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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
Defence Minister Dong Jun, pictured at last year’s Asean-China defence ministers’ lunch in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: AFP
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

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Taiwan

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

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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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2026 Xi-Trump summit

Trump’s Taiwan independence 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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Taiwanese leader William Lai speaks at an event marking the 40th anniversary of the founding of his independence-leaning ruling Democratic Progressive Party, in Taipei on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
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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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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2026 Xi-Trump summit

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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The meeting in Beijing between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping was closely watched in Taipei. Photo: EPA
2026 Xi-Trump summit

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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US President Donald Trump bids goodbye to Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping after a visit to the Zhongnanhai leaders' compound, in Beijing on Friday. Photo: Reuters
2026 Xi-Trump summit

Xi urges ‘utmost caution’ from Trump on Taiwan, warns of conflict risk

Managing ‘Taiwan question’ to be primary factor for ‘constructive strategic stability’ in ties over the next three years, analysts note.

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China-Latin America relations

Beijing calls Paraguay leaders willing ‘chess pieces’ after disputed Taiwan trip

Beijing’s anger over President Santiago Pena’s Taipei trade visit comes as Taiwan issue looms large at this week’s Trump-Xi summit.

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2026 Xi-Trump summit

Trump to raise Taiwan, Jimmy Lai case when he meets Xi in Beijing this week

US president claims Chinese leader will be more likely than himself to bring up Taiwan issue, while Lai may also be on the agenda.

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US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House on Monday. Photo: EPA
Taiwan

Chinese transcript of SCMP’s interview with KMT’s Cheng Li-wun

Taiwanese opposition leader Cheng Li-wun on the island’s future, meeting Xi Jinping and the prospects for cross-strait peace.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kuomintang party leader Cheng Li-wun in Beijing, April 10. Photo: Xinhua
Taiwan

Faith, hope and ancestry: how Beijing is trying to win over Taiwan’s next generation

Xintian village is symbolic of efforts to reinforce Taiwanese people’s historical and religious links to the mainland.

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Taiwan

Taiwan’s William Lai lands in eSwatini on trip Beijing calls a political ‘stunt’

Lai travels to island sole African ally after earlier visit cancelled because of overflight permission withdrawn.

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Taiwan

As I see it | Kuomintang gets the carrots, DPP the stick

Beijing and Taiwan’s opposition KMT want to foster cross-strait interdependence but DPP offers only isolation and endless confrontation.

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Kuomintang leader Cheng Li-wun shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on April 10. Photo: CTI via Reuters
US-China relations

US slams Beijing after African countries block Taiwan leader’s eSwatini trip

A State Department official called the incident an abuse of the international civil aviation system.

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Taiwan

Taiwan’s leader Lai delays Africa trip after 3 nations revoke flight permission

Taiwan blames Beijing for the move, which forced William Lai to put off visit to eSwatini, the island’s sole remaining partner in Africa.

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Taiwan

Taiwan warned of widening ‘resilience gap’ in civil defences

Island vulnerable to panic should real-world crisis happen ‘because we are unprepared’, security scholar says.

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Taiwan has spent decades strengthening its military hardware, while its social and critical infrastructure remain vulnerable, according to a leading researcher. Photo: Getty Images
Taiwan

As I see it | KMT chief shows way forward to avoid blind confrontation with Beijing

Instead of betting the ranch on an ever more unreliable Washington, like William Lai, Cheng Li-wun is wisely reaching out to mainland China.

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KMT chairwoman Cheng Li-wun leaves a press conference in Beijing, on April 10, during a six-day visit to mainland China. Photo: EPA
Taiwan

Trade, travel and TV: Taiwan industries hail Beijing’s 10-point economic package

Measures spark hopes for hard-hit sectors in possible KMT poll boost, but ruling DPP warns about economic access as a ‘political tool’.

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Taiwan

Does Iran’s wartime resilience offer any lessons for Taiwan?

The recent conflict has raised questions about whether the island could keep fighting if its air defences were targeted by the PLA.

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Taiwan

Why KMT leader’s planned Beijing visit is under scrutiny in Taiwan

Meeting with Xi Jinping is expected on six-day trip, the first such encounter between the two parties’ leaders in a decade.

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Kuomintang chairwoman Cheng Li-wun is due to arrive in mainland China on April 7. Photo: Reuters
Taiwan

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.

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The Kuomintang’s then-chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu with Communist Party leader Xi Jinping, in Beijing in 2016. Photo: Xinhua
Taiwan

US senators visit Taiwan to push defence spending as arms deadlines loom

The trip signals Washington’s frustration with budget impasse, but analysts say real power over Taiwan policy rests with the White House.

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China-Japan relations

Beijing sanctions Japan lawmaker for ‘colluding with Taiwan independence forces’

Foreign ministry says imposing sanctions on Keiji Furuya, who attended Yushan Forum in Taipei, is ‘a decision of deterrence and warning’.

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