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William Lai

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William Lai
The latest news on William Lai, (also known as Lai Ching-te),Taiwanese politician, former physician and currently the 8th president of the Republic of China, including politics news.
Born
6 Oct 1959
Industry
Politics
Job Title
Leader of Taiwan
Questions are being raised over whether Taiwan’s strategic value to the United States is being judged primarily by what the island can deliver economically and militarily. Photo: AFP
Taiwan

Can Taiwan still trust the US as Trump tariffs threaten heavy blow?

Poll shows most Taiwanese ‘have lost confidence’ in the US, with social media users saying that after Ukraine, ‘Trump will sell out Taiwan next’.

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Taiwan

Taiwan opposition to hold urgent summit amid recall battle with ruling DPP

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Taiwan

Taiwan spy scandals expose frailty of political and military defences

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Taiwan

Taiwan leader’s approval ratings drop amid drive to unseat opposition lawmakers

Polling suggests Lai faces ‘unprecedented levels of public dissatisfaction’ and the Trump tariffs are a further risk to his support base.

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William Lai Ching-te took office in May last year but his popularity levels have fallen. Photo: EPA-EFE
Taiwan

Former aide to Taiwan’s security chief expelled from DPP over spying allegations

Ho Jen-chieh, who worked for the island’s former foreign minister Joseph Wu, is suspected of leaking classified information to Beijing.

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Taiwan

Opinion | Missed signals only worsen tensions over Taiwan

Addressing two major misperceptions that underpin the dynamics between Washington and Beijing over Taiwan would help promote stability.

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Taiwan

Taiwan’s civil defence drills go big, but has sense of urgency diminished?

Simulations aim to prepare islanders for natural disasters and wartime, but real challenge is fostering sustained sense of crisis awareness, experts say.

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People took part in a “defence resilience drill” in Tainan on Thursday, which tested evacuation protocols and temporary shelter facilities for displaced residents. Photo: AFP
China’s military drills

Beijing confirms what Taiwan already knew: PLA did drill near island last week

Days after island leader called mainland a ‘foreign hostile force’, Taiwan reported 59 PLA aircraft and 9 naval vessels nearby.

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Family offices

It’s a family affair: inside Hong Kong’s quest to lure world’s wealthiest clans

Two years ago, the government unveiled eight measures with the aim of attracting affluent families so they could set up family offices.

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Taiwan

Taiwanese law change targets military personnel with links to mainland China

The amendment, which is ready for cabinet consideration, includes prison sentences for expressing allegiance to Beijing.

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Serving members of the Taiwanese armed forces will be scrutinised more closely for connections to the Chinese mainland if a draft legal amendment is approved. Photo: Reuters
Taiwan

Taiwan’s feuding political parties raise the stakes with rival recall bids

Both the government and opposition are trying to unseat rival lawmakers in a battle that threatens to deepen the island’s internal divisions.

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Taiwan’s leader William Lai Ching-te has called for political harmony as his party and political opponents launch recall campaigns. Photo: EPA-EFE
Taiwan

Could mainland Chinese academics’ visit to Taiwan be first hint of a thaw?

Trip may open the way for more unofficial ‘Red-Green’ exchanges, but some observers warn formal talks seem unlikely at the moment.

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Taiwan

Opinion | How Taiwan’s Quemoy symbolises shared but diverging memories

Taiwan’s ‘Cold War Disneyland’ offers both a window into the bleakness of war and a reminder of the benefits of cross-strait detente.

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Diplomacy

Opinion | With South Korea in crisis, what black swans lurk for East Asia in 2025?

Signs of upheaval and uncertainty in Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines will be compounded as the US recalibrates its East Asia policy.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Taiwan

Former Taiwan leader emphasises shared roots of island and mainland Chinese

On his fifth student exchange programme, Ma Ying-jeou accuses ruling DPP of being behind unprecedented crisis in culture.

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Taiwan’s former leader Ma Ying-jeou waves to the media at Taoyuan International Airport before leading a delegation of Taiwanese students to China, in Taoyuan on December 18. Photo: AFP
Taiwan

Taiwan’s William Lai slides in popularity, plagued by political turmoil

Lai’s disapproval rating is at its highest since he took over as leader six months ago, according to a new public opinion poll.

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Taiwan

Olympic champions among mainland China students set to visit Taiwan

40-strong team of students and faculty from leading mainland universities will arrive on November 27, Ma Ying-jeou Foundation says.

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Taiwan

People’s Daily accuses Taiwan’s William Lai of pushing independence narrative

Communist Party mouthpiece blasts the island’s leader after he commemorates anniversary of 1949 battle between Kuomintang and PLA.

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Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te (centre) attends a ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Kinmen on the island of Quemoy on Friday. Photo: CNA
Taiwan

Beijing hails cross-strait policies as Taiwanese visitor numbers surge

Some 994,000 travel permits and 3 million Taiwanese visitors so far this year point to cross-strait policy success, observers say.

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Taiwan

Beijing could elaborate law for ‘non-peaceful’ Taiwan reunification

Cautionary remarks by former US envoy, Taipei lawmaker come after PLA unleashes blockade drills over speech by island’s ‘separatist’ leader.

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Taiwan

Taiwan agrees to buy nearly 1,000 US killer drones as PLA stages combat drills

Taipei signs deals with Washington’s de facto embassy to buy loitering munitions as Beijing retaliates over William Lai’s remarks.

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A member of the US Marine Corps launches a Switchblade 300 drone during a drill in California in September 2020. Photo: Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group
Taiwan

PLA wraps up day of joint force blockade drills around Taiwan

Joint Sword-2024B exercise focused on sea-and air-combat readiness patrols, and ability to block key ports.

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The Liaoning aircraft carrier was part of PLA drills around Taiwan on Monday. Photo: PLA Navy
Taiwan

US urges restraint from mainland China, Taiwan ahead of island leader’s speech

Concern swirls that William Lai Ching-te’s remarks at annual celebration could prompt Beijing to justify taking cross-strait military action.

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Taiwan

Mainland China accuses Taiwanese leader William Lai of escalating hostility

Beijing hit back at recent comments that the People’s Republic could not be the island’s motherland because the Republic of China is older.

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Taiwan

Taiwan’s Tsai Ing-wen to visit Europe in first overseas trip since stepping down

Details of 8-day visit kept quiet amid security concerns, reports say.

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Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te and former leader Tsai Ing-wen discussed her coming trip at the presidential residence on Sunday. Photo: CNA
Taiwan

Taiwan sets war readiness goals at meeting of new defence resilience committee

Whole-of-Society Defence Resilience Committee aims to mobilise around 400,000 people, security official says.

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Taiwanese leader William Lai (in dark suit), pictured with troops at a naval base in Penghu County, has outlined the tasks of a new defence committee for “a more resilient Taiwan”. Photo: EPA-EFE
China’s Communist Party

Beijing says Anonymous64 hacker group targeting mainland China backed by Taiwan

Taipei information command denies claims as Beijing’s Ministry of State Security vows to ‘resolutely crush all separatist attempts’.

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Taiwan

Taiwan probes fighter jet crash after latest incident involving Mirage planes

Island’s air force launches task force to investigate why warplane lost power while returning to base after routine training mission.

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