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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

☆ China says its 'priority' is to stop Taiwan VP visiting US next month
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, July 20 (Reuters) - It is China's "priority" to stop Taiwan's vice president and presidential frontrunner William Lai from visiting the United States next month, the country's ambassador in Washington said on Wednesday, as Beijing steps up its warnings against the trip. Provocative moves by Taiwan "separatists" should be contained, he added. "Now the priority for us is to stop Lai Ching-te from visiting the United States, which is like a grey rhino charging at us," Xie said, using Lai's Chinese language name. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and her government have repeatedly offered talks with China but been rejected, as Beijing views them as separatists. In August and then again in April, China staged large-scale war games around Taiwan, angered by the August visit to Taiwan of then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and in April by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen meeting current House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles, while she was transitting back from a visit to Central America.

Persons: William Lai, Lai, Democratic Progressive Party's, Xie Feng, Xie, Lai Ching, Tsai Ing, Both Tsai, Nancy Pelosi, Kevin McCarthy, Ben Blanchard, Stephen Coates Organizations: United, Democratic Progressive, Aspen Security, ., Taiwan, Central America, Beijing, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, United States, Washington, Beijing, China, Taiwan, Taipei, Paraguay, Los Angeles, Central, Tapei

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

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

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

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

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

☆ Exclusive: Taiwan on alert for Chinese-funded election interference
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Yimou Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

"They hope to influence Taiwanese people by reaching out to the grassroots," said one Taiwan security official with direct knowledge of the matter. "They hope to influence swing voters who don't have particular political affiliation and would vote for whoever gives them benefits." It is illegal under Taiwanese law for an election campaign to receive money from "external hostile forces," including China. The report said the underground banking systems in Taiwan, which are widely known but difficult to regulate, could provide foreign exchange support. Some Taiwanese have been prosecuted in recent years over receiving illicit support from China in election campaigns.

Persons: Tsai Ing, China's, Wellington Koo, Tsai, Yimou Lee, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Reuters, National Security Council, Chinese Communist Party, Taiwan Affairs Office, Democratic Progressive Party, Mainland Affairs Council, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, China, Beijing, Taiwan, Wellington, New Taipei City

☆ The clock is ticking for companies to speak clearly like Musk about China's Taiwan policy
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Eric Rosenbaum | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Elon Musk spoke this week on a topic few CEOs want to weigh in on publicly: China's intentions to ultimately integrate Taiwan as part of the People's Republic of China. "The official policy of China is that Taiwan should be integrated. And he added, "the situation is actually a lot worse for a lot of other companies than Tesla. "I don't think it's imminent but I do think companies should heed what he [Musk] says." The U.S. government policy remains to not take an official position on Taiwan as an independent and sovereign state.

☆ China denies imposing no-fly zone north of Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, April 14 (Reuters) - China denied on Friday that it had imposed a no-fly zone in the seas north of Taiwan for Sunday, even though Taipei said it was told by Beijing that China would impose one. "I have noticed that there were previous reports pointing out that the no-fly zone was set up by the Chinese side, which is inaccurate. China's civil aviation authority will forewarn and issue notices in advance for any space activities, Wang said. The area covers busy flight routes between Taiwan and China and Taiwan and South Korea, among others. "Relevant parties in the mainland have issued advance notices and announcements of space activities affecting the airspace," said China's Taiwan Affairs Office in a statement on Friday.

☆ Former Chinese military officer Zhou Bo on China's Taiwan drills
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailChina will pressure Taiwan more if it doesn't stop 'provocation': Ex-Chinese military officerZhou Bo, a senior fellow at Tsinghua University's Center for International Security and Strategy and a retired officer of the People's Liberation Army, discusses China's "Joint Sword" military drills around Taiwan.

Eastern Theatre Command/Handout via REUTERSTOKYO/TAIPEI, April 10 (Reuters) - Japan has been following China's military drills around Taiwan consistently and "with great interest", a top government spokesperson said on Monday, on the last scheduled day for the exercises where Beijing has simulated striking the island. China claims democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under Beijing's control. Japan has long worried about China's military activities in the area given how close its southern islands are to Taiwan. The United States has said it is also watching China's drills closely. China's military simulated precision strikes against Taiwan in the second day of drills around the island on Sunday.

For years, Chinese fishermen trawling for fish, shrimp and crab have played cat and mouse with Taiwanese authorities as they closely track boats that near the median line of the Taiwan Strait. MEDIAN LINEOn Saturday, Taipei said more than 40 Chinese planes crossed the Taiwan Strait's "median line", which Beijing does not recognise. Deteriorating relations have made Chinese fishermen more afraid of approaching the line. Several times last year, Taiwan's coast guard detained Chinese fishing crew members, citing illegal trawling, according to official statements. ($1 = 6.8681 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Josh Arslan and Thomas Peter; Writing by Ella Cao and Ryan Woo.

"Wow, the PRC (People's Republic of China) just sanctioned me again, for the second time," Hsiao tweeted in response to the announcement. Taiwan's Foreign Ministry reacted angrily, saying China had no right to "butt in" when it came to Tsai's overseas trips and that Beijing was "deceiving itself" if it thought the sanctions would have any effect. China has also banned the leaders from entering the country, and frozen any properties they have in China, it said. Chinese sanctions will have little practical impact as senior Taiwanese officials do not visit China while Chinese courts do not have jurisdiction in Taiwan. Others on the August sanctions list include Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu; Wellington Koo, Secretary-General of Taiwan's National Security Council; and DPP politicians.

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

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

☆ China imposes further sanctions on Taiwan's US representative
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING/TAIPEI, April 7 (Reuters) - China has imposed further sanctions on Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan's de facto ambassador to the United States, prohibiting her and family members from entering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, state media reported on Friday. The sanctions, announced by China's Taiwan Affairs Office, also prohibit investors and firms related to Hsiao from cooperating with mainland organisations and individuals. They come after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during a stopover in the United States this week. Others on the August sanctions list also include Taiwan foreign minister Joseph Wu and Secretary-General of Taiwan's National Security Council Wellington Koo, and DPP politicians. Chinese sanctions will have little practical impact as senior Taiwanese officials do not visit China while Chinese courts do not have jurisdiction in Taiwan.

☆ China imposes further sanctions on Taiwan's U.S. representative
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

China has imposed further sanctions on Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan's de facto ambassador to the United States, prohibiting her and family members from entering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, state media reported on Friday. The sanctions, announced by China's Taiwan Affairs Office, also prohibit investors and firms related to Hsiao from cooperating with mainland organizations and individuals. They come after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during a stopover in the United States this week. Others on the August sanctions list also include Taiwan foreign minister Joseph Wu and Secretary-General of Taiwan's National Security Council Wellington Koo, and DPP politicians. Chinese sanctions will have little practical impact as senior Taiwanese officials do not visit China while Chinese courts do not have jurisdiction in Taiwan.

TAIPEI, April 6 (Reuters) - Taiwan officials and defence analysts are bracing for intensifying pressure on the "median line" that has for decades helped keep the peace in the Taiwan Strait as China begins inspecting civilian shipping across the waterway. "As long as they are ships hoisting our country's flag they are all a part of our territory," he said. Taiwan's military will not allow China to "unilaterally" board Taiwanese ships, he said. A senior Taiwan official familiar with security planning said Taiwan would not allow China to board ships in the Taiwan Strait and that Taiwan's coast guard and military would jointly respond if China made a move to do so. Chinese state television broadcast live pictures of the Haixun 6 on patrol, including shaky footage of a Taiwanese coast guard ship shadowing it in the distance.

☆ Taiwan, China must do 'everything possible' to avoid war- former president Ma
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Former Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou meets the head of China's Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council Song Tao, in Wuhan, Hubei province, China in handout picture released March 30, 2023. Ma Ying-jeou's Office/Handout via REUTERSTAIPEI, March 30 (Reuters) - Taiwan and China must do everything possible to avoid war and it is the responsibility of both sides' leaders to ensure peace, former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou told a senior Chinese official on Thursday. Ma arrived in China on Monday, the first time a former or sitting Taiwanese president has visited the country since the defeated Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war to Mao Zedong's communists. "The two sides must maintain exchanges, cooperate together, and do everything possible to avoid war and conflict." Ma, who was in office from 2008-2016, met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Singapore in late in 2015 shortly before current Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen was elected.

BEIJING/TAIPEI, March 29 (Reuters) - China threatened to retaliate on Wednesday if U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy meets Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen during her planned transit of the United States next month, saying any such move would be a "provocation". China, which claims democratically-ruled Taiwan as its own territory, has repeatedly warned U.S. officials not to meet Tsai, viewing it as support for the island's desire to be seen as a separate country. China staged war games around Taiwan last August when then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei, and Taiwan's armed forces have said they are keeping watch for any Chinese moves when Tsai is abroad. While not officially confirmed, she is expected to meet McCarthy while in California, at the end of her trip. The United States says such transits by Taiwanese presidents are routine and that China should not use Tsai's trip to take any aggressive moves against Taiwan.

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

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