# Taiwan
Latest news and articles about Taiwan
Total: 85 articles found
Japan’s Push to Remilitarise Sparks Cross‑Society Alarm and Fears of Regional Escalation
Prominent Japanese figures convened in Tokyo to denounce Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s proposals to loosen arms‑export controls, revisit the Three Non‑Nuclear Principles and expand southwest deployments. Critics warn these policies could heighten regional tensions, damage Japan’s moral standing on wartime history, and impose domestic economic costs.
U.S. Softens Tone as Taiwan’s Parties Pivot — A Trillion‑TWD Arms Push Looms
U.S. restraint toward Beijing and heightened Middle East risks have prompted a rapid political realignment in Taiwan, enabling President Lai to consolidate power and propel a NT$1.25 trillion arms procurement toward a legislative showdown. The Kuomintang’s sudden willingness to lead review of the defence bill reflects U.S. pressure and internal pro‑American currents, but accelerated purchases could provoke mainland countermeasures without delivering guaranteed security.
Fewer Visible Sorties, Not Less Pressure: How J-20s and Information Warfare Are Reworking the Taiwan Air Picture
A reported drop in PLA sortie counts around Taiwan has prompted speculation of de‑escalation, but evidence points to a qualitative shift in operations. The deployment and massing of J‑20 stealth fighters, combined with integrated sensor networks, mean fewer visible flights can still impose significant military pressure and complicate Taiwan's defence picture.
Trump’s Air‑Force‑One Comment Jolts Taipei — US Signals a Recalibration of Taiwan Arms Policy
President Trump’s on‑the‑record remark that U.S. arms sales to Taiwan “need to be discussed” with Beijing has unsettled Taipei and cast doubt over a potential $20 billion‑plus package. The comment reflects U.S. domestic and economic constraints that are reshaping how Washington balances deterrence and diplomacy in the China‑Taiwan‑U.S. triangle.
Trump Says He Has Discussed Taiwan Arms Sales With Beijing — Taipei and Tokyo Worry
President Trump said he has discussed future U.S. arms sales to Taiwan with Chinese leaders, a statement that contradicts a long-standing U.S. pledge not to consult Beijing and has alarmed officials in Taipei and Tokyo. The comments come amid reporting of a potential $20 billion package of air-defence systems and broader U.S.-China talks ahead of a planned presidential visit to China.
Trump Suspends China Tech Bans to Rescue April Visit — But Taiwan Arms Sales Could Still Derail Talks
President Trump has paused several US sanctions and restrictions on Chinese tech and transport firms in a bid to salvage a planned April visit to Beijing. Beijing has signalled that only a credible US shift on Taiwan — including freezing large arms sales and stronger public commitments to the one-China framework — would secure high-level engagement.
Beijing’s 24‑Hour Counterpunch to Lai Ching‑te: Diplomacy and Air Power Tighten the Noose
Beijing responded within 24 hours to Vice President Lai Ching‑te’s comments and Taiwan’s defence budget push with coordinated diplomatic rebuke and intensified PLA air‑sea patrols. The episode highlights the erosion of informal cross‑strait norms and the rising tempo of coercive signalling that raises the risk of miscalculation in the Taiwan Strait.
From G‑20 Ouster Threats to a J‑20 Model: Washington’s Financial Ultimatum and Beijing’s Iran Signal
A near‑unanimous US House vote threatened to remove China from six international bodies if it attacked Taiwan, a move that signals bipartisan hardening in Washington and shifts the contest into the realm of financial governance. Beijing answered with a political gesture toward Iran and vows to deepen ties in 2026, underscoring how both powers are using institutional leverage and symbolic diplomacy to prepare for prolonged strategic competition.
Close Calls Over the Strait: How PLA J-16 Tactics Signal a Shift from Deterrence to Control
A leaked Taiwanese note, published in the Financial Times, describes three close encounters in which PLA J-16s used flares, tailing maneuvers and radar masking to intimidate and control F-16s during last year’s drills. Analysts say these incidents reflect a tactical shift by Beijing from symbolic demonstrations to coercive control that raises the risk of miscalculation and complicates deterrence for Taiwan and its partners.
Taiwan’s NT$1.25 Trillion Defence Bill Sparks Row Over Job Claims, US Arms and Transparency
A proposed NT$1.25 trillion special defence budget in Taiwan has sparked a domestic row after defence officials claimed it would generate NT$400 billion in output and 90,000 jobs, while critics say most spending will go to US arms purchases and demand greater transparency. The dispute draws in US pressure, opposition allegations of corruption, and Beijing’s condemnation, underscoring tensions between urgent rearmament needs and demands for legislative oversight.
KMT Pushes to Reopen Cross‑Strait Channels, Casting DPP as Obstacle to 'Revival of Dawn'
KMT vice‑chair Zhang Rong‑gong vowed to revitalise cross‑Strait exchanges following a Beijing think‑tank forum that produced 15 joint opinions across five areas. He accused the DPP of blocking cooperation and argued that promoting a Chinese identity in Taiwan will deliver economic benefits and greater stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Beijing Dismisses Lai Ching-te’s Overtures as a ‘Doomed’ Bid for Independence
China’s Foreign Ministry condemned DPP leader Lai Ching‑te for seeking foreign support for Taiwanese independence, calling such efforts futile and labelling him a provocateur. The exchange follows Lai’s outreach to Japan and highlights Beijing’s use of sharp rhetoric to deter Taipei’s international engagements while signalling resolve to domestic and international audiences.