Taiwan proposed on Thursday extra defence spending of T$240 billion (an equivalent of $8.69 billion) over the next five years, including on new missiles, as it warned of an urgent need to upgrade weapons in the face of a “severe threat” from giant neighbour China. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has made modernising the armed forces… Read More Taiwan plans about $9billion defense spending over next five years
Taiwan criticised Hong Kong on Monday in an escalating row over China’s sovereignty claims over Taiwan, prompting it to pull out officials from its representative office in the Chinese-run city. Taiwanese staff working at the island’s representative office in Hong Kong started leaving the former British colony on Sunday, after Hong Kong’s government demanded that… Read More Taiwan criticises Hong Kong following expulsion of officials in ‘one China’ row
China toughened its language towards Taiwan on Thursday, warning after recent stepped up military activities near the island that “independence means war” and that its armed forces were acting in response to provocation and foreign interference. Taiwan, claimed by China as its own territory, reported multiple Chinese fighter jets and bombers entering its southwestern air… Read More China threatens Taiwan with war over independence bid
Taiwan rolled out a newly redesigned passport on Monday that gives greater prominence to the island’s day-to-day name, aiming to avoid confusion with China amid the COVID-19 pandemic and Beijing’s stepped-up efforts to assert sovereignty. Existing Taiwanese passports have “Republic of China”, its formal name, written in large English font at the top, with “Taiwan”… Read More Taiwan unveils new passport to further ties from China
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday said he was lifting restrictions on contacts between U.S. officials and their Taiwanese counterparts, a move likely to anger China and increase tensions between Beijing and Washington in the waning days of President Donald Trump’s presidency. China claims democratic and separately ruled Taiwan as its own territory, and… Read More U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lifts restrictions on diplomatic relations with Taiwan officials
China urged the United States on Wednesday to stop boosting ties with Taiwan, after Washington and Taipei announced they would hold economic talks this month that Taiwan’s government described as a “major milestone” in relations. China considers democratically-ruled Taiwan its own territory with no right to formal ties with other countries, and has watched with… Read More China urges U.S. to stop bolstering ties with Taiwan
The United States sent two Navy ships through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday in the third such operation this year, as the U.S. military increases the frequency of transits through the strategic waterway despite opposition from China. The voyage risks further raising tension with China but will likely be viewed in self-ruled Taiwan as a… Read More Two U.S. Navy ships pass through Taiwan Strait
