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William Lai Ching-te
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William Lai Ching-te

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William Lai Ching-te
William Lai Ching-te
The latest news on William Lai (also known as Lai Ching-te), politician, former physician and currently the 8th president of Taiwan.
Born
6 Oct 1959
Industry
Politics
Job Title
Leader of Taiwan
Some of the extra money will go towards US-made Himars rocket launcher systems. Photo: EPA
Taiwan

Taiwan proposes record US$35b defence budget for 2027 as PLA’s pressure grows

The government is targeting an 18.2 per cent increase in spending, with much of the extra money needed to pay for US weapons.

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Taiwan

Why Taiwan is conducting its first-ever mobile network throttling exercise

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Taiwan

Taiwan’s William Lai rehearses late-night emergency escape during military drill

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US-China relations

China competition looms large in 2027 US defence bill

Taiwan, AI and supply chains headline House and Senate proposals as lawmakers broaden efforts to counter Beijing on multiple fronts.

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The South China Sea remains a central focus of US military planning as Washington expands efforts to counter China. Photo: US Navy
Taiwan

KMT accuses Taiwan’s government of failing to uphold South China Sea claims

Opposition figure calls on DPP administration to protest to Manila over Philippine attempt to chart a boundary around Scarborough Shoal.

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Taiwan

Will the heat from a cooking oil scandal help the opposition in Taiwan?

Mass protest may have put Taipei mayor Wayne Chiang in pole position to contest the island’s next leadership election.

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Taiwan

Beijing conducts live-fire drills in Taiwan Strait after criticising Lai speech

Beginning of exercise coincides with completion of Beijing’s fisheries resources survey conducted in waters east of Taiwan.

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The People’s Liberation Army will conduct live-fire drills in the Taiwan Strait from 6am to 6pm on Thursday and Friday, according to a mainland navigation warning. Photo: File picture/CCTV
Taiwan

Will Taiwan’s food safety scandal wreck ruling DPP’s local election hopes?

The opposition has been handed the chance to portray the government as both ineffective and hypocritical ahead of the vote.

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Hong Kong national security law

Booksellers must ensure titles don’t violate national security laws: Chris Tang

Security minister compares stores selling seditious books to vendors offering contaminated or poisonous food.

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Taiwan

The missile funding dispute endangering Taiwan’s ‘T-Dome’ air defence plan

Strong Bow system cannot be included in special bill amid diminishing chances of securing supplementary funding this year, officials say.

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Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te (second from right) has championed the "T-Dome" air defence programme to counter aerial threats from Beijing. Photo: Reuters
Taiwan

Is the US trying to sway Taiwan’s KMT by receiving its legislative speaker?

Washington appears to be cultivating relationships with different strands of the island’s opposition party, say analysts.

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Han Kuo-yu, president of Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan, addresses a reception hosted by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington on June 24. Photo: AP
US-China relations

Trump backs ‘Six Assurances’ to Taiwan but no arms sale timeline: US diplomat

Michael DeSombre confirms long-standing US policy still in place despite Trump’s apparent departure from it after Beijing meeting with Xi.

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Taiwan

KMT accuses DPP of targeting Taiwan’s farmers over trade ties with mainland

The island’s administration has launched investigations into agricultural exporters that reportedly took part in the Straits Forum.

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US-China relations

And Apec makes 4? Trump pencils in another ‘big’ China trip as US midterms loom

The US president is on track to be the first in office to visit Shenzhen, with arms sales to Taiwan likely to stay on hold.

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US President Donald Trump tours the VC-25B aircraft gifted by Qatar that will be used as Air Force One, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on Friday. Photo: Reuters
Taiwan

How a prize-winning Taiwanese novel could stoke Beijing’s worries over history

Yang Shuang-zi’s Taiwan Travelogue wins the International Booker Prize – and reignites debate over the island’s shifting identity.

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Author Yang Shuang-zi (left) and translator Lin King pose with their 2026 International Booker Prize trophies at the Tate Modern in London on May 19. Photo: EPA
Taiwan

Beijing details rare marine survey east of Taiwan after Tokyo-Manila talks

Move marks mainland China’s latest bid to assert jurisdictional claims in the contested waters following the maritime boundary negotiations.

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2026 Xi-Trump summits

Exclusive | No call with Taiwan, no new arms sales: how Trump is preparing to welcome Xi

There are no signs that the US president is about to phone Lai Ching-te and upset the fragile stability with Beijing, sources say.

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Taiwan

More in Taiwan favour goodwill to Beijing over defence ties with US, poll shows

Self-reliance was most preferred when Taiwanese were asked for best approach to safeguarding island security and peace across the strait.

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When asked by the Institute for National Defence and Security Research in Taipei, 44.9 per cent of respondents chose “strengthening self-reliant defence capabilities” as preferred for safeguarding the island's security. Photo: AFP
Taiwan

Taiwan KMT leader visits US, but ‘concerns over her positions persist’: expert

KMT chairwoman said her US visit went ‘beyond expectations’, but concerns about her position on some issues may persist, an expert says.

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China’s Communist Party

Top Beijing official hails ‘enthusiastic’ Taiwanese role in cross-strait event

Wang Huning tells delegates to ‘stand on the right side of history’ after the island’s ruling party banned officials from attending the forum.

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Taiwan

Taipei envoy sees US$14 billion arms package moving ahead under Trump

US president has yet to decide on the sale as Taipei presses its case and opposition KMT figures visit Washington.

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Alexander Tah-ray Yui, Taiwan’s representative to the United States, heads Taipei’s de facto embassy in Washington. Photo: Handout
Taiwan

KMT leader says Taiwan can preserve peace by avoiding ‘de jure independence’

Cheng Li-wun tells Harvard audience peace needs deterrence and dialogue as she criticises DPP defence spending plans.

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Taiwan opposition leader Cheng Li-wun (left) meets Graham Allison, founding dean of Harvard Kennedy School, during a visit to the United States. Photo: KMT
Diplomacy

As I see it | Trump is turning allies and partners into friends of China

Dealing with Beijing offers countries such as Canada and India more leverage with the US in addition to economic benefits.

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US-China relations

Taiwan opposition leader promotes cross-strait peace during US trip

Cheng Li-wun is in San Francisco at the start of a two-week US visit that is being closely monitored in Beijing, Taipei and Washington.

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Taiwan

2 Taiwan air force pilots die in T-34C crash, spurring probe and aircraft debate

Island’s air force suspends all T-34C flight training operations and orders fleet-wide inspections following accident at Gangshan Air Base.

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The Taiwanese air force says a T-34C aircraft went down just after 8am at Gangshan Air Base in Kaohsiung while conducting a simulated engine-failure exercise. Photo: Handout
China-EU relations

Beijing slams Czech senate president’s Taiwan trip, demands remedial action

Milos Vystrcil, who is leading a delegation from business, academic and cultural sectors, is set to meet island’s leader and other officials.

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Milos Vystrcil, president of the Czech senate, has said his trip aims to boost understanding and cooperation at the political and people-to-people levels. Photo: Handout
Dong Jun

China defence chief Dong Jun tipped to skip this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue

The regional security forum opens on Friday in Singapore with no official word yet on who will lead the Chinese delegation.

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Taiwan

Taiwan whiplash? How Trump’s blunt warning collides with a historic call offer

Plan to discuss US$14 billion arms package with island’s leader would anger Beijing and raise questions about US policy, analysts say.

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