USA

Biden Said the U.S. Would Protect Taiwan. But It’s Not That Clear-Cut

Editorial Bureau October 23, 2021

WASHINGTON — American presidents have spent decades trying to sidestep the question of how forcefully the United States would come to the aid of Taiwan if China invaded it or, more likely, tried to slowly strangle the island in an effort to force it back under the control of the mainland. The

Asia

China enters Taiwan air defence zone a day after military budget boost

Editorial Bureau September 18, 2021

TAIPEI (Taiwan) – Taiwan’s air force scrambled on Friday to warn away 10 Chinese aircraft that entered its air defence zone, Taiwan’s defence ministry said, the day after the island announced a $9 billion boost to military spending to counter the threat from China. Chinese-claimed Taiwan has complained for a year or more of repeated […]

Asia

China outruns Taiwan in announcing new vaccine delivery

Editorial Bureau September 1, 2021

BEIJING/TAIPEI (CHINA/TAIWAN) – China beat Taiwan to the punch on Wednesday in announcing the delivery timetable for a highly politicised order of COVID-19 vaccines from BioNTech SE, saying the first 932,000 shots would arrive on the Chinese-claimed island on Thursday. Taiwan has blamed China for blocking an original order from the German firm earlier this […]

Uncategorized

Taiwan says China can ‘paralyse’ its defences, threat lingers

Editorial Bureau September 1, 2021

TAIPEI (CHINA) – China’s armed forces can “paralyse” Taiwan’s defences and are able to fully monitor its deployments, the island’s defence ministry said, offering a stark assessment of the rising threat posed by its giant neighbour. Beijing is stepping up military activities around the island, which it views as Chinese territory. It has

Asia

Taiwan’s president sets example in first domestic COVID-19 vaccine

Editorial Bureau August 23, 2021

TAIPEI (TAIWAN) -President Tsai Ing-wen got vaccinated with Taiwan’s first domestically developed COVID-19 vaccine on Monday. It was an indicator of her personal stamp of approval as the island begins rolling out the shot whose approval critics say has been rushed. The health ministry last month approved the emergency use of Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp’s

Asia

Taiwan expresses remarks that China wants to ’emulate’ the Taliban

Editorial Bureau August 21, 2021

TAIPEI (TAIWAN) – Taiwan’s foreign minister accused China on Saturday of wanting to “emulate” the Taliban, saying the island that Beijing claims as sovereign Chinese territory did not wish to be subject to communism or crimes against humanity. The rapid fall of the US-backed Afghan government has sparked heated debate in Taiwan about whether they

USA

US position on Taiwan same despite Biden comment – official

Editorial Bureau August 20, 2021

WASHINGTON (US) -A Biden administration official said on Thursday that US policy on Taiwan had not changed after President Joe Biden appeared to suggest the United States would defend the island if it were attacked, a deviation from a long-held US position of “strategic ambiguity”. In an interview aired by ABC News on Thursday, Biden […]

Asia

Taiwan refuses approval for UBI’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate

Editorial Bureau August 16, 2021

TAIPEI (TAIWAN) – Taiwan has rejected an application for the production and emergency use of UBI Pharma Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate, the government said on Monday, in a setback for the island’s push to attain self-sufficiency. Developing its own vaccine has been a major goal, although Taiwan has also ordered millions of shots from Moderna […]

Sport

Olympics-Taiwan’s medals bring alive debate over use of ‘Chinese Taipei’

Editorial Bureau August 3, 2021

TAIPEI (TAIWAN) -After Taiwan beat China in the badminton men’s doubles final at the Tokyo Olympic Games on Saturday, gold medalist Wang Chi-Lin made a Facebook comment that cast a spotlight on a contentious debate on the Chinese-claimed island: “I’m from Taiwan”. Wang’s team competes at the Olympics as “Chinese Taipei” at the

Asia

Taiwan to relax COVID-19 restrictions as cases drop

Editorial Bureau July 23, 2021

TAIPEI (TAIWAN) -Taiwan will ease its COVID-19 restrictions next week though some will remain in place, the government said on Friday. Rapidly falling case numbers has given authorities confidence to further lower the alert level. Taiwan implemented restrictions on gatherings, including closing entertainment venues and limiting restaurants to take-out service, in mid-May