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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
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

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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Taiwan

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

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US-China relations

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

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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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Since its launch in 2009, the Straits Forum in Xiamen has served as a major platform for cross-strait people-to-people engagement. Photo: Xinhua
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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11
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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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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The survey was conducted by the Ministry of Natural Resources’ East China Sea Bureau, which deployed the oceanographic research vessel Xiangyanghong 22. Photo: Handout
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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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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Cheng Li-wun, chair of Taiwan’s opposition Kuomintang, visited Washington as part of a US tour aimed at explaining her party’s approach to cross-Strait relations and defence policy. Photo: AP
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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Wang Huning addresses the event in Xiamen on Saturday. Photo: Xinhua
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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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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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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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) shakes hands with his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney after signing various memorandums of understanding in New Delhi, India, on March 2. Photo: AP
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’s main opposition leader Cheng Li-wun started her two-week US trip in San Francisco. Photo: Reuters
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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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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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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Dong Jun pictured at last year’s Asean-China defence ministers’ lunch in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: AFP
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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Taiwan

US Navy signals pause in Taiwan arms sale, drawing swift reaction from Beijing

Acting navy secretary suggests US$14 billion weapons deal is on hold, but Taipei says it has ‘no information’ about a freeze.

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Taiwan

Why a Trump-Lai call could trigger ‘turbulence’ between Washington and Beijing

Such a move would cross Beijing’s red line and undo progress from recent summit with Xi, analysts warn.

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US President Donald Trump speaks to the press after stepping off Air Force One, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on Wednesday. Photo: AP
Taiwan

Beijing slams Taiwan’s Lai as ‘destroyer’ of peace after anniversary speech

William Lai portrays his government as responding firmly to mainland pressure, days after Trump said he did not support Taiwan independence.

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Taiwanese leader William Lai delivers a speech to mark the second anniversary of his administration, in Taipei on May 20. Photo: CNA
2026 Xi-Trump summits

Trump’s Taiwan comments: a blow to William Lai and ruling DPP?

Critics in Taiwan argue the island’s leader and his Democratic Progressive Party are rolling back decades of rhetoric under US pressure.

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Taiwan

Why Beijing is outraged over Taiwan’s Lai honouring WWII-era Japanese engineer

Scathing People’s Daily commentary accuses Taiwan’s leader of ‘forgetting his ancestors’ and ‘ingratiating himself’ with Tokyo.

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Taiwan

Open Questions | Mainland China’s Wu Yongping on what the Xi-Trump summit means for Taiwan

Regardless of the meeting’s outcome, the trend towards resolution of the Taiwan question won’t change, according to the Tsinghua academic.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
Taiwan

Open Questions | Trump narrows space for Taiwan independence, mainland scholar says

Wu Yongping says US president’s comments after summit with Xi Jinping show a return to ‘strategic ambiguity’ about Taiwan after a shift away from it under Joe Biden.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
2026 Xi-Trump summits

How will Beijing judge Trump’s take on Taiwan? Look for 1 critical factor

For Beijing, the island is the biggest issue in China-US relations and has the potential to lead to conflict.

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2026 Xi-Trump summits

Trump ‘not looking for’ war over Taiwan but keeps up suspense over arms packages

Xi and he ‘talked a lot’ about Taiwan, US president says, will not be drawn on future of mega arms packages awaiting final approval.

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