Advertisement
Advertisement
TOPIC
 / location

Taiwan

Taiwan
Latest news, in-depth features and opinion on Taiwan, covering politics, economy, society and the island's relationship with mainland China.
Differing views have emerged within the Kuomintang over a special defence budget. Photo: Reuters
Mainland China

Is Taiwan’s opposition KMT splitting into pro-US and pro-Beijing camps?

Big differences have emerged over defence spending just as the party’s chairwoman prepares to set off for the mainland.

videocam
7
Germany

Taiwan’s chip windfall redraws wealth landscape as global banks carve out roles

Scams and swindles

Cambodia’s high-stakes war on online scam compounds

videocam
Diplomacy

Opinion | How America’s stumble in Iran upends East Asia’s security calculus

A region where US allies lose faith in Washington won’t necessarily embrace Beijing; it is a region more likely to reach for its own guns.

videocam
Illustration: Craig Stephens
Cheng Li-wun

Former KMT chairwoman calls for ‘profound mutual trust’ with mainland China

Social media post from Hung Hsiu-chu comes days ahead of sitting KMT chairwoman Cheng Li-wun’s visit to mainland.

8
China-Japan relations

With an eye on China, Japan looks to kamikaze drones and low-cost missiles

Tokyo plans to introduce loitering munitions with a range of more than 1,000km, according to Japanese media reports citing official sources.

videocam
7
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
US, Israel war on Iran

Helium supply shock threatens Asian chipmakers as economic slowdown fears mount

Iranian attacks on Qatar’s LNG facilities are curbing the supply of helium, a crucial gas used in chipmaking.

videocam
Samsung Electronics’ products displayed at an exhibition hall for the Apec summit in Gyeongju, South Korea in October. Photo: AP
SCMP Highlights

Malaysia’s racial divide; Australia and Japan’s jet fuel woes: 7 highlights

From Hong Kong’s restaurant revamps to deep racial divisions in Malaysia, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

China energy security

Strait of Hormuz crisis

China remains relatively sheltered by its strategic oil reserves and investment in clean energy, even as Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz sparks a global energy crisis.

Kuomintang

Letters | Why KMT leader’s planned visit to mainland China is significant

Readers discuss the chairwoman of Taiwan’s largest opposition party’s trip to the mainland, and the approach to treating drug abuse in Hong Kong.

Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of Taiwan’s largest opposition party, the Kuomintang, interacts with supporters in Taipei, Taiwan, November 1, 2025. Photo: Reuters
Singapore

50,000 scam calls in 50 minutes drain US$1.2 million from Singapore victims

A Malaysian man hired by a gang, who set up the devices at a flat in the city state, was sentenced to jail for five years and three months.

videocam
A man was jailed for setting up devices enabling 50,000 automated scam calls, costing victims in Singapore US$1.2 million. Photo: Shutterstock
US-China trade war

As Xi-Trump summit approaches, tariffs continue to choke direct trade

Deficit with mainland hits two-decade low as trade shifts to Taiwan, Mexico and Vietnam amid tariff fallout and efforts to stabilise ties.

videocam
8
War and conflict

Opinion | Iran war is changing East Asia’s energy and strategic plays

States like China and Russia that can provide energy, industrial inputs, strategic reassurance or room for manoeuvre are gaining weight.

videocam
Asian cinema: Chinese films

Why fierce mothers and violent monsters star in Joe Hsieh’s animations

Taiwanese director Hsieh reflects on the strength of women, preferring hand-drawn animation over AI, and using violence in film.

A still from Night Bus (2019).
China's military weapons

PLA upgrades ageing tanks with protection system for potential Taiwan operation

Type 96A main battle tanks from Eastern Theatre Command now have APS to counter drones and anti-tank missiles, according to state media.

17
Type 96A main battle tanks equipped with the GL-6 active protection system were seen in video footage released by state media on Sunday. Photo: Weibo/China Youth Daily
Indonesia

Indonesia earthquake kills 1, triggers tsunami waves

The 7.4-magnitude quake hit at a depth of 35km in the Northern Maluku Sea off ⁠Indonesia’s Ternate island.

videocam
Kuomintang

Editorial | Kuomintang leader’s visit to mainland China gives reason for hope

While the KMT is not in power, Cheng’s visit at President Xi’s invitation can still contribute to cross-strait understanding.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
US-China relations

Taiwan plans, Trump-Xi hopes, stand-up comedy: 7 US-China relations reads

From stand-up success to alleged UN scheming, here are highlights from our overseas correspondents in the second half of March 2026.

PLA fighter jets conduct a joint combat training exercise around Taiwan in August 2022. Photo: Xinhua via AP
Nato

Opinion | What the Iran war reveals about Nato’s appetite for conflict over Taiwan

Resistance to a war started without European consent makes clear the alliance’s limits. The US can’t count on Nato support for a war in Asia.

videocam
Kuomintang

Taiwan’s KMT chair Cheng Li-wun to honour Sun Yat-sen on mainland China visit

Arriving in Shanghai on April 7 for six-day trip, Cheng will travel to Nanjing by train to pay respects at Sun Yat-sen’s mausoleum, KMT says.

videocam
Mainland China

Beijing says cremated spy remains returned from Taiwan remind of ‘heroic deeds’

Mainland China spokeswoman says Communist Party ‘patriots’ who died decades ago inspire towards ‘complete reunification’.

videocam
The cremated remains of Chen Lin, who died in Taiwan in 1950, were escorted by representatives from both sides of the strait to his hometown in Hefei, Anhui province, according to mainland media. Photo: Weibo
China energy security

Australia and Japan face jet fuel supply crunch as China cuts exports

Both Australia and Japan are heavily reliant on Chinese jet fuel, but shipments have plunged in recent weeks amid the Iran war.

videocam
12
Qantas is already raising airfares as Australia faces a jet fuel supply crunch amid the US-Israel war on Iran. Photo: AFP
Japan

Japan races to limit fallout from Chinese embassy break-in

Chinese state media seized on the breach as proof of Japan’s militarism and ‘rampant far-right ideology’.

The Philippines

Philippines to rename disputed South China Sea islands

The features to be renamed belong to the Spratly archipelago, site of repeated confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels.

Cheng Li-wun

No deals on mainland China visit, Taiwan’s opposition KMT chairwoman warned

Kuomintang chair Cheng Li-wun is expected to lead a delegation to mainland China from April 7 to 12.

videocam
11
Cheng Li-wun’s coming cross-strait visit has rattled Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party and exposed unease even within KMT ranks. Photo: Reuters
Semiconductors

South Korea turns to Russia for naphtha as Asia’s chip industry feels squeeze

South Korea’s return to Russian naphtha – vital for semiconductor manufacturing – highlights Asia’s fragile supply chain amid Iran conflict.

South Korea relies on imports for about 45 per cent of its naphtha demand. Photo: Shutterstock
China-Japan relations

Japan has enough plutonium to make 5,500 nuclear warheads, PLA Daily says

China’s military mouthpiece claims Tokyo has ‘astonishing’ stockpile of nuclear materials and the tech to produce weapons.

40
Japan

What Macron’s Tokyo visit means for an anxious Japan and its ties with France

Japan is enlisting French support amid a global energy shock and a diplomatic rupture with Beijing.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement