. While same sex relations are not illegal in China, same sex marriage is, and the government has been cracking down on activists and depictions of LGBTQ+ people in the media.

Persons: Ann Wang, Lai Ching, Lai, Democratic Progressive Party's, Tsai Ing, Tsai, Ben Blanchard, Editingby Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Democratic Progressive, DPP, Kuomintang, Thomson Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, Rights TAIPEI, China

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