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Taiwan

Taiwan
Latest news, in-depth features and opinion on Taiwan, covering politics, economy, society and the island's relationship with mainland China.
Taiwan’s representative in Israel Abby Ya-Ping Lee visits the Binyamin regional council in Samaria on July 6, 2025. Photo: Handout
Israel-Gaza war

My Take | Taiwan donation vow to Israeli settlement is cynical and foolish

Fulfilling the pledge would be a violation of international law, as Israel’s military occupation of the West Bank is universally recognised as illegal.

Hong Kong environmental issues

Reusable cups at Kai Tak will undermine Hong Kong’s green efforts: tourism chief

The Philippines

Will more US missiles in Philippines deter or provoke South China Sea conflict?

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US-China relations

Houston to Taipei in 2½ hours? Possible, if US-Taiwan spaceport plans take off

Potential cooperation on suborbital flights may first involve ‘unmanned cargo missions’, de facto embassy American Institute in Taiwan says.

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Jiupeng village in Taiwan’s southern Pingtung county is expected to host the island’s first official rocket launch centre and may eventually develop spaceport facilities. Photo: Getty Images
US-China relations

Mixed messages from US ahead of possible Trump-Xi summit

While suggesting progress has been made, US Treasury Secretary adds geopolitics to agenda of China trade talks. A deal would pave way for leaders to meet.

China’s aircraft carriers

PLA’s aircraft carrier goals

China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, is expected to be commissioned this year as the country seeks to build up its naval power and narrow the gap with the US carrier fleet.

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Donald Trump

From job cuts to suspending plans, Taiwan firms brace for Trump’s tariff storm

Economist Lin Chu-chia says growing anxiety on the island reflects a lack of transparency about Taipei’s tariff negotiations.

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A midterm assessment report by two think tanks found that more than half of Taiwanese firms with trade ties to the US expect to be affected by the new tariffs, although Washington has not yet announced the tariff rate for the island. Photo: Reuters
Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks extend from 3-year high on China growth optimism

Faster-than-expected China growth and Goldilocks scenario in US spark risk-on mood among investors.

Hong Kong weather

Hong Kong airport clears 1,500-flight backlog; operations back to normal Tuesday

Airport Authority says staff carried out round-the-clock effort, together with public transport operators, to swiftly clear backlog.

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US-China relations

Exclusive | Trump and Xi tipped to meet ahead of or during Apec summit in South Korea

Sources said the US leader might visit China beforehand or meet his Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of the event.

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Donald Trump pictured with Xi Jinping during his 2017 visit to China. US-China relations have fluctuated since Trump returned to the White House in January. Photo: AFP
Accidents and disasters in China

Typhoon Wipha forces evacuation of hundreds of thousands in southern China

The storm is battering Guangdong province and Hong Kong with wind speeds of up to 150 km/h.

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Workers take down a tent in Hainan ahead of the typhoon’s arrival. Photo: Getty Images
Israel-Gaza war

Why Taiwan pledges to Israeli settlement project may mar its own global support

‘I don’t think Palestinians will be going there for medical services. I’m not buying it,’ NGO monitor says.

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US-China relations

‘Huge shift’: why learning Mandarin is losing its appeal in the West

Available figures suggest enthusiasm is waning after years of rapid growth, with analysts pointing to China’s economy and image problems.

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Paraguay

Taiwanese leader Lai in one of his ‘worst moments’ as approval rating falls

Poll finds 42.9 per cent are satisfied with Lai’s performance amid backlash over Typhoon Danas response and his support for recall votes.

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William Lai visits Tainan after it was battered by Typhoon Danas in early July. His response was criticised as “tone-deaf”. Photo: Handout
China-Australia relations

Albanese China trip shows ‘stiffening of Canberra spine’ in face of US pressure

Beijing rolled out the red carpet for the Australian leader this week and the two sides appeared to keep a lid on tensions.

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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks to the media in Chengdu, Sichuan province, on Thursday. His six-day visit to China wrapped up on Friday. Photo: EPA
South Korea

Deal or no deal with US? Taiwan avoids tariffs so far, but remains on edge

Taiwanese, US officials have been meeting, suggesting, analysts say, they are trying to reach deal.

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My Take

My Take | Australia sends mixed message with China visit and war drills

While Talisman Sabre with its line-up of Western allies is provocative, Asean nations who drill with the Chinese military are also involved.

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Australia

Opinion | How Australia’s China ties can help advance its national interests

Albanese must convince more Australians to accept that Canberra’s alliance with the US is important but not the defining feature of its foreign policy.

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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (centre right) and his partner Jodie Haydon (centre left) arrive in Chengdu, Sichuan province, on July 16. Photo: EPA

Video | Taipei holds air raid drill amid PLA pressure

Held alongside Taiwan’s annual Han Kuang Exercise, air defence and civil response drills place Taipei and other cities in a wartime simulation  

Trending in China

Taiwan ‘vampire’ coach ‘forced’ students to give blood for academic credits

Prominent football trainer is dismissed by university, issues apology but fails to quell public anger over blood controversy.

Australia

Editorial | Common interests the basis for stronger China-Australia relations

Neither a port controversy nor any third-party interference cast a shadow over the trade and business focus of Albanese’s trip to China.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (left) shakes hands with President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on July 15. Photo: EPA
SCMP Highlights

US-China trade deal clues, flight to Hong Kong diverted: SCMP daily highlights

From what a US-China trade deal could look like to the Type 076 Sichuan amphibious assault ship, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

US trade representative Jamieson Greer, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng and China’s international trade representative Li Chenggang discuss trade relations and tariffs in Geneva on May 10, 2025. Photo: Keystone/EDA/Handout via Reuters
William Lai

Taiwan holds ‘urban resilience’ drills to test war readiness amid PLA pressure

Held alongside annual Han Kuang Exercise, air defence and civil response drills transform Taipei and other cities into wartime simulation.

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China’s military drills

PLA offers back-to-back military drill updates during Taiwan’s Han Kuang

Round-the-clock joint military exercises appear to be direct response to island’s expanded annual war games.

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The Philippines

Philippines in Australia-US drills: the ‘new normal’ in defence cooperation?

Manila’s participation in Exercise Talisman Sabre reflects upgraded ties with Canberra amid anxiety over Trump 2.0 and China, analysts say.

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Australian and US HIMARS rockets are launched during the firepower demonstration as part of the Talisman Sabre 2025 joint military exercise at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area near Rockhampton, Australia, on Monday. Photo: EPA
TSMC

Chipmaking giant TSMC raises 2025 sales forecast amid AI optimism

TSMC’s move underscores resilient demand for high-end chips from the likes of Nvidia, despite earlier doubts brought by China’s DeepSeek.

TSMC has raised its 2025 outlook on robust demand for AI chips. Photo: Reuters
Aviation

Emirates flight from Dubai diverted after failing to land in Hong Kong

Plane was rerouted to Kaohsiung after at least two attempts at landing, reportedly because of wind conditions.

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Mainland China

‘Scapegoats’? The harsh reality for mainland Chinese students in Taiwan

It’s getting harder for mainlanders to study across the strait, and observers fear reduced exchanges will only make tensions worse.

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