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☆ 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

☆ With Covid-19 cases on the rise, should students take extra precautions?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Katia Hetter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

However, Covid-19 cases are on the rise, along with key metrics like hospital admissions. When should parents and caregivers get their children the flu vaccine and the new Covid-19 vaccine? Should parents get their children the flu vaccine and the new Covid-19 vaccine? Everyone 6 months of age and older should get the flu vaccine every year, with very rare exceptions. The new Covid-19 vaccine is important for people vulnerable to severe illness.

Persons: Leana Wen, Wen, Theodore Parisienne, It’s, hospitalizations, who’s, I’ve, — Organizations: CNN, CNN Wellness, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Daily, Getty Locations: Covid, Brooklyn

LGBTQ+ people from China, frequently scorned and ostracized at home, are coming to Thailand in droves, drawn by the freedom to be themselves. Thailand doesn't keep figures on LGBTQ+ tourists. But through mid-August, it has counted 2.2 million Chinese tourists out of an overall 16 million. But LGBTQ+ people in China face other pressures to conform that can make the free expression of their identities difficult. Another draw for tourists, inside and outside the LGBTQ+ community, is Thailand’s loose enforcement of prostitution laws and renowned nightclub shows.

Persons: Xinyu Wen, Wen, “, ”, ” “, hasn't, Apichai Chatchalermkit, Owen Zhu, Jade Yang, Yang, Adisak Wongwaikankha, Eros Li, Li Organizations: Thailand Tourism Authority, The Nation Locations: BANGKOK, Thailand, Bangkok's, Thai, China, Bangkok, “, Beijing, Malaysia, Asia, asia

☆ 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

☆ China's trade slump narrows as stabilisation signs emerge
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Joe Cash | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

“The trade data is marginally better, but I don’t think we should be reading too much into that: trade is still contracting,” said Frederic Neumann, chief Asia economist at HSBC. “There is a bit of a sign here of stabilisation, but I think there’s still a long way to go,” he added. “Looking ahead, whether China’s trade growth has already hit the bottom will hinge on several factors, the most important of which is obviously domestic demand.”Governments around the world are nervous about China’s economic slowdown with many exporting nations highly dependent on the country’s market for growth. However, trade with Japan dropped sharply, with outbound shipments from China to its neighbour down 20% in August year-on-year, while imports worsened by 17%. China posted a trade surplus of $68.36 billion in August, compared with a forecast $73.80 billion and a July figure of $80.6 billion.

Persons: Aly, ”, Frederic Neumann, Zhou Hao, it’s, Nie Wen Organizations: REUTERS, HSBC, Guotai, “, Australian, Hwabao Trust Locations: BEIJING, Shanghai, China, Asia, Beijing, United States, Southeast Asia, Australia, Japan, Tokyo, Brazil

☆ 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

☆ Gatorade's newest drink doesn't contain Gatorade
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The PepsiCo-owned brand, best known for its fruit-flavored sports drinks like Fierce Grape or Frost Glacier Cherry, is adding Gatorade Water. It’s a major bet that the brand can tap into the growing “functional water” category (i.e. Specifically, alkaline water is a water that has a higher pH level than tap water. Gatorade Water has pH levels of 7 and higher. Other popular brands include Nestle-owned Essentia and two other PepsiCo-owned brands including LIFEWTR and Propel, a flavored water, that the company sees Gatorade Water being “complementary” to.

Persons: Cherry, Michael Del Pozzo, it’s, Del Pozzo, “, ”, Malina Malkani, Leana Wen, ” Howard Telford, ” Telford, Gatorade’s Del Pozzo, ” Del Pozzo Organizations: New, New York CNN, PepsiCo, Gatorade, Academy of Nutrition, CNN, George Washington University, Coca, Nestle Locations: New York

☆ 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

☆ Covid-19 cases are on the rise. What should you do if a family member contracts it?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Katia Hetter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

What should people exposed to someone with Covid-19 do — must they also stay away from others and how often should they be tested? Individuals who had at least moderate illness and experienced more severe symptoms such as shortness of breath need to isolate through day 10. Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty ImagesThe ideal scenario for isolation is for the person with Covid-19 to completely separate from other family members during the initial five days. To me, the most important precaution is for those exposed to Covid-19 to stay away from people vulnerable to severe illness. The quarantine period after exposure is not the time to visit a family member in a nursing home, for example.

Persons: Jill Biden, Joe Biden, Jill Biden’s, Leana Wen, Wen, Let’s, Jill, Brendan Smialowski, handwashing Organizations: CNN, White, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, US Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, CDC, Fort Liberty, Getty Locations: Fort, Fort Liberty , North Carolina, AFP

☆ 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

☆ 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

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

Terry Gou, Foxconn founder announces his bid for the Taiwan presidency during a press event in Taipei, Taiwan August 28, 2023. Before he announced his bid to run as an independent on Monday, Gou had sought the KMT ticket for the presidency but failed. But his direct language, along with his business acumen, has drawn crowds in pseudo-campaign events across Taiwan that Gou held in the run-up to his announcement. He showed me how to use the touch screen on the spot," Gou said in 2011 about his relationship with Jobs. Gou told Trump he wanted to be a peacemaker between Taiwan, China and the U.S. as Taiwan's president.

Persons: Terry Gou, Ann Wang, Taiwan's Terry Gou, Democratic Progressive Party's, Gou, Sung Wen, APPLE Gou, Foxconn, Steve Jobs, Jobs, reverentially, Xi Jinping, Donald Trump, Trump, Ben Blanchard, Yimou Lee, Sarah Wu, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Apple Inc, Foxconn, Democratic Progressive, DPP, Kuomintang, KMT, Taiwan People's Party, National University's Taiwan Studies, APPLE, Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd, Chicago, Atari, Dell, Apple, Sony Corp, Nintendo Co, Microsoft Corp, Communists, Communist Party's, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, Taipei, Rights TAIPEI, China, Beijing, Shanxi, Guangdong, People's Republic of China

The logo of U.S. fast food group Burger King is seen at a restaurant in Bruettisellen, Switzerland October 11, 2016. U.S. District Judge Roy Altman in Miami said Burger King must defend against a claim that its depiction of Whoppers on in-store menu boards mislead reasonable customers, amounting to a breach of contract. He dismissed claims based on TV and online ads, finding none in which Burger King promised a burger "size," or patty weight, and failed to deliver it. Burger King and its lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. The case is Coleman et al v Burger King Corp, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, No.

Persons: Burger, Arnd, Roy Altman, Burger King, Altman, Taco Bell, Coleman, Jonathan Stempel, David Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Restaurant Brands, Yum Brands, Burger King Corp, Court, Southern District of, Thomson Locations: Bruettisellen, Switzerland, U.S, Miami, Burger, Brooklyn , New York, Brooklyn, Southern District, Southern District of Florida, New York

Beijing has staged multiple military drills around the island in recent years, drawing condemnation from the United States and its allies. Before he announced his bid to run on Monday, Gou earlier this year sought the candidacy for the opposition KMT, which advocates for friendlier relations with Beijing. The KMT has not disguised its anger at Gou's entry into the race for president, seeing his move as opening the way to a victory for the DPP's Lai by splitting the opposition vote. Most recent polls put the DPP's Lai on around 35-40% of the vote, around 10 percentage points clear of his closest rival. To qualify as an independent, he has to collect close to 300,000 voter signatures by Nov. 2, according to election regulations.

Persons: Foxconn, Terry Gou's, Gou, William Lai, Hou Yu, Hou, Eric Chu, Ko Wen, Ko's TPP, Lai, Ko, Chen Shui, Wang Ting, There's, Ben Blanchard, Yimou Lee, John Geddie, Michael Perry Organizations: Kuomintang, KMT, Democratic Progressive Party, Apple, DPP, New, ih, Taiwan People's Party, Reuters, Facebook, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, China, Taipei, Beijing, United States, New Taipei City, Taiwan

☆ China's Country Garden says $100 billion Malaysia project on track
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( A. Ananthalakshmi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The company logo of Chinese developer Country Garden is pictured at the Shanghai Country Garden Center in Shanghai, China August 9, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Embattled Chinese developer Country Garden (2007.HK) said on Monday its $100-billion project in Malaysia was proceeding as planned and it had sufficient assets, despite concerns over its financial strength. Country Garden is building its largest overseas development, the massive Forest City project, across four reclaimed islands in the southern Malaysian state of Johor bordering the wealthy city state of Singapore. Malaysia's incentives should be "very positive" for Country Garden, said Steven Leung, Hong Kong-based director of UOB Kay Hian. Shares of Country Garden were up more than 8% on Monday.

Persons: Aly, Anwar Ibrahim, Anwar, Loong Kok Wen, Steven Leung, UOB Kay Hian, Clare Jim, Martin Petty, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Shanghai Country Garden, REUTERS, HK, Malaysian, . Forest, Esplanade, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Singapore, Forest, Malaysian, Johor, Forest City, Hong Kong

☆ The billionaire founder of a key Apple supplier announced his Taiwan presidency run, saying Beijing can't threaten him because of his links with Apple, Tesla, Amazon, and Nvidia
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Gou said investors would lose confidence in China if the country confiscated Foxconn's assets. AdvertisementAdvertisementTerry Gou, the billionaire founder of Foxconn — a key supplier to Apple — has thrown his hat into the ring for Taiwan's presidential election. Gou said Beijing — which claimed self-ruled Taiwan as its territory — wouldn't be able to use the businessman's vast empire to influence him. Gou said Foxconn's clients include the most important names on Wall Street, including Apple, Amazon, Tesla, and the current investor-favorite, Nvidia. So, supply chains would be massively disrupted if Beijing confiscated Foxconn's assets, he said.

Persons: Terry Gou, he's, Gou, Foxconn, Apple —, Foxconn —, William Lai Ching, Hou Yu, Ko Wen Organizations: Morning, Apple, Hai Technology, Chinese Communist Party, Nvidia, Communist Party, Bloomberg, Taiwan's, KMT, Democratic Progressive Party, ih, New, Kuomintang, Taiwan People's Locations: Beijing, China, Taiwan, Taipei, Foxconn, New Taipei City

☆ 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

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

☆ 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

☆ US trip pays off for Taiwan VP with China drills more 'thunder than rain'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Ben Blanchard | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

China has a particular dislike of Lai, the frontrunner in polls ahead of January's presidential election, due to his previous comments about being a "worker for Taiwan independence". In his public events he talked about peace and dialogue, though he also said that Taiwan would not back down in the face of threats. "These drills were a lot of thunder, but less rain." 'NO SURPRISES'Lo Chih-cheng, a senior lawmaker for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, said Lai's trip was also about the broader process of showing him to the United States as a steady and trustworthy leader. China could take other, trade-related, steps to punish Taiwan, having previously stopped Taiwanese fruit and fish imports.

Persons: William Lai, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Lai, Ma Chen, Shen Dingli, Lai Ching, Lo Chih, cheng, Lo, Ko Wen, Xi Jinping, Ben Blanchard, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: International Airport, REUTERS, Rights, Taiwan, U.S, Liberation Army, National Defence University, United States, Relations, Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwanese Public, National Taiwan Normal University's Graduate, of Political, Thomson Locations: United States, New York, Paraguay, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Rights TAIPEI, China, U.S, United, Shanghai, Taipei, Beijing, Washington, Asia

☆ How Y Combinator-backed Seabound is using carbon-capture tech to tackle the shipping industry's problematic emissions
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The Y Combinator-backed Seabound believes its on board carbon-capture tech can play a key role. Fredriksson is the cofounder and CEO of Seabound, a climate-tech startup that aims to lower the greenhouse-gas emissions produced by the shipping industry. Seabound, backed by the famed accelerator Y Combinator, has built a carbon-capture machine that can be retrofitted onto ships. Having tested it on land, Seabound is now using a commercial container ship as its lab in a pilot project with the London-based shipping company Lomar Shipping. Fredriksson added that Seabound's reaction was exothermic, meaning it needed an injection of heat to get started but then was self-sustaining.

Persons: Seabound, Alisha Fredriksson didn't, Fredriksson, It's, Stephen Turnock, Ed Phillips, Alisha Fredriksson, Wen, Turnock, Alisha Fredriksson Decarbonization, we're, We're, Capital's Phillips, Leapfrogging Organizations: Shipping, Maritime Organization, Service, University College London, University Maritime Advisory Services, Southampton University, International Maritime, Planet Capital, Lomar Shipping, Ships Locations: Wall, Silicon, London, Yalova, Turkey

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

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