Six foreign nationals were arrested in Gandara on Wednesday (06) during a raid carried out by officers of the Matara Division Crimes Investigation Unit at a hotel in the Talalla area.

According to the Police, the suspects, five men and one woman, were taken into custody for allegedly remaining in Sri Lanka without valid visas, engaging in financial fraud, conducting business activities on tourist visas, and possessing duty‑free cigarettes brought into the country illegally.

The suspects, aged between 25 and 40 years, were identified as nationals of Taiwan and China.

They were produced before the Gandara Police Station, which is conducting further investigations. (Newswire)

The post Six foreign nationals arrested in Gandara over visa violations and financial fraud appeared first on Newswire.

Taiwan’s president was forced to cancel his trip to Africa after China allegedly pressured countries to close their airspace to his aircraft.

Lai Ching-te, a staunch defender of Taiwan’s sovereignty, was due to travel to the small country of Eswatini on Wednesday, the island’s sole remaining diplomatic ally in Africa.

However, Taipei said on Tuesday that the Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar unilaterally revoked flight permits for the presidential aircraft to cross their airspace on his journey.

“The ‌actual reason was intense ⁠pressure exerted by Chinese authorities, including economic coercion,” said Pan Meng-an, the secretary general of Mr Lai’s office.

China allegedly threatened economic sanctions, including revoking debt relief, on the three countries. Beijing has not yet responded to the allegation.

Beijing claims Taiwan, a self-governing island, as its own territory and has piled up military pressure against Taipei, threatening to take it by force if necessary. Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, has long portrayed Taiwan’s “reunification” with China as inevitable.

Mr Lai said China’s “suppressive actions” demonstrated the threat that authoritarian states pose to the international order, peace and stability.

“No threat or suppression can change Taiwan’s determination to engage with the world, nor can it negate Taiwan’s ability to contribute to the international community,” he added.

Beijing loathes Mr Lai, the firebrand leader of the Democratic Progressive Party, labelling him a dangerous “separatist” and “troublemaker”. He has focused on spending more on Taiwan’s military and increasing ties with the US, Japan and Europe.

A Madagascan official confirmed to Reuters that the overflight request had been denied: “Malagasy diplomacy recognises only one China.”

Only 12 countries retain formal ties with Taipei, down from 22 in 2016, including Belize, Guatemala, Haiti, the Vatican City and several Caribbean islands.

Taiwanese leaders usually have no issues overflying countries that the island lacks formal relations with, but China is increasingly making this an issue for Mr Lai.

Last July, Mr Lai was forced to delay a diplomatic trip to his remaining allies in South America over reports the Trump administration had opposed a stopover in New York.

Officially, his government said it was because of domestic issues, including natural disasters and tariff negotiations with the US.

However, various reports stated that the US denied permission for the stop after Beijing had raised objections with Washington.

Traditionally, Washington has facilitated trips by Taiwanese leaders, but Beijing regularly denounces any show of support for Taipei from Washington.

It came at a tense moment in China-US relations as Donald Trump was seeking to negotiate a trade deal with the world’s second-largest economy. Critics of the move warned it was setting a bad precedent.

Although they do not have formal diplomatic ties, the US maintains a strong unofficial relationship and robust security ties with Taiwan.

Washington is bound by law to provide the democratically governed island with the means to defend itself, though its arms sales are a persistent source of friction with China.

The four-day visit to Eswatini would have been ⁠Mr Lai’s first trip outside Taiwan since November 2024, when he visited the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau, and transited through Hawaii and the US territory of Guam.

The last time a Taiwanese president visited Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland and home to around 1.3 million people, was in 2023, when Tsai Ing-wen made the journey.

Mr Lai had intended to watch the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession. The monarch has previously advocated for United Nations recognition of Taiwan. (Telegraph)

The post Taiwan president cancels Africa trip after China pressures nations to close airspace appeared first on Newswire.

Typhoon Ragasa, one of the strongest in years, whipped waves taller than lampposts onto Hong Kong promenades and halted life on the southern Chinese coast early Wednesday after leaving destruction in Taiwan and the Philippines.

Taiwan reported 14 deaths and the Philippines three after the typhoon took a path between them.

The fierce winds woke Hong Kong residents in the early hours, and many went online to describe scenes like a kitchen ventilation fan being blown down and a crane swaying.

Strong winds blew away parts of a pedestrian bridge’s roof and knocked down trees across the city. About 13 injured people were treated at hospitals.

More than a million people were relocated across Guangdong province, the southern Chinese economic powerhouse, state broadcaster CCTV reported. The national weather agency forecast the super typhoon would make landfall between the cities of Taishan and Zhanjiang between Wednesday afternoon and evening. Schools, factories and transit servicers were suspended in about a dozen cities.

Hong Kong and Macao, a nearby casino hub, canceled schools and flights, with many shops closed. Hundreds of people sought refuge in temporary centers in each city. One was injured in Macao.

Hong Kong’s observatory said Ragasa, with maximum sustained winds near the center of about 195 kph (120 mph), was skirting around 100 kilometers (62 miles) to the south of the financial hub. It was forecast to continuing moving west or west-northwest at about 22 kph (about 14 mph).

Ragasa earlier caused deaths and damage in Taiwan and the Philippines.

In Taiwan, heavy rain caused a barrier lake in Hualien County to overflow on Tuesday and torrents of muddy water destroyed a bridge, turning roads in Guangfu township into churning rivers that carried vehicles and furniture away. Local authorities said two people died and 30 others were missing in Hualien. One of the fatalities appeared to be from natural causes and the cause for the other death was unclear, they said.

In Taiwan, heavy rain caused a barrier lake in Hualien County to overflow Tuesday and torrents of muddy water destroyed a bridge, turning roads in Guangfu township into churning rivers that carried vehicles and furniture away. Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported that 14 people died and 18 others were injured there.

In the northern Philippines, Ragasa, Tagalog for scramble, left at least three people dead, five others missing and displaced more than 17,500 people in flooding and landslides, officials said Tuesday. (The Independent)

The post Typhoon Ragasa batters Hong Kong and southern China with intense rain appeared first on Newswire.

Taiwan said on Sunday that it tracked Chinese military aircraft and naval ships around its territory.

“Overall 18 sorties #PLA aircraft in various types (including J-16, KJ-500, etc.) were detected from 0850hr today. 13 out of 18 sorties crossed the median line of the #Taiwan Strait and entered the northern, southwestern and eastern ADIZ,” the Defense Ministry said on X.

Taiwanese armed forces “have monitored the situation and responded accordingly,” the statement added.

​​​​​​​In an earlier statement, the ministry said six Chinese navy vessels and two official ships operating around Taiwan were also detected.

There was no immediate reaction from China, which considers Taiwan as its breakaway province. (Anadolu Ajansi)

The post Taiwan says it detected Chinese military aircraft, ships around its territory appeared first on Newswire.

The contentious issue of Taiwan’s status in the international community has once again come under the spotlight, with the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) of Taiwan vehemently countering Beijing’s assertions. At the heart of the dispute lies the interpretation of United Nations Resolution 2758, which the People’s Republic of China (PRC) claims affirms its authority over Taiwan—a claim Taipei and much of the international community strongly refute.

During the 14th National People’s Congress, Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi reiterated Beijing’s long-standing stance that Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory. He argued that historical documents, such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Declaration, validated China’s sovereignty over Taiwan following Japan’s surrender in 1945. Furthermore, he insisted that UN Resolution 2758, passed in 1971, settled the matter of China’s representation in the UN, including Taiwan, leaving no room for interpretations like “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan.”

Taiwan’s MAC swiftly responded, debunking Wang’s claims and emphasizing that Resolution 2758 does not address Taiwan’s status, let alone designate it as part of the PRC. The MAC underscored that Taiwan is a sovereign and independent country, with a democratically elected government representing its 23.5 million citizens. The council accused Beijing of deliberately distorting the resolution to enforce its “one China” narrative and suppress Taiwan’s international presence.

The roots of this conflict can be traced back to the post-World War II era. Following Japan’s surrender in 1945, Taiwan was returned to Chinese control under the Republic of China (ROC). However, the Chinese Civil War soon erupted, culminating in the establishment of the PRC on the mainland in 1949 and the ROC retreating to Taiwan. The island then evolved into a vibrant democracy, while the mainland maintained an autocratic regime. This divergence in governance further fuelled the question of Taiwan’s status.

The international community has long grappled with balancing these competing narratives. In 1971, UN Resolution 2758 recognized the PRC as the legitimate representative of China in the United Nations, effectively expelling the ROC. However, the resolution did not explicitly address Taiwan’s status or grant the PRC authority over the island. Instead, it simply resolved the matter of which government represented “China” at the UN.

Taiwan has consistently rejected claims of PRC sovereignty, highlighting its democratic system and economic achievements as evidence of its distinct identity. The MAC, alongside Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, points out that numerous Western democracies have affirmed that Resolution 2758 pertains solely to China’s representation in the UN, not to Taiwan’s status. For instance, the US Department of State has repeatedly clarified that the resolution does not preclude Taiwan’s participation in international organizations.

Other nations, including Australia, Canada, and members of the European Union, have echoed this stance. Resolutions from the European Parliament have called for enhanced cooperation with Taiwan and emphasized its importance as a democratic partner in the Indo-Pacific region. These affirmations challenge Beijing’s attempts to redefine the “Taiwan issue” as an internal matter.

Over the years, Beijing has employed a mix of diplomatic, economic, and military tactics to isolate Taiwan internationally. For instance, the PRC has leveraged its economic clout to persuade nations to sever official ties with Taipei. In 2018, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to Beijing under pressure, following similar moves by Panama in 2017.

Moreover, Beijing has obstructed Taiwan’s participation in international organizations. The island’s exclusion from the World Health Assembly (WHA) during the COVID-19 pandemic drew global criticism, with many arguing that Taiwan’s expertise in handling the virus was essential. The PRC justified the exclusion by invoking Resolution 2758, further illustrating its misinterpretation of the document.

Beijing’s efforts to undermine Taiwan’s sovereignty extend beyond diplomacy. In recent years, PRC has intensified military activities near the Taiwan Strait, conducting frequent air and naval exercises. These actions are seen as both a demonstration of force and a means of intimidating Taipei. According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence, Chinese military aircraft breached Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ) over 950 times in 2022 alone.

Despite mounting pressure, Taiwan has demonstrated remarkable resilience. Its economic strength, driven by industries such as semiconductor manufacturing, has made it a critical player in global supply chains. Politically, its vibrant democracy continues to garner admiration, with international organizations ranking Taiwan highly in terms of freedom and transparency.

However, Taiwan faces significant challenges in its pursuit of greater international recognition. Beijing’s hybrid warfare, which combines military intimidation, disinformation campaigns, and economic coercion, seeks to erode Taiwan’s global standing. The PRC’s attempts to rewrite international norms, framing Taiwan as an internal issue, aim to exclude the island from forums where its voice is crucial.

The ongoing dispute over Taiwan’s status underscores the complexity of cross-strait relations and the limitations of international law in resolving such conflicts. While Beijing continues to claim historical and legal justifications for its sovereignty over Taiwan, Taipei and its allies highlight the island’s democratic identity and international contributions.

Efforts to resolve these tensions require pragmatic dialogue and a commitment to maintaining peace in the region. The international community, particularly democratic nations, must uphold the principles of sovereignty and self-determination while countering Beijing’s disinformation. By doing so, they can support Taiwan in its quest for meaningful participation on the global stage, ensuring that its voice is not drowned out by coercion and misrepresentation.

Taiwan’s rejection of China’s UN claim is not just a defence of its sovereignty but a broader assertion of its role as a responsible and democratic member of the international community. The challenges it faces are formidable, but its resolve remains unshaken. (European Times)

The post Taiwan refutes China’s affirmations of authority appeared first on Newswire.

The Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) has confirmed that a Taiwanese man from Changhua County, who had been missing for 10 months, is detained by Chinese public security authorities, as reported by Taipei Times.

According to the Taipei Times, the 19-year-old, identified as Huang, was reported missing in March 2024. According to SEF Secretary-General Luo Wen-jia, it has been verified through official channels that Huang is in Chinese custody, though details about the reasons for his detention remain confidential due to the personal nature of the case.

Luo stated that the SEF had reached out to Huang’s family and obtained a general understanding of the situation. However, the reasons for his detention have not been disclosed. The case has raised concerns about China’s adherence to the Cross-Strait Joint Crime-Fighting and Judicial Mutual Assistance Agreement, which stipulates that Chinese authorities should notify Taiwan’s National Police Agency when a Taiwanese citizen is detained on the mainland.

Luo emphasized that China’s failure to follow this protocol had left both the government and Huang’s family unaware of his whereabouts for an extended period, causing unnecessary confusion, Taipei Times reported.

Huang’s family initially doubted the authenticity of a recent notification from Chinese authorities regarding his situation, suspecting it could be a scam, Taipei Times reported. It took considerable effort for them to verify the circumstances. The notice, received from a public security bureau in Datong, Shanxi Province, indicated that Huang was detained on charges of fraud filed against him on December 2.

In response, the SEF has formally contacted China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits to seek further clarification on the case. Huang, originally from Shengang Township in Changhua, is now facing a legal process in China, but his family and the Taiwanese government continue to seek more information about his situation. (ANI)

The post Missing Taiwanese man confirmed in Chinese custody after 10 months: Report appeared first on Newswire.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Defence (MND) on Thursday detected 22 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, including J-16 fighter jets and KJ-500, in Taiwan’s territory.

The MND noted that 18 of these aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, entering Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) and conducting joint air-sea training with other Chinese naval vessels.

Sharing a post on X, MND wrote, “Overall 22 #PLA aircraft in various types (including J-16, KJ-500, etc.) were detected from 0850 hr today.”

It added, “Out of which, 18 crossed the median line of the #Taiwan Strait and entered the northern, central, southwestern and eastern ADIZ in conducting air-sea joint training along with other PLAN vessels. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.”

Earlier in the day, MND reported three Chinese PLA aircraft and seven PLAN vessels operating near Taiwan.

According to the MND, all three aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s southwestern ADIZ.

Sharing a post on X, MND wrote, “3 PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 3 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.

On Wednesday, MND had detected two PLA aircraft and seven PLAN vessels operating near Taiwan. According to the MND, one of the two PLA aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern and southwestern ADIZ.

Meanwhile, MND on Tuesday reported five Chinese PLA aircraft and six PLAN vessels operating near Taiwan. Tthree of the five PLA aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern and southwestern ADIZ.

Recently, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also criticised China’s stance.

He said, “We need to be clear-eyed about China’s ambitions. China is substantially building up its forces, including its nuclear weapons – with no transparency and no limitations. From 200 warheads in 2020, China is expected to have more than 1,000 nuclear weapons by 2030. Its space-launch investments are skyrocketing. China is bullying Taiwan, and pursuing access to our critical infrastructure in ways that could cripple our societies.”

The Taiwan Strait remains a focal point of heightened tensions, with Taiwanese officials repeatedly condemning the increase in Chinese military operations as a direct threat to the island’s sovereignty and regional peace. However, China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory, insists on eventual reunification, by force if necessary. (ANI)

The post Taiwan detects 22 PLA aircraft, including J-16 fighter jets, KJ-500 appeared first on Newswire.

China’s electronic warfare ability would present “a significant challenge” to the US in the event of a conflict across the Taiwan Strait, according to a report to the US Congress.

The report published by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) on Tuesday said the People’s Liberation Army had developed “substantial” electronic warfare capabilities to “detect, target, and disrupt” the US military and its partners operating in the Indo-Pacific.

The US government agency said that in a potential Taiwan Strait conflict, Beijing expected Washington to field uncrewed submarines, uncrewed surface ships, aerial drones, next-generation aircraft and ships equipped with advanced sensors, radars, and precision-guided munitions to target PLA forces. (SCMP)

The post US report warns PLA electronic warfare could pose ‘significant challenge’ in Taiwan Strait appeared first on Newswire.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) reported Chinese military activity near the island on Saturday and said that by 6 am (local time), 22 Chinese aircraft and five naval vessels were detected in the region.

The MND further reported that sixteen of these aircraft crossed the median line, entering Taiwan’s northern and southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ).

In response, Taiwan is monitoring the situation and has responded accordingly.

Sharing a post on X, MND wrote, “22 PLA aircraft and 5 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC8) today. 16 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.”A day before that, China sent 4 Chinese aircraft and 4 naval vessels around Taiwan.

“4 PLA aircraft and 4 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC8) today. 2 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.” Taiwan MND said o n X.

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s military also reported the transit of the United States and Canadian naval vessels, which sailed through the Taiwan Strait from south to north on October 20.

In another post, MND wrote, “One United States and one Canadian naval vessel sailed through the Taiwan Strait from south to north yesterday. During this period, ROCArmedForces maintained full control over the surrounding sea and airspace, with the situation remaining normal.”Earlier this week, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te reassured the public of the government’s dedication to defending Taiwan’s democracy and national security following China’s large-scale military exercises around the island.

He made his remarks after holding a high-level national security meeting in response to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) announcement of military drills, named “Joint Sword-2024B,” in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding areas, which were described as a “stern warning” to advocates of Taiwan independence, according to the Taipei Times.

Notably, the latest Chinese military action is part of tensions between Taiwan and China, with frequent military activity by Beijing around the island.

Taiwan has been governed independently since 1949. However, China considers Taiwan part of its territory and insists on eventual reunification, by force if necessary. (ANI)

The post 12 Chinese aircraft, 5 naval vessels spotted near Taiwan appeared first on Newswire.

The world faces threats of huge economic losses in case China attacks Taiwan. There is a high possibility of major powers drawing into the conflict, which would disrupt global trade and cost the world its 10 percent of GDP.[1] The Taiwan Strait is crucial for global cargo transport as over 50 percent of cargo ships pass through the region.

The economic impact of the Taiwan blockade is expected to be bigger than that occurred during the Covid pandemic, said Ely Ratner, the US assistant secretary of defence for Indo-Pacific security affairs. “The global economy falls through the floor… There will be no one immune from the economic pain that the PRC (China) would place on the world through doing that,” he said earlier.[2]

The China-Taiwan clash would lead to blockades and attacks on vessels, which would disrupt the global supply chain. Several countries have raised concerns over the developing situation and appealed for peace and regional stability as China is getting assertive about the forceful annexation of Taiwan.[3] China has been holding military drills near Taiwan. Moreover, it simulated maritime and air blockades, amphibious assaults and counter-intervention operations.

The Chinese invasion would be more devastating than what has been estimated, said Lieutenant General Stephen Sklenka, Deputy Commander of US Indo-Pacific Command. “At stake would be untold numbers of lives, trillions of dollars in global economic damage, and maintenance of an international order that has delivered relative peace and stability over the past 80 years,” he said.[4]

There have been a few clashes – Russia-Ukraine, Armenia-Azerbaijan and Israel- Iran— in recent years. Fortunately, they could be prevented from snowballing into broader global conflicts. These were however restricted to regional clashes. China-Taiwan conflict however is different. Since the US is legally bound to defend Taiwan, there would be a serious military conflict in the Taiwan Strait in case Chinese invasion.

Even if the US does not intervene, the clash between China and Taiwan will have a more devastating and profound impact than that of the Ukraine war. Since both countries are deeply integrated into the global economy, said international political economist Min-Hua Chiang. “Even without direct military intervention from the United States, a Taiwan-China war would devastate the global economy like a weapon of mass destruction,” he said.[5]

A group of military and defence strategy experts used a simulation to conclude that China would be defeated by the US and its allies if Taiwan was attacked. However, it would come at an enormous cost.[6] Newly appointed Chinese defence minister Adm. Dong Jun has hinted at military action saying the prospects of peaceful reunification were increasingly eroded. He even warned the US and allies against intervention saying the external forces supporting Taiwan would “end up in self-destruction.”[7]

If China invades Taiwan, it will destroy global trade, said James Cleverly, the UK’s home secretary, since the Taiwan Strait is the important shipping route for half of the world’s trade. “No country could shield itself from the repercussions of a war in Taiwan,” he said.[8] Bloomberg Economics estimated the cost of the war over Taiwan would be USD 10 trillion, which means 10 percent of the global economy.[9]

No matter where it lies on the global map, every country’s economy would be affected. “A war across the Strait would not only be a human tragedy, it would destroy world trade worth USD 2.6 trillion. No country could shield itself from the repercussions,” Cleverly said.[10] Observers estimated huge losses to the US, undermining its global leadership for years. At the same time, China will be more affected, posing risks to the communist party’s rule.

It is China opting for forceful annexation of Taiwan. The Chinese military action would certainly draw major powers into the conflict as they would seek to retain Taiwan’s autonomous or independent status.  Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong called the China-Taiwan conflict

“one of the most dangerous flashpoints” with severe implications for the global economy.  “Any clash in the Taiwan Strait will have dire consequences not just for the parties involved, but the entire world,” he said. (Hongkong Post)

The post Global economy to hurt badly if China attacks Taiwan appeared first on Newswire.

Outgoing Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and President-elect Lai Ching-Te expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his support as the island was hit by a massive 7.4 earthquake.

Tsai Ing-wen stated that PM Modi’s solidarity means a great deal to the people of Taiwan as they are working towards a swift recovery.

In a post on X, Tsai Ing-wen stated, “We are deeply grateful for your kind words and support, @narendramodi, at this challenging time. Your solidarity means a great deal to the people of Taiwan as we all work toward a swift recovery.”

Lai Ching-Te said that PM Modi’s support is a source of strength to the people of Taiwan.

“Thank you, Prime Minister Modi @narendramodi, for your heartwarming message. Your support & solidarity are a source of strength to the people of Taiwan during these trying times,” Lai Ching-Te posted on X.

The two leaders made the statement after PM Modi said that he is “deeply saddened” by the loss of lives due to the earthquake in Taiwan and offered condolences to the bereaved families and wished for a speedy recovery to the injured. He said that India stands in solidarity with the people of Taiwan as they endure the aftermath and recover from it.

Taking to X, PM Modi stated, “Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to earthquakes in Taiwan today. Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured. We stand in solidarity with the resilient people of Taiwan as they endure the aftermath and recover from it.”

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed gratitude to PM Modi for his words of sympathy and solidarity.

“We’re touched by your heartfelt words of sympathy & solidarity, PM @narendramodi

. Your compassion is deeply appreciated amid this dark hour for #Taiwan. We’re thankful for the kind thoughts from #India & will remain resilient as we rebuild & recover,” Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on X.

An earthquake of magnitude 7.4 on the Richter Scale struck off its east coast on Wednesday morning. A tsunami warning was issued for Miyakojima and Okinawa islands in Japan following a powerful earthquake in Taiwan, which has been downgraded from a warning to an advisory, CNN reported, citing Japan’s Meteorological Agency.

According to central and local government officials in Taiwan, nine people have died and 821 people have been injured due to the earthquake. As of 4:30 pm (local time), 127 people have been trapped, Focus Taiwan reported.

Earlier in the day, four deaths were reported due to the earthquake, including three hikers killed by falling rocks on the Dekarun Trail in Hualien’s Taroko National Park and a truck driver struck by falling rocks near Dachingshui Tunnel.

The new fatalities include a woman surnamed Yu, who was engaged in slope maintenance work with her husband on Provincial Highway 8 at the 183.2-kilometer mark inside the Taroko National Park. She was hit by falling rocks and was taken to Hualien Armed Forces General Hospital for treatment, according to officials.

The officials said the woman was declared dead at the hospital. Meanwhile, a man in his 60s died in the Taiwan Cement Corp Heren mining area after being hit by falling rocks, according to officials. Another man was found dead in a car crushed by falling rocks in the Huide Tunnel parking lot on the Suhua Highway, according to Hualien police.

The earthquake caused multiple rockfalls on the Suhua Highway, causing transportation disruptions. Authorities have not given information on the remaining two fatalities that were reported at 4:30 pm (local time), Focus Taiwan reported.

Speaking to reporters, Taiwan’s Deputy Health Minister Victor Wang said that the Central Emergency Operation Center (CEOC) has already contacted Hualien health officials and confirmed that current medical capacity is sufficient.

Wang said in addition to Mennonite Christian Hospital, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital and Hualien Armed Forces General Hospital, which have been treating patients in the aftermath of the earthquake, medical teams in Yilan and Taitung have been asked to assist if required, according to Focus Taiwan report.

Meanwhile, the National Fire Agency said there are around 15 people trapped in the Dachingshui Tunnel, two German nationals stuck in the Chongde Tunnel and 60 people in the Jinwen Tunnel, whom they are currently working to rescue, Focus Taiwan reported. Another 50 people trapped are passengers on shuttle buses who were travelling from downtown Hualien to Silks Place Taroko Hotel.

According to the agency, 28 buildings have tilted or partially collapsed in Taiwan, including 17 in Hualien County, one in Yilan County, two in Keelung City, and eight in New Taipei. Furthermore, 22 people have been rescued from a collapsed residential building in Hualien County. Moreover, rescuers have been trying to retrieve the body of one woman they believe has no vital signs, according to the Hualien police. (ANI)

The post Outgoing Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, President-elect Lai Ching-Te thank PM Modi for support appeared first on Newswire.

Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC) has confirmed that there was no threat to Sri Lanka after Taiwan was jolted by the biggest earthquake in 25 years.

Assistant Director at the DMC, Pradeep Kodippili assured that there was no tsunami threat to Sri Lanka from the 7.5 earthquake reported in Taiwan on Wednesday.

Al Jazeera reports that Taiwan was jolted by its biggest earthquake in a quarter-century, triggering tsunami warnings for the self-ruled island, Japan and the Philippines that passed without significant damage or causalities.

Fire authorities said one person is believed to have been killed by falling rocks in a mountainous area outside Hualien and about 50 others have been injured.

In the capital Taipei, vehicles pulled over on the side of the road and the city’s subway service was briefly suspended.

A series of aftershocks were felt in the capital about 15 minutes later and continued over the next hour. 

Taiwanese authorities said aftershocks could continue for the next three to four days due to the earthquake’s intensity.

Wu Chien-fu, the director of Taipei’s Seismology Centre, said the quake, estimated at between 7.2 and 7.7 on the Richter scale, was the strongest to hit the island since a 1999 quake, which killed 2,400 people. (NewsWire)

The post No threat to SL from 7.5 magnitude earthquake in Taiwan appeared first on Newswire.

The election of Lai Ching-te as the President of Taiwan has put China on the defensive in its policies vis-a-vis the island territory. Earlier when the elections were approaching, Beijing had gone on the aggressive mode to intimidate the people of Taiwan not to vote in favour of William Lai, as he is popularly called. China had sent warships to the coasts of Taiwan; had sent numerous warplanes to the skies of the island and in the last leg of campaigning had even dispatched spy balloons to Taiwan. Beijing had openly asked the people of Taiwan not to vote for William Lai if they wanted to have peace in future. Nothing of these seems to have had an effect on the common Taiwanese people who voted for William Lai to elect him to power; the underlying message being that the people of Taiwan wanted to enjoy in peace their autonomous existence and had no intention to merge with China.

Now that the U.S. and other Western democracies have started increasingly to interact with the newly elected government in Taiwan, Beijing has little option left but to open negotiations on a conciliatory note with these countries to ensure that Taiwan does not slip away from the hands of Beijing for all times to come.

Following the election of the new President in the January 13 presidential election in Taiwan, on January 25 a bipartisan delegation from the United States Congress on a visit to the island territory reaffirmed support for the island territory. The visit of the delegation was the first from U.S. lawmakers to the island since the victory for the third straight term of the Democratic Progressive Party which advocated the status of Taiwan as an independent country. “The support of the United States for Taiwan is firm. It’s real, and it is 100 percent bipartisan,” US Representative Mario Díaz Balart, a Republican, was quoted as saying in an AP report from Taipei on that day. “Just know that we are proud of the people of Taiwan. We are proud of the relationship and as strong as that relationship has always been. That is assured. It will even be stronger,” Democratic representative Ami Bera expressed the same sentiment, saying: “In the 21st century, there’s no place for aggressive action. We have to learn to live together, to trade together, to work together and to solve problems together. So, we look forward to working together to continue to protect the peace, prosperity and the future of Taiwan.”

Compared to previous visits like one of former Speaker of U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, the response of Beijing to the visit of the high level bipartisan delegation from the U.S. to Taiwan has been muted; restricted to the despatch of 33 aircraft and six naval vessels around Taiwan on September 27. Of these, 13 warplanes crossed the middle of the Taiwan Strait; the unofficial boundary between Taiwan and Beijing. Taipei in response deployed its own forces.

William Lai in his comments to the visiting delegation made it clear that Taiwan from now on wanted to build its relations with the international community without any Chinese control. “Today’s Taiwan is the Taiwan of the world,” he said. “Moving forward, I will work with Vice President-elect Hsiao Bi-khim to build upon the foundation laid by President Tsai Ing-wen to unite the people of Taiwan, strengthen social resilience and continue to defend the cross-strait status quo of peace and stability.”

The issue of continued military assistance from the United States also figured in the talks between William Lai and the delegation from the United States Congress. Washington still formally sticks to its “one China” policy but allows informal relations and defence ties with Taipei. U.S. laws require Washington to ensure that the island has the ability to defend itself and that the U.S. must treat threats against the island as a matter of “grave concern.”

Meanwhile, the new administration in Taiwan has made it clear that it will now bow to the pressure from Beijing and is keen on maintaining the status quo.  The unofficial Taiwanese ambassador to the United States Alexander Tah-Ray Yui has told the AP in an interview that Taiwan is determined to safeguard its homeland and has noted that the island is increasing its defence budget and has extended the mandatory military service from four months to one year. Taiwan will also work with the U.S. to boost its defence and deepen cultural and economic ties, calling the relations with Washington “one of the most important aspects in our foreign affairs.”

Yui has not attached much significance to Nauru, a small Pacific island nation, withdrawing diplomatic support to Taiwan two days after the election of William Lai to office. He feels Beijing has lured away Nauru in an attempt to punish the Taiwanese people for electing the leader of their choice. “They were just trying to find an appropriate time and excuse to slowly pluck all of our allies,” Yui has said. But, as a technological powerhouse and democracy, Taiwan “has become a common word in the international community and countries around the world will have become more willing to engage with us,” Yui has been quoted.

Soon after the declaration of the election results in Taiwan and the formation of a government in Taipei that is ready to defy the threats from China, warships from the United States, Australia and Japan started holding joint drills in the South China Sea from February 7, 2024, to send a message to Beijing that the international community would not accept its claim of sovereignty over virtually the entire strategic waterway. Guided missile destroyer USS John Finn and combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords carried out operations with navy ships from Japan and Australia on February 7 and 8. Beijing has made military bases on at least seven islands in the South China Sea by piling concrete and sand atop coral atolls and objects to foreign naval operations in the area. The U.S. has rejected the claims of sovereignty of China over the entire South China Sea, partly on the strength of a ruling of 2016 by the International Court of Justice based in The Hague.

Commanding Officer of John Finn Commodore Earvin Taylor has been quoted in an AP report: “This multinational sail fortifies our relationship between the U.S., Japan and Australian allies. We promote transparency, rule of law, freedom of navigation and all principles that underscore security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.” Commodore Jonathan Ley of Australia has said such deployments are “crucial for enhancing mutual understanding and our ability to operate together.”

Before the joint military exercise, on January 24 the American destroyer John Finn sailed through the politically sensitive Taiwan Strait, a 160-km wide waterway. “No member of the international community should be intimidated or coerced into giving up their rights and freedoms,” the 7th Fleet of the American Navy said in a release on the transit of John Finn through the Taiwan Strait. “The U.S. military flies, sails and operates anywhere international law allows.”

The muted response of China to these military moves by the U.S. has been an accusation that the U.S. has been abusing international law with its military manoeuvres in the western Pacific. Beijing, as usual, has remained silent on the brazen military manoeuvres carried out by the Chinese military close to the, and sometimes within, the territorial waters of Taiwan in the past two years in an attempt to threaten Taipei into falling in line.

According to analysts, the American military moves have been aimed in part at deterring China from launching any attack on Taiwan or enforcing its territorial claims in disputes with smaller neighbours such as the Philippines. And it seems like the message has gone home. Notably, according to an AP report on January 20, 2024, Beijing has agreed to lower tension with the Philippines in the South China Sea after having a tense confrontation with Filipino ships for over a year which had raised the spectre of armed engagement in the region. On that day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China said the two sides — China and the Philippines — had agreed to improve communications and use friendly negotiations to manage their differences at sea, “especially to manage well the situation at Ren’ Ai Reef; which incidentally is the Chinese name for what the Philippines call Ayungin Shoal and what the U. S. calls the Second Thomas Shoal; the site of multiple confrontations between ships of China and the Philippines in recent months.

Meanwhile, in a grim message to Beijing on February 9, 2024, Major General Marcus Evans, Commander of the 25th Infantry Division of the United States Army told the AP in an interview that the war in Ukraine and the Israel – Hamas conflict would not divert military resources of the U.S. from the South China Sea region. “Certainly, it does not affect our presence. If anything, it drives an increasing sense of urgency to focus on these partnerships that we have developed decades ago,” he was quoted to have said. (Singapore Post)

The post China on the defensive in Taiwan after poll victory of William Lai appeared first on Newswire.

When Taiwanese microchip mogul Robert Tsao announced his latest multi-million-dollar venture, he made a bold promise to safeguard his homeland and the future of civilisation.

Donning a bulletproof vest, the 76-year-old entrepreneur unveiled his plan to train 3.3 million “civilian warriors” to defend against a potential invasion.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has sharpened its rhetoric in recent years and increased pressure on its self-governed neighbour, refusing to rule out the use of force to achieve so-called “reunification”. 

“China will surely be reunified, and all Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should be bound by a common sense of purpose and share in the glory of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” said Chinese President Xi Jinping in his New Year address on Sunday.

So with increased military activity in the Taiwan Strait against the backdrop of Russia’s war in Ukraine, many ordinary citizens are growing more wary of an escalation by China, and some are taking matters into their own hands.

In the 15 months since Mr Tsao’s pledge to bankroll training efforts at the Kuma Academy, the Taipei-based organisation has seen demand for its civil defence courses soar.  

Organisers say the majority of participants are women and young parents who are worried about caring for their children in the event of an invasion or blockade.

“They don’t want their children to face warfare — they want to survive,” Kuma Academy co-founder Puma Shen said.

Daily life in Taiwan is perfectly normal and it Is generally considered impolite or unpopular to discuss the looming threat among friends. 

Even those taking part in these courses can sometimes be reluctant to share the full extent of their concerns — but these everyday citizens are empowering themselves for an unknown future.

The billionaire backer

Tech tycoon Mr Tsao is the founder of United Microelectronics Corp, one of the largest producers of semiconductor chips in the world, but he has an unexpected history for someone throwing so much money at the war effort.

His family moved to Taiwan around the time Chinese Nationalist Kuomintang (KMT) forces took control after World War II.

The Taiwan he grew up in was ruled under martial law by dictator Chiang Kai-shek, who led a brutal crackdown on his communist opponents over decades that are now known as the White Terror period.

“Later I realised the KMT was right about the Communist Party and how brutal and barbarous it is,” Mr Tsao told the Financial Times in 2022.

After finishing his studies at National Taiwan University, Mr Tsao joined the government’s Industrial Technology Research Institute, which gave rise to Taiwan’s booming semiconductor industry. 

Mr Tsao founded his own company, UMC, in 1980, and expanded as China began to open up in the 1990s.

He began investing his riches in an impressive rare art collection, including a glass vase from the Qianlong period worth more than $39 million. 

After Mr Tsao and a fellow UMC executive were indicted in Taiwan over alleged illegal investments to set up production lines in China, he renounced his Taiwanese citizenship and moved to Singapore.

He was an active supporter of so-called peaceful “reunification“, even taking out ads in major Taiwanese newspapers calling for a referendum on the matter.

But last year he reapplied for his Taiwanese citizenship, explaining that he had had a change of heart after witnessing Beijing’s crackdown on Hong Kong.

“It showed the true face of the Chinese Communist Party, a hooligan regime conducting violence against ordinary people,” he told the Taipei Times.

“It really made me angry. So I decided to never go to China, Hong Kong or Macau again.”

He told Radio Free Asia he wanted to die in Taiwan, ideally “laughing while watching the fall of the CCP”.

“The people of Taiwan need a morale boost … so I gave up my Singaporean citizenship and came back here to be with everyone,” he said.

“I had to come back; if I’m telling everyone to oppose the CCP, I can hardly skulk overseas myself.”

Funding a ‘civilian warrior’ force

Last September, Mr Tsao pledged 1 billion Taiwanese dollars ($50 million) to build a civilian warrior force through organisations including the Kuma Academy, with a portion set aside for 300,000 specialised marksmen.

He has also discussed plans to cooperate with the local industry to produce low-cost drones.

According to a US Defense Department report on China’s military developments, the People’s Liberation Army massively outnumbers Taiwan’s forces on every measure.

China has more than 2 million active personnel compared to Taiwan’s 170,000 troops, as well as five times as many tanks and six times as many fighter aircraft. 

Taiwan’s military is outnumbered by China’s PLA

Selected equipment of the Chinese and Taiwanese militaries, as of 2022. China’s figures are totals from all five theatre commands of the PLA.

Taiwan keeps a watchful eye over China’s activity in the Taiwan Strait, but there are limited resources available to concerned citizens.

Civilians are required to take part in air-raid drills, but beyond that there is little publicly available education outside of school, university and compulsory military service.

Taiwan’s government has acknowledged the current system is inadequate to counter the increasing threat from China — especially in the case of an all-out attack — and is increasing compulsory military service from four months to one year for men over 18, starting next year.

One local man who signed up for an entry-level course at the Kuma Academy told the ABC he completed his conscription more than a decade ago, but felt his 12 months of mandatory service was not enough.

“[It] isn’t very comprehensive … honestly, there wasn’t much training. We only touched a rifle, and it was an old model,” said Mr Lin, who asked to go by his surname only.

He and his wife recently welcomed their first child. On top of the usual anxieties of any new parent, the threat of war looms large. 

“What if they attack? What should I do with my child? Where should I go for shelter? Or should I hide with my relatives somewhere?” Mr Lin said.

He and his wife joined about 30 others in a basic course learning fundamental first aid, what modern warfare looked like — including propaganda and disinformation — and how to prepare their home and family for an evacuation. 

“Only by gaining a comprehensive understanding can I start preparing,” he said.

Kuma Academy co-founder Puma Shen, who is running in the upcoming Taiwanese elections to be a legislator for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, says the courses are designed to build resilience and provide practical information about how to stay safe in the event of a crisis.

“I think it’s all about mental preparedness … the willingness to fight and resistance is more about all these practical skills,” he said.

Existing survival guides widely panned for providing impractical advice

Taiwan’s military developed an instructional pamphlet earlier this year on how to survive in a war scenario, but it was widely criticised for providing unrealistic and impractical advice.

Its first version included QR codes to scan for key information such as bomb shelter locations and access to food and supplies, despite the likelihood that any action from China would include a disruption to communications systems.

The regular severing of communication cables to Taiwan’s outlying Matsu Islands near China’s east coast — even if unintentional — has heightened concerns about what may happen in a blockade or invasion.

A second version of the government’s guide was released in June, with officials spruiking it as an updated edition with far more information about civil defence and how to survive in emergencies.

Independent media outlet Watchout has published its own civilian defence handbook, inspired by similar manuals developed by European nations following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.

“In Taiwan people tend to associate military and warfare purely with soldiers. Ordinary civilians seem to lack a sense of responsibility,” editor Roger Hsiao told the ABC.

“But these handbooks [from Latvia and Lithuania] actually emphasise a concept: [If a war breaks out], every individual is needed to assist.

“The extent to which each person can contribute varies. For the average person, what can you do?

“Latvia’s handbook directly tells you: ‘You can choose to resist … you can engage in civil disobedience resistance, you can undertake actions that support state resistance … you can gather intelligence and report it to our country’s intelligence agency.'”

While his is much shorter than the government pamphlet, Mr Hsiao said he went to some lengths to create a guide that would be accessible and actively encourage people to educate themselves on a difficult topic.

Rather than tackling war directly, it uses comics and introductory content to ease readers in.

“Taiwanese people have a certain reluctance or fear when it comes to discussing war,” he said.

“What we want to convey is that this is something we feel the government [and] the entire society should contemplate.

“War today might not unfold as it did in the past … nowadays, hybrid warfare blurs the lines between peacetime and wartime.”

The online war has already begun

After doing the one-day basics course at Kuma Academy, participants are encouraged to choose an area to specialise in, such as medical training.

Aly Chang, 73, decided to enrol in an advanced course on gathering open-source intelligence to dispel misinformation.

“The threat that concerns me the most is [China’s] extensive efforts to engage in disinformation warfare,” she said.

“The spread of false information has been on the rise … it does create a sense of unease.

“For instance, in our chat group, sometimes there might be fake news – I will point it out without hesitation.”

For the last decade, Taiwan has been the number one recipient of disinformation in the world.

Democracy watchdog Freedom House noted in its 2022 report that the CCP had increased its efforts to influence Taiwanese discourse during the previous year.

Tactics include direct disinformation campaigns spreading messages to discredit Taiwan’s government, and more covert media partnerships such as inviting Taiwanese journalists and influencers on sponsored or subsidised press trips to promote China-friendly narratives.

Ahead of the upcoming election, allegations of disinformation and interference have been common.

Taiwan FactCheck Centre identified fake videos and audio clips of presidential candidates, Taiwanese prosecutors are investigating local officials over alleged Beijing-sponsored trips to China, and a reporter has been arrested for allegedly publishing fake opinion polls directed by the CCP.

Mr Shen, who also runs a disinformation-monitoring organisation called Doublethink Lab, believes this will be a key plank of Taiwan’s defence against its giant neighbour.

“China is really good at spreading disinformation and trying to strike our morale to try to make sure that we would surrender,” he said.

“If everyone is mentally prepared for the warfare, it means that we won’t surrender [early on] during … the warfare, even for the first two weeks, for the first three months. I think that’s something we need.” (ABC News)

The post As China flexes its military muscles, everyday citizens in Taiwan are preparing for war appeared first on Newswire.

China’s government called the frontrunner for Taiwan’s next president “confrontational” and a destroyer of peace after he spoke at a presidential debate and said the island’s sovereignty and independence belong to its people.

The Jan. 13 presidential and parliamentary elections are happening at a time of fraught relations between Beijing and Taipei. China has been ramping up military pressure to assert its sovereignty claims over democratically-governed Taiwan.

China has taken particular exception to current Vice President Lai Ching-te, the presidential candidate for Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Party (DPP) and leading in opinion polls by varying margins, saying he is a dangerous separatist.

Responding late on Saturday to Lai’s comments at a live televised presidential debate earlier in the day, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said Lai had “exposed his true face as a stubborn ‘worker for Taiwan independence’ and destroyer of peace across t…

Responding late on Saturday to Lai’s comments at a live televised presidential debate earlier in the day, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said Lai had “exposed his true face as a stubborn ‘worker for Taiwan independence’ and destroyer of peace across t…

Since 2016 – when President Tsai Ing-wen took office – the DPP-led government has promoted separatism and is the “criminal mastermind” in obstructing exchanges across the strait and damaging the interests of Taiwan’s people, Chen said.

“As the leading figure of the DPP authorities and current DPP chairman, Lai Ching-te cannot escape his responsibility for this,” he added.

Tsai and Lai have repeatedly offered talks with China, but have been rebuffed.

The DPP says only Taiwan’s people can decide their future, as does Lai’s main opponent in the election, Hou Yu-ih from Taiwan’s largest opposition party the Kuomintang (KMT).

The KMT traditionally favours close ties with China but strongly denies being pro-Beijing. Hou has also denounced Lai as an independence supporter.

The defeated Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong’s communists who founded the People’s Republic of China. The Republic of China remains Taiwan’s formal name.

Lai said on Saturday that the Republic of China and People’s Republic of China “are not subordinate to each other”, wording he and Tsai have used previously which has also riled Beijing. (Deccan Herald)

The post China calls Taiwan president frontrunner a destroyer of peace appeared first on Newswire.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 27 Chinese military aircraft and seven naval vessels around the country between 6 a.m. on Tuesday (May 2) and 6 a.m. on Wednesday (May 3), including a reconnaissance drone which was the second Chinese military plane to encircle Taiwan.

At 9 a.m. on Wednesday, the MND said that 27 People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) military aircraft and seven People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels had been tracked around Taiwan. Of the detected aircraft, 13 crossed the median line or entered the southwest, southeast, and northeast sections of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ).

The aircraft tracked in the ADIZ included three Suhkoi Su-30 fighter jets, four Chengdu J-10 fighter jets, two Shenyang J-16 fighter jets, one Harbin BZK-005 Reconnaissance (RECCE) drone, one Shaanxi Y-8 reconnaissance plane, one Shaanxi Y-8 electronic warfare (EW) plane, and one Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine warfare (ASW) plane. The fighter jets circled over the median line, while the three Y-8 aircraft penetrated the southwest corner of the ADIZ.

The BZK-005 entered the southwest corner of the ADIZ from the southwest edge of the median line. It then flew to the southeast, east, north, and northwest sections of the ADIZ before exiting over the northeast end of the median line.

This marks the second time that the MND has publicly acknowledged that a Chinese military aircraft had encircled Taiwan in this way. This flight came closer to northeastern Taiwan than the first instance reported on April 28.

The MND said it monitored the situation and responded by scrambling combat patrol aircraft, dispatching naval vessels, and deploying land-based air defense missile systems.

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, gray zone tactics are “an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one’s security objectives without resort to direct and sizable use of force.” (Taiwan News)

The post China sends 27 military aircraft, 7 naval vessels around Taiwan appeared first on Newswire.

As China becomes more assertive about unifying Taiwan with the mainland, Chinese military drills near the island nation are poised to increase, potentially pushing the investors and suppliers away from the tech-dependent nation because of supply chain risks or the likelihood of actual conflict.

Earlier this month, China conducted military drills near Taiwan in response to President Tsai Ing-wen’s meeting with the US House of Representatives speaker, Kevin McCarthy.

While the drills formally ended on April 10, Chinese warplanes continued to cross an informal Taiwan Strait median line between the two countries over the next two days.

This was the second such instance of heightened tensions in the Taiwan Strait after the massive Chinese military drills in waters surrounding Taiwan last year, in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island nation in August 2022.

This has raised the possibility of more such Chinese military exercises near Taiwan, which could potentially cause the exodus of businesses operating on the island.

Could PLA Drills Scare Off Investors?

While the military exercises conducted by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) earlier this month did not have any noticeable impact on civil aviation and shipping, the drills conducted in August last year caused the airlines to cancel or divert their flights between Southeast and Northeast Asia.

This sparked fears of shipment delays in Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea, particularly after five ballistic missiles fired by China as part of the drills landed in Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for the first time on August 4.

According to some reports, there was a 28% decrease in the number of vessels calling at the Taiwanese Port of Kaohsiung due to Chinese military drills in August.

Analysts cited by South China Morning Post (SCMP) suggest that multinational companies, including Taiwan’s prized semiconductor firms, which produce 60 percent of the world’s chip supplies, are expected to increase their searches for production sites outside Taiwan.

“The behavior of the PLA is understood, and companies for several years now have been looking at how they can de-risk their footprints in China and Taiwan, specifically,” said Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the US-Taiwan Business Council advocacy group.

Notably, the island nation’s leading chip maker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, is already building factories in Japan and the US.

This trend, if continued, could have a disastrous effect on Taiwan’s US$829 billion economy, as technology accounts for 30 percent of the island nation’s gross domestic product (GDP).

PLA Military Drills Around Taiwan, A New Normal

However, given Taiwan’s dominance of advanced chip production, any military conflagration in the Taiwan Strait is of enormous concern to the world. Therefore, some analysts call Taiwan’s near monopoly in semiconductor production ‘Silicon Shield.’

“Fifty percent of global commercial traffic goes through the Taiwan Strait every day,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in an interview with Euronews after a NATO foreign affairs meeting in Brussels on April 5.

Taiwan’s tech sector encompasses a comprehensive supply chain, from research and development to smartphone components and the mass assembly of common consumer electronics.

“Seventy percent of the semiconductors we need for our smartphones, dishwashers, cars, they’re made in Taiwan,” Blinken continued.

Several goods worth billions of dollars leave Taiwan’s seaports every month for final assembly or markets as far away as North America.

Therefore, “from a foreign perspective, it adds one more concern about Taiwan as a supply center,” said Kent Chong, a partner with the professional services firm PwC in Taipei.

Also, as stated earlier, unlike in the case of the PLA drills in August last year, this time, civilian flights continued as normal, and there was not much impact on Taiwan’s stock market.

According to one Taiwan resident cited by Foreign Policy, the reason behind this is that “everyone thinks that China will certainly not start a war.”

Experts point out that repeated PLA drills in the South China Sea region could become a new normal if they lose their fear factor.

“To maintain the same fear factor, [China will] have to ramp it up bigger and bigger each time, as their actions will have a normalizing effect after a while,” Chong Ja Ian, a nonresident scholar at Carnegie China, told the BBC.

Impact Of Recent PLA Drills On The Investors?

Nevertheless, the recent military drills may have dissuaded foreign investors who were exploring opportunities in Taiwan but had not yet made a move and could now be looking elsewhere.

“The perception of heightened security risks by the international community could weigh on Taiwan’s competitive business climate and prompt multinational firms to reconsider their investment plans,” said Fitch Ratings’ director of sovereigns, George Xu. “These factors could constrain Taiwan’s medium-term growth outlook.”

“If investment slows down, that doesn’t paint a very positive picture for the economy in the months ahead,” said Raymond Wu, president, and chief executive of the Taipei-based e-intelligence Research and Consulting Group.

Already, Taiwan is struggling with seven months of declining exports owing to the decreasing global demand for tech gear.

Earlier this month, the International Monetary Fund lowered its GDP growth forecast for Taiwan by 0.7 percentage points to 2.1 percent for 2023.

Investors already in Taiwan will probably take a “wait-and-see attitude” as they evaluate new shipping routes, diversions of capital for further production, or withdrawals from Taiwan, said Wu.

“Entering a period of economic uncertainty, you have so many variables that are not economically related,” Wu said. He added that the economy would take a hit if investors eventually shifted away from Taiwan. (Eurasian Times)

The post PLA Military Drills ‘Scare Off’ Airlines, Merchant Vessels & Even Investors From Taiwan As Conflict With China Looms Large appeared first on Newswire.

In a historic event on April 5, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy held the highest-ranking meeting ever between a Taiwanese president and a U.S. official on U.S. soil.

During Tsai’s visit, and following a trip to Taiwan by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last Aug. 2, the Chinese Communist Party mobilized the People’s Liberation Army air force and navy to apply maximum pressure on Taiwan by conducting large-scale military exercises. Notably, those elaborate displays of military strength tell us something about Beijing’s intentions in any war in the Taiwan Strait.

Data documenting the PLA’s military activities shows that heightened aggression toward Taiwan has been a frequent response by the CCP to perceived provocations. In reaction to  Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan last summer, the Chinese air force incursions into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone and Chinese navy presence operations skyrocketed, triggering what experts called the “Fourth Taiwan Crisis.”

At the same time, there was a jump in the number of incursions across the unofficial “median line” dividing the Taiwan Strait. On Aug. 7, Taiwan detected 66 aircraft near its airspace in a 24-hour period while 22 Chinese planes crossed into its air defense zone. During the same period, Chinese naval activity also reached a peak, with 14 vessels operating near Taiwan.

Furthermore, from Aug. 4 to 7, the PLA established seven “exercise zones” encircling Taiwan from a number of directions and located within its air defense zone. Notably, the PLA conducted live-fire drills in these exercise zones with conventional ballistic missiles, long-range rockets, and DF-15B short-range missiles from mainland China. Some of these missiles flew over Taiwan, while others landed near the island nation’s waters and even within Japan’s 200-nautical-mile Economic Exclusion Zone.

All of this occurred with little forewarning, indicating a degree of preparation and readiness to execute coordinated air, naval, and rocket force operations around Taiwan and thought to be a key military action should the order be given from Beijing to attack.

Following a similar pattern, in response to Tsai’s visit to California to meet with McCarthy, the PLA launched large-scale military exercises around Taiwan. Due to concern about upcoming elections in Taiwan and the suspected PLA response, Tsai’s meeting was purposefully done in the U.S., rather than in Taipei.

It was hoped this move would have defused tensions, but it didn’t change the CCP’s reactions much. The PLA nevertheless engaged in several provocative military operations. On April 8, China officially launched the first West Pacific training—“Joint Sword” drills—of the year. On April 10, more than 90 Chinese airplanes were detected near Taiwanese airspace and 54 crossed the median line separating Taiwan and the mainland.

Over the course of the three-day exercise, Taiwan detected a total of 232 Chinese air force aircraft near its airspace, and 134 aircraft entered its air defense zone. That compares to the 314 Chinese air force aircraft detected and 167 incursions into the air defense zone over the seven-day period following Pelosi’s visit.

In other words, the number of incursions were nearly the same in less than half the time. Similarly, Chinese naval activity around Taiwan spiked after the Tsai-McCarthy meeting, and the Chinese navy continued combat training  around Taiwan after the official end date of the exercise.

While the PLA launched missiles during Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, it did not launch any missiles during the Joint Sword drills following the Tsai visit with McCarthy. Instead, it released an animated video of missile launches against Taiwan throughout the Joint Sword exercise revealing that China has identified targets in Taiwan to destroy in an invasion , along with taking out “foreign” targets in the area as well. Furthermore, Taiwan’s armed forces have repeatedly detected H-6 nuclear-capable bombers near their airspace, and some have even crossed into Taiwan’s air defense zone.

That said, those bombers appear to operate not directly connected to more public shows of force. On that point, the highest number of H-6 nuclear bomber uses occurred on Dec. 12, with 18 H-6s detected and little other air or naval activity noted. Moreover, following the Pelosi and McCarthy visits with Tsai, the use of H-6 bombers was minimal, with just two bombers being the highest number detected.

Although the recent military demonstrations around Taiwan were less complex than those following Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, they were escalatory. Notable was the April 5 notice that China’s coast guard would initiate a three-day “ special joint patrol and inspection operation ” in the Pingtan-Taiwan shipping route. Despite the announcement, little publicly available information corroborates that such inspections occurred.

Though the Joint Sword drill did not involve missiles landing near Taiwan’s waters or flying over the island, China Central Television reported on the second day of exercises that several military branches under the command of the PLA Eastern Theater Command conducted simulated joint precision strikes on strategic targets on and near Taiwan. That was the first time an official public report has revealed mock strike targets of the PLA.

That could indicate that China might be planning a larger and more aggressive drill soon, with Chairman Xi Jinping ordering the PLA to “strengthen military training oriented toward actual combat.” This move to realistic training makes recent operations appear as practice for “sealing off” the island. Moreover, Xi went to visit the Southern Theater Command on April 11, where major joint exercises are likely this summer.

The recent politically sensitive visits occurred at an opportune time for the PLA operationally—during favorable weather conditions and at the tail end of normal military exercise periods. Nonetheless, Taiwan and the U.S. should be on guard for the next set of exercises that the PLA conducts, given the increase in hostile rhetoric from the CCP and Xi’s recent visit to the Southern Theater Command. (Washington Examiner)

The post Beijing reveals its intentions with recent military exercises around Taiwan appeared first on Newswire.

As travel returns with a bang, but rising airfares are making long-haul journeys difficult for many, destinations are doing all they can to encourage visitors to come and boost their economies.

The latest is Taiwan, which is planning to offer tourists $165 each to vacation there. Cash rewards will also be offered to tour groups to encourage them to visit the island.

Taiwan’s Premier Chen Chien-jen announced Thursday that the government aims to attract six million tourists in 2023, doubling that figure in 2024 and aiming for 10 million visitors by 2025.

As a sweetener, they’ll give handouts of NT$5,000 ($165) to 500,000 individual tourists. Allowances of up to NT$20,000 ($658) will also be provided to 90,000 tour groups.

Transport Minister Wang Kuo-tsai stated Wednesday that the cash allowance will be delivered digitally. Tourists will be able to use it to cover their expenses in Taiwan, including for accommodation.

He added the measures are aimed at attracting more visitors from key markets including Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Macao, as well as Europe and America.

Taiwan saw just under 900,000 inbound visitors in 2022, according to statistics from the Taiwan Tourism Bureau. Visitors from Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan and the USA were among the largest groups.

Those figures are a fraction of those from 2019, when Taiwan attracted a record 11.8 million international tourists – up more than 7% on the previous year.

The island lifted its entry restrictions in October 2022, after one of the longest border closures in the world.

Ready to book? Hold fire for now. The government has yet to announce when the scheme will start or how to apply for the money. (CNN)

The post Taiwan to pay tourists visiting the country appeared first on Newswire.