Taiwan

March 26, 2025 5:04 PM

Taiwan to channel World War Two spirit to bolster response to China’s threats

Taiwan will use this year's events to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two to bolster public sentiment on the need to defend the island from Chinese threats - and remind the world it was not the government in Beijing that won the war. World War Two, and the full-scale Japanese invasion of China in 1937 that preceded the start of the world war in 1939, is a touchy historical subject in both China and Taiwan. The Chinese government at the time was the Republic of China, and its ...

March 5, 2025 10:52 AM

China will work to firmly advance ‘reunification’ with Taiwan, premier says

Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Wednesday China would "firmly advance" the push for "reunification" with Taiwan while opposing external interference, and strive to work with regular Taiwanese to realize the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, despite the objection of the government in Taipei, and has ramped up its military pressure against the island in recent years, including holding several rounds of major war games. "We will...

February 28, 2025 12:24 PM

Taiwan tells China World War Two shows aggression will end in failure

Taiwan's defence ministry said on Friday that the history of World War Two shows aggression and expansion will end in failure, responding to Chinese comments that the island would come into Beijing's hands sooner or later. Democratically governed Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, has repeatedly complained of stepped-up Chinese military activity, including drills this week off the island's southwestern coast that Beijing said were "routine". On Thursday, China's defence ministry, ...

February 17, 2025 1:02 PM

US says website update routine, after removal of reference to Taiwan independence

The U.S. State Department said it has made a routine update to the Taiwan section of its website, after the removal of previous wording saying it did not support Taiwan's formal independence, among other changes that cheered the government in Taipei. The fact sheet on Taiwan, updated last week, retains Washington's opposition to unilateral change from either Taiwan or from China, which claims the democratically governed island as its own. But as well as dropping the phrase "we do not support T...

February 3, 2025 3:57 PM

Taiwan bans government departments from using DeepSeek AI

Taiwan on Monday banned government departments from using Chinese startup DeepSeek's artificial intelligence (AI) service as it was a security risk, toughening language from last week which said it should not be used. Democratically governed Taiwan has long been wary of Chinese technology given Beijing's sovereignty claims over the island and its military and political threats against the government in Taipei. During a cabinet meeting, Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-tai said DeepSeek was banned from ...

January 1, 2025 9:03 AM

No one can ever stop China’s reunification: President Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping underlined that no one could prevent China's 'reunification' with Taiwan, and affirmed that China will continue its "united front" efforts. In his New Year's message on Tuesday, Xi also highlighted China's aim to strengthen international cooperation, promote mutual understanding, and build a community with a shared future for humanity. Earlier, Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, said in a post on X, "On New Year's Eve, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered hi...

December 4, 2024 3:22 PM

“Be rational, have self-constraint”: Taiwan tells China to respect diplomatic norms

Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly criticized China's interference in international diplomacy, calling Beijing's repeated objections to Taiwan's legitimate interactions with other democratic nations "regrettable" and provocative. The statement comes in the wake of Chinese disapproval of a recent phone call between Taiwan President Lai Ching-te and US Representative Nancy Pelosi, as well as a US decision to sell $387 million worth of arms to Taiwan. In a bold response, Taiwan ur...

October 29, 2024 11:11 AM

What is ‘Taiwan independence’ and is Taiwan already independent?

Chinese President Xi Jinping asked U.S. President Joe Biden last year to toughen the language the United States uses when discussing its position on Taiwanese independence, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the private conversation. Below are some questions and answers about what is meant by the term "Taiwan independence": WHAT IS TAIWAN'S HISTORY AND FORMAL NAME TODAY? Formerly known as Formosa, the island has been home to indigenous people for thousands of years, before the Dutc...

October 14, 2024 2:33 PM

China launches war games around Taiwan, drawing anger in Taipei, concern from Washington

China's military launched a new round of war games near Taiwan on Monday, saying it was a warning to the "separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces", drawing condemnation from the Taipei and U.S. governments. Democratically governed Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, had been on alert for more war games since last week's national day speech by President Lai Ching-te. Lai's address was condemned by Beijing after he said China had no right to represent Taiwan even as he offered...

October 4, 2024 12:24 PM

Taiwan re-opens, mopping up after Typhoon Krathon

Southern Taiwan worked on Friday to clear up damage from flooding and high winds after Typhoon Krathon slammed into a major port city, while most of the rest of the island resumed work and financial markets re-opened. Krathon, now downgraded to a tropical depression, hit land in the southwestern city of Kaohsiung, inundating streets, blowing out the windows of some buildings and scattering debris amid record-breaking winds. While the rest of Taiwan resumed work, the governments in Kaohsiung an...