https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/517521/feed The latest news on William Lai (also known as Lai Ching-te), politician, former physician and currently the 8th president of Taiwan. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Amber Wang Amber Wang Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te has welcomed talks between Washington and Beijing aimed at reducing the risk of conflict. Lai’s annual Double Tenth address on Saturday, marking the anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of China, Taiwan’s official name, also called for democracies to work together to safeguard regional peace and for the Taiwanese people’s right to exist to be respected. He also warned that mainland China was trying to put pressure on the island to change the status... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3370442/taiwanese-leader-welcomes-talks-between-washington-and-beijing-reduce-risk-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3370442/taiwanese-leader-welcomes-talks-between-washington-and-beijing-reduce-risk-war?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Oct 2026 10:09:31 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan A federal judge on Wednesday ordered Wanying “Heather” Zhang be held in custody, after her lawyers – who had fought to keep her out of jail – said she “looks forward to establishing” her innocence at trial. They argued that the US government’s case centred on a single day of alleged surveillance in Seattle and was not evidence that she posed a flight risk. US Magistrate Judge Steve Kim sided with prosecutors, who told him that Zhang’s parents and siblings lived in China and that her brother had... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370146/us-judge-blocks-release-alleged-beijing-agent-accused-filming-taiwan-leaders-son?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370146/us-judge-blocks-release-alleged-beijing-agent-accused-filming-taiwan-leaders-son?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 06:00:13 +0000 Nayan Seth,Han Li Nayan Seth,Han Li The United States has accused mainland China of hiring an American citizen of Chinese origin to surveil the family of Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te, days after President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington. The Federal Bureau of Investigation on Sunday arrested 34-year-old Zhang Wanying at Los Angeles International Airport, alleging that she attempted to flee the country and charged her with acting as an unregistered agent for the Chinese government. The FBI accused her of surveilling... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3369844/us-accuses-mainland-china-targeting-taiwan-leaders-family-surveillance-case?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3369844/us-accuses-mainland-china-targeting-taiwan-leaders-family-surveillance-case?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Oct 2026 22:16:58 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Mainland Chinese prefer coercion over military force to settle the “reunification question” with Taiwan, and their opinion of the US remains low, although they favour engaging with Washington on trade and security. These are the results from the latest survey of mainland citizens, conducted between April 16 and June 26. This straddled the first summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing but came before the second one in Washington last month. “The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369842/mainland-chinese-favour-diplomacy-achieve-taiwan-reunification-caveats-survey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369842/mainland-chinese-favour-diplomacy-achieve-taiwan-reunification-caveats-survey?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Oct 2026 21:14:15 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taipei’s dilemma over its history during World War II appeared to deepen as Beijing and Washington looked to the Flying Tigers as a source of connection and goodwill during last month’s Xi–Trump summit. US President Donald Trump’s description of China as an American ally during the war has raised concerns in Taiwan that what could have been a valuable historical connection with the United States ended up benefiting Beijing’s ties with Washington. The dilemma resurfaced after Trump and Chinese... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3369692/taipeis-dilemma-over-history-deepens-xi-trump-praise-wwii-flying-tigers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3369692/taipeis-dilemma-over-history-deepens-xi-trump-praise-wwii-flying-tigers?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Oct 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang Chinese President Xi Jinping pressed his US counterpart Donald Trump to explicitly oppose Taiwan independence – a call that would require a shift in Washington’s long-standing position and further restraint on American arms sales to the island, according to analysts. During the meeting between the two leaders on Thursday, Xi said he hoped the US side would “adhere to the correct position of opposing ‘Taiwan independence’”, according to a statement from the foreign ministry in Beijing. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3368829/xi-presses-trump-take-next-step-taiwan-oppose-independence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3368829/xi-presses-trump-take-next-step-taiwan-oppose-independence?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Sep 2026 12:00:06 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwanese officials and observers have reacted cautiously to the Washington summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, with uncertainty lingering over what the two leaders discussed about the island. The only public mention of Taiwan after Thursday’s closed-door talks between the pair came from Beijing’s official statement, which said Xi had urged Trump to “oppose ‘Taiwan independence’” and “handle the Taiwan question with caution”. The White House did not immediately give its own detailed... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3368839/trumps-warm-welcome-xi-met-caution-and-uncertainty-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3368839/trumps-warm-welcome-xi-met-caution-and-uncertainty-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Sep 2026 11:26:13 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Reports that Taiwanese officials have been asked to scale back visits to Washington have sparked debate over whether the island’s ties with the United States remain as “rock solid” as Taipei has maintained. The New York Times reported on Monday that some Taiwanese officials travelling to the US had been told by Trump administration officials to “curtail their visits to research groups in Washington”. The report came as US President Donald Trump prepared to host Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3368407/taiwans-opposition-casts-doubt-rock-solid-us-ties-ahead-xi-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3368407/taiwans-opposition-casts-doubt-rock-solid-us-ties-ahead-xi-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Sep 2026 11:30:05 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick The top Democrat on the US Senate’s foreign policy panel urged Donald Trump on Monday not to signal any retreat from Taiwan when he hosts Chinese President Xi Jinping this week. Speaking at the Concordia Summit in New York, Senator Jeanne Shaheen said she hoped the president “will not say anything that indicates a lack of support for Taiwan” during his talks with the Chinese leader. Shaheen is the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which reviews US arms sales abroad,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3368309/top-us-senate-democrat-warns-trump-not-waver-taiwan-xi-heads-washington?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3368309/top-us-senate-democrat-warns-trump-not-waver-taiwan-xi-heads-washington?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2026 21:42:53 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung In a rare development, Taiwanese Labour Minister Hung Sun-han is expected to travel to Nanjing on Sunday, becoming the first cabinet-level official under William Lai Ching-te’s administration to visit mainland China. Hung will attend an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) ministerial meeting on Monday to discuss employment, vocational training, social security and the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs. Hung will be the most senior Taiwanese official to visit the mainland for Apec... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3368061/how-will-beijing-receive-most-senior-taiwan-official-attend-apec-events-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3368061/how-will-beijing-receive-most-senior-taiwan-official-attend-apec-events-year?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Sep 2026 04:00:09 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang Progress towards reunifying with Taiwan hinges on factors like the island’s level of provocation, retired PLA major general Luo Yuan told the South China Morning Post, warning that Taiwan’s leader had challenged Beijing’s red lines. Speaking on the sidelines of the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing on Wednesday, Luo said the timeline for reunification with mainland China was shaped by “the development of our national strength, our defence needs, the global security environment, as well as the degree of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3367865/provocation-could-accelerate-taiwan-reunification-retired-pla-major-general?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3367865/provocation-could-accelerate-taiwan-reunification-retired-pla-major-general?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Sep 2026 10:00:15 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick China has warned Panama of “serious consequences” after most of the country’s lawmakers set up a parliamentary exchange group with Taiwan, defying pressure from Beijing’s embassy and a public disavowal by their own president. The warning came from foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun, who said on Monday that the group seriously violated the one-China principle upheld by Panama and urged what he called “those few politicians” to “see the real picture”. Beijing had noted the Panamanian... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367514/beijing-threatens-serious-consequences-after-panama-lawmakers-support-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367514/beijing-threatens-serious-consequences-after-panama-lawmakers-support-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Sep 2026 21:36:24 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang “Separatists” and the United States are putting Taiwan in greater danger, mainland China’s state broadcaster has warned, days after Washington’s de facto ambassador to the self-ruled island said it only needed to convince a potential adversary that landing forces would be very difficult. “Taiwan doesn’t need to demonstrate that it can win a war outright,” Raymond Greene, director of the American Institute in Taiwan, said in a keynote address at the 2026 Taipei Security Dialogue on Wednesday. He... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3367283/us-wants-taiwan-serve-cannon-fodder-against-mainland-china-state-broadcaster-cctv?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3367283/us-wants-taiwan-serve-cannon-fodder-against-mainland-china-state-broadcaster-cctv?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Sep 2026 06:00:16 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei A television drama produced by Beijing’s top counter-espionage agency has put the spotlight on real-life cases in the high-stakes intelligence battle between mainland China and Taiwan. Over the past decade, mainland Chinese spy dramas have rarely touched on contemporary espionage across the Taiwan Strait but on Sunday state broadcaster CCTV began airing a 40-episode television series about such intelligence efforts from 1998 to 2018. Overseen by the Ministry of State Security, The Long Watch... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3366639/rare-beijing-spy-series-highlights-real-life-intelligence-drama-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3366639/rare-beijing-spy-series-highlights-real-life-intelligence-drama-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Sep 2026 09:56:13 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung A rupture between Taiwan’s two opposition parties over a mayoral race threatens to spill into November’s elections and erode the fragile trust underpinning their potential 2028 alliance. The main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and smaller Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) have both registered candidates for mayor of Zhubei, the biggest city in Hsinchu county, after weeks of negotiations failed to produce a joint contender. The KMT has nominated Hsinchu county councillor Wu Hsu-chih, while the TPP’s Chiu... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3366416/taiwans-opposition-parties-split-over-mayoral-race-threatening-2028-election-alliance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3366416/taiwans-opposition-parties-split-over-mayoral-race-threatening-2028-election-alliance?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Sep 2026 04:00:09 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s cabinet approved a supplementary defence budget of NT$145.7 billion (US$4.6 billion) on Thursday, pushing the island’s total defence-related spending for this year above NT$1 trillion for the first time. The additional funding is expected to raise this year’s overall defence spending from 3.32 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) to about 3.83 per cent, the highest level in decades. The supplementary budget, which still requires legislative approval, is aimed at plugging gaps left... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3366266/extra-funds-push-taiwans-defence-spending-past-nt1-trillion-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3366266/extra-funds-push-taiwans-defence-spending-past-nt1-trillion-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Sep 2026 14:00:08 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung A false espionage alarm about a Taipei subway user has fuelled concerns that growing fears of Beijing are breeding unhealthy suspicion on the island and eroding public trust. The controversy erupted after a social media user posted a photograph of a man holding a laptop on a Taipei Main Station metro platform on Saturday. Seeing the words “2nd Theatre Photosynthesis System” appeared in simplified Chinese on the laptop’s screen, the social media user suspected that the man was a mainland Chinese... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365875/laptop-social-media-user-and-false-alarm-taiwan-over-beijing-spy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365875/laptop-social-media-user-and-false-alarm-taiwan-over-beijing-spy?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Sep 2026 01:00:14 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan has unveiled a record NT$1.12 trillion (US$35 billion) defence budget for 2027, with sharp increases in spending on weapons, ammunition and military operations amid growing pressure from Beijing. The proposed spending – the first to cross the NT$1 trillion threshold – is NT$173 billion, or 18.2 per cent, higher than this year’s allocation, according to the government budget approved by the cabinet on Thursday. It accounts for about 28.6 per cent of the government’s proposed NT$3.93... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3364713/taiwan-proposes-record-us35b-defence-budget-2027-plas-pressure-grows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3364713/taiwan-proposes-record-us35b-defence-budget-2027-plas-pressure-grows?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Aug 2026 13:00:06 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan is conducting its first-ever mobile network throttling exercise this week to test how the public responds to wartime communications disruptions, a new civil defence measure that has sparked criticism over the government’s preparedness. The exercise, held in central Taiwan on Monday and planned for northern Taiwan on Thursday, will simulate severe mobile network congestion by reducing 4G and 5G bandwidth for 30 minutes. About 17 million people, or 73 per cent of the island’s population,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3363551/why-taiwan-conducting-its-first-ever-mobile-network-throttling-exercise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3363551/why-taiwan-conducting-its-first-ever-mobile-network-throttling-exercise?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Aug 2026 10:59:19 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Taiwan’s leader rehearsed a late-night emergency evacuation during the island’s largest annual military exercise in response to growing concerns over potential “decapitation” strikes by the People’s Liberation Army, local media reported on Thursday. Under cover of darkness on Wednesday night, William Lai Ching-te, wearing body armour and a helmet, was transported from his Presidential Office in a Clouded Leopard armoured vehicle to a secure command centre, in accordance with the long-standing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3363402/taiwans-william-lai-rehearses-late-night-emergency-escape-during-military-drill?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3363402/taiwans-william-lai-rehearses-late-night-emergency-escape-during-military-drill?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Aug 2026 11:01:34 +0000 Han Li Han Li Even as Congress remains divided over the latest US defence bill, lawmakers in both parties remain united on one issue: China. The National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA), which sets US defence policy and authorises military spending each year, reflects a broad bipartisan consensus on expanding Washington’s military, technological and economic rivalry with Beijing. While the House and Senate versions differ on a number of provisions, both include new measures on Taiwan, artificial... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/politics/article/3363095/china-competition-looms-large-2027-us-defence-bill?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/politics/article/3363095/china-competition-looms-large-2027-us-defence-bill?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Aug 2026 18:33:30 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Opposition parties in Taiwan have accused the government of failing to defend the island’s long-standing claims in the South China Sea, following its muted response to Philippine attempts to delimit a disputed shoal. “The government speaks loudly when confronting mainland China, but falls silent when Japan or the Philippines challenges Taiwan’s claims,” Kuomintang culture and communications committee director Chen I-hsin said on Sunday. Chen was referring to the Philippines’ move to assert... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3362823/kmt-accuses-taiwans-government-failing-uphold-south-china-sea-claims?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3362823/kmt-accuses-taiwans-government-failing-uphold-south-china-sea-claims?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Aug 2026 02:00:12 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taipei mayor Wayne Chiang Wan-an has emerged as the biggest political winner from an opposition protest against the government’s handling of a food safety scandal that drew what organisers said were more than 200,000 people onto the streets of the city. The unexpectedly large turnout on Saturday appears to have given the island’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang, fresh momentum ahead of the local elections in November, and could reshape the race to become the party’s candidate in the next... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3362017/will-heat-cooking-oil-scandal-help-opposition-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3362017/will-heat-cooking-oil-scandal-help-opposition-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Jul 2026 12:00:10 +0000 Albee Zhang Albee Zhang Beijing launched a two-day live-fire drill in the Taiwan Strait on Thursday, coinciding with the end of a fisheries resources survey east of Taiwan and soon after Beijing labelled a speech by Taiwan’s leader as reckless and provocative. The drill will run from 6am to 6pm on Thursday and Friday, according to a navigation warning issued by Beijing’s maritime safety administration on Wednesday. It comes days after Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te said Taiwan was “not subordinate to the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3361554/pla-conducts-2-days-live-fire-drills-taiwan-strait-fujian-island?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3361554/pla-conducts-2-days-live-fire-drills-taiwan-strait-fujian-island?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Jul 2026 05:16:58 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s biggest food safety scandal in years has become a political liability for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), giving the opposition valuable ammunition ahead of November’s local elections. The latest controversy centres on soybean salad oil produced by Central Union Oil Corporation and found to contain excessive levels of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP). The substance is classified as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. According to Taiwan’s food... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3361033/will-taiwans-food-safety-scandal-wreck-dpps-local-election-hopes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3361033/will-taiwans-food-safety-scandal-wreck-dpps-local-election-hopes?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Jul 2026 06:00:05 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s security chief has warned that booksellers are responsible for ensuring their titles do not violate national security legislation, a day after police raided two independent stores and arrested five people on suspicion of sedition. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung also reiterated on Thursday that the government would not compile a list of “banned books”, arguing that doing so would allow offenders to bypass the law by simply changing a title. Tang’s comments came after... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3360811/booksellers-must-ensure-titles-dont-violate-national-security-laws-chris-tang?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3360811/booksellers-must-ensure-titles-dont-violate-national-security-laws-chris-tang?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Jul 2026 09:57:28 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s flagship “T-Dome” air defence programme is facing delays, after budget disputes left one of its critical indigenous missile systems without a clear funding source. The island’s opposition-controlled legislature approved a reduced NT$780 billion (over US$24 billion) special defence budget in May, rejecting a larger NT$1.25 trillion package proposed by the government. Among the excluded projects was funding for the indigenous Chiang-Kong, or “Strong Bow”, anti-ballistic missile system, a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3359754/enemy-within-dispute-endangering-taiwans-t-dome-air-defence-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3359754/enemy-within-dispute-endangering-taiwans-t-dome-air-defence-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Jul 2026 04:00:07 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung A high-profile visit to Washington by Taiwanese Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu reflects a broader US effort to strengthen ties with the island’s main opposition Kuomintang (KMT), according to analysts. Han’s trip follows visits to the United States by Taichung mayor and KMT member Lu Shiow-yen in March and KMT chairwoman Cheng Li-wun earlier this month. The succession of arrivals suggested Washington was preparing for political uncertainty after Taiwan’s 2028 leadership election by cultivating... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3358539/us-trying-sway-taiwans-kmt-receiving-its-legislative-speaker?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3358539/us-trying-sway-taiwans-kmt-receiving-its-legislative-speaker?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Jun 2026 22:00:12 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim The top US diplomat for East Asia sought to reassure Taiwan that Washington stood by its “Six Assurances” despite US President Donald Trump’s earlier dismissal of the policy, but offered no timeline for approving a stalled US$14 billion arms package to the self-ruled island. Michael DeSombre, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, told a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Thursday that US policy on Taiwan had not changed, maintaining Washington’s commitment to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3358401/trump-supports-six-assurances-taiwan-no-timeline-arms-sale-us-diplomat-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3358401/trump-supports-six-assurances-taiwan-no-timeline-arms-sale-us-diplomat-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Jun 2026 18:14:22 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan Taiwan’s main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) has hit out at the island’s government for launching investigations into five agricultural groups over participation in a mainland forum. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) referred the five groups to the Ministry of Agriculture for investigation after they were accused of signing cooperation deals at the Straits Forum in southeastern Fujian province earlier this month. The move triggered a backlash from opposition politicians and farming groups,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3357828/kmt-accuses-dpp-targeting-taiwans-farmers-over-trade-ties-mainland?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3357828/kmt-accuses-dpp-targeting-taiwans-farmers-over-trade-ties-mainland?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Jun 2026 12:00:06 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen US President Donald Trump’s announcement that he will visit China “at some point” this year sets the stage for an unusually frequent series of face-to-face meetings between the American and Chinese leaders – potentially up to four encounters in 2026. The two leaders have already met once this year for a summit in Beijing and Xi is expected to travel to the United States in September for a state visit and again in December for the Group of 20 meeting. Unveiling a new US presidential plane on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3357787/and-apec-makes-4-trump-pencils-another-big-china-trip-us-midterms-loom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3357787/and-apec-makes-4-trump-pencils-another-big-china-trip-us-midterms-loom?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Jun 2026 12:59:55 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s first International Booker Prize-winning novel has reignited debate over the island’s shifting identity, with its portrayal of a distinctly Taiwanese historical experience at odds with narratives long promoted by Beijing. The attention surrounding Taiwan Travelogue comes at a sensitive time in cross-strait relations, as rival interpretations of Taiwan’s history increasingly shape public discussion over the island’s future and its relationship with mainland China. Set in Japanese-ruled... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3357758/how-prize-winning-taiwanese-novel-could-stoke-beijings-worries-over-history?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3357758/how-prize-winning-taiwanese-novel-could-stoke-beijings-worries-over-history?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Jun 2026 10:00:08 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang A mainland Chinese research vessel has conducted a marine environmental survey in waters east of Taiwan, the latest sign of Beijing’s bid to reinforce its jurisdictional claims in the area following Japanese-Philippine maritime boundary talks. The survey, which ran from Tuesday to Thursday, was conducted by the Ministry of Natural Resources’ East China Sea Bureau, which deployed the oceanographic research vessel Xiangyanghong 22. The goal was to “gain a comprehensive understanding of the natural... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3357657/beijing-details-rare-marine-survey-east-taiwan-after-tokyo-manila-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3357657/beijing-details-rare-marine-survey-east-taiwan-after-tokyo-manila-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Jun 2026 09:00:06 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Nayan Seth,Dewey Sim Khushboo Razdan,Nayan Seth,Dewey Sim US President Donald Trump is not expected to have a phone call with Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-te any time soon, despite saying earlier that he would be open to speaking with the person “running” the island. Two people familiar with the matter said there had been no movement towards arranging such a conversation, which was reliant on the American leader’s willingness to take the initiative. Three other sources said the US believed that a call with Lai could derail an expected summit with Chinese... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3357586/no-call-taiwan-no-new-arms-sales-how-trump-preparing-welcome-xi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3357586/no-call-taiwan-no-new-arms-sales-how-trump-preparing-welcome-xi?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:00:06 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Taiwanese value showing goodwill to the mainland more than deepening cooperation with the United States, according to a survey conducted soon after US President Donald Trump visited Beijing last month. The survey, published by the government-funded Institute for National Defence and Security Research in Taipei on Tuesday, polled 1,127 Taiwanese residents from May 28 to 31. Asked about the most important approach to safeguarding the island’s security and peace across the strait, 44.9 per cent of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3357551/more-taiwan-favour-goodwill-beijing-over-defence-ties-us-poll-shows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3357551/more-taiwan-favour-goodwill-beijing-over-defence-ties-us-poll-shows?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Jun 2026 09:00:10 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang The two-week US trip by Taiwan’s main opposition leader offered Washington a different take on cross-Strait relations, although whether it will change anything remains in question, some experts said. Kuomintang (KMT) chairwoman Cheng Li-wun landed back in Taipei early on Tuesday, concluding a five-stop visit she called “beyond expectations”. Cheng began her trip on June 1, visiting San Francisco, Boston, New York, Washington and Los Angeles. She met with representatives from several think tanks... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3357352/taiwan-opposition-leader-takes-her-case-washington?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3357352/taiwan-opposition-leader-takes-her-case-washington?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Jun 2026 20:59:02 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang Mainland China’s fourth-ranking official has hailed the “enthusiastic” participation of people from Taiwan at a cross-strait forum despite the “obstacles” placed in their way. The independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party this year tightened restrictions on the Straits Forum in Fujian province, imposing the first outright ban on local officials attending the event. Senior officials had already been prohibited from attending. Addressing the event on Saturday, Wang Huning, Beijing’s top... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3356993/peace-taiwan-needs-joint-answer-both-sides-says-top-beijing-official?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3356993/peace-taiwan-needs-joint-answer-both-sides-says-top-beijing-official?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Jun 2026 06:00:13 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang Taiwan’s representative to the United States expressed confidence that Washington would approve a new round of arms sales to Taiwan, though US President Donald Trump has yet to make a decision on the matter. Asked on Thursday about a pending US$14 billion US arms sale to Taiwan, Alexander Tah-ray Yui, Taipei’s de facto diplomatic envoy, told CNN: “It’s up to President Trump to decide. Once the review is done, we expect that the sale, that the announcement will be made because we need those arms... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3356818/taipei-envoy-sees-us14-billion-arms-package-moving-ahead-under-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3356818/taipei-envoy-sees-us14-billion-arms-package-moving-ahead-under-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Jun 2026 21:36:05 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang Taiwan’s main opposition leader said cross-strait peace can be maintained as long as Taipei did not move towards “de jure independence”, during her trip in the United States. Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Kuomintang (KMT), attended a closed-door seminar at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government on Thursday, according to a KMT statement on Friday. Cheng told the seminar that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, which she described as the greatest common denominator... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3356179/kmt-leader-says-taiwan-can-preserve-peace-avoiding-de-jure-independence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3356179/kmt-leader-says-taiwan-can-preserve-peace-avoiding-de-jure-independence?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:56:56 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo China-Canada relations are undergoing a thaw after years of estrangement and recrimination. China and India are seeking a rapprochement despite deep-seated distrust and sometimes violent border disputes. Both cases share a common element: Donald Trump. Meanwhile, following the US president’s visit to Beijing, his defence secretary Pete Hegseth avoided mentioning Taiwan at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. He sounded almost conciliatory by hailing ties with Beijing as “better than they’ve... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3355960/trump-turning-allies-and-partners-friends-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3355960/trump-turning-allies-and-partners-friends-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:30:06 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang The need for Beijing and Washington to pursue “reconciliation and cooperation” and avoid war is the central message of her US trip, Taiwan’s main opposition leader Cheng Li-wun said in San Francisco. Cheng, leading a delegation from the Kuomintang (KMT), arrived in San Francisco on Monday evening, beginning a two-week US visit closely watched in Beijing, Taipei and Washington. In San Francisco’s Chinatown on Tuesday, Cheng said China and the US should forge “a relationship of friendship and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355888/taiwan-opposition-leader-promotes-cross-strait-peace-during-us-trip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355888/taiwan-opposition-leader-promotes-cross-strait-peace-during-us-trip?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jun 2026 22:45:19 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung A Taiwanese military aircraft crashed during a training mission on Tuesday, killing two experienced pilots and prompting renewed scrutiny of the island’s ageing fleet of T-34 basic trainers. The T-34C aircraft went down at 8.08am at Gangshan Air Base in Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan while conducting a simulated engine-failure exercise, according to the island’s air force. Both pilots on board, Lieutenant Colonel Kuo Chun-nan and Lieutenant Colonel Lu Chi-yu, were killed. The air force said the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3355648/2-taiwan-air-force-pilots-die-t-34c-crash-spurring-probe-and-debate-over-aircraft?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3355648/2-taiwan-air-force-pilots-die-t-34c-crash-spurring-probe-and-debate-over-aircraft?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Jun 2026 05:42:36 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen Beijing has strongly condemned Czech senate president Milos Vystrcil’s visit to Taiwan this week, demanding “immediate and effective” measures to eliminate its negative impact. Vystrcil, who is leading a delegation of some 40 representatives from the Czech business, academic and cultural sectors, arrived in Taiwan on Monday morning. He is set to meet the island’s leader, William Lai Ching-te, and other high-level officials before leaving on Thursday. This is Vystrcil’s second visit to the island... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355518/beijing-demands-czech-measures-curb-impact-senate-presidents-taiwan-trip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355518/beijing-demands-czech-measures-curb-impact-senate-presidents-taiwan-trip?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jun 2026 07:30:04 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun is set to skip the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore for the second year in a row, according to two sources familiar with the matter. China would instead send a lower-level People’s Liberation Army delegation to Asia’s premier defence forum opening on Friday, the sources said. This year marks the 23rd edition of the Shangri-La Dialogue, which brings together defence ministers, military chiefs, diplomats and analysts to debate regional security challenges and hold... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3354871/china-defence-chief-dong-jun-tipped-skip-years-shangri-la-dialogue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3354871/china-defence-chief-dong-jun-tipped-skip-years-shangri-la-dialogue?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 May 2026 07:03:52 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Donald Trump’s blunt warning that he was not looking to have “somebody go independent” after his summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping has reignited debate in Taiwan over whether Washington is hardening its message on the island. For many in Taipei, the US president’s remarks evoked memories of the George W. Bush administration, when Washington publicly checked Taiwan over moves seen as edging towards formal independence. But just as analysts were debating whether Trump had delivered the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3354544/whiplash-taiwan-how-donald-trumps-blunt-warning-collides-historic-call-offer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3354544/whiplash-taiwan-how-donald-trumps-blunt-warning-collides-historic-call-offer?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 May 2026 04:00:08 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou Beijing reaffirmed its opposition to arms sales to Taiwan after the acting secretary of the US Navy said Washington was pausing a US$14 billion weapons purchase by the self-governed island. “China’s firm opposition to US arms sales to China’s Taiwan region is consistent, clear and unwavering,” foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Friday. On Thursday, acting US Navy head Hung Cao told a congressional hearing that “right now we’re doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3354539/us-navy-signals-pause-taiwan-arms-sale-drawing-swift-reaction-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3354539/us-navy-signals-pause-taiwan-arms-sale-drawing-swift-reaction-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 May 2026 09:52:01 +0000 Fan Chen,Orange Wang Fan Chen,Orange Wang Beijing has reiterated its firm opposition to any official interactions between Washington and Taiwan, following US President Donald Trump’s remarks that he would be open to speaking with the person “running” the island, William Lai Ching-te. Such a move would cross Beijing’s red line and undo the progress made during Trump’s recent summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, analysts warn, though they note China should remain confident and that such a call would be highly unlikely. “China’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3354379/beijing-warns-us-taiwan-ties-after-trump-signals-openness-talking-lai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3354379/beijing-warns-us-taiwan-ties-after-trump-signals-openness-talking-lai?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 10:03:08 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Beijing on Wednesday accused Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te of “destroying cross-strait peace”, shortly after he delivered a speech to mark his second anniversary in office. The row comes in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s remarks on Taiwan independence following his state visit to Beijing. Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office condemned Lai’s anniversary speech and his subsequent remarks to reporters as being filled with “lies and deception, hostility and confrontation”. Spokesman Chen... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3354261/beijing-slams-lai-destroyer-peace-after-leaders-anniversary-speech?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3354261/beijing-slams-lai-destroyer-peace-after-leaders-anniversary-speech?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 May 2026 11:01:04 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Donald Trump’s comment that he is “not looking to have somebody go independent” has sparked debate in Taiwan over whether it undermines the ruling party’s pro-independence platform. Trump made the remark after last week’s summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, where Taiwan emerged as one of the most sensitive issues in Sino-US relations. “I’m not looking to have somebody go independent,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News aired on Friday, adding that the United States was “9,500... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3354002/does-trumps-not-looking-independence-remark-hurt-taiwans-ruling-party?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3354002/does-trumps-not-looking-independence-remark-hurt-taiwans-ruling-party?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2026 13:00:05 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang Beijing has strongly criticised Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te for paying tribute to a figure from Japan’s colonial era in Taiwan. In a commentary published on Sunday, Communist Party mouthpiece the People’s Daily accused Lai, from Taiwan’s independence-leaning ruling Democratic Progressive Party, of “forgetting his ancestors” and reaching a new low in “ingratiating himself with Japan”. The denunciation followed Lai’s attendance at a memorial service on May 8 in the city of Tainan,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3353961/why-beijing-outraged-over-taiwans-lai-honouring-wwii-era-japanese-engineer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3353961/why-beijing-outraged-over-taiwans-lai-honouring-wwii-era-japanese-engineer?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2026 09:00:14 +0000