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☆ Cliffside café in China serves death-defying $56 coffee with a view of Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-07 | by ( Lilit Marcus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Hong Kong CNN —Ye Kunkun spent 398 yuan (about $56) on a special iced Americano at a rural café in southeastern China. Xue Ke, the café owner, told CNN that they receive about 50 visitors on weekdays and double that on weekends. Xue Ke, the owner of Gushi Cliff Coffee, climbs on the cliff face. “This was one of my considerations when choosing the site.”Coastal views near Gushi Cliff Coffee in Fuzhou, southeastern China. While both Ye and Lin were satisfied with the service, they paused when it came to the price tag.

Persons: Ye Kunkun, Ye, rungs, “, ” Ye, Coffee, Cliff, ”, Xue Ke, Cliff Coffee, Xue, –, Spiderman, Lin Jiaxin, ” Lin Jiaxin, ” Lin, wilder, Lin, I’ll Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Americano, CNN, China’s, Golden Locations: Hong Kong, China, it’s, – Gushi, Fuzhou, Fujian, Cliff, Taiwan Strait, Taiwan, Gushi Cliff Coffee

☆ Taiwan reports rise in Chinese military activity as U.S. election nears
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-03 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Taiwanese Coast Guard personnel work on a vessel off the coast of Nangan Township, in the Matsu Islands on Oct. 15, 2024, a day after China conducted the "Joint Sword-2024B" military drills around Taiwan. Taiwan's defense ministry said on Sunday it had spotted 35 Chinese military aircraft, including fighters and bombers, flying to the island's south on the way to exercises in the Pacific, a second day in a row it has reported such activities. China's defense ministry did not respond to a request for comment on the missions, reported just days before Tuesday's U.S. presidential election. The United States is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, and its arms sales to Taipei, including a $2 billion missile system announced last month, infuriate Beijing. Taiwan's defense ministry said that from 9 a.m. (0100 GMT) on Sunday it had detected 37 Chinese military aircraft, including J-16 fighters, nuclear-capable H-6 bombers and drones.

Organizations: Coast Guard, U.S, infuriate Locations: Nangan Township, Matsu, China, Taiwan, Pacific, Taipei, United States, infuriate Beijing

☆ Guangdong, China: Satellite imagery shows new mystery aircraft carrier built amid breakneck naval expansion
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-01 | by ( Edward Szekeres | Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Hong Kong CNN —China appears to have built a new and unusual aircraft carrier, intriguing experts with a potentially first-of-its-kind vessel that could further increase Beijing’s rapidly expanding maritime power. This potential new aircraft carrier “is of a somewhat unusual shape and size – much smaller than China’s previous naval aircraft carriers,” said Thomas Shugart, a former US Navy submarine commander and now a fellow at the Center for a New American Security. Another view of the satellite imagery captured on October 23, 2024, showing a potentially new class of a Chinese aircraft carrier at a shipyard in the southeastern end of the country. Only the United States Navy operates aircraft carriers bigger than the Fujian. Conducted in the South China Sea, the exercise was “aiming to enhance the integrated combat capability of the aircraft carrier formations” and was “part of the Liaoning aircraft carrier formation’s regular real-combat training in the high seas,” Xinhua said.

Persons: ”, Thomas Shugart, Shugart, –, Beijing’s, Carl Schuster, Schuster, ” Schuster, ” Song Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Planet Labs, Guangzhou Shipyard, US, Center, New, New American Security, Planet Labs PBC China, People’s Liberation Army Navy, PLAN, supercarriers, United States Navy, Center for Strategic, International Studies, “, PLA, Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence, China Coast Guard, Beijing, Coast Guard, Communist Party, Xinhua, Liaoning, US Navy, Global Times Locations: Hong Kong, China, Guangdong, New American, Fujian, Shandong, Liaoning, Naval, Washington, Shanghai, Beijing, Taiwan, Matsu, South, South China, Xinhua

☆ No 'external force' can change our future, Taiwan president says on frontline islands
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-25 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

KINMEN, Taiwan — Taiwan cherishes its freedom and democracy and no “external force” can change its future, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said Friday, visiting sensitive frontline islands next to China for the 75th anniversary of a key victory over communist forces. Beijing detests Lai as a “separatist” and views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, a claim he rejects, saying only Taiwan’s people can decide their future. The Kinmen battle was a rare victory for Chiang Kai-shek’s forces in the final days of China’s civil war. Soldiers at a ceremony commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Guningtou in Kinmen, Taiwan, on Friday. No peace treaty or armistice has ever been signed between Taiwan and China, and neither government officially recognizes the other.

Persons: Lai Ching, Mao Zedong’s, Lai, “, ” Lai, Beijing detests Lai, Chiang Kai, Hwa Cheng Organizations: People’s Liberation Army, Getty Locations: KINMEN, Taiwan, China, Republic of China, Taipei, Guningtou, Kinmen, Beijing, AFP

☆ Taiwan says Chinese blockade would be act of war after ‘Joint Sword-2024B’ military drills
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-23 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

China’s latest war games around the island, carried out last week, included simulating blockading key ports and areas, and assaulting maritime and ground targets, Beijing said. “The international community could not sit by and just watch.”While those war games last only a day, Chinese military activity has continued. This screen grab from a video released by the Taiwan Coast Guard shows a China Coast Guard boat from a Taiwan Coast Guard boat as it passes near the coast of Matsu islands, Taiwan on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. The Liaoning was involved in those same Chinese war games last week near Taiwan. Taiwan and the United States dispute that, saying the Taiwan Strait is an international waterway.

Persons: Wellington Koo, China’s, Koo, ”, “ Organizations: Taiwan Reuters, Defense, Nations, Taiwan Coast Guard, China Coast Guard, AP Carrier, Taiwan’s Defense, China’s Defense Ministry, US Navy Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, China, Beijing, Taiwan Strait, Matsu, Liaoning, South China, Japan, United States, Canada, Germany, Britain

☆ China holds live-fire drills that Taiwan says may be part of ‘deterrence’
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-22 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan’s defense ministry said Tuesday that live-fire Chinese drills in a province facing the island are routine annual exercises but also possibly part of China’s “deterrence effect” in the waters of the Taiwan Strait. China’s Maritime Safety Administration, in a notice late Monday, said an area around Niushan island in Fujian province would be closed off for four hours starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday (9 p.m. Monday ET) for live-fire drills. Taiwan’s defense ministry said in a statement that those exercises were part of routine Chinese training and were being closely monitored. “No matter how large the scale of the drill is, they should not be frequent and close to Taiwan,” he said. China detests Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, who took office in May, as a “separatist” and has rebuffed his calls for talks.

Persons: Niushan, Cho Jung, ”, Lai Ching, Lai Organizations: Safety Administration Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, Taiwan Strait, Niushan, Fujian, China, Beijing, Taipei

☆ Taiwan condemns Chinese military drills around island as ‘unreasonable provocation’
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-14 | by ( Helen Regan | Wayne Chang | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

China’s military exercises around Taiwan, a democracy of 23 million people, have become increasingly frequent in recent years and have tended to coincide with events that have angered Beijing. In August 2022, China launched a week of military drills following a visit to the island by then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Ahead of the drills, the Eastern Theater Command released a propaganda video entitled “prepared for battle” on its social media accounts. The PLA did not say whether the drills involved live fire exercises, and, as of now, China has not launched any missiles. A total of seven Chinese warships plus additional Coast Guard vessels were detected near the Taiwan Strait, according to the ministry.

Persons: ”, Nancy Pelosi, Lai Ching, “, Lai, ” Lai, Communist Party’s, China’s, Xi, Matthew Miller Organizations: Taipei CNN, Eastern, Command, US, Taiwan, Eastern Theater Command, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, Communist, Communist Party, People’s Liberation Army, PLA, Eastern Command, Guard, United Locations: Hong Kong, Taipei, Taiwan, Beijing, China, Liaoning, Philippines, Communist China, People’s Republic of China, Matsu, Taiwan Strait, United States

☆ 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

☆ On frontline island, Taiwan president rejects China’s rule for freedom
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-23 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

KINMEN, Taiwan — Taiwan wants to continue its free way of life and rejects being ruled by China’s Communist Party, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said Friday, visiting a frontline island between the two sides to mark a key battle with Chinese forces. “Our aim is that we hope for peaceful development across the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan sent its own forces to keep watch, the ministry said, using its usual wording for when China carries out such activities. China’s defense ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether the latest combat patrol was related to Lai visiting Kinmen. Formerly called Quemoy in English, Kinmen today is a popular tourist destination, though Taiwan maintains a significant military presence.

Persons: Lai Ching, Lai, Mao Zedong’s, Kinmen, “, ”, Jessica Chen, Tao Organizations: China’s Communist Party, Beijing, Communist Party, Kuomintang, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, Taiwan Locations: KINMEN, Taiwan, Republic of China, Taipei, Kinmen, Taiwan Strait, China, Beijing, Taiwan’s, United States

☆ A trainer-heiress power couple created the fitness juggernaut Pvolve. Then came a divorce, an arrest, and Jennifer Aniston.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-16 | by ( Kate Taylor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +43 min

Around the dinner table in the early 2000s, David Katzman would quiz his kids about their dream startups. ModelFit employees told BI that Gelband used the Pelvicore Pro only with the permission of its creator, the physical therapist Christina Christie. Once, in October 2018, David Katzman met with Facebook's ad team to discuss SDC's before-and-after advertisements, which violated the tech company's policies. SDC employees worked on Pvolve marketing campaigns, and Pvolve employees took trips on David Katzman's jet. "He didn't come from anything, and he spent years and years building up the business," the person close to Pasterino told BI.

Persons: Stephen Pasterino, Pasterino, he'd, hadn't, Rachel Katzman, who'd, Katzman, Pvolve, Jennifer Aniston, David Katzman, bankrolled, —, Laura Quintana, Stephen, Erik Connolly, Connolly, John Mayer, Nietzsche, Dan Gilbert, David, Gilbert, Usher, Jordan, decanting, Justin Gelband, ModelFit, Taylor Swift, Gelband, Vanessa Packer, Bryan Bedder, we'll, didn't, Woody Allen's, Vera Wang, Katzman's, I've, Cynthia Hannah, Blanca Padilla, Pasterino's, Justin Gelband's, Tracy Anderson's, cofounders, Packer, Christina Christie, Christie, Jordan Katzman, David Katzman's, Camelot, Julie Cartwright, Pvolve's, Cartwright, Hannah Bronfman, Nadine Leopold, Tim P, Pvolve didn't, Quintana, Rachel, SmileDirectClub, Jamie Dimon, Olivia Culpo, Craig Barritt, Bethenny Frankel, Madelaine Petsch, Lola tampons, They'd, Mara, ThreeForm, loaning, Hannah, Christie Brinkley, Monica Schipper, she'd, Rebecca Minkoff, Lindsay Pinchuk, Pamela, couldn't, Kathryn Delacruz, Madison Krause, Krause, Delacruz, " Krause, Pvolve's attorney's, Aniston's, Aniston, Jennifer, Jennifer Aniston's, Connelly, SDC's cofounders, — Pasterino, ThreeForm hasn't, Sarah VanZalen, there's, Erewhon, WWD, Tim Michaels, franchisors, Michaels, they've, Aperol Organizations: SoHo, Pvolve, Los Angeles ., Depot, DeeKay Enterprises, Quicken Loans, Cleveland Cavaliers, Camelot Venture Group, New, ModelFit, GQ, Getty, Hamptons, Beverly Hills Hotel, Cosmopolitan, BI, Gray Institute, SDC, Camelot, Lionsgate, Facebook, Whitby, Ventures, . Press, Miss, Employees, Naboisho Conservancy, Katzman's, Southampton, Pvolve Facebook, LinkedIn, Health, Forbes, Workers, Industry Locations: Pvolve, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Hammonton , New Jersey, Atlantic City, Jersey Shore, Franklin , Michigan, Michigan, Detroit, Las Vegas, Beverly, SoHo, Ibiza, France, Paris, Vogue, California, ModelFit, Covent, London, Riverdale, New Jersey, Pasterino, Italy, Kenya, Naboisho, Nashville, San Diego, New York City, shuttering, Ann Arbor , Michigan, ThreeForm, Angeles, Malibu

☆ China has launched new drills encircling Taiwan. Why now?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Jessie Yeung | Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Tensions are once again ratcheting up in the Taiwan Strait, with China launching military drills encircling Taiwan just days after the democracy swore in a new leader long loathed by Beijing. The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said it launched joint military drills involving the army, navy, air force and rocket force in areas around Taiwan early Thursday morning. The drills are being conducted in the Taiwan Strait – a narrow body of water separating the self-ruling island with mainland China – as well as north, south and east of Taiwan. The Chinese guided missile frigate Nantong, one of the vessels in the series of military drills around Taiwan. The defeated Nationalist Party fled to Taiwan, moving the seat of their Republic of China (ROC) government from the mainland to Taipei.

Persons: ”, Lai Ching, China’s, Xi Jinping, Li Xi, Lai, Wu Mei, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Tsai Ing, Tsai –, Mike Gallagher Organizations: CNN, Communist Party, Eastern Theater Command, People’s Liberation Army, PLA, People's Liberation Army, Weibo, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, Democratic Progressive Party, DPP, Chinese Communist Party, CCP, Nationalist Party, US, Communist, Beijing, Tuesday Locations: Taiwan, China, Beijing, Kinmen, Taipei, People’s Republic of China, Republic of China, Xi, Washington

☆ China starts military drills around Taiwan days after new president takes office
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Taiwan's new President Lai Ching-te speaks on stage during the inauguration ceremony outside the Presidential office building in Taipei, Taiwan, on May 20, 2024. China's military started two days of "punishment" drills around Taiwan on Thursday in what it said was a response to "separatist acts", just days after new Taiwan President Lai Ching-te took office and called on Beijing to cease its threats. China detests Lai, saying he is a "separatist", and it has denounced his inauguration speech on Monday. The Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) said it had started joint military drills, involving the army, navy, air force and rocket force, in areas around Taiwan at 7:45 a.m. (2345 GMT). The drills are being conducted in the Taiwan Strait, the north, south and east of Taiwan, as well as areas around the Taiwan-controlled islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin, the command said in a statement.

Persons: Lai Ching, China detests Lai, Wang Yi, Lai Organizations: Eastern Theatre Command, People's Liberation Army, PLA Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, Beijing, China, Taiwan Strait, Kinmen

CNN —China’s military drills around Taiwan are designed to test its ability to “seize power” over the island, the People’s Liberation Army said Friday as its forces kicked off a second day of large-scale exercises encircling its democratic neighbor. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry has condemned China’s military exercises as “irrational provocations” and dispatched its own sea, air and ground forces in response. A total of 19 Chinese warships and seven coast guard vessels were detected near the Taiwan Strait, according to the ministry. China Coast Guard drill near Taiwan. China Coast Guard/Weibo‘Blockading Taiwan’China’s military drills are often as much about playing to a domestic audience as signaling intentions internationally, and state media has ramped up coverage of the drills.

Persons: CNN —, Lai Ching, Lai, Xi Jinping, ”, China’s, Tsai Ing, ” “, Wu Qian, Liu, Tsai, wasn’t, “, I’m, Zhang Chi, Zhang, Carl Schuster, Craig Singleton, ” Singleton, Singleton, Lionel Fatton, ” Fatton Organizations: CNN, People’s Liberation Army, PLA, Command, Party, Taiwan, Guard, CCTV, Taiwan’s Defense, Kyodo, Democratic Progressive Party, China’s, Ministry, Chinese Communist Party, China Coast Guard, Taiwan . China Coast Guard, Weibo, US, Coast Guard, Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center, Foundation, Defense of Democracies, Webster University Locations: Taiwan, Beijing, China, Kinmen, Taiwan Strait, China's, Taiwan ., ”, Kaohsiung, Wuqiu, Geneva

☆ China starts ‘punishment’ military drills around Taiwan days after island swears in new leader
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —China has launched two days of military drills surrounding Taiwan in what it called “punishment” for “separatist acts,” days after the self-ruling island swore in a new democratically elected leader. China’s ruling Communist Party says the self-ruling democracy is part of its territory, despite never having controlled it, and has vowed to take the island, by force if necessary. The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said it launched joint military drills involving the army, navy, air force and rocket force in areas around Taiwan at 7.45 a.m. on Thursday. The drills are being conducted in the Taiwan Strait – a narrow body of water separating the self-ruling island with mainland China – as well as north, south and east of Taiwan. It expressed regret to “such irrational provocations and actions that undermine regional peace and stability.”

Persons: Lai Ching, China’s, Li Xi, ” Lai, Lai Organizations: CNN, Communist Party, Eastern Theater Command, People’s Liberation Army, PLA, Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry Locations: China, Taiwan, Kinmen, Beijing

China launched two days of military drills starting Thursday surrounding Taiwan in what it called a “strong punishment” to its opponents on the self-governing island, after Taiwan’s new president pledged to defend its sovereignty as he took office. The drills were the first substantive response by China to the swearing in of President Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing dislikes, in Taipei on Monday. Mr. Lai’s party asserts Taiwan’s separate status from China, and in a high-profile inaugural speech on Monday, he vowed to keep Taiwan’s democracy safe from Chinese pressure. China, which claims Taiwan as its territory, has mainly responded to Mr. Lai’s speech with sharply worded criticisms. China did not say how many planes and ships it was deploying in the exercise, but the last major drill in multiple locations around Taiwan that China has conducted was in April of last year in response to the visit to Taiwan by the former House speaker, Kevin McCarthy.

Persons: Lai Ching, Kevin McCarthy Locations: China, Taiwan, Beijing, Taipei, Kinmen, Taiwan Strait

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ China could take inspiration from Vladimir Putin as it seeks to conquer Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Gregor Schwung | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Read previewOn the beach of the Taiwanese island of Kinmen, pointed metal rods protrude from the ground and point towards the sea. To test Western resolve, China could first grab one of the offshore islands - just as Putin initially seized Crimea. After all, the only previous hostilities between Taiwan and China took place here - Beijing tried to conquer Kinmen in 1960 and 1970. To take Taiwan, China does not need Kinmen or the other offshore islands as a springboard. Due to its proximity to the mainland, Chinese military activities and any preparations for an invasion can be easily observed from here.

Persons: —, Gregor Schwung, Xi Jinping, Putin, Xi, Sun Tzu, Li Wen, Jing, Li, Vladimir Putin, Yao, Yuan Yeh Organizations: Service, Business, Congress, Kinmen, dicey coastguard, People's Liberation Army, Institute for National Defence and Security Research, Ministry of Defence, WELT, New, Security, Beijing, Communist Party, St Thomas University, Policy Locations: Kinmen, China, Xiamen, Taiwan, Taipei, Pratas, People's Republic, Crimea, Washington, Beijing, Ukraine, Taiwan's, Houston

☆ Secretive Taiwanese power plant opens to public for the first time — as an art space
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Wayne Chang | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Beigan, Taiwan CNN —In a sleepy Taiwanese island village just eight miles off the coast of mainland China, scooters whiz past an unassuming building that has stood here, largely overlooked, for decades. YI.ng Lighting DesignKnown locally as Jun Hun (or “Army Soul”), a nickname shared with the Taiwanese army division that built it, the Beigan Power Plant entered service in 1975 and became a linchpin of the local economy before closing in 2010. Art in the ‘heart’ of MatsuThe transformed Beigan Power Plant is the flagship venue of the Matsu Biennial, which runs through November 12 and features artworks exploring the outlying islands’ heritage, cultural identity and military past. “The power plant is the heart of Matsu that hasn’t stopped beating, and the generators are the essence of the power plant,” Liu said told CNN at the studio he shares with Chu. “I want to use sound to breathe new life into the deserted power plant, so that viewers can grasp what it was like when these generators were still running,” Wang told CNN at her studio.

Persons: Taiwan CNN —, —, Hun, ”, Mao Zedong’s, Matsu —, Matsu, Annie Chu, Liu Ping, hasn’t, ” Liu, Chu, Kinmen, Wang Yu, ” Wang, ” Chu Organizations: Taiwan CNN, Matsu, Taiwanese, Plant, Kuomintang, KMT, People’s Liberation Army, CNN, Visitors, Beigan, Matsu Biennial Locations: Beigan, Taiwan, China, Matsu, Taiwan’s, Taipei, Wang, Beijing

☆ China weighs options to blunt U.S. sanctions in a Taiwan conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Eduardo Baptista | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

"In the context of intensified Sino-U.S. strategic competition and the Taiwan Strait conflict, we should be wary of the U.S. replicating this financial sanction model against China," wrote Chen Hongxiang, a researcher at a branch of the People's Bank of China (PBOC) in eastern Jiangsu province. Wang and several PBOC researchers wrote in articles that if the U.S. implemented Russia-style sanctions on China, Beijing should freeze U.S. investment and pension funds and seize the assets of U.S. companies. ENERGY AND ALLIANCESBesides financial sanctions, Russia's response to Western pressure on its oil, gas, metals, and chips industry has given food for thought to Chinese researchers. Chinese researchers also suggested Beijing exploit cracks within the European Union and between the U.S. and its allies. "The mutual penetration of the Chinese and American economies will inevitably weaken the willingness to impose financial sanctions," he wrote.

Persons: Thomas Peter, Chen Hongxiang, Xi Jinping, Yu Yongding, Yu, PBOC, Wang Yongli, Wang, Sun, Mou Lingzhi, Xia Fan, Ye Yan, Martin Chorzempa, Chorzempa, Chen, Eduardo Baptista, David Crawshaw Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Moscow, China, People's Bank of China, Reuters, Senior U.S, People's Liberation Army, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China International Futures, U.S ., China Center for International Economic, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, China Minmetals Corporation, London Metals Exchange, Oil and Gas Exploration, Development Company, European Union, Peterson Institute for International Economics, EU, Thomson Locations: Fuzhou, Taiwan, Matsu, China, Rights BEIJING, Russia, Ukraine, Jiangsu, Beijing, Russian, U.S, Hainan, Washington, United States

☆ U.S. revives Cold War submarine spy program to counter China
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +21 min

The original network of fixed spy cables, which lie in secret locations on the ocean floor, was designed to spy on Soviet submarines seven decades ago, the three people said. China, meanwhile, is working on its own maritime spy program, known as the Great Underwater Wall, two U.S. Navy sources told Reuters. Sense of urgencyAmerica’s underwater espionage program was launched in the 1950s with a submarine detection system known as the Sound Surveillance System. The U.S. Navy’s Undersea Surveillance System The United States is expanding and upgrading its anti-submarine surveillance capabilities as tensions rise with China. Japan also operates a fleet of three ocean surveillance ships, fitted with U.S. SURTASS cables, the two U.S. Navy sources said.

Persons: Captain Stephany Moore, Richard Seif, Moore, Seif, ”, Tim Hawkins, Mariana Trench, Brent Sadler, We're, Sadler, ” Jon Nelson, Phillip Sawyer, Sawyer, United States –, SOSUS, SubCom, Stephen Askins, Lockheed Martin, Chuck Fralick, Leidos, ” Fralick, Hawkins, Richard Jenkins, Saildrone, Joe Brock, Mohammad Kawoosa, Simon Scarr, Edgar Su, Catherine Tai Design, Eve Watling, Marla Dickerson Organizations: U.S . Navy, Navy, Undersea Surveillance Command, Undersea Surveillance, United, Submarine Force U.S . Pacific Fleet, Reuters, U.S . 5th Fleet, U.S, Pacific, China Academy of Sciences, China’s Ministry of Defense, Foreign, China Naval, U.S . Naval Forces Korea, The Heritage Foundation, Department of Defense, Naval Air Station Whidbey, Processing, Undersea, Undersea Warfare, Naval Postgraduate School, Taiwan, Ships, Titan, Navy’s, CS, U.S . Department of Defense, Lockheed, U.S . State Department, An Australian Defense, Self, Defense Force, Leidos Locations: Seattle, U.S, Whidbey, China, Taiwan, Beijing, United States, Australia, Pacific, South China, Mariana, Yap, Federated States, Micronesia, Guam, Russian, Ukraine, Washington . U.S, Washington, Soviet Union, Washington State, Virginia Beach , Virginia, Monterey , California, Japan, India, States, London, Taiwan Strait, Virginia, San Francisco

☆ China to formulate 'special' measures to widen Taiwan's access to Fujian
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A Chinese warship fires during a military drill off the Chinese coast near Fuzhou, Fujian Province, across from the Taiwan-controlled Matsu Islands, China, April 11, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Sept 14 (Reuters) - China will take a number of "special" policy measures to improve access for Taiwanese enterprises to Fujian province across the Taiwan Strait, the Chinese state planner said on Thursday, under a long-term cross-strait integrated development plan. The steps are part of a plan announced by China on Tuesday to turn coastal Fujian province into a zone for integrated development with Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory. He added that Beijing also supports new energy cooperation between Taiwan, which it regards as a Chinese province, and Ningde, a Fujian city north of Xiamen. Strait Innovation Internet Co (300300.SZ) and Zhongfu Straits Pingtan Development Co (000592.SZ), both based in Pingtan, rose 8% and 5%, respectively.

Persons: Thomas Peter, Liang, Ryan Woo, Ethan Wang, Jason Xue, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, National Development, Reform Commission, Innovation Internet, Pingtan Development, Thomson Locations: Fuzhou, Fujian Province, Taiwan, Matsu Islands, China, Rights BEIJING, Fujian, Taiwan Strait, Xiamen, Kinmen, Beijing, Pingtan, China's, Zhongfu

Hong Kong CNN —China on Tuesday unveiled a plan to deepen integration between the coastal province of Fujian and self-governing Taiwan, touting the benefits of closer cross-strait cooperation while sending warships around the island in a show of military might. The document, hailed as a “blueprint” of Taiwan’s future development by Chinese experts cited in state media, comes at a delicate moment in cross-strait relations as Taiwan gears up for its presidential election in January. Ahead of Beijing’s release of its integration plan, a Chinese aircraft carrier and around two dozen Chinese warships were spotted gathering in waters near Taiwan this week, according to Taiwanese authorities. Fujian, a province of 40 million people on the western side of the Taiwan Strait, is the closest to Taiwan both geographically and culturally. In Tuesday’s directive, Beijing pledges to further speed up integration between the city of Xiamen and Kinmen – which are only a few miles apart.

Persons: Wang Ting, ” Wang, “, China’s, Kinmen, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Communist Party’s Central, State, Communist Party, Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwan, Mainland Affairs Council, CNN, Times Locations: Hong Kong, China, Fujian, Taiwan, Beijing, Kinmen, Xiamen, Fuzhou, Matsu, Taipei

☆ Sand dredging is 'sterilising' ocean floor, UN warns
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsGENEVA, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Around 6 billion tons of marine sand is being dug up each year in a growing practice that a U.N. agency said is unsustainable and can wipe out local marine life irreversibly. The findings from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) coincide with the launch of a new platform 'Marine Sand Watch' backed by funding from the Swiss government that monitors dredging activities using marine tracking and artificial intelligence. "The amount of sand we are withdrawing from the environment is considerable and has a large impact," UNEP's Pascal Peduzzi told a Geneva press briefing. In some cases, companies remove all the sand to the bedrock, meaning that "life may never recover", Peduzzi added. China, the Netherlands, the United States and Belgium are among the countries most active in the sector, he said.

Persons: Ann Wang, Pascal Peduzzi, Peduzzi, Arnaud Vander Velpen, Emma Farge, Christina Fincher Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, University of Geneva, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, Swiss, Geneva, China, United States, Netherlands, Belgium

[1/5] Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen pays tribute to the fallen soldiers during a ceremony commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis, in Kinmen, Taiwan August 23, 2023. REUTERS/Ann Wang Acquire Licensing RightsKINMEN, Taiwan, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Maintaining peace needs a powerful defence, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said on Wednesday, as she made a rare visit to a frontline island located right next to China, to mark the anniversary of a key military clash with Chinese forces. China has stepped up military activity to try and force democratically-governed Taiwan to accept Beijing's sovereignty, despite strong objections from the government in Taipei. Taiwan fought back at the time with support from the United States, which sent military equipment like advanced Sidewinder anti-aircraft missiles, giving Taiwan a technological edge. Taiwan has controlled Kinmen and Matsu since the defeated Republic of China government fled to Taipei in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong's communists.

Persons: Tsai Ing, Ann Wang, Taipei . Tsai, Tsai, Mao Zedong's, Fabian Hamacher, Ben Blanchard, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: REUTERS, Taiwan, U.S, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, Kinmen, China, Taipei ., United States, Taipei, Republic of China

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