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☆ Arizona governor says state in talks with TSMC on advanced packaging
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A smartphone with a displayed TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) logo is placed on a computer motherboard in this illustration taken March 6, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTAIPEI, Sept 19 (Reuters) - The governor of the U.S. state of Arizona said on Tuesday that the state was in talks with Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC (2330.TW) on advanced packaging. TSMC is investing $40 billion in the project, supporting Washington's plans for more chipmaking at home. Speaking during a visit to Taipei, Governor Katie Hobbs said the TSMC factory project in Arizona was going well and she was very impressed by the speed with which it has been built. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd, the world's largest contract chipmaker, counts Apple (AAPL.O) and Nvidia (NVDA.O) among its major clients.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, TSMC, Katie Hobbs, Hobbs, I'm, it's, Sarah Wu, Ben Blanchard, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, REUTERS, Rights, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, Apple, Nvidia, Thomson Locations: Rights TAIPEI, U.S ., Arizona, Taiwan, Taipei

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTAIPEI, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Taiwan's defence ministry on Monday urged China to stop "destructive, unilateral action" after reporting a sharp rise in Chinese military activities near the island, warning such behaviour could lead to a sharp increase in tensions. The ministry said that since Sunday it had spotted 103 Chinese military aircraft over the sea, a number it called a "recent high". Peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are the common responsibilities of all parties in the region, it added. China's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Taiwan's defence ministry noted last week that July to September is traditionally the busiest season for Chinese military drills along the coast.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Ben Blanchard, Yimou Lee, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Monday, Communist, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Rights TAIPEI, China, Taiwan, Taipei, Taiwan Strait, Philippines, Beijing, South

☆ Taiwan reports 40 Chinese military aircraft in its air defence zone
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Airplane is seen in front of Chinese and Taiwanese flags in this illustration, August 6, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTAIPEI, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Taiwan's defence ministry said on Thursday that in the past 24 hours it had detected 40 Chinese air force aircraft entering the island's air defence zone, mostly flying to the south of Taiwan and into the Bashi Channel. At least four of the aircraft also crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait to the northwest of the island, according to a map the ministry provided. Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Jacqueline WongOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Ben Blanchard, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Rights TAIPEI, Taiwan

☆ Foxconn founder Gou picks Netflix hit show actress as presidential running mate
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TAIPEI, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Terry Gou, the founder of major Apple (AAPL.O) supplier Foxconn (2317.TW), on Thursday said his running mate in Taiwan's presidential election next year would be Tammy Lai, an actress who starred in a high-profile Netflix (NFLX.O) drama. At a news conference in Taipei, Gou introduced the veteran actress, author and singer Lai as his running mate. She played a presidential candidate in the hit Taiwanese Netflix show "Wave Makers" earlier this year. I told myself that last year I would set no ceiling for myself, and I didn't expect I'd actually be raised up this far," Lai told reporters. Gou must gather close to 300,000 voter signatures by Nov. 2 to qualify as an independent candidate, according election regulations, and needed to decide his running mate before he could collect signatures.

Persons: Terry Gou, Tammy Lai, Gou, Democratic Progressive Party's, William Lai, Lai, Ben Blanchard, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Apple, Netflix, Democratic Progressive, Kuomintang, Taiwan People's Party, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan's, Taipei, Taiwan

☆ Taiwan blasts Elon Musk over latest China comments
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"Their (Beijing's) policy has been to reunite Taiwan with China. Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, in a post on X late Wednesday, responded that he hoped Musk could ask China to "open @X to its people". China blocks X, along with other major Western social media like Facebook. This is not the first time Musk, whose Tesla had a large factory in Shanghai, has riled Taiwan. Last October, he suggested that tensions between China and Taiwan could be resolved by handing over some control of Taiwan to Beijing, drawing a similarly strong reprimand from Taiwan.

Persons: Elon Musk, waded, Joseph Wu, Ukraine's, Wu, Taiwan's, Tesla, Ben Blanchard, Stephen Coates Organizations: YouTube, U.S . Pacific Fleet, Taiwan, Facebook, Russia, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, Beijing, Taipei, Los Angeles, Hawaii, Sevastopol, People's Republic of China, Shanghai

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsTAIPEI, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Taiwan's defence ministry said it spotted 28 Chinese air force planes in its air defence zone on Wednesday morning, part of what Taipei calls regular harassment by Beijing amid heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan's defence ministry said that beginning at around 6 a.m. (2200 GMT Tuesday), Chinese warplanes, including J-10 fighters, had flown into the southwestern corner of the island's air defence identification zone, or ADIZ. China's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Taiwan's forces monitored the situation, including sending up its own air force planes and activating air defence systems, the ministry added, using the normal phrasing for its response to such Chinese incursions. A Chinese naval formation led by the Shandong entered the western Pacific for training, Taiwan's defence ministry said on Monday.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Yimou Lee, Ben Blanchard, Christopher Cushing, Christian Schmollinger, Michael Perry, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Taipei, Self, Defense Force, Pacific, Reuters, U.S . Navy, U.S, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Rights TAIPEI, Beijing, Taiwan Strait, Taiwan, China, Shandong, Pacific, Miyako, Japan, Miyako Strait, United States, Philippines, Borneo, U.S, Canadian, India, South China, Tokyo

☆ Taiwan says China bolstering air power along coastline facing island
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Taiwanese flags are seen at the Ministry of National Defence of Taiwan in Taipei, Taiwan, December 26, 2022. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTAIPEI, Sept 12 (Reuters) - China is bolstering its air power along the coast facing Taiwan with a permanent deployment of new fighters and drones at expanded air bases, Taiwan's defence ministry said on Tuesday in its biennial report. China staged war games around Taiwan in August of last year and again in April, and its forces operate around the island almost daily. In its National Defence Report, the ministry said China uses "realistic combat training and exercises to strengthen its preparedness against Taiwan". China's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Persons: Ann Wang, Joe Biden, Huang Wen, Ben Blanchard, Yimou Lee, Miral Fahmy, Michael Perry Organizations: Ministry of National Defence, REUTERS, Rights, Beijing, National Defence, Taiwan, Democratic, Taiwan's, Staff, Intelligence, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, Taipei, Rights TAIPEI, China, United States, Beijing

☆ Taiwan says Chinese carrier group in Western Pacific for training
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A helicopter takes off from China's Shandong aircraft carrier, over Pacific Ocean waters, south of Okinawa prefecture, Japan, in this handout photo taken April 15, 2023 and released by the Joint Staff Office of the Defense Ministry of Japan April 17, 2023. Joint Staff Office of the Defense Ministry of Japan/HANDOUT via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTAIPEI, Sept 11 (Reuters) - A Chinese naval formation led by the aircraft carrier Shandong passed 60 nautical miles (111km) to Taiwan's southeast on Monday and entered the western Pacific for training, the island's defence ministry said. The ministry said that beginning at 5:40 a.m., it also spotted 11 Chinese military aircraft, including J-16 fighters, in Taiwan's air defence identification zone and that its forces had made an "appropriate response". The Shandong, commissioned in 2019, participated in Chinese military drills around Taiwan in April, operating in the western Pacific. Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Gerry DoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ben Blanchard, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Shandong, Joint Staff Office, Defense Ministry, Staff Office, Defense Ministry of Japan, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Okinawa prefecture, Japan, Rights TAIPEI, Shandong, Pacific, Taiwan, Taiwan Strait, U.S, Canadian, India, China, United States

☆ Taiwan Says Chinese Carrier Group in Western Pacific for Training
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

TAIPEI (Reuters) - A Chinese naval formation led by the aircraft carrier Shandong passed 60 nautical miles (111km) to Taiwan's southeast on Monday and entered the western Pacific for training, the island's defence ministry said. The ministry said that beginning at 5:40 a.m., it also spotted 11 Chinese military aircraft, including J-16 fighters, in Taiwan's air defence identification zone and that its forces had made an "appropriate response". The Shandong, commissioned in 2019, participated in Chinese military drills around Taiwan in April, operating in the western Pacific. It also sailed through the Taiwan Strait in June. A U.S. and a Canadian warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Saturday, marking the second such joint mission since June and coinciding with the leaders of both countries attending the G20 summit in India.

Persons: Ben Blanchard, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Gerry Doyle Locations: TAIPEI, Shandong, Pacific, Taiwan, Taiwan Strait, U.S, Canadian, India, China, United States

☆ US, Canadian warships transit Taiwan Strait in latest joint mission
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TAIPEI, Sept 9 (Reuters) - A U.S. and a Canadian warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Saturday, the U.S. Navy said, marking the second such joint mission since June and coinciding with the leaders of both countries attending the G20 summit in India. "Ralph Johnson and Ottawa's bilateral transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the commitment of the United States and our allies and partners to a free and open Indo-Pacific," the U.S. Navy added in a statement. China's military condemned the transit as is usual with such missions, accusing the ships of carrying out "public hyping" in the strait, which separates Chinese-claimed Taiwan from China. Taiwan's defence ministry said the ships sailed in a southerly direction and that it had observed nothing unusual. While U.S. warships transit the strait around once a month, it is unusual for them to do so with those of other allies.

Persons: Ralph Johnson, Canada's, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Justin Trudeau, Ben Blanchard, Alexander Smith Organizations: U.S . Navy, Navy's, Fleet, Eastern Theatre Command, Liberation Army, U.S, Canadian, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, U.S, Canadian, Taiwan Strait, India, The U.S, Ottawa, Taiwan, United States, China, New Delhi

Analysts say its new product launches could mark a first step in the company's come-back efforts to rival Apple. "It (Huawei) can manage the psychological expectations of the target consumer group before Apple's press conference," said Ivan Lam, an analyst at Counterpoint. Sino-U.S. friction has worsened in recent years as Washington tries to restrict China's access to key technologies including cutting-edge chip technology, and Beijing looks to reduce its reliance on American tech. The U.S. Commerce Department said late Thursday it's working to obtain more information "on the character and composition" of the new Huawei chip that may violate trade restrictions. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters on Air Force One the U.S. government is trying to get more information about the Huawei chip.

Persons: Ann Wang, Ivan Lam, Jake Sullivan, Rick Meckler, Taiwan's TSMC, Ben Blanchard, Jeanny Kao, Brenda Goh, Jason Xue, Yelin, Sam Nussey, Miyoung Kim, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, REUTERS, Rights, Huawei, Apple, U.S, China's, Analysts, Reuters, Bank of America, Street, Washington, U.S . Commerce Department, National, Air Force, Qualcomm, Broadcom, Texas, Cherry Lane Investments, Tokyo, ASE Technology, Luxshare Precision Industry, Semiconductor, Technology, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp, Thomson Locations: Hsinchu, Taiwan, Rights TAIPEI, U.S, Beijing, China, Asia, Japanese, iPhones, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Yelin Mo, Tokyo

☆ Shares of Apple suppliers fall on reports of China iPhone curbs
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Taiwan's TSMC (2330.TW), the world's largest contract chipmaker and a major Apple supplier, dropped about 0.7%, outpacing a fall of about 0.3% in the benchmark index (.TWII). China could well expand its curbs on officials' use of iPhones, said Allen Huang, executive director of Mega International Investment Services Corp in Taipei. In China, Luxshare Precision Industry (002475.SZ), maker of connector cables for the iPhone and MacBook as well as AirPods, which also owns factories capable of making iPhones, fell 1.5%. Japanese chip equipment maker Tokyo Electron (8035.T) dropped 4% on Friday. Nearly a fifth of Apple's revenue is generated in China, where thousands of workers are employed by the company and its suppliers.

Persons: Ann Wang, Taiwan's TSMC, Allen Huang, Huang, Tim Cook, Ben Blanchard, Jeanny Kao, Brenda Goh, Sam Nussey, Edmund Klamann, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, REUTERS, Rights, Apple, company's, Staff, Reuters, ASE Technology, Co, Largan, Mega International Investment Services Corp, Huawei Technologies, Luxshare Precision Industry, Huawei, Tokyo, Thomson Locations: Hsinchu, Taiwan, Rights TAIPEI, China, outpacing, Taipei, iPhones, Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo

Some analysts feel the Huawei moves could be a first step in comeback efforts by China's "national champion" to rival Apple. By contrast with the hit for Apple suppliers, Huawei's extended recent gains. Reuters GraphicsSCOPE OF CURBS UNCLEARIt was not immediately clear how wide China's iPhone curbs are, but one employee at an affected state-owned enterprise (SOEs) in the capital said they extended to visitors. However, Canalys analyst Nicole Peng said Huawei could present a greater threat to domestic peers, such as Honor, which had benefited from Huawei's woes. The U.S. Commerce Department is seeking more information on the "character and composition" of the new Huawei chip that may violate trade curbs, it said on Thursday.

Persons: Ann Wang, chipmaker TSMC, China's, Ivan Lam, Ming, Chi Kuo, Nicole Peng, TechInsights, Jeanny Kao, David Kirton, Jason Xue, Yelin Mo, Ellen Zhang, Sam Nussey, Miyoung Kim, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, REUTERS, Rights, Huawei, Apple, Largan, Industry, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp, Reuters, Bank of America, TF International Securities, Street, Washington, U.S . Commerce Department, Shanghai Newsroom, Thomson Locations: Hsinchu, Taiwan, Rights SHANGHAI, TAIPEI, U.S, Beijing, Taipei, TW, iPhones, China, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Tokyo

☆ Chipmaker Taiwan seeks other EU trade deals given investment agreement 'a long shot'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Taiwan has repeatedly called for progress on a Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) with the EU. The EU included Taiwan on its list of trade partners for a potential bilateral investment agreement in 2015, but has not held talks with Taiwan on the issue since. "In that regard of course we have long been promoting a bilateral investment agreement between the EU and Taiwan. However, we know that's a long shot," said Chen, who visited the European Commission in June. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp (2330.TW), the world's largest contract chipmaker, announced last month a 3.5 billion euro ($3.75 billion) investment in Germany for the company's first factory in Europe.

Persons: Chen Chern, chyi, Chen, Filip Grzegorzewski, Tsai Ing, Ben Blanchard, Gerry Doyle Organizations: European Union, EU, European, European Commission, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp, chipmaker, BIA, Trade Organisation, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, Europe, Asia, EU, Germany

☆ TSMC to decide this week whether to invest in Arm IPO
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Ben Blanchard | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A smartphone with a displayed TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) logo is placed on a computer motherboard in this illustration taken March 6, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTAIPEI, Sept 6 (Reuters) - TSMC (2330.TW), the world's largest contract chipmaker, will decide this week whether to invest in chip designer Arm Holdings' blockbuster initial public offering (IPO), Chairman Mark Liu said on Wednesday. Speaking on the sidelines of the SEMICON Taiwan summit, Liu said his company was still evaluating the matter and, when pressed on when a decision may come, he added "this week". "Arm is an important element of our ecosystem, our technology and our customers' ecosystem. I’m sure it will be a very successful project," he said.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Mark Liu, Liu, SoftBank Group's, TSMC, Ben Blanchard, Anne Marie Roantree, Stephen Coates Organizations: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, REUTERS, Rights, Arm Holdings, Apple, Nvidia, Devices, Intel, Samsung Electronics, Thomson Locations: Rights TAIPEI, Taiwan, U.S ., Arizona

☆ Foxconn's August sales drop 8% y/y, Q3 outlook better
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A Foxconn shareholder poses for photos after the annual shareholder meeting in New Taipei City, Taiwan May 31, 2023. Foxconn (2317.TW), formally called Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd, said revenue last month reached T$412.83 billion ($12.93 billion), down 12% from July. Other businesses, including computing products such as PCs and cloud and networking products, declined from a year ago, Foxconn said, without elaborating. Foxconn's Taipei-listed shares closed up 0.5% on Tuesday ahead of the release of its August sales, compared with flat in the broader market (.TWII). ($1 = 31.9170 Taiwan dollars)Reporting by Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard; Editing by Robert BirselOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ann Wang, Foxconn, Yimou Lee, Ben Blanchard, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Apple, Hai Precision Industry Co, Revenue, Thomson Locations: New Taipei City, Taiwan, Rights TAIPEI, China, Foxconn's Taipei

☆ Taiwan president arrives in Eswatini to visit last African ally
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TAIPEI/MBABANE, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen arrived on Tuesday in Eswatini, Taipei's last African ally, saying the island will continue to confidently engage with the world and show it is a force for good. The Taiwanese delegation signed three memoranda of understanding with the southern African country after it met with Eswatini's King Mswati III. Eswatini is almost entirely surrounded by South Africa, which Chinese President Xi Jinping visited last month. Tsai last visited Eswatini in 2018, and this time is being accompanied by Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua. Taiwan has provided large amounts of aid to the small southern African country ruled by an absolute monarchy, including in 2021 antiviral medication to help King Mswati III recover from COVID.

Persons: Tsai Ing, Taipei's, Eswatini's King Mswati III, Tsai, Eswatini, Xi Jinping, Economy Minister Wang Mei, King Mswati III, Ben Blanchard, Anait Miridzhanian, Michael Perry, Josie Kao, William Maclean Organizations: Eswatini's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Economy Minister, COVID, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, MBABANE, Taiwan, Eswatini, China, Latin America, Caribbean, Belize, Nauru, Honduras, Swaziland, South Africa, America, United States, Lunga

☆ Thousands without power after Typhoon Haikui batters Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A collapsed canopy is seen at a parking lot as Typhoon Haikui approaches, in Hualien, Taiwan September 3, 2023, in this screengrab taken from a video provided by CTI. Haikui made landfall in the mountainous and sparsely populated far southeast of Taiwan on Sunday afternoon, the first typhoon to directly hit Taiwan in four years. Counties and cities across southern, eastern and central Taiwan cancelled classes and declared a day off for workers on Monday. Haikui is much weaker than Typhoon Saola, which hit Hong Kong and the southern Chinese province of Guangdong on Saturday. As of Monday morning, Haikui had started to enter the Taiwan Strait and head towards China, Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau said.

Persons: Haikui, Taipower, chipmaker, Saola, Ben Blanchard, Yimou Lee, Liz Lee, Tom Hogue Organizations: CTI, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Sunday, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Civil Aeronautics Administration, Weather Bureau, Thomson Locations: Hualien, Taiwan, Rights TAIPEI, State, Taitung, Counties, Taipei, Hong Kong, Chinese, Guangdong, Taiwan Strait, China, Fujian, Beijing

☆ Typhoon Haikui prompts Taiwan to evacuate thousands, cancel flights
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] A lifesaver keeps watch next to a red flag designating the prohibition of swimming as Typhoon Haikui approaches the region, at Sunset Beach in Chatan, Okinawa prefecture, Japan September 1, 2023. Haikui is forecast to make landfall in the mountainous and sparsely populated far southeast of Taiwan late Sunday afternoon. Counties and cities in the east and south cancelled classes and declared a day off for workers. Haikui is expected to be only a Category 1 or 2 typhoon when it hits Taiwan, according to Tropical Storm Risk. After passing across southern Taiwan, Haikui is forecast to cross the Taiwan Strait into China.

Persons: Haikui, Issei Kato, Tsai Ing, Ben Blanchard, Jonathan Oatis, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, UNI Air, Mandarin Airlines, Sunday, Civil Aeronautics Administration, Thomson Locations: Sunset, Chatan, Okinawa prefecture, Japan, Rights TAIPEI, Taiwan, Haikui, Hong Kong, Chinese, Guangdong, Taiwan Strait, China

☆ Taiwan hopes Pope's China engagement helps 'worsening' religious freedom
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Pope Francis attends a welcome ceremony at the bishop's house during his Apostolic Journey, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia September 1, 2023. China's foreign ministry said the pope's blessing reflected friendship and goodwill, noting China and the Vatican had maintained communication in recent years. "We hope that Vatican-China exchanges will help improve China's worsening religious freedom and human rights issues," it added. China's constitution guarantees religious freedom, but in recent years the government has tightened restrictions on religions seen as a challenge to the authority of the ruling Communist Party. Taiwan puts no restrictions on freedom of faith and has a thriving religious community that includes Christians, Buddhists and Muslims.

Persons: Pope Francis, Pope Francis messaged, Xi Jinping, Francis, Xi, Ben Blanchard, William Mallard Organizations: Vatican, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Catholic Church, Communist Party, Taiwan, Thomson Locations: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Rights TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, Taipei, Beijing, China's

☆ Terry Gou, seeking Taiwan presidency, resigns as Foxconn board member
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Terry Gou, Foxconn founder announces his bid for the Taiwan presidency during a press event in Taipei, Taiwan August 28, 2023. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTAIPEI, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Terry Gou, the billionaire founder of major Apple (AAPL.O) supplier Foxconn (2317.TW), resigned as a company board member, the Taiwanese company said on Saturday, less than a week after announcing a bid to be the island's next president. In a brief statement, Foxconn said Gou had resigned due to "personal reasons", and noted he had "officially handed over leadership of the group to a professional manager four yearsago". Asked on Monday about the issue of conflict of interest with Gou being a major shareholder of Foxconn, which has massive investment in China, Gou said he's willing to "sacrifice" his personal assets in China in the event of a Chinese attack. The DPP-led government, and Lai, have repeatedly offered talks with China but been rebuffed, as Beijing views them as separatists.

Persons: Terry Gou, Ann Wang, Gou, Foxconn, Democratic Progressive Party's, William Lai, Lai, Ko Wen, Hou Yu, it's, Ben Blanchard, John Stonestreet, Louise Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Apple, Democratic Progressive, DPP, Taiwan People's Party, ih, Kuomintang, Formosa TV, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, Taipei, Rights TAIPEI, Foxconn, China, People's Republic of China, Beijing

☆ Typhoon Saola makes landfall in Guangdong after slamming Hong Kong, Macau
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A man looks at fallen trees following Super Typhoon Saola, in Hong Kong, China September 2, 2023. The Asian financial hub of Hong Kong and China's neighbouring populous province of Guangdong cancelled hundreds of flights on Friday and shut businesses, schools and financial markets as Saola had edged closer. Packing winds of more than 200 kph (125 mph) as a super typhoon, Saola was among the strongest to menace the southern province since 1949. Hong Kong imposed its highest hurricane storm signal 10 on Friday night, lowering it to 8 by Saturday morning. Reporting by Farah Master, Joyce Zhou and Tyrone Siu in Hong Kong; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tyrone Siu, Saola, Tseung Kwan, Farah Master, Joyce Zhou, Ben Blanchard, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, Tyrone, city's, Authority, Flagship, Cathay, HK, TVB, Facebook, Sunday, Thomson Locations: Hong Kong, China, HONG KONG, Chinese, Guangdong, Shenzhen, Macau, Zhuhai, Hong Kong's, Taipei

☆ Chinese Catholics sneak a peek at pope in Mongolia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Joseph Campbell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] A member of security stands outside Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral on the day Pope Francis meets with bishops, priests, missionaries, consecrated persons and pastoral workers at the cathedral, during his Apostolic Journey in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia September 2, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins Acquire Licensing RightsULAANBAATAR, Sept 2 (Reuters) - A few Chinese Catholics came to sneak a peek at Pope Francis during an official welcome ceremony in the main square of Mongolia's capital Ulaanbaatar on Saturday, enthusiastically waving their country's flag. The Vatican does not have diplomatic relations with China, instead recognising Chinese-claimed Taiwan, while China's Catholics have long been split between a state-backed official church and an underground flock loyal to the pope. Brandishing red, five-starred Chinese flags, two dozen Chinese nationals who identified themselves as Catholic devotees crowded around a police barrier to catch a glimpse of Francis on Saturday morning. Yang Guang, a 37-year-old Catholic from Shanghai, said he came to Mongolia for a holiday but was glad to catch a glimpse of the pope at Sukhbaatar Square.

Persons: Saints Peter, Paul Cathedral, Pope Francis, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Francis, Yang Guang, I've, It's, I'm, Yang, Suzanne Willis, Willis, Xi Jinping, Joseph Campbell, Ben Blanchard, William Mallard Organizations: Saints, REUTERS, Reuters, Roman Catholic Church, Thomson Locations: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, ULAANBAATAR, China, Taiwan, Shanghai, Sukhbaatar, Hong Kong

☆ Hong Kong hunkers down as super typhoon Saola approaches
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A girl reads a book at a bookstore, which windows are taped in anticipation of typhoon Saola in Hong Kong, China August 31, 2023. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu Acquire Licensing RightsHONG KONG, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Hong Kong braced for the arrival of super typhoon Saola on Friday as authorities raised the strong wind signal to No.8, bringing the city to an effective standstill with most businesses, schools and the stock exchange shut. Saola is expected to skirt within 100km (60 miles) of Hong Kong on Friday night and Saturday morning, causing weather conditions to deteriorate rapidly, the city's weather observatory said. Hong Kong has five rankings for typhoons, 1, 3, 8, 9 and 10, which is the strongest hurricane signal. All schools in Hong Kong will be closed on Friday, despite being the first day of term for many, the government said.

Persons: Tyrone Siu, Hong Kong, Farah Master, Ben Blanchard, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Tyrone, Supermarkets, Kong's, Cathay Pacific, Weather Bureau, Thomson Locations: Hong Kong, China, HONG KONG, Guangdong, Hong, Wan Chai district, Taiwan, Fuzhou, Taipei

People represent different countries during seminars on conflict scenarios with China, organised for youth by the Kuomintang (KMT) party, in Taipei, Taiwan May 21, 2023. Younger voters are again playing a role - but this time they are gravitating to dark horse candidate who has become the DPP's closest challenger. Ko Wen-je, a 64-year-old former Taipei mayor, has won over many younger voters with plain talk on issues such as high housing costs rather than focusing on the China threat. Some younger voters may show their hands late, so Ko's appeal to that demographic could close the gap with Lai. Although it may have a healthy lead in opinion polls, the DPP is acutely aware of the dangers of losing younger voters.

Persons: Ann Wang, Tsai Ing, William Lai, Ko Wen, Ko, Lai, Terry Guo, Chen Kuang, Chen, Hou Yu, Mao Zedong's, Ho Chih, yung, Ho, Zheng De, Zheng, Sarah Wu, Yimou Lee, Ben Blanchard, John Geddie, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Kuomintang, KMT, REUTERS, Rights, United States, Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwan People's Party, Taiwanese Public, DPP, Apple, Chung Cheng, Taiwan's, ih, Reuters, Thomson Locations: China, Taipei, Taiwan, Rights TAIPEI, Beijing, United, Hong Kong, Lai, Chung Cheng University

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