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☆ Taiwan Expects to Deploy Two New Submarines by 2027 -Security Adviser
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

By Yimou LeeTAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan hopes to deploy at least two new, domestically developed submarines by 2027, and possibly equip later models with missiles, to strengthen deterrence against the Chinese navy and protect key supply lines, the head of the program said. Admiral Huang Shu-kuang, Tsai's security adviser, who is leading the program, said a fleet of 10 submarines - which includes two Dutch-made submarines commissioned in the 1980s - will make it harder for the Chinese navy to project power into the Pacific. He called the submarines a "strategic deterrent" to Chinese warships crossing the Miyako Strait near southwestern Japan or the Bashi Channel that separates Taiwan from the Philippines. "If Taiwan is taken, Japan will definitely not be safe, South Korea will definitely not be safe." Eastern Taiwan is where planners have long envisioned the island's military regrouping and preserving its forces during a conflict.

Persons: Yimou Lee, Tsai Ing, Admiral Huang Shu, Huang, Lockheed Martin, Chieh Chung, doesn't, Britain's, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Reuters, Lockheed, Lockheed Martin Corp, U.S ., Shandong, Foundation, Taiwan, Britain's Royal Navy Locations: Yimou Lee TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, Beijing, U.S, Japan, Philippines, Borneo, South Korea, Eastern Taiwan, United States, India, Britain, Gibraltar

☆ Former Alibaba CEO Daniel Zhang quits cloud in surprise move amid landmark restructuring
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hong Kong CNN —Daniel Zhang, the outgoing chairman and CEO of Alibaba, has stepped down from his position running the company’s cloud division in a surprise move announced just months after he assumed the pivotal role. Daniel Zhang, the then CEO of Alibaba, speaks at a conference in Shanghai in November 2022. Han Haidan/China News Service/Getty ImagesEddie Yongming Wu will succeed Zhang as acting chairman and CEO of its cloud unit, Alibaba said Monday. Significant restructuringIn March, Alibaba announced it would split into six separate units, including cloud, e-commerce, logistics, media and entertainment. Analysts said Zhang’s departure from the cloud business came as a surprise, but should not affect a potential IPO of the unit.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Daniel Zhang, Zhang, “, “ Mr Zhang, Daniel Zhang, Han Haidan, Eddie Yongming Wu, Alibaba, Joseph C Tsai, Wu, Joe Tsai, Steven Ferdman, Tsai, —, ”, ” Tsai, Jacob Cooke Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, ” Citi, Alibaba, China News Service, Cloud Intelligence Group, Paley International, Paley Museum, CNN, Brooklyn Nets, New York Liberty, South China Morning, Alibaba Group, Analysts Locations: China, Hong Kong, Shanghai, New York, Alibaba

☆ Shares of Alibaba tumble over 3% after outgoing CEO unexpectedly quits cloud business
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The move comes months after Alibaba said in June that Zhang was departing as chairman and CEO of Alibaba Group to focus on the cloud intelligence unit. Stock Chart Icon Stock chart iconIn a surprise leadership reshuffle in June, Alibaba announced that Zhang was bowing out as both CEO and chairman on Sept. 10 to focus on the cloud intelligence business. Zhang was Alibaba Group CEO since 2015 and the group chairman since 2019. He has also been chairman and CEO of the Alibaba Cloud Intelligence Group since 2022. "The board of our Company expresses its deepest appreciation to Mr. Zhang for his contributions to Alibaba Group over the past 16 years," Alibaba said in the Sunday statement.

Persons: Daniel Zhang Yong, Daniel Zhang, Alibaba, Zhang, Eddie Wu, Wu, Joseph Tsai Organizations: Alibaba, Fund, Visual China, Getty, Alibaba Group, Cloud Intelligence Group, Company Locations: Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China, Hong Kong

SHANGHAI, Sept 10 (Reuters) - China's Alibaba Group (9988.HK) said on Sunday that Daniel Zhang will step down from its cloud business, in a surprise move just two months after the company announced he would leave his roles as group CEO and chairman to focus on the cloud unit. Zhang had previously been concurrently serving in three roles, heading the group as well as its cloud unit. As scheduled, he handed over the role of group CEO to Eddie Wu on Sunday, who will also take charge of the cloud business after Zhang's departure, the company said in a statement. "Following careful consideration, the Alibaba board respected and accepted Daniel's decision and appointed Eddie as acting chairman and CEO of Cloud Intelligence Group, effectively immediately." Zhang will continue to contribute to Alibaba by "channeling his expertise differently," the letter added, saying that Alibaba will invest $1 billion in a technology fund that Zhang would establish.

Persons: Daniel Zhang, Zhang, Eddie Wu, Alibaba, Daniel, Joseph Tsai, Eddie, Brenda Goh, Hugh Lawson, Sharon Singleton Organizations: HK, Sunday, Cloud Intelligence Group, Reuters, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI

☆ Alibaba’s Boss Steps Aside
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( John Koblin | More About John Koblin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Daniel Zhang, the departing chief executive and chairman of the Chinese tech giant Alibaba, has stepped down as head of the tech company’s cloud division, a position he held for mere months. The company announced in June that Mr. Zhang would give up the chairman role this month to Joseph Tsai, a co-founder of Alibaba, and that Eddie Yongming Wu, another founder, would became the chief executive. But Mr. Zhang had been widely expected to continue to lead Alibaba’s cloud computing division, a position he assumed in March as part of a broad restructuring that he unveiled for the company that month. The news that Mr. Zhang would also step down from the company’s cloud division was earlier reported by both Bloomberg and Reuters. Mr. Zhang’s standing at Alibaba became uncertain after the company announcement in June that he would be replaced by two key members of the tech giant’s old guard.

Persons: Daniel Zhang, Zhang, Joseph Tsai, Eddie Yongming Wu, Zhang’s Organizations: Bloomberg, Reuters Locations: Alibaba

☆ In U.S.-China AI contest, the race is on to deploy killer robots
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +26 min

In this high-tech contest, seizing the upper hand across fields including AI and autonomous weapons, like Ghost Shark, could determine who comes out on top. This could become critical if the United States intervened against an assault by Beijing on Taiwan. Cheap and expendableThe AI military sector is dominated by software, an industry where change comes fast. Still, the available disclosures of spending on AI military research do show that outlays on AI and machine learning grew sharply in the decade from 2010. The Costa-Mesa, California-based company now employs more than 1,800 staff in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Persons: America’s, Shane Arnott, Anduril, ” Arnott, Arnott, ”, “, Mick Ryan, Eric Schmidt, hasn’t, Lloyd Austin, –, Stuart Russell, Russell, Kathleen Hicks, “ We’ll, Palmer Luckey, Luckey, ” Arnott didn’t, Biden, Tsai Ing, Frank Kendall, Datenna, Martijn Rasser, Feng Yanghe, Feng, Palmer, ” Anduril, Arnott wouldn’t, David Lague, Edgar Su, Catherine Tai, Peter Hirschberg Organizations: Australian Navy, Ghost Sharks, Sharks, Reuters, Defense, Australian, Chinese Communist Party, Beijing, People’s Liberation Army, PLA, Department of Defense, Pentagon, Australia’s Department of Defence, Australian Defence Force, Technologists, University of California, U.S ., U.S, Teledyne FLIR, Facebook, VR, Military, . Air Force, FH, U.S . Central Intelligence Agency, Department, Statistics, Harvard University, Biden Administration, Special, Command, Ministry of Defense, Veteran Locations: China, Australia, United States, Sydney, Britain, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Europe, Asia, Ukraine, ”, America, U.S, Taiwan, East Asia, Beijing, Russian, Berkeley, Fort Campbell , Tennessee, Kenya, “, Russia, Colorado, Zhuhai, Netherlands, Costa, Mesa , California, United Kingdom, Virginia, Canberra, Washington

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ Apple, Google, Nvidia and other tech giants are considering buying Arm shares
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Chip design firm Arm said in a Tuesday filing that Apple , Google parent Alphabet , Nvidia and other technology companies are interested in buying up to $735 million in its shares as it seeks to go public on Nasdaq. Chip foundry operators Intel , Samsung and TSMC are interested in investing alongside the three trillion-dollar technology companies, along with AMD and MediaTek, which make chip designs based on Arm architectures. In 2020, Nvidia announced plans to acquire Arm from SoftBank for $40 billion, but regulators in the U.S. and the U.K. pushed back. The fact that Nvidia wasn't able to buy Arm didn't stop Nvidia's co-founder and CEO Jensen Huang from talking up Arm during the chip-design company's IPO roadshow. WATCH: Portfolio manager discusses the investment risks around Arm's IPO

Persons: Chip, SoftBank, Nvidia's, Jensen Huang, Huang, Huang isn't, Rick Tsai Organizations: Apple, Google, Nvidia, Nasdaq, Intel, Samsung, AMD, Design Systems Locations: London, New York, SoftBank, U.S

☆ How being a mom changes the game for elite tennis players
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Eryn Mathewson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

If she’s successful, Wozniacki, 33, would join a short list of mothers who have reached the finals of a grand slam, or won. But the rule limits how many grand slams players can enter, something that tennis pro Taylor Townsend of Chicago would like to see changed. No matter what level of income a player earns, the training required to compete and win at the elite level in tennis is intense. “It’s certainly hard enough to win a grand slam without having a child going, ‘Mom, when are you coming back?’ ” Stubbs told CNN. “Serena … I think she wanted to win the grand slam as a mom more than anything,” she said.

Persons: Caroline Wozniacki’s, Tatiana Prozorova, Petra Kvitová, Jennifer Brady, Coco Gauff, —, Wozniacki, “, ”, ‘, she’s, Serena Williams, Olympia, Kim Clijsters, Caroline Wozniacki, Jada, Australia’s Margaret Court, Naomi Osaka, Terry Holladay, Taylor Townsend, Townsend, Rennae Stubbs, “ It’s, ’ ” Stubbs, Karolina Pliskova, “ Serena …, Christine Stromberg, She’s, Kate Ackerman, Wu Tsai, ” Ackerman Organizations: New, New York CNN, Vogue Magazine, Queens, Women’s Tennis Association, WTA, ESPN, CNN, Professional Tennis Operations, Services, Harvard University Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital Locations: New York, Russian, Czech, Florida, Belgian, Chicago

☆ 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

Opposition candidates, including Gou, blame the DPP for provoking Beijing and stoking tensions, labeling the vote as a choice between war and peace. Meanwhile, the DPP’s candidate, Vice President Lai Ching-te, has framed the election as a choice between democracy and authoritarianism. Lai Ching-te, Taiwan's Vice President and presidential hopeful, meets the foreign press in Taipei on August 25. In addition to securing 290,000 votes before November, Gou also needs to announce his running mate before September 17, as required by Taiwan’s Central Election Commission. “Gou is really having a race against time, and time is really not in his favor,” Sung said.

Persons: Terry Gou, Tsai Ing, Xi, China –, Lai Ching, “ Don’t, ”, Lai, Taijing Wu, Priding, Foxconn, Gou, China’s, ” Gou, roiling, Hou Yu, Ko Wen, Hou, who’s, “, Ko, Sung, ” Sung Organizations: CNN, Democratic Progressive Party, Harvard, ”, Communist Party, Chinese Communist Party, Kuomintang, KMT, ih, New, Taiwan People’s Party, Australia National University’s Taiwan Studies, Reuters, Taiwan’s Locations: Taiwan, China, Ukraine, Beijing, Moscow, United States, Lai, Taipei, Shenzhen, Taiwan Strait, Diaoyutai, Foxconn, New Taipei City

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

☆ Many Children May Have Lost Medicaid Coverage Because of State Errors
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Noah Weiland | More About Noah Weiland | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mr. Tsai told reporters in a press briefing Wednesday that the problem was “a very specific systems glitch that we think has tremendous implications for eligible kids and families maintaining coverage.”Many states are conducting what are known as “ex parte” renewals, or automatic checks that rely on databases, such as state wage records, to determine whether people are still eligible for Medicaid coverage. States are required to vet the eligibility of recipients individually. Children may have been disproportionately punished by this practice, officials said on Wednesday. The administration ordered states that identify this error to fix their eligibility systems, to pause removals and to reinstate those who had been affected by the mistakes. The letter amounted to one of the most confrontational actions that federal officials have taken since the start of the unwinding, which has led to over 5.5 million people losing coverage, according to state data analyzed by KFF, a health policy research organization.

Persons: Tsai, KFF

☆ U.S. commerce secretary's China trip is going to be a 'tricky one,' analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | 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 EmailU.S. commerce secretary's China trip is going to be a 'tricky one,' analyst saysSusan Thornton, visiting lecturer in law at Yale Law School and senior fellow at the Paul Tsai China Center, says it's a "tough visit" for U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, but adds that it's probably "one that the Chinese are welcoming."

Persons: Susan Thornton, Paul Tsai, Gina Raimondo Organizations: Yale Law School, Paul Tsai China Center, . Commerce Locations: China

☆ Raimondo meets Chinese officials in 'tricky' visit as countries seek a more stable relationship
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo speaks during a Reuters interview at the Department of Commerce in Washington, September 23, 2021. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo is set to meet with senior Chinese officials and U.S. business leaders in Beijing as the two countries continue high-level talks. Her trip is a crucial but also a tough one to tread with U.S.-China economic ties hanging in the balance, according to a former senior U.S. diplomat. Thornton previously served as acting assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the State Department. She said Raimondo would want to "get some business done for U.S. businesses," on top of promoting and stabilizing trade relations with China.

Persons: Gina Raimondo, Gina Raimondo's, Susan Thornton, CNBC's, Thornton, She, Raimondo, Paul Tsai Organizations: Commerce, Department of Commerce, East Asian, Pacific Affairs, State Department, Paul Tsai China Center, Yale Law School Locations: Washington, Beijing, China, U.S

[1/10] Tsai Tsung-lin, who is dressed in full camouflage and holds a plastic rifle, walks on a road, in Keelung, Taiwan August 21, 2023. REUTERS/Ann Wang Acquire Licensing RightsKEELUNG, Taiwan, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Dressed in camouflage and holding a plastic rifle, Tsai Tsung-lin has been tramping around Taiwan on foot for more than a month with one message to his compatriots: be prepared for war. The 22-year-old former soldier, discharged from the army in July, hopes his journey can help increase civil defence awareness and unite the people of Taiwan amid tensions with China. China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, has stepped up military activity to try to force democratically governed Taiwan to accept Beijing's sovereignty, despite strong objections from the government in Taipei. Tsai carries a large Taiwan flag sticking on his backpack and a yellow sign reading, "Going around the island raising people's awareness to oppose the enemy".

Persons: Tsai, Ann Wang, Tsai Tsung, William Lai's, . Tsai, Huang, Minh Nguyen, Ben Blanchard, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Keelung, Taiwan, KEELUNG, China, Taipei, United States, Paraguay

REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTAIPEI, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Taiwan will spend an extra T$94.3 billion ($2.97 billion) to buy weapons next year including fighter jets to bolster its defences against China, the government said on Thursday, and will get a further boost from new F-16 fighter jet tracking systems. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen already announced on Monday that overall proposed defence spending for 2024 would be set at T$606.8 billion, a 3.5% increase from the previous year. The United States on Wednesday approved a possible $500 million sale to Taiwan of infrared search and track systems for F-16 fighter jets, as well as other equipment. China, which routinely denounces any foreign arms sales to Taiwan, urged the United States to immediately cancel the planned sale, its foreign ministry said. Tsai has overseen a military modernisation programme to make the armed forces better able to face China, including upgrading a fleet of F-16 fighter jets and developing submarines.

Persons: Ann Wang, Tsai Ing, Po, huei, Tsai, Ben Blanchard, Faith Hung, Andrew Hayley, Christopher Cushing, Miral Organizations: Taiwan's Defence Ministry, REUTERS, Rights, United States, Democratic Progressive Party, Thomson Locations: Taichung, Taiwan, Rights TAIPEI, China, Taipei, United States, United, Beijing

☆ Taiwan proposes extra $3 bln spending on new weapons next year
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A view shows a loitering munition UAV on display as Taiwan's Defence Ministry showcases its domestically developed drones to the media, in Taichung, Taiwan March 14, 2023. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTAIPEI, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Taiwan will spend an extra T$94.3 billion ($2.97 billion) to buy weapons next year including fighter jets, the government said on Thursday as the island bolsters its defences in the face of rising threats from China. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen already announced on Monday that overall proposed defence spending for 2024 would be set at T$606.8 billion, a 3.5% increase from the previous year. Defence spending for next year will amount to 2.5% of Taiwan's GDP. ($1 = 31.7490 Taiwan dollars)Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Faith Hung; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Miral FahmyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ann Wang, Tsai Ing, Tsai, Ben Blanchard, Faith Hung, Christopher Cushing, Miral Organizations: Taiwan's Defence Ministry, REUTERS, Rights, Democratic Progressive Party, Defence, U.S . State Department, Pentagon, Thomson Locations: Taichung, Taiwan, Rights TAIPEI, China, Taipei

☆ US approves possible sale of F-16 search and track systems to Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker Acquire Licensing RightsAug 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department has approved a possible $500 million sale to Taiwan of infrared search and track systems for F-16 fighter jets, as well as other equipment, the Pentagon said on Wednesday. "The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region," it said in a statement. The move could irritate Beijing, which repeatedly demanded the United States - Taiwan's most important arms supplier - halt the sale of weapons to the island. The $500 million is the maximum potential value of the contract and the actual dollar value will be lower, the Pentagon said. The United States unveiled a Taiwan weapons aid package worth up to $345 million late last month.

Persons: Paulo Whitaker, Tsai Ing, Katharine Jackson, David Ljunggren, Caitlin Webber Organizations: U.S . Air Force, Brazilian Air Force, REUTERS, U.S . State Department, Pentagon, Lockheed Martin Corp, United, State Department, Thomson Locations: CRUZEX, Natal, Brazil, Taiwan, Beijing, United States, China

[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

China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, despite the strong objections of the island's government. "This is a serious warning against Taiwan independence separatist forces colluding with external forces to provoke," it said. China has a particular dislike of Lai for his previous comments that he was a "practical worker for Taiwan independence". The United States, like most countries, has no formal ties with Taiwan but is its strongest international backer, bound by law to provide the island with the means to defend itself. China has over the past three years ramped up military pressure on Taiwan, including sending military aircraft and warships near the island.

Persons: William Lai, Nancy Pelosi, Tsai Ing, Kevin McCarthy, Lai, Deb Haaland, King Felipe VI, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Casey Hall, Ben Blanchard, Greg Torode, William Mallard Organizations: Joint Staff Office, Defense Ministry of Japan, Reuters, Eastern Theatre Command, U.S . House, U.S, Beijing, Communist Party, Thomson Locations: Okinawa, Miyako, SHANGHAI, TAIPEI, Taiwan, United States, Taipei . Lai, Paraguay, China, Taipei, California, South, Asuncion

☆ Guatemalan president vouches for Sunday vote, promises orderly transition
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Sofia Menchu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Guatemala's President Alejandro Giammattei makes a joint statement with his Taiwanese counterpart Tsai Ing-wen (not pictured), at the Palacio Nacional de la Cultura, in Guatemala City, Guatemala March 31, 2023. REUTERS/Luis Echeverria/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsGUATEMALA CITY, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei on Friday evening said he would work to ensure an orderly transition of power to whomever voters elect on Sunday in the final round of a tense presidential election. The comments address fears of election meddling after an effort to disqualify the front-runner's party ahead of the runoff vote. "I reiterate the commitment to promote an orderly, transparent and efficient transition process," Giammattei said in an address to the nation. Arevalo's surprise second-place finish in June's first round vote provoked calls for recounts by opponents.

Persons: Alejandro Giammattei, Tsai Ing, Luis Echeverria, Giammattei, Bernardo Arevalo, Sandra Torres, Arevalo's, Arevalo, Luis Almagro, Sofia Menchu, Brendan O'Boyle, Sonali Paul Organizations: Palacio Nacional, la Cultura, REUTERS, GUATEMALA CITY, Organization of American, Thomson Locations: Guatemala City, Guatemala, GUATEMALA, June's, Faro

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

☆ Explainer: Why is China so angry about the Taiwan vice president's US trip?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Here are the key issues in Taiwan-U.S., China-U.S. and Taiwan-China relations, and why China is so upset about Lai's visit to the United States. Taiwan's official name continues to be the Republic of China, though these days the government often stylises it as the Republic of China (Taiwan). China views Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen as a separatist and has rebuffed repeated calls from her for talks. She says the Republic of China and People's Republic of China are "not subordinate" to each other. Beijing says Tsai must accept that both China and Taiwan are part of "one China".

Persons: William Lai, Xi Jinping, Mao Zedong's, LAI, Lai, Joe Biden, Tsai Ing, Tsai, Ben Blanchard, Kim Coghill Organizations: Lotte, REUTERS, Rights, Taiwan, CHINA, Communist Party, Democratic, STATES, United States, Taiwan Relations, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, Rights TAIPEI, China, Taiwan, Taipei, United States, Paraguay, People's Republic of China, Republic of China, Beijing, TAIWAN, United, Washington, TAIPEI, BEIJING

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