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★   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on Mocrosoft Bing, 2025-12-20, 2025-12-1, 2025-11-29, 2025-11-23, 2025-11-11, 2025-11-1, 2025-10-30, 2025-10-21, 2025-10-10, 2025-10-1, 2025-9-21, 2025-9-1, 2025-8-17, 2025-8-9, 2025-7-28, 2025-7-18, 2025-7-9,  2025-7-1, 2025-6-9, 2025-5-20, 2025-4-27, 2025-4-1, 2025-3-19, 2025-3-3, 2025-2-28, 2025-2-16, 2025-1-25, 2025-1-1, 2024-12-30, 2024-12-25, 2024-12-24, 2024-12-7, 2024-10-10, 2024-9-11, 2024-8-31, 2024-8-8, 2024- 7-24, 2024-5-1, 2024-4-19, 2024-2-28, 2024-1-23, 2023-11-11, 2023-11-1, 2023-10-10, 2023-9-18, 2023-9-11, 2023-8-22, 2023-8-8, 2023-7-4, 2023-6-28, 2023-6-16, 2023-5-31, 2023-5-1, 2023-4-30, 2023-3-31, 2023-3-23, 2023-2-28, 2023-2-6, 2023-1-21, 2023-1-14, 2023-1-1, 2022-12-12, 2022-10-10, 2022-9-20,  2022-9-11, 2022-9-5, 2022-8-23, 2022-8-14, 2022-8-6, 2022-7-29, 2022-7-18, 2022-7-7, 2022-7-1, 2022-6-24, 2022-6-18, 2022-6-10, 2022-6-8, 2022-5-30, 2022-5-16, 2022-5-6

　

　


  pic.:  The web-sites group ranks No.1 "comment Taiwan" on Yandex of Russia , 2025-12-20, 2025-12-1, 2025-11-22, 2025-11-1, 2025-10-30, 2025-10-10, 2025-10-1, 2025-9-21, 2025-9-1, 2025-8-17, 2025-8-9, 2025-7-28, 2025-7-18, 2025-7-9, 2025-7-1, 2025-6-9, 2025-5-20, 2025-4-27, 2025-4-1, 2025-3-19, 2025-3-3, 2025-2-22, 2025-1-1, 2024-12-25, 2024-12-24, 2024-12-12, 2024-10-10, 2024-8-31, 2024-8-8, 2024-7-24, 2024-4-19, 2024-2-28, 2024-1-23, 2024-1-1, 2023-11-11, 2023-11-1, 2023-10-10, 2023-9-11, 2023-8-22, 2023-8-8, 2023-7-4, 2023-6-28, 2023-6-16, 2023-5-31, 2023-5-1, 2023-4-30, 2023-3-31, 2023-2-28, 2023-2-6, 2023-1-21, 2023-1-1, 2022-12-12, 2022-10-13, 2022-9-23, 2022-9-12, 2022-9-5, 2022-8-20, 2022-8-13,  2022-8-7, 2022-7-18, 2022-7-7, 2022-7-1, 2022-6-25, 2022-6-10, 2022-6-7, 2022-6-1, 2022-5-23, 2022-4-16, 2022-3-20, 2022-3-4, 2022-2-1, 2022-1-30, 2022-1-25, 2022-1-11, 2022-1-1, 2021-11-21, 2021-10-23, 2021-10-20, 2021-10-3, 2021-6-27, 8-13-2020, 8-5-2020, 6-12-2020,  5-21-2020, 2-28-2020, 1-17-2020, 1-11-2020, 12-18-2019,  12-1-2019, 11-26-2019, 11-7-2019; No.3 at 2023-3-23

　

　

　

 

★  pic.: No. 1 "comment Taiwan" on US Yahoo, 2025-11-1, 2025-10-10, 2025-10-1, 2025-9-21, 2025-9-1, 2025-8-17, 2025-8-9, 2025-7-28, 2025-7-18, 2025-7-9, 2025-7-1, 2025-6-9, 2025-5-20, 2025-4-27, 2025-4-1, 2025-3-19, 2025-3-3

　

　

★  pic.: No. 1 "comment Taiwan" on US Yahoo, 2025-9-30, 2025-8-16, 2025-7-27, 2025-7-17, 2025-7-8, 2025-6-30, 2025-2-28, 2025-2-16, 2025-1-25, 2025-1-1, 2024-12-30, 2024-12-25, 2024-12-24, 2024-8-31, 2024-8-8, 2024-8-2, 2024-7-24, 2024-5-1, 2024-4-19, 2023-8-8, 2023-7-4, 2023-6-28, 2023-6-16, 2023-5-31, 2023-5-1, 2023-4-30, 2023-3-31, 2023-3-23, 2023-2-28, 2023-2-6, 2023-1-21, 2023-1-14, Top or No. 1 "comment Taiwan" on US Yahoo, 2022-12-12, 2022-10-10, 2022-9-11, 2022-9-5, 2022-8-13, 2022-8-7, 2022-6-25, 2022-5-25

　

　

　

　

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★  pic.: No. 1 "comment Taiwan" on US Yahoo,  2025-2-28, 2025-2-22, 2025-1-1, 2024-12-24, 2024-8-31, 2024-8-8, 2024-8-2, 2024-7-24, 2024-5-1, 2024-4-19, 2023-8-8, 2023-7-4, 2023-6-28, 2023-6-16, 2023-5-31, 2023-5-1, 2023-4-30, 2023-3-31, 2023-3-23, 2023-2-28, 2023-2-6, 2023-1-21, 2023-1-14, Top or No. 1 "comment Taiwan" on US Yahoo, 2022-12-12, 2022-10-10, 2022-9-11, 2022-9-5, 2022-8-13, 2022-8-7, 2022-6-25, 2022-5-25 ; No.2 on Yahoo Taiwan, 2025-12-1

　

　

 

　

　

    

　

　

 

　

　


★   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on Yahoo (Taiwan), 2025-11-1, 2025-10-30, 2025-10-1, 2025-9-21, 2025-9-1, 2025-8-9, 2025-7-28, 2025-7-1, 2025-5-20, 2025-4-27, 2025-4-1, 2025-3-3, 2025-2-16, 2025-1-1, 2024-12-25, 2024-12-24, 2024-12-7, 2024-10-10, 2024-8-31, 2024-8-8, 2024-8-2, 2024-7-24, 2024-5-1, 2024-4-19, 2024-2-28, 2024-1-23, 2024-1-1, 2023-11-11, 2023-11-1, 2023-10-10,  2023-9-11,2023-8-22, 2023-8-8, 2023-7-4, 2023-6-28, 2023-6-16, 2023-5-31, 2023-5-1, 2023-4-30, 2023-3-31, 2023-3-23, 2023-2-28, 2023-2-6, 2023-1-21, 2023-1-1, 2022-12-12, 2022-10-10, 2022-9-20, 2022-9-11, 2022-9-4, 2022-8-22, 2022-8-14, 2022-8-7, 2022-7-29, 2022-7-18, 2022-7-7, 2022-7-1, 2022-6-25, 2022-6-18, 2022-6-9  ★  pic.  : No.1 "comment Taiwan" (Chinese version) on Yahoo Taiwan , 2024-4-19, 2024-1-1, 2023-8-8, 2023-4-30, 2023-3-23, 2023-2-20, 2023-1-21, 2023-1-1, 2022-12-6, 2022-10-10, 2022-9-20  

　

　

   
★  No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on DuckDuckGo , 2025-11-1, 2025-10-10, 2025-10-1, 2025-9-21, 2025-9-1, 2025-8-17, 2025-8-9, 2025-7-28, 2025-7-18, 2025-7-9, 2025-7-1, 2025-6-9, 2025-5-20, 2025-4-27, 2025-4-1, 2025-3-3, 2025-2-23, 2025-2-16, 2025-1-1, 2024-12-25, 2024-12-24, 2024-12-7, 2024-8-31, 2024-8-8, 2024-8-2, 2024-7-24, 2023-6-16, 2023-5-1, 2023-1-21, 2022-5-16, 2022-4-26, 2022-4-10, 2022-4-8, 2022-4-3, 2022-3-23, 2022-3-20, 2022-3-12, 2022-3-9, 2022-3-6, 2022-2-28, 2022-2-14, 2022-2-8, 2021-11-11, 2021-10-8, 2021-10-1, 2021-9-27, 2021-9-19, 2021-9-7, 2021-8-22, 2021-8-5, 2021-6-27;  No. 2  "comment Taiwan" on DuckDuckGo , 2022-9-11  

　

　

  

★  No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on DuckDuckGo , 2025-10-10, 2025-8-19, 2024-8-8, 2023-5-1, 2022-2-28, 2021-6-27

　

　

pic.:  No.1 "comment Taiwan" on AOL, 2025-11-1, 2025-10-10, 2025-10-1, 2025-9-21, 2025-9-1, 2025-8-17, 2025-8-9, 2025-7-28, 2025-7-18, 2025-7-1, 2025-5-20, 2025-4-27, 2025-4-1, 2025-3-3, 2025-2-22, 2025-2-16, 2025-1-1, 2024-12-25, 2023-7-4, 2023-6-28, 2023-6-16, 2023-5-31, 2023-5-1, 2023-4-30, 2023-3-31, 2023-3-23, 2023-2-28, 2023-2-6, 2023-1-21, 2023-1-14,
No.1 "comment Taiwan" on Aolsearch, 2025-7-28, 2025-7-18, 2025-7-9, 2025-7-1, 2025-6-9;   No.1 or top "comment Taiwan" on AOL, 2022-12-12, 2022-9-11, 2022-8-13, 2022-8-7, 2022-5-23, 2022-5-16, 2022-5-7, 2022-4-26, 2022-4-10, 2022-4-8, 2022-4-3, 2022-3-29, 2022-3-22, 2022-3-9, 2022-3-6, 2022-3-4, 2022-2-8, 2021-10-8, 2021-10-1, 2021-9-27, 2021-9-19, 2021-9-7, 2021-6-27, 2021-5-1, 3-8-2021, 2-20-2021,1-18-2020,  12-05-2019; No.3 at 2022-7-19,  top 3 on US Yahoo, 2022-7-29, 2022-7-19

　

　

　

           

★  pic.: No.1 "comment Taiwan" on MetaGER.de of Germany, 2024-8-31, 2024-8-8, 2024-8-2, 2024-7-24, 2024-5-1, 2024-4-19, 2024-2-28, 2023-11-1, 2023-9-11, 2023-8-22, 2023-8-8, 2023-7-4  

　

　

★  pic.:   No. 1 "comment Taiwan" on US Google, 2022-1-31, 2021-10-11, 2021-10-8, 2021-9-23, 2021-9-7, 2021-8-31, 2021-8-23, 2020-1-11, 2020-1-10, 2019-11-11

　

　

　

　


Latest news   ◆ full text  


 ♣ ♣ ♣ China-Taiwan war  ♣♣♣ ♣ ♣Taiwan's division ♣♣ ♣ ♣Taiwan should worry about Trump    ♦ ♣ ♣ China's "coercion without violence" ♣ ♣ ♣ Trump's new tariffs & trade war   ♣ ♣   Taiwan lost its China spy war♣  ♣ ♣ ♣Taiwan's tougher stance on china♣ ♣ ♣Trump's defense policy  ♣ ♣ ♣world backs Beijing's claim  ♣ ♣ ♣  more topics

　

China ─ Taiwan War
◆  Fox News, 2025-12-19 China warns of rising war risk after historic US arms sale to Taiwan.  Analysts say Beijing’s sharp rhetoric suggests additional military signaling is likely, though China did not immediately announce specific countermeasures.
◆  New York Times, 2025-12-18 The Trump administration asked Congress to approve an arms package for Taiwan valued at more than $11 billion. The size of the proposal is likely to reassure China hawks in Washington who have grown uneasy about Mr. Trump's commitment to defending Taiwan as he seeks to cut trade and economic deals with Beijing.
◆  Bloomberg, 2025-12-18 US weapons sales to Taiwan annoys Beijing, and the latest package risks straining the US’s fragile relationship with China. It comes less than two months after Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Trump met in South Korea and agreed on a one-year truce in their trade spat. As part of that deal, Beijing ensured US access to rare earths critical to manufacturing everything from smartphones to missiles.
◆  Washington Post, 2025-12-18 “Taiwan must not become a weak point in regional security,” president Lai said at a news conference then. “Among all the possible scenarios for China's annexation of Taiwan, the biggest threat is not force — it is our own surrender”.
◆  Fox News, 2025-12-14 A U.S.–China clash on land would not be fought by massed armies. It would be a missile war shaped by geography, alliances and survivability — a contest where political access and command integration matter as much as raw firepower.
◆  MSN, 2025-12-14 a war over Taiwan could inflict trillions of dollars in damage to the global economy.   China's economy is far larger than Russia's, raising concerns that a conflict over Taiwan could produce far more severe economic consequences, including shipping lane closures, stress on the banking system, and shortages affecting industries from automobiles to electronics.
◆  Council on Foreign Relations, 2025-12-11 A future cross-Strait crisis will not likely to be a three-sided affair between China, the United States, and Taiwan; instead, it will likely draw in other regional powers, from Japan and Australia to the Philippines and South Korea. Finally, belligerents during a Taiwan conflict may quickly resort to aggressive action to achieve a quick and decisive victory, and if that fails it could very well become a protracted, regional war.
◆  Washington Post, 2025-12-12 an increasingly sharp division in Taiwan: As president Lai's ruling party attempts to secure the Trump administration's backing in the face of increasing Chinese military threats, KMT chair Cheng etc are promoting stronger ties with Beijing amid growing concern that Lai is inviting conflict and deepening skepticism about whether Taiwan can count on the United States to support it.
◆  CNN, 2025-12-12 The Trump administration unveiled its new national security strategy (NSS) which makes its focus clear from the start, declaring economics as “the ultimate stakes.”it has nothing to say about China's strategic ambitions … and whether those are compatible with US interests.”Trump has dedicated multiple paragraphs to the island (Taiwan), but the document also softened its language elsewhere – saying the US “does not support any unilateral change to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait,” instead of the previous phrasing of “opposing” any such change.
◆  Wall Street Journal, 2025-12-7 Shape of the Taiwan war —  Phase 1, China would unleash a “joint firepower strike,” pounding Taiwan with missiles. Phase 2, Crossing and landing. PLA could use the cover of military exercises to obscure the warning signs. If the drills around Taiwan have grown far more complex and realistic year after year, China could pivot to a rapid, high-intensity attack. Phase 3, Breakout and seize Taipei. If China take a port it's kind of game over.
◆  TIME, 2025-12-7 A new national security strategy released by the White House calls deterring a conflict over Taiwan a “priority,” and says the ideal way to achieve that is by “preserving military overmatch.”It says a war between Taiwan and China would have “major implications for the U.S. economy.”
◆  New York Times, 2025-12-3 China has repeatedly invoked World War II — in Xi's phone call with Trump, but also in interactions with European officials. The language always centers on defeating fascism and protecting the outcomes of the war. But the implicit message is that Japan, which recently made clear that it would intervene militarily if Taiwan were attacked, is a historic aggressor that should be regarded warily.
◆  New York Times, 2025-12-2 China wants to isolate Japan and make sure that other key members of the international community will not move further from its cherished ‘one-China principle'.  A diplomatic row with Japan over Taiwan has China turning to Britain and France for support.
◆  New York Times, 2025-12-2 China's growing anxiety that one of its bedrock goals — isolating Taiwan and forcing it to submit to unification on Chinese terms — is slipping away.  the United States should stand with Japan.
◆  Wall Street Journal, 2025-12-1 China's more consequential steps against Japan have been economic. China has unearthed its old playbook of informal coercive moves. Unlike clear-cut export controls, these disguised measures are harder to manage and pose escalatory risks.
◆  Bloomberg, 2025-12-2 Taiwan's response to the China-Japan spat has been fairly muted. The Taiwanese foreign minister: “we show our support through, I think, a soft approach” while also trying “to help cool down the situation.”
◆  Reuters, 2025-12-2 No room for compromise on Taiwan's security, Taiwan president tells reservists. "Even when engaging in reconciliation, we must have strong power as our backing in order to protect the overall interests of the nation. Without sufficient strength as support, so-called reconciliation will ultimately degenerate into surrender."
◆  The Guardian,  2025-11-30 China is bearing down on Taiwan – enabled by Trump's weakness and vacillation. Xi Jinping's first preference is to win without a devastating, unpredictable war”,"His method is encompassing, steadily escalating coercion …", This is a classic ‘anaconda strategy’, meant to get progressively tighter until Taiwan yields.
◆  The US SUN,  2025-11-30, US News, Reuters, 2025-11-27 As tensions between historic foes China and Japan explode over Taiwan, Beijing has warned the world that it is ready for war. 
China's defence ministry said that Japan will have to pay a "painful price" if it steps out of line over Taiwan, responding to Japanese plans to deploy missiles on an island some 100 km (62 miles) from Taiwan's coast.
◆  Wall Street Journal,  2025-11-28 While U.S. silence may deter China, it can also weaken public resolve; “Whether or not we believe America is coming or not has a very big effect on people's willingness to defend Taiwan”, NTU professor Nachman said.
◆  The WEEK UK,  2025-11-28 There are other indications that Beijing is preparing to move on Taiwan. China has been stockpiling record amounts of gold, which could be part of a strategy to defend itself from Western sanctions in the event of an attack on Taiwan. It has also been building a solid legal ground for a potential invasion, aiming to frame the attack as a legitimate internal matter.
◆  Washington Examiner,  2025-11-28 What Taiwan can learn from Ukraine ─ In all likelihood, Taiwan will have to utilize what it has at the war's onset. Taiwan's best bet is to focus on asymmetrical warfare, turning the island into a “porcupine,” and making an invasion costly enough to shore up deterrence. Some lessons, such as small-unit tactics and UAVs, will be useful.
◆  Wall Street Journal, Reuters, 2025-11-26 Trump, after call with China's Xi, told Japan to Lower the volume on Taiwan; and advised her not to provoke Beijing on the question of Taiwan's sovereignty.  The Journal reported that Trump's advice to Takaichi was subtle, and he did not pressure Takaichi to walk back her comments.
◆  JERUSALEM POST, 2025-11-26 Taiwan has put a new “Taiwan Dome” missile shield at the center of a dramatic military buildup, unveiling plans for a multi-layered air and missile defense system that President Lai Ching-te says is directly inspired by Israel's Iron Dome and the United States’ planned “Golden Dome” project.
◆  New York Times, 2025-11-25 Under pressure from the Trump administration to increase defense outlays, Taiwan president Lai Ching-te seeks an extra $40 billion for military. He says the spending, which must be approved by the island's legislature, would fund purchases of arms from the United States.
◆  New York Times, 2025-11-24 In an unusual move, Xi Jinping called President Trump. Xi presses Trump on Taiwan. Expert at  Foundation for Defense of Democracies says:“Beijing is rattled by the Japan flare-up because it sees a regional coalition coalescing around the idea that Taiwan's security is a shared stake” Mr. Trump did not mention Taiwan. But Mr. Xi emphasized “that Taiwan's return to China is an important part of the postwar international order”.
◆  Bloomberg, 2025-11-25 US President Donald Trump held back-to-back calls with the leaders of China and Japan, as escalating tensions over Taiwan threaten to derail his weeks-old trade truce with Beijing.  Any hint Washington is siding with Tokyo could imperil a truce.  Beijing views America's allies as “subordinate to US direction". But for Japan's new leader, bowing to Beijing would invite political blowback at home.
◆  Washington Post, 2025-11-25
China sees the call a tactical win for China in its escalating spat with Tokyo; drawing Washington closer to Beijing.

“Tokyo's room for maneuver has been constrained,” “Takaichi's unilateral declarations on Taiwan now appear not just premature but strategically isolated — she has moved beyond where even Washington is willing to go.”
◆  CNBC, 2025-11-25 the Trump administration is “far more reluctant” to sacrifice blood and treasure on the Taiwan question than his predecessors, preferring instead to focus on the trade relationship between Washington and Beijing. 

But back-to-back calls between U.S. President Donald Trump and the leaders of Japan and China have so far done little to defuse the diplomatic spat occurring between Beijing and Tokyo.

◆  Wall Street Journal, 2025-11-25 Taiwan, a flashpoint that has surged to the forefront in recent days as Japan takes a more assertive stance on the island's autonomy.  In a social-media post Monday, Trump didn't mention Taiwan nor the diplomatic crisis between Beijing and Tokyo—an omission that likely will rattle U.S. allies in the region already concerned about wavering American commitment. Xi decided that he would raise the Taiwan issue directly with Trump in Beijing in April.
◆  Reuters, 2025-11-25 Trump has not directly waded into the simmering diplomatic row between Japan and China over Taiwan; Beijing criticized Tokyo's plan to deploy a medium-range surface-to-air missile unit on Yonaguni, an island about 68 miles off Taiwan, calling it an attempt to "create regional tension and provoke military confrontation." China's deeper fear is about the potential of future Japanese militarization.  "That could make it easier on the Japanese side to advocate for more advanced capabilities in the southwest islands".
◆  Associated Press, 2025-11-24 “My best guess is China is worried about the escalation (in tensions) with Japan. The reference to Taiwan and the post-World War II order directly points to the spat with Japan over Taiwan,” said director of Stimson Center.
◆  New York Times, 2025-11-21 Ms. Takaichi said an attempt by China to blockade or seize Taiwan, if it involves the use of warships and the use of force, could constitute an existential threat ( could justify deploying Japan's military) . Her comments provoked a furious response in China, with officials demanding a retraction

With the crisis threatening to overwhelm her nascent administration, Ms. Takaichi's task is to avoid an escalation while still projecting strength at home. More reprisals could still come; In 2010, China limited the export of critical minerals to Japan, including rare earth metals. The Chinese are not offering any off-ramp. It could be a long time before tensions calm.
◆  Kyodo News, 2025-11-20 U.S. Ambassador to Japan denounced China's recent response to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan, calling its statements "provocative" and its economic measures "coercive."
"I just want to say directly from the president (Donald Trump) and from myself and from the embassy, for the prime minister, we have her back".
◆  Newsweek, 2025-11-21 U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission's annual report to Congress warns a war over Taiwan could be “cataclysmic,” the report warned, potentially “wiping out as much as 10 percent of global GDP”—an unprecedented economic hit in modern times.  Such a conflict would also carry “an acute risk of nuclear escalation and raise the threat of Chinese geographical expansion in the Indo-Pacific”
◆  Wall Street Journal, 2025-11-20 China's Plan A aims to coerce Taiwan into capitulation without firing a shot. The goal is to make the island's position so economically, diplomatically and psychologically unbearable that negotiation with the Chinese leadership becomes the only viable option.  Looming behind this strategy is Plan B, a military takeover.
◆  Reuters, 2025-11-21  The Chinese military now has enough dedicated military ships to transport only about 20,000 troops in an initial attack, according to Taiwanese and American military experts. That is far short of military experts’ estimates of what would be needed in an invasion. Subduing Taiwan would require 300,000 to 1 million troops or more
◆  The Hill , 2025-11-18 Assistant secretary of War, A. Dahmer says "it would be necessary for Washington to implement an assertive forward defense, requiring the pre-positioning of naval and air assets and the timely stationing of ground forces in Taiwan. These preemptive deployments would place the onus of initiating U.S.-China conflict where it belongs, reversing the dynamic of the U.S. having to send forces from afar to break a Chinese blockade and firing the first shot.
◆  Royal United service Institute, 2025-11-17 Assuming it doesn't go nuclear, a Sino-US conflict over Taiwan is likely to settle into a protracted struggle with the PRC unable to safely get a critical mass of troops across the straits, and US forces unable to break a Chinese ‘blockade by fire’ (using ground-based missiles to prevent shipping arriving in Taiwan). Following the initial clash, the US runs low on munitions, and Japan becomes the indispensable staging post for replenishment, for attempting to bring in supplies to sustain the population and resistance on Taiwan, and for imposing a counter-blockade on the PRC.
◆  Bloomberg , 2025-11-14 Chinese state-run newspaper called it Tokyo's “first threat of force” against Beijing in 80 years.
◆  Reuters, Kyodo News, 2025-11-14 China's Defense Ministry warned that if Japan were to use force to interfere in the Taiwan issue, it would "only suffer a crushing defeat against the steel-willed People's Liberation Army and pay a heavy price." 
◆  New York Times, 2025-11-13 China's 'Wolf Warrior' diplomacy returns.
In WWII, the Japanese army committed multiple atrocities,  crimes for which Beijing believes Tokyo has never sufficiently apologized.  China says Japan repeated use of the so-called ‘crisis of survival’ as a pretext to launch foreign aggression.  This time Japanese PM Ms. Takaichi told Parliament that an attempt by China to blockade or seize Taiwan, could constitute an existential threat, no matter how you look at it.
◆  CNN, 2025-11-12 Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily condemned Japanese PM Takaichi as “recklessly shooting her mouth off,” and warning: “No one should harbor any illusion that they can cross the line on the Taiwan issue without paying a price.”
Within China,  there is already significant streak of anti-Japanese sentiment, Japanese Imperial troops killed more than 200,000 unarmed men and civilians, and raped and tortured tens of thousands of women and girls, in what is known as the Nanjing Massacre – one of the most notorious wartime atrocities of the 20th century.
◆  Financial Times, 2025-11-13 Tokyo has been more openly warning of the most severe security environment in the region since the second world war in response to Beijing's increasing assertiveness. The explicitness of Takaichi's remark went further than any sitting Japanese prime minister has in the past, by implying that Tokyo could take military action without being attacked itself.
◆  The Diplomat, 2025-11-12 The intensifying competition between the United States and China has drawn Tokyo into a more explicit alignment with Washington's Indo-Pacific strategy. But any active participation in a Taiwan conflict would require legal, political, and public consensus – none of which currently exists.
◆  Newsweek, 2025-11-10 Japan's new leader speaks out on defending US in possible China war.  PM Sanae Takaichi has doubled down on comments detailing the conditions under which her country might join a U.S. military response should China move against Taiwan.
◆  National Interest, 2025-11-5 Taiwan's eastern region could no longer serve as a strategic buffer against any Chinese invasion of their island.
◆  Fox News, 2025-11-1 Trump and Xi avoided the one issue that could most likely draw their nations into war: Taiwan, despite years of war preparations.  The military balance in the region has shifted "rather quickly in China's favor," making U.S. deterrence less credible if tensions continue to climb. "The time to pivot to Asia has probably passed," suggesting Washington must now focus on managing competition rather than reversing it.
◆  USNI News, 2025-10-31 Hegseth maintains U.S. position on Taiwan, China urges caution.
◆  CNN, 2025-10-30 The Trump administration plans to adopt a policy on Taiwan with the goal of making the island a “porcupine” by investing strategically in precision and smaller weapons built for asymmetric warfare to deter Chinese aggression or make an invasion so costly and painful that costs would outweigh benefits.
◆  Reuters, 2025-10-29 China "absolutely will not" rule out using force over Taiwan, a government spokesperson said , striking a much tougher tone than a series of articles in state media this week that pledged benign rule if the island comes over to Beijing.
◆  Fox News, 2025-10-27 Some analysts warn that a Chinese blockade would be difficult to break.
Taipei would "urge its allies and like-minded partners to treat any blockade as an act of war that should trigger a coordinated international response," noting that shipping disruptions in the seas near Taiwan would have serious effects on the global economy. 
◆  BBC, 2025-10-27 Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US wouldn't abandon the island in exchange for a favourable deal with China. But a tug of war has been playing out inside the Trump administration over whether a military battle for Taiwan – if China did try to seize it – would be in America's best interests.
◆  Bloomberg, 2025-10-26 Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration will not abandon long-standing US support for Taiwan in negotiations with China to reach a trade agreement.
◆  National Interest, 2025-10-24  Taiwan has established a multi-layered area defense for itself. This layered defense prioritizes electronic jamming before any kinetic action is taken. By targeting the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum, data links, and sensors, Taiwan is ensuring that the country can both knock down unmanned interlopers from neighboring China while avoiding drastic escalation from Beijing
◆  TIME, 2025-10-23 Trump's recalcitrance regarding support for military action over Taiwan is broadly shared by its allies. “Once shooting starts, there is a very, very high probability that Taiwan gets lost,”“Because militarily, we can' t win. The war termination phase would be basically on the table, not in the field.”
◆  Foreign Affairs, 2025-10-22 The objective of the US should be to take incremental steps to restore the status quo that existed before Pelosi visited Taiwan in 2022. Washington should press Beijing to pull its military, coast guard, and surveillance ships from Taiwan's contiguous zone, reduce the frequency and scale of major military exercises around Taiwan, refrain from crossing the centerline in the Taiwan Strait, and decrease its military buildup in areas within range of Taiwan. In exchange, the United States could offer to make reciprocal changes to reduce its overall military buildup in the region.
◆  National Interest, 2025-10-17 Taiwan must double down on asymmetric denial—to cripple invasion forces within the first 72 hours.  Taiwan's collaboration with the United States on missiles, launchers, and drones is progressing, but its volume, stockpiling, and indigenous production capabilities remain insufficient. Taiwan must harden its energy infrastructure, re-engage nuclear energy capacity prudently, diversify LNG supply, and protect key infrastructural node;  Above all, Taiwan and its partners must win the information war.
◆  Financial Times, 2025-10-16 Taiwan's aim is to emphasise deterrence so that it never comes to armed conflict in the Taiwan Strait, and develop the capabilities and strategies to impose such a huge cost on the PLE that decision makers in Beijing — assuming that they calculate rationally — would decide that this is simply not a viable option to resolve the issue.ft.com/content/4a49b180-4208-49de-8c39-6de95cb4c91d
◆ Wall Street Journal, 2025-10-8 a critical vulnerability on Taiwan: It is almost entirely dependent on imported fuel.  Some 97% of Taiwan's energy is imported by sea. If completely cut off, its LNG inventory would be fully depleted within days, crippling the island's ability to produce electricity.  Taiwan would require U.S. intervention to restore electricity over a longer period.
◆ Reuters, 2025-10-8 Taiwan's president Lai said Trump should get the Nobel Peace Prize if he could convince Chinese President Xi Jinping to abandon use of force against Taiwan.  China says Taiwan president is 'prostituting' himself.
◆ The Diplomat,  2025-10-4 The U.S. government is preparing for a military strategy that “does not demand too much from Americans.”  The Trump administration has recently begun prioritizing the self-defense of Taiwan over an overt U.S. military intervention in the event of a Taiwan contingency.   
◆ Reuters, 2025-10-8 The nominee to be the Pentagon's senior official for the Indo-Pacific region said he strongly supported President Donald Trump in saying that Taiwan should spend up to 10% of its GDP on defense.
◆ New York Times, 2025-9-29 “The Rocket Force is the crown jewel of the Chinese military" .  Having an overwhelming number of missiles is also intended as a political signal — to Taiwan that there's no point in fighting back, to the United States that you can't intervene.”
◆ L.A. Times, 2025-9-29 China is playing the long game" by acquiring Russian equipment; That's because Beijing will find a way to reverse engineer the equipment and technology and develop it not just for airborne combat but also for advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance which are critical for modern warfare
◆ WEEK UK, 2025-9-30  in recent years China and Russia “military partnership has become more robust” as ties between Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin have warmed, “raising alarm bells in Washington"
◆  Washington Post, 2025-9-26 Russia has agreed to equip and train a Chinese airborne battalion and share its expertise in airdropping armored vehicles that analysts say could boost Beijing's capacity to seize Taiwan.
◆  AP News London, 2025-9-26 Russia agreed to sell China systems which are designed for parachuting up to 190 kilograms (419 pounds) from an extremely high altitude; Moscow's assistance (equipment and localized training) could help speed up China's airborne program by about 10 to 15 years.  an expert on China and Taiwan with the Atlantic Council, said parachuting in forces would probably support the logistics of any invasion but would be unlikely to be the “main event.”
◆ The National Interest, 2025-9-25 Taiwan is finally embracing the Insurgency Model for beating China. —— Taipei’s strategists are finally making the pivot away from conventional armed forces toward something nimbler—namely the mass production and use of cheap and deadly drones.
◆ The Hill, 2025-9-25 Some argue the U.S. is ill-prepared for war with a formidable People's Liberation Army and thus must reach a deal now. That confuses deterrence with defeatism. The point is not to fight — it is to prevent war by making the costs of aggression unmistakably high and the benefits uncertain.
◆  UPI, 2025-9-26  the Royal United Services Institute, a British think tank : Russia will train and equip Chinese paratroopers to invade Taiwan.
◆  Foreign Affairs, 2025-9-22 First and most important, Taiwan's leaders will need to adequately resource their national defense and resilience. This will require compromise among leaders who prioritize raising compensation for career soldiers and extending the service of conscripts and those who favor fielding new military capabilities.
◆  The Guardian, 2025-9-20 “To avoid war and defend peace we must build defence capabilities and societal resilience through continued preparedness” said  Taiwan's  president, Lai Ching-te
◆  Washington Post, 2025-9-19 The US and Taiwan agreed to a massive package of weapons sales.  The package would consist almost solely of “asymmetric” equipment, such as drones, missiles and sensors to monitor the island’s coastline, the people said. Still, these next-generation weapons may take years to deliver. Taipei is already waiting on billions of dollars’ worth of weapons — including F-16 fighter jets and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
◆  CNN, 2025-9-19 Taiwan unveils first missile jointly developed with American arms company; Adapted from Anduril's Barracuda-500, an autonomous, low-cost loitering ammunition launched from aircraft that is undergoing tests by the US military, the new land-mobile missile can be used against targets at sea or on land.
◆  New York Times, 2025-9-15 Taiwan is ... a source of  advanced semiconductors. But even all that is not worth America's going to war. China's growing arsenal of missiles and nuclear weapons can reach the U.S. mainland.
◆  Foreign Affairs, 2025-9-12 Tension across the Taiwan Strait has raised fears that Beijing and Taipei could soon find themselves at war. A war between China and Taiwan could result from an accident or miscalculation that spirals out of control.  China and Taiwan do ultimately need some level of communication to discuss crisis prevention and find off-ramps that both sides can accept.
◆  Reuters, 2025-9-11 Facing new China 'grey-zone' threat, Taiwan steps up sea cable patrols.
◆  Monocle (UK), 2025-9-11 satellite imagery showed large-scale developments of airports and ports for amphibious vehicles on Chinese islands in the East China Sea. It's believed that these could be used to launch an invasion of Taiwan, which US officials warn Beijing would be ready for as soon as 2027. But on the ground in Taipei, armed forces remain significantly under-manned: active units are only about 80 per cent staffed.
◆  WSJ, The Telegraph, 2025-9-8 In satellite images analysed by the Wall Street Journal, new berths for amphibious warships, as well as mega-airports, can be seen taking form. While the facilities could have multiple uses, China's primary military focus is on Taiwan.
◆  The Diplomat, 2025-9-6 Taiwan's security environment is deteriorating faster than its domestic politics can adapt. What is required is not only frank discussion, but sweeping reforms to the military and a genuine effort to prepare society for the possibility of war. By delaying bolder action, Lai risks a society that remains psychologically underprepared for crisis.
◆  TIME, 2025-9-4 Trump downplayed the apparent convergence of anti-U.S. forces.  Besides Iran, North Korea, and Russia, heads of state or governments from more than a dozen other countries also  attended  the Beijing's parade. These included a number of Southeast Asian countries—Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Vietnam—as well as Pakistan, Nepal, Mongolia, and the Maldives. Others in attendance included leaders from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, the Republic of the Congo, and Zimbabwe.  Two Western heads of state attended: Prime Minister of Slovakia, an E.U. member, Robert Fico and President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić. Representatives from several other countries, including Australia and Singapore, as well as representatives from intergovernmental organizations, including the U.N. and ASEAN, also attended Modi's presence at the SCO summit and absence at the parade reflect the fact that India is hedging itself between China and the U.S., perhaps hoping to reap the benefits of being wooed by both.
◆ New York Times, 2025-9-2 Xi parades firepower to signal that China won't be bullied again, and to show that China can resist pressure from the West.  Mr. Xi offered an implicit message to Taiwan and its international supporters of the perils of any move toward formal independence.
◆ New York Times, 2025-9-4 Beijing's V-Day parade was a message for the West about China's rise.  On display were hypersonic missiles to sink ships and nuclear-capable ballistic missiles that could strike the continental U.S. New armored ground vehicles, which can be dropped from transport planes, and long-range rocket launchers magnified Beijing's threat to Taiwan. And the array of unmanned aircraft and undersea vehicles showed China's push toward drone warfare.
◆  BBC, 2025-8-26 most people in Taiwan – 65% according to a survey released in May by the INDSR - believe it is unlikely that China will attack in the next five years. But the urgency of this question (Whether China will invade) has spiked with a recent escalation in tensions, particularly with William Lai's election last year. Beijing has accused Lai's government of deliberately antagonising them, particularly with the defence drive.
◆ Fox News, 2025-8-23 Over the last decade, Taiwan has imported up to 97% of its energy needs,  experts also argue that Taiwan would likely use up its stores of oil in a matter of weeks to days if China implemented a blockade, Some opponents have also pointed out that wartime scenarios in recent years have shown the security risks surrounding active nuclear power plants
◆ Reuters, 2025-8-22 Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said he hoped defence spending would reach 5% of gross domestic product before 2030.  Taiwan's government said next year's defence budget would reach 3.32% of GDP.
◆ Reuters, CNN, 2025-8-16 Trump says Xi told him China will not invade Taiwan while he is US president
◆ Brookings, 2025-8-11 The White House recently called off a meeting between Taiwan's defense minister and Pentagon officials and delayed action on military sales.  Ely Ratner on WP:  These concessions send a dangerous signal that America's approach to Taiwan is negotiable.  
◆  Foundation for Defense of Democracies  , 2025-8-11 Taiwan's energy dependence is an Achilles heel. Beijing can exploit this issue without firing a single shot.
◆ New York Times, 2025-8-8 Taiwan strained by 20% tariffs, no trade deal, an appreciating currency and political uncertainty. Taiwan's president Lai is facing an intensifying confrontation with opposition lawmakers able to effectively stymie his policies.
◆  The Telegraph, 2025-8-8 Taiwan's deputy foreign minister says that Taiwan needs to “learn and to work with China” to avoid war with a nuclear power.
◆  The Diplomat, 2025-8-4 Ukraine's civil society was well-prepared, psychologically and practically, for Russia's invasion. Taiwan's is not.  Beijing has cultivated a population conditioned to support the state in conflict. Taiwan's strategy has been the opposite: depoliticize, demilitarize, and hope for deterrence through foreign alignment. The discrepancy could be catastrophic
◆  Brookings, 2025-8-1  Beijing generally acts most aggressively when it feels comfortable and confident, and it exercises restraint when it feels a need to regenerate or preserve national power. Yet between now and the 2028 elections, China will not exert so much pressure that it alienates voters who might otherwise support the KMT. Thus, a calibrated, two-handed approach is most likely.
◆  CSIS, 2025-7-31  The “joint blockade campaign” (联合封锁战役) is discussed extensively in Chinese doctrinal writing, and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has signaled that it would consider such a campaign if it acts against Taiwan. Taiwan requires U.S. intervention if China uses military force in a blockade.
◆  The New York Times, 2025-7-25 China may intensify its pressure on Mr. Lai by holding large-scale military exercises near the island in the coming weeks or months, to show its anger over the recall campaign, his speeches and his travels abroad
◆  Council on Foreign Relations, 2025-7-25  In recent surveys, only 36 percent of polled Americans support sending U.S. troops into harms war to break a Chinese blockade or repel a Chinese invasion of the island.
◆  BBC, 2025-7-25
For now, the Pentagon looks set to keep stepping up its activity in Asia unless directly ordered otherwise.  Whether that is enough to give those in power in Beijing second thoughts on launching an invasion of Taiwan, only time will tell, but the stakes look likely to keep on getting higher
◆  National interest, 2025-7-23 3 percent of GDP to defense spending in FY 2026 will likely not be sufficient to cover these stipend increases and the MND's military modernization goals, an aspect equally crucial as recruitment and retention. 
◆  The Strategist, 2025-7-23, 7-21 If China decides to dramatically accelerate unification with Taiwan—the first 24 hours will be pivotal.  China could conceal preparations for an invasion by framing it as a large-scale joint exercise... the opening phase would be a massive missile barrage targeting Taiwan’s airbases, radar stations, naval ports and command centres. Simultaneously, China's air force would launch waves of fighters, drones and bombers to suppress Taiwan's air defences.
◆ Spectator , 2025-7-19 Should the labyrinthine Hengshan command centre nestled under the mountains north of Taipei ever fall, the military practised defending its alternative command centre west of the city. If it ever came to it, there's also an enormous underground airbase complex in a hollowed-out mountain on the East coast.
◆  Fox News, 2025-7-15 CSIS expert: "Japan is always critical,  we can't win the war without them", "Their forces are important, but our ability to use our bases in Japan is critical".  Whether Japan allows the U.S. to center its wartime operations on its territory would be a critical question certain to come up in preparations for a wartime contingency.
◆  Financial Times, 2025-7-15  “If China attacks, one of the first things to go will be our communications systems","we must train for our units to be cut off from their superiors.”But experts said Taiwan's military would struggle to shake off a tradition of centralised command. “Decentralisation is a difficult thing for our armed forces”
◆  iNews UK, 2025-7-15 Experts caution that a long-planned attack co-ordinated by China and Russia is unlikely, at least in the near term, were China to do so eventually, Russia could act spontaneously to take advantage of the situation. A senior research fellow at the London think-tank Chatham House said China had so far been cautious in its approach to Taiwan to avoid all-out war. Approach to Taiwan so far has been to escalate grey zone pressure but fallen short of an invasion, and they will likely continue that as long as possible
◆  Financial Times, 2025-7-12 Trump administration raises eyebrows by calling for commitments from Australia and Japan, “But this request caught Tokyo and Canberra by surprise because the US itself does not give a blank cheque guarantee to Taiwan.”
◆  The Telegraph, 2025-7-9 Taiwan, a country of 23 million people, has 180,000 soldiers and as many as 1.67 million reservists. China has more than two million active soldiers and 1.2 million reservists.  China's PLA significantly exceeds Taiwan across every metric. China has more than six times the number of tanks and aircraft than Taiwan, and nearly five times more artillery. War game simulations have shown that if Taiwan faces Beijing alone, or if the country surrenders before the U.S. is able to assist, it would be overwhelmed in a very short time.
◆  Newsweek 2025-7-10 With the HIMARS and Abrams tanks, the Taiwanese military can strike potential PLA landing forces from greater distances and with more precise firepower, gradually wearing down enemy troops and deploying in dispersed positions to avoid destruction by China's long-range rockets and similar weapons.
◆ BBC, 2025-7-9 Taiwan's military and defence has come under criticism both domestically and externally in recent years.  One survey last year showing only 47.5% have confidence in their defence capabilities.
◆  Council on Foreign Relations, 2025-7-8 One unnamed official told the  Financial Times that China's rocket force and air force were now able to switch from peacetime to wartime operations in the Taiwan Strait at “any time” without warning.
◆  ekathimerini (Greece), 2025-7-3 Taiwan's tough talk raises the cross-strait temperature. China's military planners are surely drafting large-scale military exercises modeled on the live-fire show that followed former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit.  Expect missile tests over the island, flotillas encircling it, and coast guard “inspections” of Taiwanese civilian vessels that could disrupt commercial shipping if Beijing decides to prolong the exercise. Beijing will be tempted to go even bolder, but it'll be deterred by the wild card that is US President Donald Trump's response function.
◆  New York Times, 2025-6-30 “President Lai is trying to fire up his base of support as much as possible in order to ensure the recalls are successful". The president's critics in Taiwan are also harsh, accusing him of stoking divisions and jeopardizing the fragile status quo with China.  China may use Mr. Lai's speeches to justify increasing its military pressure on Taiwan.

continue reading China-Taiwan war (2)

　

　

Taiwan's division

◆  Politico, 2025-12-19 Taiwan faces a new obstacle in securing U.S. weapons to deter a possible attack by Beijing: domestic political deadlock.  The opposition party is using its legislative majority to slow-roll his security agenda.  The weapon systems that State approved the sale of this week are a small portion of what U.S. and Taiwan defense experts say Taiwan needs to deter a Chinese invasion.
◆  Washington Post, 2025-12-12 an increasingly sharp division in Taiwan: As Lai's ruling party attempts to secure the Trump administration's backing in the face of increasing Chinese military threats, politicians such as KMT chair Cheng are promoting stronger ties with Beijing amid growing concern that Lai is inviting conflict and deepening skepticism about whether Taiwan can count on the United States to support it.
◆   South China Morning Post, 2025-12-2 Taiwan opposition blocks US$40 billion defence budget, injecting fresh uncertainty into Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te's ambitious military modernisation plan.  KMT caucus convenor Fu Kun-chi said "We support defending Taiwan," "But not extravagant or opaque arms deals, and not policies that risk turning Taiwan into the next Ukraine."
◆   The Star, 2025-11-30 Opposition critics have accused Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te of stoking fear on the island with his suggestion that Beijing could be preparing to take Taiwan by force by 2027.  Lai's attempt to justify a massive increase in defence spending was nudging Taiwan towards a wartime footing without consensus or clarity.  This risked becoming “protection money – paid without protection”.  The unprecedented military spending could force deep cuts to welfare, health and education, or drive tax increases and borrowing that future generations must carry.
◆   AFP, 2025-11-1 Taiwan's new opposition (KMT) leader against defence spending hike, KMT has close ties with China.   Taiwan president Lai Ching-te, who leads the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), aims to boost defence spending to more than three percent of GDP next year and five percent by 2030, following US pressure to spend more on protecting itself against a potential Chinese attack.
◆   AP News, 2025-10-19 Taiwan's main opposition party elects new leader in a race clouded by claims of China meddling.  Cheng Li-wun pledged to turn KMT from a flock of “sheep” into “lions,” opposing Lai's proposal to boost defense budget to 5% of GDP, local media reported.
◆  Financial Times, 2025-10-16 Taiwan looks more divided now than perhaps one might hope in a country facing an external existential threat like this.   China has been more successful in its political warfare strategy against Taiwan is in its attempts to co-opt individuals, entities, businesses, political parties, but also to divide Taiwan... Trump appears much more transactional than he already was during his first term. Certainly, what comes across as an attempt to compel firms like TSMC — to invest hundreds of billions of dollars into shift production to the United States, which creates divisions within Taiwan that are a little conducive to perceptions of continued American support.
◆  Washington Post, 2025-9-29 China has  numerous “more trusted and controllable” assets on Taiwan. 
Taipei's concern that the CUPP is a fifth column is bolstered by the group's access to weapons... the potential for the CUPP to be weaponized in the event of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
◆  Foreign Policy research Institute, 2025-9-25 Since President Lai Ching-te was inaugurated in May 2024, Taiwan's domestic politics have been in relative turmoil. Large-scale protests, the incarceration of Taiwan People's Party (TPP) leader Ko Wen-je on corruption charges, and an unprecedented recall election targeting thirty-one Kuomintang (KMT) legislators rendered the past fifteen months unusually turbulent.
Early indicators in Taiwan give cause for cautious optimism. The DPP has broadly rallied around President Lai, the KMT is so far not overplaying its hand, and both parties are working together domestically and abroad.
◆  Foreign Affairs, 2025-9-22 a failed “recall” of opposition members that deeply divided the population, and President Lai Ching-te's popularity is collapsing.  But it is far less divided internally than its rough-and-tumble politics might suggest. There also is consensus across Taiwan's political spectrum to increase defense spending.
◆   Washington Examiner, 2025-9-15 Taiwan leaders flaunt de facto sovereignty as Kuomintang warns rhetoric will provoke Chinese invasion.  The KMT rejects the idea of Taiwanese independence as a pipe dream, one that, if pursued too openly, could get the island's population killed. "KMT's position is to manage an ambiguous, vague concept of one [China], while actually maintaining two [Chinas],
◆   Anadolu Agency, 2025-9-18 A Chinese scholar said that Beijing could draw on Germany's post-Cold War model by offering financial support and unconditional citizenship to reunify with Taiwan,  including a “solidarity tax” to fund infrastructure and integration, and equalizing the Chinese yuan with the New Taiwan dollar, currently traded at 1 to 4.22.
◆   BBC,  2025-8-26 Taiwanese celebrities friendly to China, social media influencers and Chinese spouses of Taiwanese citizens have come under close scrutiny, with some deported or forced to leave.
◆   Foreign Policy,  2025-8-21 Taiwan's increasingly fractious internal politics put it further at risk.  Rhetoric by both sides has become increasingly caustic. An attempt by the DPP to recall 24 KMT legislators failed but was a further sign of the parties’ inability to work together.
◆   Bloomberg,  2025-8-12 Taiwan's Lai Sees Approval at Lowest of Tenure After Setbacks. The results follow a landslide defeat in an unprecedented recall effort backed by Lai and the Democratic Progressive Party that aimed to remove more than one-third of opposition lawmakers from office. Some analysts have interpreted the outcome as a sign that voters were weary of Lai's anti-China rhetoric, and instead want the focus on economic and livelihood issues.
◆   Chicago Tribune,  2025-8-5 The failure of recall means that Lai Ching-te will either be forced to work with the opposition to get anything passed in the legislature or spend the remainder of his term as a lame-duck leader
◆  Brookings, 2025-8-1  if the outcome of the recall election funnels political energy into a future-oriented contest to persuade voters of who can best protect peace and preserve the status quo, then it could have a moderating effect on Taiwan’s political discourse. This would be welcomed in Washington
◆  Forbes, 2025-7-27 An important reason why the recall vote was defeated is a testament to the Taiwanese people’s desire to maintain a thriving democracy and a semblance of checks and balances, ... to ensure the Republic of China government can maintain democracy which is not ruled by one voice.”
◆  The New York Times, 2025-7-25 an extraordinary recall campaign could put more power in the president's hands but add to tensions with Beijing.  Opponents say the campaign is an abuse of a process that should be used sparingly.“This recall is a fight driven by hatred,”  Targeted lawmakers were being “totally demonized.”
◆  Reuters, 2025-7-23  The recall groups accuse the KMT of selling out Taiwan by sending lawmakers to China, not supporting defence spending, and bringing chaos to parliament. The KMT rejects those accusations, denouncing Lai's "dictatorship" and "green terror" - the DPP's party colour.  China said Lai is "engaging in dictatorship under the guise of democracy" and "using every means possible to suppress the opposition"
◆  The Guardian, 2025-7-23 Lev Nachman, a  professor at National Taiwan University said “There's a difference between anti-DPP and pro-Beijing, but from the recallers' perspective these have become synonymous.”
◆  The Jamestown Foundation, 2025-7-7 Polling has been inconsistent on whether the public approves of the recall campaigns.  Voters could choose to repeat their message from the 2024 election and opt for maintaining oversight by the opposition after eight years of DPP dominance of the executive and legislative branches of government.
◆◆Reuters, US News, 2025- 6-20 Taiwan to Hold Recall Election for Lawmakers That Could Reshape Parliament. The DPP has given full support for the recalls, calling on people to vote yes and "oppose the communists"
◆◆SCMP, 2025- 6-1 The DPP has denied politically targeting the opposition, but the KMT has accused Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te of weaponising judicial and investigative powers to intimidate opposition lawmakers.  expert: The Lai administration is using judicial probes to sweep through the KMT's local party apparatus.
◆◆AFP News, Eurasian Times, 2025- 5-19 the current dysfunction is distracting lawmakers and eroding public confidence, which benefits Beijing.  Ryan Hass at Brookings: a divided, fractured Taiwan is incapable of addressing its own long-term requirements and vulnerabilities.  Bonnie Glaser: The parties “spend a lot of their time thinking about how to weaken support and damage the reputation and the image of their political adversaries”. Lai's disapproval rating rose to the highest since he took office — the polling group linked to handling of US tariffs on Taiwan and the DPP's unprecedented recall campaign targeting the opposition. eurasiantimes.com/its-advantage-china-as-taiwans-president-who-vowed-to-stand-up-to-beijing-faces-political-turmoil-at-home/
◆  ABC News Australia, 2025-5-10 The KMT has denounced the recall effort as a "witch hunt" and an attempt by the DPP to establish one-party rule. KMT chair E. Chu has accused Mr Lai of launching "a cultural revolution in Taiwan", referencing the bloody purges in China under Mao Zedong.  Mr Lai has rejected characterisations as a dictator. A recent poll found 59.3 % of respondents oppose the DPP's recall campaign, with 33.8 % in support.
◆  The Diplomat, 2025-5-5 TPP chair Huang called for a new set of presidential elections to be held if a new set of legislative elections take place. Some KMT politicians have proposed a vote of no confidence in the Cabinet.
◆  Brookings, 2025-2-12 Taiwan's politics are intense, but today they are in hyperdrive. The three main political parties maintain their own narratives for the causes of the breakdown in Taiwan's comity and its deepening divisions. President Lai Ching-te's toughest test as a leader may be whether he is capable of building consensus within his own political party and forging compromises with key stakeholders across Taiwan's political spectrum.
◆  Foreign Policy, 2025-2-3 The ruling party's engaging in violence in the legislature to prevent bills from being passed, launching what many see as a political witch hunt against the leader of the third party, and attempting politically motivated recalls to target dozens of opposition lawmakers is a terrible look for any self-respecting democracy. These dysfunctional domestic politics are not just embarrassing, but damaging for Taiwan's stability  ──  in Taiwan, recalls have been wielded in a retaliatory and petty manner as political weapons rather than as legitimate means of kicking bad politicians out of office.  The opposition warned that if the DPP could use the judicial system against Ko, it could go after any other politician.
◆  The Diplomat, 2025-1-28 The KMT-TPP alliance's deep cuts to government budget spark widespread recall efforts against KMT legislators in Taiwan.   The scale of this recall effort is unprecedented in Taiwan's democratic history.  Most importantly, the budget cuts raise international doubts about Taiwan's determination to defend itself.  TPP claimed that the reduction is only 6.6 percent of the proposed budget and that the remaining budget is “more than sufficient” for the government's operations.  The majority may not support the recalls.
◆  Washington Times, 2024-12-27 "Elbridge Colby and Pete Hegseth: Charting a new course for U.S.-Taiwan security": With the possibility of recall elections targeting these KMT politicians, Taiwan has an opportunity to confront these internal threats and demonstrate its commitment to national security.

　

Taiwan might have reasons to worry about Trump
◆  The Guardian,  2025-11-30 Trump has now flipped from waging a trade war to gushing gratitude for an invitation to visit Beijing, obtained during his obsequious phone call to Xi last week. Trump subsequently offered no public assurances to Taiwan and, in a separate call, urged his Japanese ally to pipe down. His truckling to Xi reinforced fears in Taipei and Tokyo that, as Ukraine knows, he's chronically unreliable.
◆  CNN, 2025-10-30 Taiwan worries about US support wavering ahead of Trump's meeting with Xi
◆  Asia Times, 2025-10-6 Rather than saving Taiwan to protect the chip supply, Elbridge Colby, now under secretary of defense for policy, said in 2023 that if China takes Taiwan the US should destroy TSMC facilities in Taiwan so China could not have the chips. That would make the shield worse than ineffective.   /  Denny Roy is a senior fellow, East-West Center, Honolulu.
◆   arstechnica, 2025-9-29 Taiwan pressured to move 50% of chip production to US or lose protection
◆   NBC News,  2025-8-29 US Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker:  “A thriving democracy is never fully assured … "
◆   Financial Times,  2025-8-28 The longheld US position to defend Taiwan's independent status in the face of Chinese aggression is looking shaky under the Trump administration, in spite of Taiwanese efforts to court the American president
◆   SKY News, Australia,  2025-8-26 The US is continuing to pressure Taiwan on ramping up military spending while imposing 20 per cent tariffs. This is counterproductive and driving more Taiwanese to question how reliable the US is as a partner.
◆   Foreign Policy,  2025-8-21  Taipei fears that if Trump is willing to do all this just to get a summit with Xi, he might be willing to further accommodate Beijing—e.g.,, by cutting defense sales to Taiwan and formally opposing Taiwan's independence
◆   Brookings,  2025-8-11 Policy experts tend to greet new legislative initiatives with skepticism. Many Taiwan-related proposals contain more symbolism than substance.   Taiwan increasingly looks like a bargaining chip in U.S.-China relations
◆   The Conversation,  2025-8-8 Trump's stance is far harder to predict.  If China were to dangle a trade deal in front of the US president – committing to buy more US goods, put in more investment that is non-problematic on security grounds in the US and generally abide by American demands – would Trump be able to resist?
◆◆POLITICO, 2025-7-31  Taiwan's President ' in a position of political double jeopardy — submit to onerous trade terms and risk blowback from key segments of his constituency or refuse the administration's terms and risk alienating Trump at a time when it faces a potential Chinese invasion risk as early as 2027. “For Taiwan the danger of displeasing Donald Trump is existential”
◆◆Bloomberg, 2025-7-31 Trump likes winners — the problem for Taiwan’s leader Lai Ching-te is that he looks like a man running out of options. It’s an unenviable position to be in, with the threat of punishing tariffs hanging over him. Domestically, Lai is dealing with the fallout from a bruising vote that will embolden the self-ruled island’s pro-Beijing opposition.
◆◆Bloomberg, 2025-7-30 "Washington may be again relegating Taiwan to the back burner and framing Taiwan as a mere bargaining chip in service of the US’ China policy ends”,“If true, it would be a dangerous sign", said an expert at the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub.
◆◆Bloomberg, 2025-7-28 “The fact that at least some in the administration are putting our partnership with Taiwan on the table with Beijing is deeply concerning, and sends a dangerous message to Beijing,” said Laura Rosenberger, chaired the American Institute in Taiwan until this year
◆◆Fox News, 2025-7-29 U.S.-Taiwan solidarity has long included symbolic gestures — but critics suggest that the Trump administration may be undermining that relationship in a bid to engage China on trade.
◆◆Telegraph (UK), 2025-7-29 Bonnie Glaser:  the move (Trump blocked Lai Ching-te's New York stopover) suggested that “Trump wants to avoid irritating Beijing while US-China negotiations are ongoing and planning gets under way for a possible summit with Xi Jinping”, “By signalling that aspects of the US relationship with Taiwan are negotiable, Trump will weaken deterrence and embolden Xi to press for additional concessions regarding Taiwan.”
◆◆Council on Foreign Relations, 2025-7-25 Trump's desire to shoulder this burden,  deterrence in the Taiwan Strait, is very much an open question.  
◆◆Bloomberg, 2025-7-23 Taiwan ran a trade surplus of about $65 billion with the US last year, backed by strong demand for tech goods critical to the AI boom. That imbalance is sure to rankle Trump
◆◆The Telegraph, 2025-7-15 the Australian prime minister says that his country would not join a “hypothetical” conflict with China over Taiwan. President Donald Trump has echoed this position, while also pushing for Taiwan to do its own part to protect itself
◆◆Taipei Times, 2025-7-14 Under a president whose loyalty to democratic norms is ambiguous and whose geopolitical thinking centers on short-term leverage, Taiwan could easily become a pawn in a larger bargain — or worse, left to fend for itself. Trump has previously oscillated between fiery rhetoric on China and overtures of camaraderie with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平). His unpredictability breeds confusion in Taipei, and, perhaps more dangerously, could encourage miscalculation in Beijing. Taiwan must also avoid putting all its eggs in Washington's basket.
◆◆BBC, 2025-7-9 The US is compelled by legislation to help Taiwan defend itself, but Trump has been ambiguous about this and recently refused to comment on whether he would stop China from taking Taiwan by force.  Doubt grows in Taiwan that the US under Donald Trump would intervene militarily in the event of a Chinese attack
◆  Japan's Mainichi (每日新聞), 2025-6-25 Taiwanese trust in the US is surprisingly low. According to the latest survey by the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, only 3 percent like the U.S.; many people doubt whether Washington will really help in cross-strait contingencies. The second-term Trump administration's tariff policy toward Taiwan has been strict, and consideration for Taipei's national security needs has remained lacking.
◆◆The Guardian, 2025-6-1 ask if Trump will fight for Taiwan, the answer is not really in serious doubt.   Some American commentators argue that Taiwan is a bear trap, to be avoided at all costs – music to Xi's ears.
◆  New York Times, 2025-5-22 Some of President Trump's words and actions on Taiwan — raising tariffs,  drastically raising military spending, and accusing Taiwan of stealing the U.S. lead in making semiconductors — have magnified doubts in Taiwan about whether the United States would step in if China attacked the island.nytimes.com/2025/05/22/world/asia/trump-china-taiwan-security.html
◆  New York Times, 2025-5-21 Taiwan's president has taken a tougher stance on China, raising criticism from some who say it's a risky position since a geopolitically fickle President Trump may not offer steadfast support for the island.
◆  Economist, 2025-5-1 Mr Trump's fickleness has made Taiwan's security seem more parlous
◆  The Hill,   2025-4-28 U.S. support is no longer a given. Taiwan risks becoming less a steadfast partner and more a bargaining chip in the U.S.-China rivalry — or worse, standing alone against China
◆  TIME,   2025-4-26 If he won't take on costs and risks to help Ukraine repel Russian invaders, how confident can Taiwan be that Trump will commit U.S. troops and taxpayer funds to defend an “ally” thousands of miles from American shores?
◆◆The WEEK, 2025-4-15 Increasing economic dependence on the US "could placate Mr Trump", said The Spectator, but "experience shows that it could just become a way for Trump to exert more pressure in the future"
◆◆Newsweek, 2025-4-8 Would Donald Trump Defend Taiwan?  Even as Pete Hegseth said that the U.S. priority is the Indo Pacific, the U.S. military is focused on the Middle East, and there have been reports that the U.S. THAAD battery in Seoul along with two Patriot missile batteries, deployed elsewhere, were moved to the Middle East.
◆◆The SUN (UK), 2025-4-8 Trump v Xi trade war makes world a scarier place – China could launch full scale invasion of Taiwan.  Trump cares about the TSMC, but he has made it clear he really doesn't care about Taiwan as an independent democratic state or as a staunch Western ally.  The word is,  Trump has made it clear to China that if he reached some grand bargain with Beijing that was better for America, he'd stand aside and let it absorb Taiwan
◆◆Wall Street Journal, 2025-3-17 Taiwan's military planners signal to Washington the desire for a stable relationship as anxieties simmer in Taipei about whether President Trump would send help to defend against a Chinese attack.  Trump's recent suspension of U.S. support for Ukraine heightened those concerns in Taiwan.
◆◆Washington Post, 2025-3-21 The U.S. president's transactional approach has unnerved many in Taiwan.  The long-standing U.S. policy of “strategic ambiguity”is now even more pronounced.

continue reading Taiwan's Trump problem (2)

　

　

Trump's new tariffs, Taiwan's semiconductor, trade war
◆   Fox Business,  2025-8-27 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said:   chips are a strategic necessity for us.  the United States has five to seven strategic vulnerabilities in critical industries. And President Trump has set about de-risking that.
◆  Global Times, 2025-8-21 US Commerce Secretary warned "For national security, we must manufacture our own chips domestically. We cannot rely on Taiwan, which is 9,500 miles from the US and only 80 miles from China. 99 percent of leading-edge chips should not be made in Taiwan."  US Treasury Secretary echoed Lutnick's remark,  "the single point of failure for the global economy is that 99 percent of the advanced chips in the world are made in Taiwan,"  "And for national security, we have to stop that single point of failure"
◆  POLITICO, 2025-7-31 “U.S. trade negotiators are squeezing Taiwan like a lemon”
◆   Reuters,  2025-8-1 Taiwan says 20% U.S tariff rate is temporary, and the government expects to negotiate a lower figure
◆  Bloomberg, 2025-7-23 president Lai is treading a fine line in negotiations with the US, needing to maintain good relations with the country that provides key security guarantees without angering domestic constituencies, including the farming sector
◆   New York Times,  2025-7-7 The sale of tech equipment to China is likely to be a continuing source of friction, and negotiation, for Taiwan in its dealings with the Trump administration.
◆◆ Bloomberg, 2025-6-19 Taiwan is likely to hold its benchmark interest rate for the fifth straight quarter as it considers worries about tariffs.  Bloomberg, 2025-6-18: US-China Tech Fight Widens After Taiwan Blacklists Huawei
◆◆Wall Street Journal, 2025-6-9 Taiwan exports growth nears 15-Year high on likely frontloading as tariff uncertainty continues. Taiwan expects exports to contract in the second half, citing “escalating trade protectionism and heightened policy uncertainty.”
◆  Foreign Affairs,   2025-5-20 instead of hampering China's military, the trade war could make a shooting war seem more appealing to Beijing.foreignaffairs.com/taiwan/taiwan-tightrope
◆  Reuters,   2025-5-13 "They've agreed to open China, fully open China, and I think it's going to be fantastic for China, I think it's going to be fantastic for us, and I think it's going to be great for unification and peace," Trump said, without mentioning Taiwan.
AIT (a de facto embassy): "It's clear President Trump was speaking in the context of the U.S.-China trade relationship"
　

continue ready Trump's tariff (2)

　

　

 Taiwan's defense and security structures are so deeply penetrated by Chinese spies

China holds large-scale drills around Taiwan after president Lai announced measures to counter China's influence and espionage
◆◆Strategy Page, 2025-7-20 both China and Taiwan have intelligence operatives in enemy territory. Both are also hobbled by corruption within the military and government.
◆◆Eurasian Times, 2025-7-5  The CCP's campaign is not an external nuisance—it is a systemic infection reaching the top echelons of Taiwan's defense and political leadership.   a long-term espionage network carefully cultivated by Beijing, one capable not only of collecting intelligence but also of compromising Taiwan’s command structure and critical infrastructure in a crisis.
◆◆War On The Rocks, 2025-6-25 China might have a way to combine old tools — such as spies, fifth columns, and saboteurs — with newer capabilities pre-staged before the fighting starts — like drones and malware — to overwhelm and paralyze the country.
◆◆L.A. Times, 2025-5-22 Taiwan is worried about spying threats. That may mean deporting thousands of Chinese
◆◆Washington Post, 2025-4-1 China targets Taiwan's president with military drills and personal attacks. Taiwanese expert: "we should call it a pre-invasion operation.”  By specifically targeting Taiwan and blaming Lai, China is engaging in “cognitive warfare” that is gradually making Taiwanese numb to the real threats they face. The gradual ratcheting up of activity in frequency and complexity raises the possibility that “drills could escalate into actual conflict”.
◆◆New York Times, 2025-4-1 Chinese land, navy, air and missile forces would “approach close” to Taiwan and practice “seizure of overall control, etc.  The exercises appeared intended to intimidate Taiwan, without tipping over into a wider confrontation or crisis.  They likely want to persuade the Trump administration that Lai is a troublemaker and to deter the U.S. from maintaining high levels of support to Taiwan.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/world/asia/china-taiwan-military-drills.html
◆◆Washington Post, 2025-3-28 Taiwanese soldiers guarding president's office were spying for China. This shows how severe China's infiltration is in Taiwan; Taiwan's sentencing on espionage activities has been too lenient.  It is now even more uncertain whether Washington would come to Taiwan's aid. Taipei's latest crackdown on espionage helps show Washington that Taiwan is serious about plugging leaks 
◆◆The Diplomat, 2025-4-1 the U.S. has called on Taiwan to do more for its own security, including taking action on frequent cases of defection or espionage
◆◆Washington Examiner,  2025-3-25  Taiwan has already lost its China spy war.  Taiwan's defense and security structures are so deeply penetrated by Chinese spies that Beijing knows everything about its plans to deter aggression by the People's Liberation Army, including American defense and intelligence secrets. At this point, any secrets Washington shares with our Taiwanese partners stand a high chance of winding up in Chinese Communist hands.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/courage-strength-optimism/3357074/taiwan-has-already-lost-its-china-spy-war
◆◆Stanford Review, 2025-2-24 Taiwan's military is dilapidated. Reports of Chinese espionage and infiltration are commonplace throughout Taiwan's military and civil society.
◆◆Reuters, 2021-12-20 The repeated cases of the most senior level of Taiwan armed forces officers being convicted of espionage...Beijing has even penetrated the security detail assigned to protect Taiwan's President.  Well-placed spies in the ranks of the Taiwan military could offer a priceless advantage to China if the two sides plunge into open conflict, according to Taiwanese and U.S. military analysts.

　

The Beiping model: coercion without violence
◆  TIME, 2025-7-29 For China, the hope is that blood being thicker than water will mean that China’s principal appeal for unity with Taiwanese—cultural commonality—will finally have traction.
◆  Brookings 2025-5-12 Beijing has been pursuing an unrelenting campaign of “coercion without violence.” Beijing is working to wear down the confidence of the people of Taiwan in their own future. These tactics include persistent visible military pressure, economic inducements and penalties, diplomatic pressure, covert operations, organized crime, cyber operations, and disinformation.brookings.edu/articles/can-the-us-and-taiwan-advance-a-shared-vision/
◆  Lowy Institute Australia, 2025-5-15 The Beiping model: Victory can be achieved through the slow erosion of political cohesion, economic independence, and societal confidence;  The signs are already visible.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/beiping-model-how-china-could-absorb-taiwan-without-war 
◆   Brookings, 2025-2-12 China's strategy of “coercion without violence” includes cyber intrusions, economic coercion, influence operations, organized crime, united front activities, and ceaseless and intensifying military pressure surrounding Taiwan.  In other words, Beijing is taking a full spectrum of actions...

　

　

Taiwan's  Tougher Stance on China
◆◆Foreign Affairs, 2025-5-15 President Lai's political position is weak compared with that of his predecessor, Tsai. ... this weakness may make Lai bolder, as he might want to ramp up confrontation with China to try to win public support.
◆◆Foreign Policy, 2025-5-1 The Trump administration should rein in Lai before he mistakes Washington's passivity for approval and entangles the United States in a potentially calamitous war.
◆◆Washington Post, 2025-3-31 Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has also adopted a harder line toward China and moved to crack down more on Chinese espionage in what analysts say is an effort to appeal to China hawks in the Trump administration.
◆◆New York Times, 2025-3-23 Taiwan President's Gambit: Time for a Tougher Stance on China.  President Lai may be betting that China's appetite for retaliation will be limited by Beijing's interest in containing tensions with the Trump administration. Part of Lai's calculus is that if the opposition played games with his proposed defense spending increase, that would get Washington's attention in a way they really don't want.  Nationalist politicians accused Lai of unfairly casting his domestic critics as “red” tools of Beijing,  and argue that reinstating  military courts  is backsliding.
◆◆Washington Post, 2025-3-21  For decades, Taiwanese leaders have performed a delicate dance of defending Taiwan’s sovereignty while not provoking Beijing. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te is changing that.  “We are moving toward conflict escalation with China, that's for sure,” said a professor  at National Chengchi University.

　

　

China-Taiwan conflict (2)
◆  The Independent, 2025-6-24 Nato secretary general Mark Rutte has said that China's “massive” military buildup has raised the risk of conflict over Taiwan, there was a real possibility Beijing would urge Russia to create trouble in Europe so as to divide Nato's attention and resources.
◆  The Telegraph, 2025-6-24 Mark Rutte said: “The Chinese will try anything with Taiwan.”
◆  CNN, 2025-6-22 millions of former conscripts exist “on paper,” but years of truncated service and minimal refresher training have left them “underprepared for modern warfare.”
◆  Reuters, 2025-6-17 Taiwan's armed forces are dwarfed by those of China, which has two operational aircraft carriers and ballistic missile submarines and is developing stealth fighter jets. Taiwan is modernisising its military to be able to fight "asymmetric warfare," using mobile and agile systems like submarines, drones and truck-mounted missiles to fend off its much-larger adversary China.
◆  Defense News, 2025-6-14 Taiwan's military reform is failing where it matters most.  one of the main reasons for the decrease in military training is understaffing and a lack of instructors.
◆  Economist, 2025-6-10 Should Taiwan rehearse how to resist occupation by China, striving to be ungovernable after a defeat? Several Taiwanese experts are sceptical. They call such planning defeatist, divisive and panic-inducing
◆  The Hill, 2025-6-10 China's next war ‘could be imminent’ and spread fast.  War is coming to East Asia, and Taiwan — Chinese President Xi Jinping, after all, has staked his personal legitimacy on annexing Taiwan.
◆  Atlantic Council, 2025-6-9 China is carrying out ‘dress rehearsals’ to take Taiwan. the credibility of US deterrence depends on the visible presence of capable military forces west of the IDL and their ability to respond with sufficient force. Lethality and visible presence matter.
◆  National Interest, 2025-6-6 What's needed in Taiwan is for the island to prepare to wage a long-term,  national insurgency against  any possible Chinese invader. Instead, they're trying to make the Taiwanese Armed Forces into a miniature clone of the United States Army. It won't work.
◆  Wall Street Journal, 2025-6-3 The War of Revision Is Coming. Russia's invasion of Ukraine was the start.  Taiwan  could be the next battlefield.
◆  The Guardian, 2025-6-1 Were China to obstruct Taiwanese maritime traffic, launch covert cyber-attacks on Taiwan, or impose a full naval and aerial blockade that fell short of all-out invasion, it could force Trump into a humiliating climbdown.
◆◆NBC News, 2025-5-30 Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense: it is difficult for Taiwan to build a modern fighting force,  in the face of “inherently disproportionate” threats from China.  Even as it works with the U.S., Taiwan is unsure about the extent of the security commitment from Washington.
◆◆New York Post, 2025-5-29 Taiwan fears outside the world will abandon it if China invades.  deputy minister of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council: " in order to stay in power, Xi will have to possibly use force against Taiwan.”.  Many experts or analysts think that maybe Xi Jinping and Putin already formed some agreement. nypost.com/2025/05/29/world-news/why-taiwan-fears-outside-world-will-abandon-it-if-china-invades/
◆◆Financial Times, 2025-5-26 China has increased its ability to launch a sudden attack on Taiwan with faster-paced air and operations, new artillery systems and more alert amphibious and air assault units. the PLA appeared to have the greatest success was “in the development and integration of the joint firepower strike campaign”. But it is struggling..., particularly military leadership and decision making. ft.com/content/c82eb38e-87cb-4468-b013-0f7fce0fc54b
◆◆Lowy Institute, 2025-5-26 Conscription evasion remains widespread. Defence spending has increased but still falls short of the urgency implied by official rhetoric. Civic mobilisation is growing, but slowly. And public opinion remains ambivalent, supportive of autonomy, but unsure about confrontation.
◆◆New York Times, 2025-5-22 critics say that Taiwan's efforts to upgrade military preparations are too superficial and lag China's. Many U.S. officials and experts have urged Taiwan to shift more decisively to newer weapons, such as drones, which are less expensive and more mobilenytimes.com/2025/05/22/world/asia/trump-china-taiwan-security.html
◆  National Interest,   2025-5-20 Taiwan's hope and expectation is that the United States will enter the fray. Wargames point to costly fighting and losses if that happens, including the specter of potential escalation to nuclear war.
◆  Foreign Affairs,   2025-5-20 U.S. provocations—official diplomatic interactions, references to Taiwan as a country, calls for a U.S.-Taiwanese alliance—could incentivize Beijing to undertake a cross-strait invasion.
◆  PBS,   2025-5-20 Michael Swaine: If you put it that way, defending Taiwan to the point of going to war with China, I don't believe is a vital U.S. interest, no.
◆◆Foreign Affairs, 2025-5-15 If Beijing doubts U.S. commitments to the island, that could encourage China to engage in more coercive actions against Taiwan. All these factors dramatically increase the chances that Beijing will miscalculate—and that it could very well use force against the island around 2027
◆◆Wall Street Journal, 2025-5-14 Beijing's new ships can land on beaches and link to form massive mobile piers. Analysts say they're intended to rapidly offload military equipment, setting the stage for a D-Day-style invasion of Taiwan. 
◆◆Wall Street Journal, 2025-5-10 Taiwan's leaders have embarked on an urgent overhaul of the island's defenses to prepare for what they see as the possibility of a Chinese invasion by 2027. The purpose: be able to hold on long enough for the U.S. to come to the rescue. the deputy foreign minister said: Taiwan will also need to know if U.S. forces will show up.
◆◆New York Times, 2025-5-6 China's military  is now the world's largest armed force and rivals the United States in air, naval and missile power.  Xi Can't Trust His Own Military. Taiwan should radically increase spending on weapons such as anti-ship cruise missiles, sea mines and drones. The US should deploy more long-range missiles...
◆◆Economist, 2025-5-1 A blockade could provoke an American military response without forcing Taiwan to surrender. That is why a quarantine is more likely.  Elbridge Colby has long argued that America should concentrate on containing China, not least by explicitly guaranteeing Taiwan's security. Now he says Taiwan is not an “existential” matter for America and suggests the island cannot be defended at acceptable cost. economist.com/briefing/2025/05/01/chinese-military-exercises-foreshadow-a-blockade-of-taiwan
◆◆Foreign Policy, 2025-5-1 Lai Ching-te gave several speeches that went significantly further than his predecessors in positioning Taiwan as a sovereign state that is separate from China.  The Trump administration should rein in Lai before he mistakes Washington's passivity for approval and entangles the United States in a potentially calamitous war

　
◆◆The Diplomat,  2025-4-29 Taiwan was not taking defense reform more seriously, and responding to calls for a dramatic increase in defense spending with a less than credible “counteroffer” to make incremental increases.  PS: War on the Rocks, 2025-4-16: Taiwan's military remains a profoundly unserious organization. It is not ready to wage war.
◆◆Brookings, 2025-4-25 According to our survey, across almost all measures, the United States is seen as a less reliable partner, Taiwan and South Korea both feel less confident that the United States will assist them in the event of a conflict with their respective authoritarian neighbor.brookings.edu/articles/the-trump-effect-on-public-attitudes-toward-america-in-taiwan-and-south-korea/
◆◆TIME, 2025-4-26 Why China-Taiwan relations are getting so tense? Lai Ching-te's DPP lacks a parliamentary majority, and he can't be sure the Trump Administration has his back. Whatever his political intent, Lai has become more strident on cross-Taiwan Strait questions in recent weeks.
◆◆The Hill, 2025-4-19 The commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, gave testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee: In 2024, the People's Liberation Party demonstrated growing capabilities through persistent pressure operations with military pressure against Taiwan increasing by 300%”, “China's increasingly aggressive actions near Taiwan are not just exercises, they are rehearsals”.
◆◆Reuters, 2025-4-18 the Republican Senator Pete Ricketts said that although administrations change, the bipartisan support for Taiwan in Congress continued; The US will keep helping Taiwan in its self-defence.
◆◆The Insider, 2025-4-19 The commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command: China could stop US airpower from achieving air superiority in the first island chain, China's fighter fleet, bombers, and missiles are enough to cause problems. "their advanced long-range air-to-air missiles also present a tremendous threat.".  Researchers have said that China could more easily devastate American airpower than the other way around.
◆◆PBS, 2025-4-7 Taiwan's financial systems, energy and communications are vulnerable to Chinese blockade and cyberattack, and critics worry Taiwan isn't doing enough to prepare for social and economic disruption.   On paper, Taiwan's reserves appear large. But these men say military training is insufficient, Many young people today are reluctant to join the armed forces. There's also a general lack of awareness among civilians about the importance of national defense.
◆◆Washington Post, 2025-3-21 For decades, Taiwanese leaders have performed a delicate dance of  not provoking Beijing. President Lai Ching-te is changing that.  “We are moving toward conflict escalation with China, that's for sure,” said a professor at National Chengchi University.
◆◆Associated Press, 2025-3-18 China conducts air and sea drills (an unusually large number of Chinese military ships, planes and drones entered airspace and waters surrounding Taiwan )  in response to US and Taiwanese statements.  Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te said that Taiwan law designates mainland China as a “foreign hostile force” and said tougher measures... The United States deleted the literal expression that reflected the one-China principle and that did not support Taiwan independence on the website of the U.S. Department of State.
◆◆Wall Street Journal, 2025-3-17 Taiwan envisions Chinese assaults on the island to potentially come by land, sea, air and space as well as through cyberattacks, among others. China could launch a rapid invasion or blockade Taiwan to try to pressure it into submission.
◆  Brookings, 2025-3-13 In surveys (2021, 2022), Taiwanese people were asked how likely they are to be willing to fight against an invasion by China on a one-to-five scale. After observing the invasion, more respondents gravitated to extreme options.  A research in 2022 indicated that the more Taiwanese citizens believe the United States will assist Taiwan, the higher their willingness to engage in self-defense becomes. Additionally, a 2024 study by Ronan Tse-min Fu and colleagues found that when Taiwanese individuals perceive that Taiwan and U.S. interests align, they are more likely to trust that the United States will provide assistance, thereby strengthening their resolve for self-defense.
◆  Fox News, 2025-3-2 most Taiwanese aren't willing to make the sacrifices required for victory in war. Migrant workers serving as essentially mercenaries would only highlight how few of our citizens are willing to fight .  Taiwanese expert says: I understand the logic behind the U.S. policy of strategic ambiguity, but I fear far too many Taiwanese people – especially younger people – are counting on a rescue from Uncle Sam,"
◆   New York Times, 2025-2-25 Mr. Trump said Taiwan was spending far too little on its military and was too complacent about the United States coming to its rescue in a war
◆   Wall Street Journal, 2025-2-22 Taiwan must "adopt a new military culture" akin to that of Israel, turning itself into a warrior-state.
the DPP has flirted with sovereignty and self-determination, it has always been careful to stop short of provoking China with any outright declaration of independence —— that has kept Taiwan and China from falling into war.
◆   Brookings, 2025-2-12 China's strategy of “coercion without violence.”includes cyber intrusions, economic coercion, influence operations, bribery, organized crime, united front activities, and ceaseless and intensifying military pressure surrounding Taiwan. In other words, Beijing is taking a full spectrum of actions...
◆    Economist, 2025-2-6 China is infiltrating Taiwan's armed forces.
Most of the prosecuted cases have been uncovered through internal reporting, showing that anti-spy education is working.
◆    New York Post, 2025-1-23 Trump says he can strike deals that would keep China out of Taiwan. “We have a pot of gold.”,“We have one very big power over China and that's tariffs”.
◆    Washington Post, 2025-1-17 Taiwan is entering a period of political upheaval that could hinder its combat readiness; The two parties (KMT, TPP) that hold the majority in parliament are calling for substantial cuts, including to defense spending; Debates over defense — “whether to increase the military budget or pay a ‘protection fee’ to Trump” — are being “turned into battlegrounds for partisan conflict”.  Trump has declined to give Biden's promise, instead calling for Taipei to pay for U.S. protection.
◆   Bloomberg,   2025-1-14 Taiwan's military is  not  prepared  for a Trumpian  World; With the former president soon back in the White House, Taipei needs to rethink its defense strategy. 
◆   Council on Foreign Relations,   2025-1-15 A top concern among U.S. security analysts is that China's growing military capabilities and assertiveness, as well as the deterioration in cross-strait relations, could spark a conflict that leads to a U.S.-China confrontation.
◆   L.A. Times, 2025-1-13 China is working with gangs, shell companies and others to gain intelligence, Taiwan's spy agency says
◆   Financial Times, 2025-1-13 Taiwan's long stretches of the coast comprise cliffs, reefs and rocks, while the flatter western seaboard is lined with mudflats.  China building new mobile piers could help possible Taiwan invasion;  But military experts said a Chinese invasion force would still struggle to advance through Taiwan's western plains, which are densely packed with paddy fields, fish ponds and urban sprawl, with wide roads often hard to reach from shore.
◆   Financial Times, 2025-1-5 Taiwan suspects a Chinese-owned ship of cutting a subsea cable off its northern coast.

Taipei is concerned that such “greyzone” operations, below the threshold of war, will make it harder to defend against aggression that could eventually escalate to an outright attack.
ps:  Politico Europe (2025-1-5): Taiwan has experienced several dozen incidents of damage to its underwater telecom cables in recent years, without being able to definitively identify the source of the attacks, and has appealed to the European Union for help.
◆   The Hill, 2025-1-7 Lyle Goldstein, a professor at Brown University said the cost of a war with China is “incalculable” and would at the very least sow mass destruction in Taiwan and the South China Sea region;  the U.S. should avoid a war over Taiwan, arguing it amounts to a civil war dispute and, for the U.S., a moral conundrum more than a national security risk.
◆  Wall Street Journal,   2025-1-3 In addition to unleashing its full military power, Beijing would be expected to use a variety of economic strategies in a showdown over Taiwan.  A 2023 study by Rhodium Group and the Atlantic Council concluded that Beijing has been more systematic in preparing such defenses than Russia was to counter Western sanctions.
◆  Washington Examiner,   2025-1-1 The quantity and quality of munitions to deter a Chinese invasion of Taiwan has fallen as they have been diverted to Ukraine.  While Taiwan's 2.5% of GDP spent on defense is impressive compared to many European nations, it is nowhere near what is needed in a nation at the front line of conflict.
◆   USNI News, 2024-12-19 The Pentagon's report: Xi Jinping's goal of having his military ready to carry out a “short, sharp invasion” of Taiwan by 2027 “is not possible right now”; the force has not yet demonstrated the type and scale of sophisticated urban warfare or long-distance logistic capabilities that would likely be required for operations against Taiwan or major contingencies overseas”.
◆   Financial Times, 2024-12-13 US nuclear build-up would not help deter China from using atomic weapons in Taiwan, war game finds;  Unclassified exercise by CSIS and MIT suggests Washington should not go beyond current modernisation plans...  only five of 15 iterations of the nuclear game ended with a withdrawal of the PLA.
◆   Economist, 2024-12-5 American military officials have long worried about a “window of vulnerability” before new weapons enter into service in the 2030s.  But corruption in the PLA is changing the calculations of analysts; China's economic woes and social discontent mean that Mr Xi is turning inward.

The views (the period of greatest danger has probably been pushed out for several years) are not universally shared, in or out of government.  “Xi has his foot firmly on the accelerator and a full tank of gas".
◆   Breaking Defense,   2024-12-6 The head of the Defense Intelligence Agency: China did appear to be on track to meet Xi's 2027 preparedness goal.
 House intel's Himes: You could implement a blockade. You know, what? If you invade Taiwan, what happens? A. You may lose. B. You may reduce the place to smoking rubble, what have you really achieved economically?
◆  Newsweek,   2024-11-20 U.S. Pacific Commander Samuel Paparo:  a cross-strait invasion executed by the Chinese military would be "exceedingly difficult" given the advantages of the U.S. and allies.
◆  Washington Examiner,   2024-12-4 Chinese leaders have said they want their military to be prepared to invade Taiwan by 2027, though U.S. defense leaders have said the date does not guarantee a decision to carry out such an operation has been made. 
War with China would exhaust munition stockpiles "very rapidly", national security adviser J. Sullivan acknowledged that China has "the single biggest advantage", "God forbid we end up in a full-scale war with the PRC" .
　

　

Trump's tariff (2)
◆  The Hill,   2025-4-28 Taiwan's semiconductor industry no longer guarantees lasting security. The US is pressing Taiwan TSMC to increase production in the US, reducing its reliance on Taiwan-based manufacturing. As Taiwan's economic leverage diminishes,  will Washington still view it as indispensable? “Once Trump's America gets what it wants — or if you remove the chips from the equation — will the assurance still be there?”
◆  TIME,   2025-4-26 Though we don't yet know his tariff intentions toward Taiwan, Trump is extremely unlikely to cut it loose, at least in the near term.
◆  BBC,   2025-4-16 Trump is trying to create a chip industry through protectionism and isolation, when what allowed the chip industry to emerge throughout Asia is the opposite: collaboration in a globalised economy.   TSMC have faced challenges with their investments, including surging costs, difficulty recruiting skilled labour, construction delays and resistance from local unions.  major US companies could apply pressure on Trump to reverse any levies on the chip sector.yahoo.com/news/perils-trumps-chips-strategy-us-233939824.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall
◆  New York Times,   2025-4-16 President Trump has threatened tariffs on Taiwan and the chip industry. China has signaled it will not let the trade war keep it from the technology it needs.  Analysts said China's move to exempt chips made in Taiwan was an acknowledgment of just how much China's tech relied on Taiwan. Expert at Techcet said, “Everyone is holding their breath" nytimes.com/2025/04/16/business/china-taiwan-tariffs-chips.html
◆  Washington Post,   2025-4-9 Tariffs put Taiwan on shaky ground with U.S., may open door for China. Taiwan can't afford to take on Beijing and Washington at the same time, Taiwanese professor at NCCU said.  The U.S. aims to push other countries into negotiations through raising the tariffs, hoping they'll buy more American goods and services
◆  Business Insider,   2025-4-8 Trump tariffs are all about Taiwan. Tariffs are an attempt by Trump to reorder the global economy away from Chinese manufacturing.businessinsider.com/trump-tariffs-taiwan-china-invasion-explained-2025-4
◆   CNN, 2025-3-14 TSMC paying Trump a $100 billion ‘protection fee’reignited fears and resignation in Taiwan about losing its crown jewel.   An economist at the University of Chicago: TSMC and others will have to “do whatever they can to make Trump happy.” But the risk is “Once you agree to blackmail, then there's no end of it”

Taiwan's Markets Jolted as Currency Surges Most Since 1980s

Reuters, 2025-5-5

Bloomberg, Reuters, 2025-5-5
Taiwan's president called for an end to "false" news about US forex talks.  "I would also like to ask malevolent people to stop deliberately spreading false information", Lai Ching-te said. Taiwan's monetary authority hadn't been seen aggressively intervening in the market Monday to limit its strength, though it typically does so to smooth out volatility. An unprecedented two-day surge in Taiwan's currency is the latest leg of a scramble out of the U.S. dollar and signal of disquiet in markets as Trump's trade war rattles confidence and disrupts trade relationships.  "Many are saying that's due to pressure from the U.S." a financial industry executive say that "must be the case."; expert at LC Beacon Global Fund:  a weak dollar is certainly an integral part of Trump's strategy to move manufacturing onshore is out

　

　
◆   Fortune, 2025-3-13 TSMC's $100 billion promise to invest in the U.S. won’t shake up the chip supply chain: ‘Most of its capacity is still in Taiwan’.  a senior research analyst at Isaiah Research is skeptical that TSMC's $100 billion pledge will fully materialize.   Timelines for reaching the next generations of chips are “not quite aligned with U.S. capacity right now.
◆   NPR, 2025-3-12 Taiwanese chip giant's investments in U.S. stir 'silicon shield' security worries and divide politics in Taiwan.  TSMC chairman is facing a dilemma, because on one hand, he needs to meet the needs of the Trump administration. On the other hand, he needs to assure the Taiwanese people that we'll be safe.
◆  Reuters, 2025-3-4 TSMC's $100 bln gamble jeopardises 'Taiwan First'.  TSMC committed to set up a major research and development centre stateside, despite an earlier assurance from boss C.C. Wei to keep innovation on the company's home island. That's a threat to Taiwan in multiple ways. The enormous disruption that military conflict would inflict on global semiconductor supply chains is a core part of the deterrence. But the more that TSMC replicates its business offshore, the more this protection will erode.
◆  Bloomberg, 2025-2-15 Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. is considering taking a controlling stake in Intel Corp.'s factories at the request of Trump administration officials, as the president looks to boost American manufacturing and maintain US leadership in critical technologies.
◆  NY Times, 2025-2-13 Taiwan is adjusting to a shift in its relationship with the United States, its primary backer — one that does not focus on shared democratic ideals, and that is more uncertain and transactional. Taiwanese officials have traveled to Washington to float energy deals and defend the island's semiconductors.
◆  Fortune, 2025-2-3 Taiwan offers to help firms move production to the U.S., Southeast Asia, or India as Trump threatens tariffs.  a U.S. think tank argues that a tariff on Taiwanese chips would likely backfire. The organization claims that such a measure will increase prices, hurt U.S. tech firms, and damage relations with Taiwan, while also failing to drive chip and electronics manufacturing back to the U.S
◆  Washington Post, 2025-1-28 the vast majority of chip production happens overseas, particularly in Taiwan  ── Trump said he wanted the manufacturers of semiconductors and chips — which are used in many high-end consumer electronics and sophisticated AI-powered technology and research — to open factories in the United States and would use the threat of high taxes and tariffs to force them to relocate.
◆  Reuters, 2025-1-28 Taiwan Economy Minister said he only expected a small impact from any tariffs imposed by Trump on semiconductor exports given their technological superiority.

In another potential challenge for Taiwan, Trump last week directed federal agencies to investigate persistent U.S. trade deficits and unfair trade practices and alleged currency manipulation by other countries
◆  Politico (EU), 2025-1-30 Trump threatened to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on Taiwanese semiconductor imports in a bid to “return production of these essential goods to the United States of America.” Taipei will convene “emergency discussions” to determine countermeasures...
◆   Business Insider, 2025-1-28 US tariffs on Taiwan's semiconductors could result in a steep increase in costs to Nvidia and other significant customers, such as Apple and AMD. Chip manufacturing efforts in the US are less developed and more expensive than those in Taiwan.   the US's chip manufacturing sector could take years to develop the same capacity as Taiwan's.
◆  CNN, 2024-12-15 Trump's remarks have prompted jitters that Taiwan would need to move more of its critical chip supply chain to the US at a faster pace, that could affect the island's economic security and dismantle the very “silicon shield”  ...
　

　

Taiwan has Trump's problem (2)
◆◆The Hill, 2025-3-13 Taiwan president Lai has clearly gotten the message that he must increase defense spending in a world where the U.S. appears increasingly likely to leave small powers to fend for themselves.
◆   New York Times, 2025-3-6 President Trump has pressed Taiwan to loosen its dominance in advanced semiconductors and to move production to the United States, and he has warned of hefty tariffs if his demands are not met.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/world/asia/taiwan-tsmc-chips-arizona.html
◆   TIME, 2025-2-27 University of London expert says: I haven't seen any evidence that Trump cares much about Taiwan.  Nanyang Technological University scholar says: China may be able to take Taiwan “without too much U.S. interference” if Beijing is able to strike a similar deal with Washington.
◆   New York Times, 2025-2-25 Mr. Trump executes a dramatic reversal of U.S. policy toward Ukraine, insisting that Ukraine is to blame for the war;  In Taiwan, Mr. Trump's stinging comments about Ukraine could feed a current of public opinion arguing that the island has been repeatedly abandoned by Washington and cannot trust its promises.
◆   Eurasian Times, 2025-3-1 Same Playbook! just like the Ukraine minerals deal, the U.S. seeks to secure Taiwan's semiconductor technology through the TSMC-Intel deal.  The agreements conspicuously lack one crucial element—security guarantees in both cases.
◆   New York Times, 2025-2-21 Mr. Trump executes a dramatic reversal of U.S. policy toward Ukraine, abandoning Western efforts to punish Russia for the invasion and insisting that Ukraine is to blame for the war; The prospect of the United States trying to make a deal with Russia over Ukraine, without actually giving Ukraine a seat at the table, will reinforce the sense of American skepticism in Taiwan”nytimes.com/2025/02/25/world/asia/trump-ukraine-taiwan.html
◆    Washington Post, 2025-2-18 Each statement by Trump that degrades the principle that territorial boundaries must not be redrawn by force or coercion might embolden China on Taiwan.  political scientist Graham Allison :  “Taiwan will be depreciated in the triangular relationship”,“I see no evidence whatever that [Trump] believes the U.S. has any vital interest in Taiwan.”
◆    Newsweek, 2025-2-18 Trump's  approach to Ukraine could signal how it would respond to a cross-strait conflict between the East Asian power and its diminutive neighbor.
◆     The Guardian, 2025-2-21 Taiwan holds its breath as a withdrawal of American support here would spark an existential crisis.  “The Trump administration has already demonstrated that it is willing to suddenly and without warning break from decades of bipartisan US policy on China,” says head at ASPI.  Worries about Trump's “lukewarm” view of Taiwan are becoming more obvious ...says professor  at Taiwan's National ChengChi university.
◆   Council on Foreign Relations, 2025-2-21 Trump is making Taiwan more vulnerable. Trump has also made clear that he wants to negotiate a broad economic deal with China, which raises the question of what China will seek in return. If Trump can take Greenland, why can't China take Taiwan?
◆   Politico (EU), 2025-1-30 President Donald Trump's threat to use military force to take control of Greenland and Panama has spooked Taiwan.  Trump's assertions of the U.S. right to use military force — even against longtime allies — in the name of national security concerns could  embolden Beijing to apply that same logic to pursuing its claims to Taiwan.
◆    Wall Street Journal,  2024-11-18 Some in Taiwan say its survival as a self-ruled democracy is at stake, that it can't afford to spend what Trump demands on defense and that it would wither in the crossfire of a U.S.-China trade war.
 Taiwan's military spending is currently at 2.45% of GDP—a lower share than Singapore's 2.8% and South Korea's 2.7%;  In Washington, the percent of GDP is really seen as a proxy for your seriousness.
◆   New York Times,  2024-11-24 Taiwan is ready to defend democracy. Is Trump?  Maybe he will strike some sort of bargain with Taiwan. But whatever Taiwan can offer him, Beijing can easily top.  More and more, there are those in Taiwan who say we are an “abandoned chess piece,” no longer valued by the United States.  China amplifies these fears...
◆   New York Times,  2024-11-6 Some diplomats in Asia expect China to intensify pressure on Taiwan, if not invade the self-governing island it claims as its territory; and China may calculate that Mr. Trump would not go to war for a democracy that he has accused of “stealing” the microchip industry from the United States.  “With Donald Trump, there are large amounts of uncertainty,” said Lev Nachman, a political scientist, “And it's a matter of uncertainty that comes with great risk for Taiwan.”
◆   Washington Post,  2024-11-6 Trump's statements this year that raise doubt about his willingness to come to the island democracy's defense and his misleading assertion that Taipei needs to pay the US for defense. Such rhetoric could “fan the flames of skepticism” about American intent at a time when the Taiwanese are “directly threatened by CCP disinformation aimed at undermining U.S. credibility”
◆   New York Times,  2024-11-10 Taiwan's leading chip makers may face demands from the Trump administration to locate more production in the United States.  Taiwan has already been raising its military spending, partly under pressure from Washington. But Mr. Trump has said that Taiwan should raise military spending to 10 percent of its gross domestic product (from about 2.6 percent).  Sharply increasing military spending could be politically difficult for Taiwan's president.  Beijing, for its part, appears poised to exploit any signs of discord between Washington and Taipei.
◆   Fox News,  2024-11-10 Trump's public comments might suggest that he would not be willing to put boots on the ground to face another global superpower in defense of a tiny island democracy (Taiwan).   there is hope among restraint groups that Trump will be focused on economic warfare with China – rather than military.   "We don't have that alliance with Taiwan, ... the Taiwan issue is a powder keg — it's exceedingly dangerous. "
◆   New York Times,  2024-11-6 news briefing Many believe Trump's foreign policy changes could have a greater impact than anything since the start of the Cold War.

Trump could decide to do the true “America First” thing and withdraw completely, and basically say,  "defending Taiwan is not in our interest.”
◆   Bloomberg,  2024-11-5 Taiwan's Economic Affairs Minister acknowledged that Trump could introduce measures that might prove harmful for Taiwan's semiconductor industry. But the impact will not be as severe as some anticipate.
◆  Reuters,  2024-11-6 From Taiwan to trade, China braces for more rivalry as close US presidential race ends.  Trump might try to use the Taiwan issue as a bargaining chip to gain leverage in other areas, such as offering to restrain Taiwan's provocative actions in exchange for Beijing's compromise on trade.
　

　

How much of the world backs Beijing's claim to Taiwan?
♣   Economist, 2025-2-9 By The Economist's count, 70 countries have now officially endorsed that China is entitled to pursue “all” efforts to achieve unification, without specifying that those efforts should be peaceful.  China's latest diplomatic push appears to be designed to secure global support for its broadening campaign of coercion against Taiwan. That campaign includes the threat of imposing a quarantine or inspection regime on Taiwan  economist.com/international/2025/02/09/chinas-stunning-new-campaign-to-turn-the-world-against-taiwan
♣   Lowy Institute , 2025-1-29 nearly three-quarters of countries (74% or 142 in total) now support Beijing's position that Taiwan is part of China.。A growing number of countries support PRC efforts to “achieve national reunification” without any caveat that Beijing's objectives should be pursued peacefully. The widespread adoption of Beijing's stance might constrain US-led deterrence efforts and could provide the PRC with extra licence to escalate military aggression lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/how-much-world-really-backs-beijing-s-claim-taiwan
♣  National Review . 2024-10-7 Taiwan is losing the battle for diplomatic recognition overseas. The island nation cannot compete with China's “checkbook diplomacy,” preferring instead to await the day when the foreign beneficiaries of Beijing’s largess recognize the substandard services they're purchasing and see for themselves the point of diminishing returns.  Washington treated Taiwan as a chip to be traded away.
♣  National Public Radio, 2024-8-19 Taiwan is not officially considered a sovereign nation by most other countries and does not have the ability to conduct normal diplomacy. 

　

China fumes at Trump after the State Department drops website wording on not supporting Taiwan independence
♣   New York Post, 2025-2-18 The US agreed to acknowledge the so-called One China Policy and recognize Taiwan as part of China in the 1970s under then-President Nixon. But while the US has agreed to the One China Policy on paper, in practice, it has historically shown “strategic ambiguity” on the issue.
♣   NBC News, 2025-2-17 The State Department website has also been changed to add a reference to Taiwan's cooperation with a Pentagon technology and semiconductor development project and to say the U.S. will continue to support Taiwan's participation in international organizations, “including membership where applicable.  China has consistently opposed Taiwan's membership in international bodies such as the WHO.
♣   Independent (UK), 2025-2-17 Beijing accused the Trump administration of "gravely backpedalling" ; It is not the first time the State Department has removed the phrase. It did so in May 2022 but restored it a few weeks later after a strong protest from China.
♣   USA Today , 2025-2-17 US drops website wording on not supporting Taiwan independence, prompting praise from Taiwan island.  the State Department website reads in the update posted : "We expect cross-Strait differences to be resolved by peaceful means, free from coercion, in a manner acceptable to the people on both sides of the (Taiwan) Strait."
♣   The Hill , 2025-2-9 The president's rhetorical pivot from threats to compliments suggests that he may smell a deal in the air.  But US concessions (such as agreeing to "oppose" rather than "not support" Taiwan independence...)  would make the U.S. strategic position in Asia increasingly vulnerable, as they leave Beijing with openings for future exploitation.

　

Trump's defense policy on Taiwan
◆  Brookings, 2025-2-12 Trump said in 2021, if China invades Taiwan, “there isn't a f—ing thing we can do about it.”
◆  Fox News, 2025-2-7 Trump's comments on the campaign trail suggest that he would not be willing to put boots on the ground to face another global superpower in defense of the island democracy.
◆  Newsweek, 2025-1-3 Trump, who positioned himself as being tough on China, has suggested he would not defend Taiwan from China
◆   The Telegraph, 2025-1-13 Donald Trump has appointed a number of hawkish foreign policy advisers to his transition team. However, he has pledged not to allow the US to become involved in foreign wars.
◆   Newsweek, 2025-1-3 Trump, who positioned himself as being tough on China, has suggested he would not defend Taiwan from China
◆  Voice of America,  2024-12-26 Taiwan seeks clarity on Trump team policy amid Chinese pressure.
There is still quite a bit of resistance not only within the security apparatus and armed forces, which don't like the idea of involving citizens in defense, the opposition parties have also sought to derail [relevant] plans and fundings.  What may come next depends on Taiwan's actions and Beijing's assessment of Trump's policies toward the island after he takes office.
◆  Insider,   2024-12-26 Trump's next undersecretary of defense policy, Elbridge Colby, once called for the destruction of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's chip plants if China takes over Taiwan.  In Feb., Colby said "disabling or destroying TSMC is table stakes" if China invades Taiwan.   The US and its allies can't afford to allow China to "have such dominance over global semiconductors," he wrote in 2023.

more

Prosecutors indict former presidential candidate Ko   ♦    He and his supports accused  a political vendetta
◆  Foreign Policy, 2025-2-3 The ruling party's launching what many see as a political witch hunt against the leader of the third party......is a terrible look for any self-respecting democracy... These dysfunctional domestic politics are not just embarrassing, but damaging for Taiwan's stability.  the TPP slammed “green authoritarianism”and warned that if the DPP could use the judicial system against Ko, it could go after any other politician. KMT politicians also appeared...
◆  New York Times,   2024-12-26 Ko has denied the charges and said that he was the victim of a political vendetta mounted by Mr. Lai's government...thousands of supporters  gathered in protests, arguing that the allegations were  flimsy and politically motivated, and that seemingly corrupt politicians from Mr. Lai's DPParty had been spared investigations.    “What's important to keep in mind is that the sort of political force that he awakened in Taiwan is not going to go away,” said Lev Nachman, a political scientist at NCCU.   nytimes.com/2024/12/26/world/asia/taiwan-presidential-candidate-indicted.html
◆  Bloomberg,   2024-12-26 The Taiwan People's Party (founded by Ko) denounced the indictment in a press briefing : “Today, Taiwan is experiencing judicial injustice, with politics and state machinery being used to persecute political opponents,” The indictment “lacks financial evidence and concrete proof, relying solely on pieced-together claims to destroy political adversaries.”
◆  BBC,   2024-12-26 A dark horse in presidential election, Ko won votes not far behind ruling party candidate Lai Ching-te's 40%;  His sizable showing pointed to voters' demand for a more pluralistic political landscape beyond the two main parties.   Ko was expected to seek the presidency again in 2028.    His allies and supporters accused the DPP of using the charges to suppress its opponents.

　

Taiwan has a plan for Trump's inauguration
◆  Radio Free Asia, 2025-1-20 Asia sends top officials to Trump inauguration amid concern over trade, security  ── Trump's return raises fundamental questions in Asia, in particular the extent he will follow through on his promise to ramp up tariffs and his commitment to the security of old allies in an increasingly dangerous world.
Taiwan's delegation will not be able to attend the inauguration “due to space constraints” in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol。Trump's talk of taking control of Greenland and the Panama Canal has triggered a wave of speculation in Chinese social media that he may be willing to let China take control of democratically ruled Taiwan. rfa.org/english/asia/2025/01/20/trump-inauguration-lookahead/
◆  Politico,   2024-12-20 Taiwan has a plan for Trump's inauguration.  Taiwan is launching a new charm offensive on Washington   ── dispatching a large delegation to Washington for the inauguration, which underscores how unnerved Taipei is over what Trump's return to the White House means for the self-governing island.  The Council on Foreign Relations David Sacks: Taiwan is likely to try to address those perceptions by telling Trump and his team that Taiwan “is taking its defense seriously, that it's not a free rider.”

　

Taiwan Lawmakers Brawl Over Controversial Bills
◆   Bloomberg,   2024-12-23 Taiwan's government said a legal change to budget rules could derail its 2025 spending plan, underscoring challenges the opposition is posing to the new leader of the democracy at the core of China-US tensions.
◆   Bloomberg,   2024-12-20 A new wave of political wrangling between Taiwan's ruling and opposition parties that has involved street protests and lawmakers tussling adds to questions about President Lai Ching-te's ability to govern one of the world's most dangerous geopolitical hotspots.

　

China's largest-ever war games around Taiwan
◆  New York Times,   2024-12-10 Taiwan says China has deployed largest fleet of ships in decades, which could block American allies in the region  from coming to Taiwan's defense.  Speculation had been growing for days that China would launch war games in retaliation for visits made by Lai Ching-te to Hawaii and Guam last week; The surge in Chinese ships could also be a signal to the incoming Trump administration, which has yet to indicate how it will deal with Taiwan.
◆  Fox News,   2024-12-10 After Taiwanese president visits Hawaii and Guam, Chinese military makes massive deployment around Taiwan to send 'very simple' message: "The Taiwan Strait is ours"; Taiwan defense officials are raising concerns ..., saying the build-up could eventually lead to war as tensions continue to rise in the area.
◆   Financial Times, 2024-12-15 Big Chinese naval exercise  to "punish" its president, Lai Ching-te, for a trip abroad (included U.S.) leaves Taiwan and US struggling for response.
Taiwan:  the manoeuvres involved all three of the PLA's coastal theatre commands for the first time, a demonstration that they can lock down the First Island Chain.
◆  AFP,   2024-12-11 Taiwan security official : the sea drills were "significantly larger" than Beijing's maritime response to then-US House speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei in 2022, which was China's largest-ever war games around Taiwan.  China's massive maritime operation began in October were aimed at demonstrating that Beijing could choke off Taiwan and also to "draw a red line" ahead of the next US administration.
◆   Radio France Internationale, 2024-12-11 Hopes for 'reunification'    a fact of life on China's window to Taiwan

　

Taiwan's presidential office runs first 'tabletop' simulation of Chinese military escalation
◆   CNN,   2024-12-27 The simulation highlights Taipei's urgency in ensuring preparedness against an increasingly assertive Beijing.  Unlike traditional war games by the military, the tabletop exercise was aimed at testing how different government agencies could "ensure the normal functioning of society" in times of crisis
◆   Reuters,   2024-12-26 The exercise simulated scenarios including China's "high intensity" grey-zone warfare as well as when the island is "on the verge of conflict" to test response readiness by Taiwan government offices and civil society.

　

Taiwan's pres. Lai flies to US, angering China
◆   Wall Street Journal,   2024-12-2 Trump has publicly called for Taiwan to spend more to defend itself and has accused Taiwan's world-class chip makers of stealing American jobs.  In a closed-door speech delivered in English, Lai appeared to address some of those criticisms, outlining plans to bolster the country's self-defense. Lai promised deepening cooperation with the U.S. in the semiconductor industry.
◆   AP,  Washington Post, 2024-12-4 Taiwanese President Lai reportedly has phone talks from Guam with US Congress leaders; their talks seemed designed to underscore the bipartisan support for Taiwan in the U.S. Congress.
◆  New York Times,   2024-11-30 Taiwan's government tries to fathom what changes President-elect Donald J. Trump will bring to U.S. dealings with Taiwan。In uncertain times, Taiwan needs every edge of international advantage that it can get. Taiwanese leaders have used their brief stops to promote stronger ties with the United States; This time, Mr. Lai will not set foot in the continental United States, reducing opportunities for high-profile meetings.
◆  Wall Street Journal,   2024-12-1 Taiwan's President begins Hawaii stopover and sends a firm but conciliatory message to both China and the incoming Trump administration: While Taipei doesn't seek a war with Beijing, it is counting on U.S. support to deter any aggression from its larger neighbor.  "Transits" are part of careful arrangements made between Washington and Taipei to allow its leaders to engage with each other on American soil after the two severed formal diplomatic ties in 1979.
◆  CNN,   2024-11-30 Chinese government labeled Lai's visit as "a provocative act", and could respond by staging a fresh round of military drills near the island democracy.  China hopes to create an incident during the transition period in the United States to create pressure on the incoming Trump team by drawing a red line.
◆  AFP (France),   2024-11-30 President Lai Ching-te's trip has ignited fiery threats from Beijing. Bonnie Glaser:  Lai's tour of the Pacific was an opportunity for him "to show those countries and the world that Taiwan matters".  China always wants to leave the impression that Taiwan is isolated and it is dependent on the PRC.
◆  Deutsche Welle (Germany),   2024-11-30  China has slammed the trip as a step toward independence from Beijing, and described Lai's planned stopover in the US territory of Guam as "separatist actions."

　

 ◆ Brookings, 2024-11-22: To many in Beijing, Taiwan's leaders are testing the boundaries of China's tolerance by incrementally advancing efforts to permanently separate Taiwan from China. American officials generally do not judge that Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has taken steps to undermine peace and stability.   ◆ Daily Mail (UK) , 2024-11-23:  In a war simulation by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)showed devastating costs for all involved. The grim war simulations come at a time of political upheaval, with Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te taking a tougher line with China.

　

Taiwan has a Trump problem
◆  The Atlantics, 2024-10-25 The shortcomings of Taiwan's military lend some validity to Trump's complaint that America's allies don't pay enough for their own defense and dump too much of the responsibility onto the United States—a burden that a second Trump administration might not be committed to bear.
◆  New York Times, 2024-10-26 Mr. Trump criticized Taiwan, saying that “they stole our chip business”,“They want us to protect, ... They don't pay us money for the protection... The mob makes you pay money, right?”America's heavy reliance on Taiwan's semiconductors has been a growing source of concern among U.S. officials, given China's ongoing threats to invade the self-governing island.

　

 Taiwan's Lai Ching-te and China's Xi JinPing congratulate Trump
◆ The Hill, 2024-11-6 Taiwan president congratulates Trump on victory.  William Lai Ching-te  posted on the social platform X. “I'm confident that the longstanding Taiwan-US partnership, built on shared values & interests, will continue to serve as a cornerstone for regional stability & lead to greater prosperity for us all.”
Trump has made several incendiary comments about Taiwan, saying it should have to pay the U.S. to defend the nation against China and that Taipei stole the United States's ability to make semiconductors. He has also called Chinese President Xi Jinping “brilliant.”
◆ CNA, 2024-11-6 Robert O'Brien expresses thanks
◆ Bloomberg, 2024-11-6 Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te is considering trying to make a call to Donald Trump after his US election victory,  in a move that would likely be seen by Beijing as a sign of Taiwan seeking to assert independence. 
Lai has no plan to arrange a congratulatory call with Trump, the Presidential Office said in a statement ( 到目前為止沒有規畫致電表達祝賀之意)
◆  中国央視(CCTV), Dagens (UK), 2024-11-7 Xi Jinping Congratulates Trump, Pushes for Peaceful U.S.-China Future. Chinese President Xi Jinping personally called Donald Trump to congratulate him on his election victory, according to China's Foreign Ministry.  "History has shown that China and the United States benefit from cooperation and lose from confrontation. Stable, healthy and stable Sino-American relations meet the common interests of both countries and the expectations of the international community," Xi stated, as reported by Ukrinform's own correspondent.He expressed optimism that both nations would continue to uphold principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and mutually beneficial cooperation.  "We look forward to further strengthening dialogue and communication with Washington and to managing differences responsibly, finding ways to expand cooperation for the benefit of both countries and the world," Xi added


◆  NY Times, 2024-10-22: The frequency of the exercises suggests that China is stepping up its intimidation efforts: The Chinese military has held two such large-scale exercises since Mr. Lai took office in May, the same number that it held over the previous eight years.◆  Wall Street Journal, 2024-10-17: China practiced a military blockade of Taiwan that is an all too real future possibility.  Short of Taiwan's surrender, a blockade may be President Xi Jinping's preferred option. All underscores the urgent need to buttress deterrence against a blockade or invasion. This means more civil defense training and military spending in Taiwan, and faster U.S. weapons delivery...The next U.S. President could easily face a Taiwan crisis◆  Foreign Affairs, 2024-10-16: By almost universal agreement, the Taiwan Strait has emerged as the most combustible flash point in the world.  Some have called on the United States to make an unequivocal commitment to defend Taiwan. Others have focused on enhancing Taiwan's defenses. A much smaller number of analysts have advocated cutting a deal with Beijing in which Washington ends its commitment to defending Taiwan and the island is left to fend for itself.◆  Council on Foreign Relations, 2024-10-16: Taiwan and other U.S. partners will need to contend with an increasingly capable and aggressive China and rising isolationism and protectionism in the United States. Trump's foreign policy pronouncements reflect sentiments held by many in the United States.

　

China's response to a speech by President Lai Ching-te in Taiwan's national day
◆  New York Times, 2024-10-13 China began holding military drills in areas surrounding Taiwan,  a response to a speech by President Lai Ching-te of Taiwan, who said that China had “no right to represent” the island and China and Taiwan were “not subordinate to each other” .  China did not say when the exercises would conclude.
◆◆New York Times, 2024-10-16 David Sacks, a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, said PLA's activities are coming closer and closer to Taiwan shores.   China's military drills were aimed at demonstrating its potential to choke Taiwan's access to food and fuel and block the skies and waters from which the United States and its allies would presumably approach in coming to the island's defense.  The drills send the message that Taiwan remains so sensitive, so important and crucial for the legitimacy of the Chinese Communist Party”, said Bonnie Glaser.
◆  Reuters, 2024-10-12 China threatens Taiwan with more trade measures after denouncing president's speech

　


　

If China were to invade Taiwan, would you support or oppose the United States: (% support)
　 2024 2023 2022
Using the US military to airlift food and medical supplies to Taiwan 74 78 　
Imposing economic and diplomatic sanctions on china 72 75 76
Sending additional arms and military supplies to the Taiwanese government 59 62 65
SAending US troops to Taiwan to help the Taiwanese gov. defend itself against China 36 39 40
globalaffairs.org/research/public-opinion-survey/taiwan-americans-favor-status-quo

　

　

China's "coercion short of violence" strategy
◆  Associated Press, 2024-10-5 Beijing could wage an economic and cyber war to force a surrender from Taiwan without direct use of military power, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies said in the report.  the U.S. government has yet to formulate a plan to respond to non-military tactics, giving Beijing flexibility in working to undermine Taiwan without triggering an outright response from Washington...
◆  Foreign Policy, 2024-10-4 Taiwan's greatest vulnerabilities extend beyond its military    ──     financial, cybersecurity, and energy risks that China could exploit.
◆  Foundation of Defense of Democracies, 2024-10-4 the “most likely” scenario: Sometime in the next decade, China will combine economic coercion, malicious cyber activity, and limited military moves short of kinetic attacks to break Taiwan's societal and/or economic resilience and force a major adjustment in its policy toward unification. fdd.org/analysis/2024/10/04/targeting-taiwan/
◆  Brookings, 2024-10-3 China's leaders appear determined to show directional progress toward their goal of asserting control over Taiwan. Beijing is pursuing two parallel paths, significant military build-up and "coercion without violence" to compel the people of Taiwan to accept some form of union with the People's Republic of China as a least bad option for Taiwan's future. Harris said in 2022 that the United States would “support Taiwan's self-defense, consistent with our longstanding policy.”. Trump's disdain for alliances and security partnerships, though, negatively impacted Taiwan by calling into question the reliability of America's security commitments. The common thread among these utterances is Trump (team) suggestion that Taiwan is too small and far away for the United States to feel obliged to defend.
◆  American Enterprise Institute , 2024-5-3 From Coercion to Capitulation: How China Can Take Taiwan Without a War / (1) uses economic carrots and sticks, information operations, and military escalation to convince the US and Taiwan that their cooperation directly precipitates further escalation (2) Economic warfare, cyberwarfare, sabotage, rigorous (and pseudo-legal) inspections of ships carrying goods to Taiwan, air and sea closures, electronic warfare, and propaganda (3) break the Taiwanese public's will to resist by intimidating supporters of resistance, sowing doubt and fear ...  (4) information campaigns aim to decrease the US public's and political leadership's willingness to support Taiwan.   aei.org/research-products/report/from-coercion-to-capitulation-how-china-can-take-taiwan-without-a-war/

　

　

　

　

　

                  

★   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on ecosia (Berlin Germany), 2024-12-22, 2024-12-7, 2024-10-10, 2024-9-12, 2024-8-31, 2024-8-8, 2024-8-2, 2024-7-24, 2024-5-1, 2024-4-19, 2024-2-28, 2024-1-23, 2023-11-11, 2023-11-1, 2023-10-10, 2023-9-11, 2023-8-22, 2023-8-8, 2023-7-4, 2023-6-16, 2023-5-31, 2023-5-1, 2023-4-30, 2023-3-23, 2023-2-28, 2023-2-6, 2023-1-21, 2023-1-1, 2022-12-12, 2022-10-10, 2022-9-20, 2022-9-11,  2022-8-23, 2022-8-14,  2022-8-7, 2022-7-29, 2022-7-18, 2022-7-7, 2022-7-1, 2022-6-25, 2022-6-18, 2022-6-10, 2022-6-7, 2022-5-23, 2022-5-16, 2022-5-7, 2022-4-26, 2022-4-10, 2022-4-8, 2022-4-3, 2022-3-29, 2022-3-22, 2022-3-17, 2022-3-12, 2022-3-9, 2022-3-6, 2022-2-28, 2022-2-19, 2022-2-11, 2022-2-8, 2021-11-11, 2021-10-23, 2021-10-8, 2021-10-1, 2021-9-27, 2021-9-19, 2021-9-7, 2021-8-22, 2021-8-5, 2021-6-27, 2021-6-1, 2021-5-9, 2021-5-1, 2021-4-14, 3-23-2021, 3-8-2021, 2-20-2021, 1-19-2021, 10-1-2020;   pic. left: This websites-group was ranked No.1 by keyword "Taiwan comments"  on Ecosia of Germany, 2023-8-22, 2023-2-28, 2023-1-21, 2022-12-12, 2022-5-23, 2022-5-7, 2022-4-26, 2022-4-10, 2022-4-8, 2022-4-3, 2022-3-29, 2022-3-20, 2022-3-12, 2022-3-9, 2022-3-4, 2022-2-28, 2022-2-19,

 2022-2-14, 2022-2-11, 2022-2-8, 2022-1-30, 2022-1-26

　

　

              

★   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on US Google, Dec. 6, 2020, 11-11-2020, 10-10-2020 

　

　

          ◆         
★   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on US Google, 11-9-2020, 11-1-2020, 10-30-2020, 10-10-2020

　

　


★  pic.:   No. 1 "comment Taiwan" on US Google, 2021-8-22, 2021-5-9, 2021-5-1, 2021-4-26, 2021-4-17 

　

　

    

★   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on US Google, 01-01-2021, 12-20-2020  

　

　

　

　

　

U.S. SEAL Team Six  ──   resisting China's invasion ?
◆ Voice of America, 2024-9-14 the secret and precise combat characteristics of the  United States Navy's elite SEAL Team Six mean its role in resisting China's invasion of Taiwan would be very limited and the focus would be on carrying out special tasks.
◆ Financial Times, New York Post, 2024-9-12 SEAL Team Six has spent more than a year training for possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan.  However,  the US has so far declined to explicitly say it would come to Taiwan's aid if attacked.

　

"cyberwar" -  pro-Russian vs Taiwan
◆ CNBC (USA), 2024-9-13 "a large number of foreign IPs launched invalid queries" on stock exchange network, resulting in “unstable service for a short period of time.  Local media reported this attack on the Taiwanese government and financial unites, including airports and tax bureaus by a pro-Russian hacker group in retaliation for comments made by Taiwanese President William Lai (Lai Ching-te) .cnbc.com/2024/09/13/pro-russian-hackers-crash-taiwan-stock-exchange-website-local-media-reports-.html
◆ Daily Express (UK), 2024-9-3 Lai Ching-te  has mocked Vladimir Putin with a humiliating quip, saying his biggest ally China should take advantage of Russia being at its "weakest" and take back territory.

　

　

　

The Chair of TPP (third largest party), Ko Wen-je,  was arrested
★  Financial Times (UK), 2024-9-6 Prosecutors' swift moves against Cheng (former premier 鄭文燦) and Ko Wen-je (Chairman of TPP) have prompted Taiwanese commentators to question whether president Lai was “cleaning house” of political rivals or pushing an anti-corruption crackdown to win back public support (divert attention from the current chaos in domestic politics.). ... investigators typically sounded out their superiors before proceeding with big cases, especially those involving vested interests or politicians. “In a case like this, a signal would have been given from above before they go and detain him".
★ Council on Foreign Relations, 2024-9-3 Ko Wen-je──accuses the government of attempting to “suppress” its opponents and the press and judiciary of “being the government’s political tools.”
★  Asia Nikkei (Japan), 2024-9-5 Ko Wen-je accuses government of witch hunt ... and launched broadsides against the legal system and the press, accusing them of doing the bidding of President Lai Ching-te's Democratic Progressive Party..."the judiciary and the media being the government's political tools" ( the KMT's most powerful lawmaker, that most legal professionals only listen to the DPP)

　

　

Taiwan's Annual Han Kuang exercise      ──   People don't realise the stage of infancy the military is in, said expert of the Atlantic Council.

◆  Newsweek , 2024-7-22 This year's drills are designed to better reflect the uncertainties of actual warfare...participating troops are not being briefed on where or when the "enemy" would strike and with what weapons systems, as a result of the added uncertainties of the new format,...assess how Taiwanese forces would handle a decentralized command structure in the event they are cut off from headquarters, as could happen should Chinese air strikes disable communications infrastructure before any invasion.
◆  Financial Times (UK), 2024-7-21 This year's drill pivots from scripted performances to realistic battlefield scenarios to address the Taiwan military's core problem, which is operational-level and tactical-level decision-making,”  The biggest problem was the general staff's planning process, they need to learn to adapt operational plans to a changing situation in wartime in rapid, live planning cycles.
◆  Barron's,  AFP (France),  2024-7-22 Japan has reportedly concluded that a ground landing in Taiwan by Chinese troops would now be "possible in less than a week" instead of the previous estimate of a month.

　

　

　

China seized Taiwan boat with crew for fishing illegally -  a move could add to tensions between Beijing and President Lai Ching-te of Taiwan.
◆ New York Times, 2024-7-3 China Seizes Taiwanese Fishing Boat in Latest Uptick in Tensions; Bonnie Glaser: China wants to demonstrate to Taiwan that it does not have control over air space and sea space...and sends a  signal to Lai that he is very close to their red lines and he had better not cross them.
◆ CNN, 2024-7-3 China's coast guard detains Taiwan fishing boat near frontline islands; three Taiwan coast guard vessels answered a call for help but retreated to avoid conflict when they were outnumbered by their Chinese counterparts.
◆ Bloomberg, 2024-7-3 China sees Lai as pushing for independence for the US-backed island...Officials in Taipei have also expressed concern that China will detain more individuals from the island to pile pressure on Lai.



　

The US defends Taiwan ?

◆ TIME, 2024-6-4 Asked by Time magazine whether The US might involve boots on the ground, US President Joe Biden said, "It would depend on the circumstances""we are not seeking independence for Taiwan nor will we in fact, not defend Taiwan if they if, if China unilaterally tries to change the status...Not ruling out using US military force. There's a distinction between deploying on the ground, air power and naval power, etc"

 

China's 'reunification' with Taiwan

◆ Reuters, 2024-6-2 Prospect of peaceful 'reunification' with Taiwan is being increasingly "eroded" by Taiwanese separatists and external forces, China says
◆ Wall Street Journal, 2024-6-2
China is determined to subvert and manipulate the island's politics
◆ Daily Express, 2024-6-3 China's Defence Chief asserted that China's military is prepared to engage forcefully, and warned of an imminent "perilous situation of war and danger"

 

　

China Launches Military Drills Around Taiwan as 'Punishment', 'Reprisals'
◆  New York Times, 2024-5-22 China took offense to Mr. Lai's assertion that  —  they “are not subordinate to each other” —  and his emphasis on Taiwan's democratic identity and warnings against threats from China. Beijing accused Mr. Lai of promoting formal independence for Taiwan ── the drill was “based on various stages of an invasion of Taiwan... might feature training to seize one of those islands.
◆ BBC, 2024-5-23 the ongoing exercise is aimed at "simulating a full-scale armed invasion of Taiwan"... for the first time also targeted the Taipei-controlled islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin.  China aims to show Taipei that its east is now exposed to Chinese attack, and to show the Americans that any effort to resupply or re-enforce Taiwan from the east is vulnerable to Chinese missile strikes and naval attack.
◆ AFP, 2024-5-23 China holds war games around Taiwan, vows flowing blood。 CCTV : the drills were partly aimed at rehearsing an economic blockade of the island, "strangle" Taiwan's critical Kaohsiung port to "severely impact" its foreign trade,  and cut off "Taiwan's lifeline of energy imports" as well as "block the support lines that some US allies provide to 'Taiwan independence' forces".   General S. Sklenka described the exercises as "concerning" but not unexpected.
◆ CNN, 2024-5-22 CCTV: creating an omnidirectional approach in pushing toward the island.  An expert ( at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)  calls China's latest drills “an intimidation tactic, part of a pattern, not a sign of imminent war.” Beijing has a robust coercion kitbag from which it will mix and match, ratchet up and back and up again to signal its range of options to coerce and inflict pain。
◆ AFP, 2024-5-22 China slammed the inauguration speech of new Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te as a " downright 'confession of Taiwan independence'"
   full text

　

　

Taiwan has breached its commitments  ─   Taiwan's death penalty "progress" in 10 years
till 2015  2024

★ <BBC> , <Amnesty International> UK , 2012-12-22

Amnesty International has condemned Taiwan's move as "cold-blooded killing".

The executions - by shooting - "made a mockery of the authorities' stated commitment to abolish the death penalty".

"It is abhorrent to justify taking someone's life because prisons are overcrowded or the public's alleged support for the death penalty".

★<Amnesty International>) 、 <European Parliament> ,   Dec. 23, 2012:  Taiwan has breached its commitments: EU

★ London-based Amnesty International organization ), 2015-6-5: a failure of political leadership
 ★ France (2012-12-6) has condemned the execution of six death-row inmates by Taiwan

★<BBC> (Chinese version),  4.30.2014, <Focus Taiwan>, 5.1.2014: ... human rights groups questioned Taiwan's execution this time with political purpose (shifts the focus on China's trade agreement, and nuclear factory issue).  

　

★  DW (Germany), 2024-4-24:

　

☉ tv.Guardian, DW video: Taiwan's claim to be a regional bastion of human rights is undermined by its retention of capital punishment, activists say.


 ☉ co-executive director of the Death Penalty Project :  "Taiwan has said for many years that they're on a road to abolition,"  "But my question is, is that road too long politically and that not enough progress has been made politically to move away from the death penalty?"


 ☉ the issue is often being used by Taiwan gov. as "some kind of political maneuvering."

　

　

7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off Taiwan
◆ New York Times, 2024-4-4 Taipei 101, once the tallest building in the world, still, some experts say that more needs to be done to either strengthen or demolish structures that don't meet standards, and such calls have grown louder in the wake of the latest earthquake.
◆ USA Today, 2024-4-4 The island's two nuclear power stations remain unaffected.  Nvidia said it expects no supply disruptions from the earthquake.  Taiwan, prone to earthquakes, sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” where 90% of the world's temblors take place.  It felt strong in Taipei because of the “basin effect,” which occurs when earthquake reverberations become trapped in soft ground.
◆ Fortune, 2024-4-4 TSMC said its fabrication plants recovered 70% of tools within 10 hours of the earthquake, and that its “critical tools,” such as its multimillion-dollar extreme ultraviolet lithography tools, remain unharmed...  its massive chip foundry mega-complexes are nearly quake-proof.
◆ TIME, 2024-4-4 China offered earthquake aid to Taiwan—Taiwan's quick rejection likely stemmed, experts say, from lingering bitterness over how the 1999 earthquake was handled.
◆ LA Times, 2024-4-4 Just recognizing that the fault didn't get near a major population center is probably the most important factor that reduced the damage.  Some residents voiced concerns about the alert system because not everyone was notified.
◆ United Daily (聯合報), 2024-4-4 Why didn't most of Taiwanese receive government's national alert ?   Why did the government make such a serious misjudgment ?  udn.com/news/story/7338/7876798?from=udn-catehotnews_ch2

　

 

　

Taiwan Confirms US Troops on Front-Line Islands Near China
◆ Wall Street Journal, 2024-3-20 Taiwan acknowledges presence of U.S. troops on outlying islands /  The U.S. planned to expand its presence of troops in Taiwan to between 100 and 200 last year, up from roughly 30 in 2022. The U.S. and Taiwan have been largely silent on the deployment as they attempt to avoid agitating Beijing while they work to fortify Taiwan against a potential Chinese invasion.
◆ Taiwan News, 2024-3-21 US commander denies permanently stationing troops on Taiwan's outer island

　

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◆ Foreign Affairs, 2024-2-20       foreignaffairs.com/scared-strait  brief
Raymond Kuo, Michael A. Hunzeker, Mark A. Christopher GLASER, WEISS, AND CHRISTENSEN reply
(They) argue that Washington and Taiwan are not doing enough to assure Beijing of their intentions, in the process undermining deterrence in the Taiwan Strait.... providing more assurances will simply embolden Beijing to continue its threatening behavior.  Conditional, credible consequences are now essential to encouraging a less bellicose Chinese policy...when deterrence is needed against a determined and capable rival, assurances that are not reciprocated can quickly become concessions. we did not advocate an “assurance first” strategy that offers “concessions” to appease Beijing... the new military measures we think are needed for deterrence will be less effective if Beijing believes they are aimed at buttressing a unilateral assertion of independence by Taiwan or ... an alliance... China can attack out of fear.  They may believe that Taiwan can safely assert permanent sovereign independence as long as there is sufficient military might in place to dissuade Beijing from attacking. If so, they are hardly alone, but we strongly disagree.

　

   

　

the Deaths of Chinese Fishermen That Taiwanese Forces Chased Away - tensions between China and Taiwan reached a new high
GT (China) ,  2024-2-26 Taiwan even used the phrase "rescue explanation of the overturned mainland speedboat" at a press conference, making the accident sound like the mainland fishing boat had accidentally capsized and Taiwan's vessel was there to rescue, blatantly spreading false information.  If the Taiwan authorities continue to disregard the mainland's sincerity, then they will bear the consequences and pay the cost. Calling off the "off-limit" or "restricted" waters in the Xiamen-Kinmen zones, realizing regular law enforcement patrols in the entire Xiamen-Kinmen waters, including boarding inspections of relevant ships  globaltimes.cn/page/202402/1307706.shtml
Associated Press, 2024-2-18 The fishermen's deaths are unusual despite the level of Chinese activity in the waters near Kinmen, which is closer to China than it is to Taiwan's main island
TIME, 2024-2-15 China: Taiwan's officials have long mistreated fishermen from the mainland and forcefully and dangerously seized mainland fishing boats, a pattern it claims led to the recent
Reuters, NBC News, 2024-2-18 China has condemned Taiwan's actions and labeled the death incident "wicked".  The deaths had caused “strong indignation” in China, and there is no such thing as ‘prohibited or restricted waters’.  China will strengthen its law enforcement activities and carry out regular patrols around a small group of Taiwanese-controlled islands off the Chinese coast as tensions rise over the deaths of two Chinese nationals
Daily Express (UK), 2024-2-18 China ramps up coast guard ships in Taiwan waters as tensions rise over fishermen deaths. Tensions between China and Taiwan have reached a new high.
DW (Germany), 2024-2-16 Inevitable Taiwan tensions in 2024
China Daily (China) , 2024-2-19

China: A callous act with disregard for human life. It has caused strong indignation across the mainland ; For many years, the mainland established reception facilities for Taiwan fishermen in numerous coastal areas, provided them assistance such as shelters and supplies, and rescued Taiwan fishing boats and fishermen,。 In contrast, the DPP Taiwan have, for some time, forcefully detained mainland fishing boats under various pretexts and treated mainland fishermen in a rude and dangerous manner, this was the key reason why the fatal incident occurred.  The mainland reserves the right to take further measures, and Taiwan will bear all consequences.
Taipei Times (Taiwan), 2024-2-16 Taiwan (MAC) : Coast guard's conduct appropriate -  they were legally performing their duties and had not erred in any way.  Chinese fishing vessels have been intruding into Taiwan's restricted or prohibited waters for a while to poach high-priced fish

　

　

 ◆  the Lowy Institute Asia Power Index, 2023 Edition
　 Taiwan China Japan Korea Singapore
Comprehensive Power No.14  down 15.2 2nd 3rd 7th 8th
Economic capability 8th  -1.2   down 13.0 2nd  87.0 3rd   5th 6th
Military Capability 11th  +2.1   up 21.7 2nd   68.1 6th   27.4 5th 9th
Resilience 18th   -5.9 down 24.7 3rd   70.4 11th  10th 14th
Future Resources 12th  up 6.5 2nd   72.9 5th 7th 11th
Diplomatic Influence  22th  -3.9   down 19.4 1st    91.5 3rd 6th 10th
Economic Relationships 12th  +0.6  up 11.1 1st   98.3 3rd 5th 4th
Cultural Influence 13th  -2.2   down 12.6 2nd   47.4 3rd 7th 9th
Defense Networks 16th  down 11.8 7th    23.7 3rd 4th 5th
power.lowyinstitute.org/countries/taiwan/

　

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Taiwan's economy - compared with Asian countries
★

Hong Kong

Taiwan
Median wealth per adult (Credit Suisse, Research Institute, 2023 ) US$ 202,410 (world No.3) US$ 108,250
Mean wealth per adult (Credit Suisse, Research Institute, 2023 ) US$ 551,190 US$ 273,790
The average salary (Morgan McKinley, Business Insider, 2023) HK$ 36,583 (about TWD147,204) TWD 48,032 (plus overtime etc TWD 57,045) - storm.mg/lifestyle/4851897
Median salary (UDN, 2023-12-14) about TWD 84,000 about TWD 43,000
Market Capitalization  (UDN, 2023-12-14) more than double of Taiwan's about USD 1.7 trillion
★ At the end of 2022, Taiwan's per capita GDP amounted to $32,756 while Singapore's was $82,808, Japan and South Korea were at $33,815 and $32,255, respectively, according to the World Bank.

　


　

western media ♣  Taiwan's presidential election -  could reignite U.S.-China tensions
Washington Post, 2023-11-28 Beijing calls the race a “choice between war and peace” and it has escalated an intimidation campaign around the island democracy, taking Chinese military aggression in the Taiwan Strait to heights unseen in decades... a vote that could reignite U.S.-China tensions if Beijing takes the results badly.   brief
Washington Post, 2023-11-28 Our policy, therefore, has to be not truculence and deterrence but to make sure that push does not come to shove. That means ... scrupulously avoiding support for Vice President Lai Ching-te.  brief
CNBC, 2023-11-27 Chinese government has framed this elections as a choice between “peace and war, prosperity and decline.”  The outcome of Taiwan’s elections will likely go some way in influencing testy U.S.-China ties and impact security in the Asia-Pacific region more broadly.  brief
Bloomberg, 2023-11-26 an unprecedented third straight term in power for the DPP is by no means a foregone conclusion. After almost eight years in power, there's growing unhappiness with the party and a desire for change, especially among younger voters. brief
Reuters, 2023-11-28 China repeated its attacks on Lai and Hsiao "distorted facts and downplayed the harmfulness and danger of 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities to deceive voters in the 2024 leadership election in Taiwan"  brief
SCMP, 2023-11-29 Taiwan poll: DPP senses win with Lai-Hsiao ticket but Beijing might see 'war'

western media ♣  Taiwan presidential election -  opposition alliance collapse
New York Times, 2023-11-24 even experienced observers baffled as to why the opposition parties would stage such a public rupture over who would be the presidential candidate on a unity ticket... , It really defies theories of coalition building.  Lai's party asserts Taiwan's distinctive identity and claims to nationhood, and has become closer to the United States.  China could respond by escalating menacing military activities around Taiwan, which sits roughly 100 miles off the Chinese coast.   brief
Economist, 2023-11-24 polls suggest the flurry of chaotic opposition negotiating has modestly bolstered both Mr Hou and Mr Ko. After eight years in power, the dpp is struggling especially with younger voters, who are suffering from high housing costs and low wages. Some also worry about a possible war with China.  brief
Bloomberg, 2023-11-24 There is zero chance that the unhappy trajectory in cross-strait relations gets reversed if Lai wins.  It will certainly lead to a continuation and probable escalation of pressures and threats...will impact the nature of the US’s already tense ties with China.   brief
BBC, 2023-11-24 Mr Lai is not much of a campaigner. His poll ratings have gradually sunk, from over 40% in the summer to barely touching 30% now.   brief
VOA, 2023-11-24 analysts say will be a referendum on China relations. Beijing said Lai attempted to hide that he is a “pursuer of Taiwan independence” and an “instigator of war.” brief
Washington Post, 2023-11-24 Lai's advantage is largely thanks to disarray in the opposition camp. He has consistently polled around or just above 30 percent.     A win is not guaranteed. Public grievances against the ruling party have bubbled up during Tsai’s presidency, which has been hit by corruption scandals and grumbling from Taiwanese businesses about lost trade with China;  Lev Nachman:“This election is becoming about who voters think is the safest choice for Taiwan。” brief
Reuters, 2023-11-24 China ties on the line as Taiwan opposition splits in dramatic feud,    potentially easing the way for the ruling party, which has defied Beijing's pressure, to stay in power.
TIME, 2023-11-24 collapse of the alliance is likely to consolidate both the KMT’s and the TPP's vote base on the one hand, as intensified conflicts usually can promote vote base consolidation and unity,  wing voters who have no stable identification with either party will be less likely to vote for [either of] them.”
Wall Street Journal, 2023-11-24 China isn’t backing off Taiwan.  The U.S. will wish it had deterred the crisis when faced with these grim choices; Far better to avoid this conflict than to fight it in any form.

　

　

　

media Biden-Xi meeting
USA Today, 2023-11-15 Biden and Xi spar over Taiwan, Xi said there are no plans for military action, but stressed the need for an eventual resolution
Foreign Policy, 2023-11-15 Taiwan’s Room to Maneuver Shrinks as Biden and Xi Meet; As the latest crisis in the Taiwan straits wraps up, Taipei is on the back foot.
France 24, 2023-11-15 Taiwan set to dominate talks as Xi meets Biden，from Beijing's perspective, the most important issue in the US-China relationship will be over Taiwan
New York Times, 2023-11-16 The two nations have spiraled into their worst relationship in four decades, and Biden’s primary goal was simple: Find a way to keep an increasingly bitter competition with China from tipping into conflict

　

 

　

♣ Taiwan's presidential election
Newsweek, 2023-10-26 Taiwan Voters Must Choose Between 'War and Peace,' China Says
Economist, 2023-10-26 46% of voters are worried about a possible war between Taiwan and China in the next five years. 。KMT and TPP would need to work out an acceptable distribution of cabinet members. If they can fix these issues over the next month, Taiwan could be in for a very tight race.
日本Nikkei Asian Review Taiwan's election may open 'window' for better China ties. International Crisis Group warns that conflict risks are rising
Australia Financial Review, 2023-10-26 voters are torn in Taiwan - Inflation, housing affordability, energy prices and scandals are on the mind of the electorate. As well as whether China will invade, of course.
Reuters, 2023-10-26 Foxconn founder Terry Gou lies low in Taiwan election as China tax probe reverberates

　

 

　

◆ Reuters, 2023-10-24 : Who is running to be Taiwan's next president?
LAI CHING-TE Lai and Tsai Ing-Wen say only Taiwan's people can decide their future.
HOU YU-IH strongly denies being pro-Beijing, and will restart talks with Beijing.
KO WEN-JE China should propose a new framework for engagement with Taiwan and explain what Beijing has to offer

　

  
　

◆  Washington Post, 2023-9-28: Taiwan launches the island's first domestically made submarine for testing
NewsWeek, 2023-9-29 A senior researcher at RAND: The relatively shallow, choppy waters of the Taiwan Strait were well-suited for masking submarines but also harder to operate in.  Policy experts in the U.S.  have urged Taipei to adopt an asymmetric defense strategy based on "lots of small, deadly things—anti-ship missiles, anti-air missiles, etc.—that would make Taiwan a porcupine." Such an approach would become more useful, and submarines less so。
CNN, 2023-9-28 While the Taiwan Strait might be too shallow for submarines to operate in, the vessels could be most useful when deployed to target Chinese warships in the Bashi channel – which separates Taiwan from the Philippines – and the waters between Taiwan and Japan’s westernmost islands.  China has planned for a major naval engagement with the US outside the first island chain, around the Philippine Sea”.
BBC, 2023-9-28 National University of Singapore Drew Thompson:  the "centre of gravity" for any China-Taiwan naval conflict would not likely be in the deep waters off the island's east coast, where submarines would be most effective in...Instead, the main theatre of war would be in the shallower waters of the west coast facing mainland China...The submarine is not optimised for a counter invasion role...
Defense News, 2023-9-29 Reuters has also reported that that Taiwan had recruited engineers and retired submariners from the U.S., U.K., Australia, South Korea, India, Spain and Canada to work on the program
Forbes, 2023-9-28 In CSIS's war games, Chinese escorts, aircraft and submarines usually sank around a fifth of the deployed subs every three or four days throughout the weekslong war. In the end, perhaps a dozen or more subs lay wrecked at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, tombs for thousands of submariners.
The Diplomat, 2023-9-30 Some see the Indigenous Defense Submarine (IDS) program as a poor use of scarce defense resources on a prestige project ;   The ODC ( typically utilizes large numbers of cheaper, smaller, shorter-range, and more survivable weapons systems.) appears to have fallen out of favor as a result of institutional opposition, even though the United States has sought to pressure the government to focus on less gold-plated procurement projects.
PS:
◆ CNN, 2023-9-28: President Tsai Ing-wen hailed this as a significant milestone. “The submarine is an important realization of our concrete commitment in defending our country”.♦  Newsweek, 2023-9-29: Taiwan's former military leader who heads the submarine program said that the slated eight Hai Kun-class boats would bolster the country's defenses to the point that "I don't think we will lose a war.".

　

　

◆  Report to Congress on Taiwan Defense Military Issues
news.usni.org/2023/09/26/report-to-congress-on-taiwan-defense-military-issues
Advantages  including geography and climate.
Challenges (1)  the PLA now is able, or will soon be able, to execute a range of military campaigns against Taiwan.
(2)  Civil-military relations are strained... The archipelago's energy, food, water, internet, and other critical infrastructure systems are vulnerable to external disruption.  Taiwan's civil defense preparedness is insufficient, and Taiwan's military struggles to recruit, retain, and train personnel.  At a societal level, it is not clear what costs — in terms of economic security, safety and security, and lives — Taiwan's people would be willing or able to bear.

◎

  In Times Higher Education 2024, National Taiwan University ranks behind Asian countries - China, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, S. Korea.   In Quacquarelli Symonds，QS  UK 2024, National Taiwan University ranks behind Asian countries - China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, S. Korea, Malaysia.  In CWUR 2023 National Taiwan University ranks behind countries of Asia & Pacific, Japan, S. Korea, China, Australia, Israel, Singapore.   In Nature Index 2023, National Taiwan University ranks No.208 behind China, Japan, Singapore, S. Korea, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, India.

　

　

　

China's economic crisis     news.yahoo.com/china-economic-woes-could-raise-220300203.html  Michael Martina   businessinsider.com/joe-biden-china-unlikely-invade-taiwan-economy-property-crisis-g20-2023-9   Huileng Tan

◆ Reuters, 2023-9-12 :  the Republican chair of a U.S. congressional committee on China says China's economic slowdown could increase the risk of Beijing taking military action toward Taiwan
◆ Insider, 2023-9-11: Biden says China is unlikely to invade Taiwan now because Beijing just too busy with its own economic crisis


　

◆  Taiwanese Divided on US Military Sales /  VOA News , 2023-9-6
♦  66.5% of the respondents support U.S. military sales to Taiwan
♦ 43.1% of respondents think U.S. military sales to Taiwan will further increase tension across the Taiwan Strait. Whereas 37.8% think U.S. military sales can help maintain peace between China and Taiwan
♦ Taiwan rarely has the autonomy to decide what types of weapons it wants to purchase from the U.S. Rather, the deliverables often seem to have been “decided” for Taiwan

♦ there are often deeper political meanings behind U.S. military sales to Taiwan.  These military sales should be conducted more discreetly, rather than publicly announcing these programs

♦  the U.S. provides more offensive weapons for Taiwan through military sales, they believe it increases the risks of prompting a potential Chinese military attack on Taiwan.

voanews.com/a/taiwanese-divided-on-us-military-sales-amid-growing-chinese-threats/7256298.htm

　

　

　

Taiwan presidency -  Lai (DPP), Ko, Hou, Gou (opposition)
◆ BBC, 2023-8-29 Opinion polls also show that around 40% of voters are pretty solid supporters of the ruling DPP. That means the ruling party can be beaten. But to have any chance the opposition would have to unite around a single candidate.  Now Taiwan's opposition vote will be split three ways
◆ Economist, 2023-8-29 The opposition would not end the tensions, but it would probably reduce them by placating China. A win for Mr Lai, might have the opposite effect.
◆ Washington Post, 2023-8-28 Taiwanese voters could either fuel or dampen the mounting tensions. Their choice is between a ruling party determined to maintain Taiwan's political independence, and an opposition that sees closer ties with China as the only viable path.
◆ Wall Street Journal, 2023-8-25 analysts said Lai's lead could erode by the time voters cast their ballots in January, given Taiwan's reputation for volatile politics.
◆ Reuters, 2023-8-28 Any split on the non-DPP side would mean Lai's sure victory in January.
Terry Gou's main theme in his pre-campaign events has been that the only way to avoid war with China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, is to get the DPP out of office.
◆ AP, The Hill, 2023-8-28 Terry Gou announces run for Taiwan presidency. He has received criticism that he was splitting the vote,“I will definitely not allow Taiwan to become the next Ukraine”.  He has received criticism that he was splitting the vote

　

　

　

US Congress CRS Report, 2023-8-24  - Taiwan: Defense and Military Issues
crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF12481
♣  Civil military relations are strained for historical, political, and bureaucratic reasons. The archipelago’s energy, food, water, internet, and other critical infrastructure systems are vulnerable to external disruption. Civil defense preparedness is insufficient, ... Taiwan's military struggles to recruit, retain, and train personnel. It is not clear what costs—in terms of economic security, well-being, safety and security, and lives—Taiwan's people would be willing or able to bear ...
♣ persistent, low-level, non-combat operations that analysts say are eroding Taiwan's military advantages and readiness... unmanned combat aerial vehicle flights near and encircling Taiwan, and reported flights of unmanned aerial vehicles in the airspace of Kinmen...The normalization of PLA operations ever closer to Taiwan's main island in peacetime could undermine “routine” operations or exercises to obscure preparations for an attack.  If the PLA were to use such operations as cover for an imminent attack, it could significantly shorten the time Taiwan would have to respond
♣ many observers argue that Taiwan's military is insufficiently equipped to defeat a possible PRC armed attack.  observers have raised concerns about impediments to the timely delivery of U.S. defense items to Taiwan.

　

　

　

◆  Lai Ching-te 'stopover'
New York Times (2023-8-14 news brief, 2023-8-12) A Taiwanese presidential contender walks a fine line... it's likely that he'll be more muted...Expect restraint...And his visit, however low-key, is also likely to prompt an escalation of Chinese military flights and naval maneuvers near Taiwan, bringing into focus the risks of real conflict over its future. nytimes.com/2023/08/12/world/asia/taiwan-us-china-lai-ching-te.html
NPR (2023-8-12) Taiwan's Vice President is stopping by the U.S. this week, under China's watchful eye，U.S officials pointedly refer to Lai's trip as a transit, meaning a stop for logistical, rather than political, purposes.  
DW (2023-8-12) Beijing labeled Lai  — a separatist and a "troublemaker."
BBC ( 2023-8-14) China accused Washington of engaging Taiwan in political activities under the guise of a stopover.  Mr Lai's visit comes at a low point in US-China relations, with Taiwan emerging as the biggest flashpoint.  Mr Lai has previously called himself - to Beijing's displeasure - a "pragmatic worker for Taiwanese independence".  bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-66495368?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA)   Derek Cai
France 24 ( 2023-8-14) China considers Taiwan its most important diplomatic issue, and is a constant source of friction between Beijing and Washington
CNN (2023-8-13) China calls him a “troublemaker through and through.”. China deplores and strongly condemns the US decision to arrange the so-called ‘stopover'.
 AFP (2023-8-13) China on Sunday vowed "resolute and forceful measures" over a weekend trip by Taiwan Vice President William Lai to the United States

Lai has been far more outspoken about independence than Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, to whom Beijing is already hostile as she refuses to accept its view that Taiwan is a part of China.   news.yahoo.com/china-vows-forceful-response-over-035750831.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall
 Wall Street Journal (2023-8-12) China's leaders have more to think about as they weigh a response.  While it serves Beijing's interests to have better relations with Washington at this moment,” that doesn't mean the Chinese leadership would shy from taking strong action on Taiwan, if they deem it necessary  msn.com/en-us/news/world/us-visit-by-taiwan-vice-president-puts-china-in-a-bind/ar-AA1fbCxI   Chun Han Wong, Joyu Wang, Charles Hutzler
VOA (2023-8-11) experts think Beijing will launch a military response to Lai’s stopovers in the U.S., but the scale will depend on how "official-looking" his trip is. "This includes who he meets with, what he says, and how public those meetings are" ... any reaction deemed too provocative could help increase Lai's chance of winning the election. However, she added that Beijing also worries about sending the wrong signal if its responses are deemed too weak.  voanews.com/a/analysts-us-taipei-aim-to-keep-taiwan-vp-transit-stops-low-key-/7220905.html

　

　

　

◆ Fox News, 2023-7-28  
The coming China war over Taiwan - The US should fight alongside allies, not in their place
♦ a critical question – is Taiwan committed to its own defense? There are multiple indications that the answer is no.
♦ perhaps most alarmingly, some Taiwanese youth, it turns out, are reluctant to die for their country.Research in 2018: Large numbers of young Taiwanese were "apathetic toward the military and averse to service." 
 ♦ Biden must show leadership now, before it’s too late, and force Taiwan to participate much more in its own defense...
 foxnews.com/opinion/coming-china-war-over-taiwan-needs-american-leadership-before-too-late   Rebekah Koffler

　

　

comparisons
Chinese military  Taiwan's military
♦The Guardian, 2023-8-7: the more dramatic parts of China's documentary on Taiwan invasion are pledges by PLA soldiers from various divisions to give up their lives in a potential attack on Taiwan.   ── “If the conditions were too difficult to safely remove the naval mines in actual combat, we would use our own bodies to clear a safe pathway for our [landing] forces,” said  a frogman; “fighter jet would be the last missile rushing towards the enemy" said a pilot.   .theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/07/chinese-soldiers-pledge-to-sacrifice-their-lives-in-documentary-on-taiwan-invasion  Associated Press ♦Wall Street Journal, 2023-7-5: The professionalism and motivation of Taiwan's military are a particular concern, ... “A lot of young people who signed up for the four-year volunteer force decided to pay a penalty and dropped out early because they say they had come for the money—not to fight and not to die".  wsj.com/articles/taiwan-china-ukraine-russia-hong-kong-military-war-517b87d?siteid=yhoof2&yptr=yahoo    Yaroslav Trofimov    Joyu Wang

　

#MeToo in Taiwan
★ New York Times, 2023-7-27 our society remains patriarchal and hierarchical. Under Confucian values, women obey their fathers and their brothers and eventually their husbands. People are expected to respect and yield to their elders and superiors — in short, the powers that be... In a collectivist culture like ours, the burden of being nice and preserving group harmony falls on those with less power and authority nytimes.com/2023/07/27/opinion/taiwan-women-metoo.html  Vickie Wang
★ Reuters, 2023-7-28 Despite Taiwan's reputation as a progressive bastion in a conservative region - the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage...to confront a problem long shrouded in shame and silence.   Victims of abuse often stay silent due to what experts say is a tradition of victim-blaming, cultural pressure, and unequal power relationships.   reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/years-after-metoo-first-swept-world-taiwan-races-respond-2023-07-28/   Sarah Wu   

　

　

National Interest, 2023-7-16    -   Willing to fight ?
China Taiwan
a study conducted by Adam Y. Liu and Xiaojun Li, 55 percent of the respondents supported “launching a unification war ” while 33 percent opposed it ...  another online survey in ThinkChina and Taiwan Inside, 53.1 percent supported armed unification with Taiwan, while 39.19 percent opposed it among Chinese elites.  Instead of making a commitment to defend their territory, most Taiwanese people have a huge hope to rely on external support, particularly from the United States... extension of the compulsory conscription program received backlash from younger Taiwanese.

　

   

　

National Interest, 2023-6-20  nationalinterest.org/feature/are-taiwanese-confident-americans-will-defend-them-206566
“How confident are you that the U.S. would defend Taiwan if China were to start a war against Taiwan?”a web survey (implemented by Macromill Embrain)
　 overall DPP KMT TPP
not at all confident 26.61% 3.23% 55.63% 32.12%
not very confident 37.92 23.12 29.38 48.91
fairly 27.96 48.92 12.50 16.79
very confident 7.51 24.73 2.50 2.19


　

　

　

　

#MeToo in Taiwan


◆  New York Times, 2023-6-25: A torrent of sexual harassment accusations has prompted questions about the state of women’s rights on an island democracy ... entrenched sexism that leaves women vulnerable at work, and a culture that is quick to blame victims and cover up accusations against powerful mennytimes.com/2023/06/25/world/asia/taiwan-harassment-metoo.html
◆ CNN, 2023-6-10: The fallout from the #MeToo revelations risks adding more uncertainty to the all-important presidential race. Taiwan, priding itself on gender equality, is facing its own reckoning over sexual harassment.   Most sexual harassment victims were told to "let it go" ... Such culture of self-sacrifice is deep rooted in Taiwan's political reality, where the "big picture" often comes above everything else.  Only when it happens across society – including in more conservative circles,  will it be the real #MeToo moment.  edition.cnn.com/2023/06/10/asia/taiwan-metoo-netflix-wave-makers-intl-hnk/index.html
◆ The Guardian, 2023-6-8:  The belated #MeToo reckoning has exposed the deeply patriarchal norms that still govern Taiwanese society. while these accusations had played out in the court of public opinion, in formal legal proceedings they were unlikely to succeed.  theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/08/taiwan-ruling-party-rocked-sexual-harassment-claims-metoo AmyHawk
◆ ABC Australia, 2023-6-24: Young women, since they were children, they are already taught to protect themselves, or try to tolerate this kind of inconvenience (accept harassment).  Sexual harassment and sexual assault are prevalent in all kinds of power relationships. The impact of the Netflix show《 Wave Makers (造浪者)》has been huge, and it resonated with young Taiwanese women, s

criptwriter Chien says the show struck a chord because of the prevalence of sexual harassment in Taiwanese society. 
  abc.net.au/news/2023-06-24/taiwan-metoo-movement-triggered-by-netflix-show-wave-makers/102505174  Joyce Cheng and Erin Handley
◆ Washington Post, 2023-6-7:  The #MeToo accusations have caused the DPP's favorability ratings to plummet just as Taiwan gears up for a tough election campaign. The ruling party risks losing to the nationalist Kuomintang.  people across Taiwan have now come forward with experiences of harassment by university professors, doctors, directors and baseball umpires. But the government has until now been slow to respond to reported cases of sexual harassment.    msn.com/en-us/news/world/hit-netflix-show-sparks-a-wave-of-metoo-allegations-in-taiwan/ar-AA1cefPH    Vic Chiang, Meaghan Tobin
◆ Wall Street Journal, 2023-6-7: Sexual misconduct allegations roil Taiwan's U.S.-friendly ruling party.  wsj.com/articles/sexual-misconduct-allegations-roil-taiwans-u-s-friendly-ruling-party-5b0d8894 Joyu Wang  Wenxin Fan
 Women's rights

　

　

　

　

pic. : No.1  "Taiwan comments"  on Microsoft Bing, 2024-8-8,  2024-7-24, 2023-11-1, 2023-9-11, 2023-8-22, 2023-8-8, 2023-6-16, 2023-2-28, 2023-2-6, 2023-1-21, This websites-group was ranked No.1 or 2 by keyword "Taiwan comments"  on Microsoft Bing, 2023-1-1, 2022-12-12, 2022-9-20, 2022-9-14, 2022-9-11, 2022-8-24, 2022-5-23, 2022-5-16, 2022-5-7, 2022-4-26, 2022-4-10, 2022-4-8, 2022-4-3, 2022-3-29, 2022-3-20, 2022-3-17, 2022-3-12, 2022-3-9, 2022-3-4, 2022-2-28, 2022-2-25, 2022-2-21, 2022-2-19, 2022-2-14, 2022-2-11, 2022-2-8, 2022-2-5, 2022-1-31, 2022-1-28, 2022-1-25, 2022-1-20, 2022-1-15, 2022-1-12

　

　

　

　

economist / The world's most liveable cities in 2023
City liveability index, Mar. 2023   -   Taipei ranks world No. 65, Asia's No.14
score

cities in Asia
90+ Melbourne, Sydney, Aucland, Adelaide, Osaka(Japan), Perth, Tokyo(Japan), Brisbane, Wellington, Singapore
 80-90 Seoul(Korea), Hong Kong(Chn),  Busan(Korea), Taipei (Taiwan), Kaohsiung, Taichung
60-80 Noumea, Nantong, SuZhou, Beijing, ShenYang, Shanghai, etc
top 5 cities: Vienna 98.4,  Copenhagen, Melbourne, Sydney, Vancouver ... No.10 Osaka, Aucland 96
 Score out of 100*  five categories: stability, health care, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.

　


　

　

　

　

★ Reuters Report (reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/digital-news-report/2023/taiwan)
 Trust in Taiwan's news overall: 28%; Trust in news I use: 35%; Trust score in 2017/2018: 31%, score in 2022/2023: 28%.   Due to the intense competition in the media market and the interventions of owners, trust in news (28%) remains among the lowest in our survey. In the polarised media landscape, many brands with political colours are less trusted, whereas business publications tend to have higher levels of trust. PTS (55%) remains one of the most trusted brands this year, after internal improvements.

★  RSF, <Reporters Sans Frontieres>, France, 2023: Taiwan's World Press Freedom Index - score 75.54, rank 35.

　

　

　

Elbridge  Colby, a leading voice for a new “pivot to Asia.” John Walters, Hudson Institute CEO
He wants to see the U.S. concentrate efforts on deterring war in the Pacific, even if that means abandoning European interests.。 the U.S. simply does not have the capability for building the alliance system Walters envisions or supplying it with the requisite arms and ammunition to fight wars with two great powers at once; It will take well into the 2030s before we're in much better shape; before Chinese leader Xi Jinping moves on Taiwan, the U.S. should put in place immediate measures to attack the key segments of that CCP economic and military power。 “Ukraine Is No Distraction From Asia.”;  the US can fend off Russian and Chinese revanchism simultaneously; aggression must be met by strong American alliances with key countries, including both Taiwan and Ukraine; the kinds of weapons needed in Ukraine and Taiwan are different enough that supplying one will not substantially affect the other; most Republicans on Capitol Hill remain strong supporters of Ukraine.  Ukraine will help generate (US) domestic resolve to fight for Taiwan. 
washingtonexaminer.com/news/inside-right-debate-ukraine-taiwan  2023-6-1

　

　

　

discrimination in Taiwan
Taipei Times, 2023-6-12: Taiwanese government actively courts Chinese tourists by the hundred thousand, immigration authorities hand out insult after insult to people whose skins are a bit too brown... the reality of its suicidally discriminatory immigration policies is painful for those of us who live and work here. Besides, over 1,000 nurses, have come from Hong Kong and are unable to obtain residency to work
.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2023/06/12/2003801383

　

　

　

Associated Press, 2023-5-2: Unclear who would help Taiwan in a war: Taiwan foreign minister
Japan S. Korea
 Asahi News, 2023-5-1: Asahi poll: 80% of voters said they are worried that Japan would be caught up in the armed conflict if the United States and China clashed over Taiwan, 56% want only SDF rear support to U.S. in event of Taiwan crisis. Which approaches to prioritize for its national security?  70% selected “deepening the relationship with China,” far more than the 26 % who chose “strengthening defense capabilities.”


Responsible Statecraft, 2023-5-2: It is naïve, however, to expect Japan to automatically fight China if the United States intervened militarily.   If Japan were to assume a neutral stance, China might be encouraged to use military force to realize its aim to bring Taiwan under its control. Recent war games conducted by the CSIS suggests that the United States would lose a conflict over Taiwan if it were unable to access bases in Japan. 

　

　

  The Diplomat, 2023-3-21: South Korea Will Stay Out of a Taiwan Strait War，  Seoul’s desire to limit the damage in its relations with Beijing is strong enough that strikes on South Korean territory that killed only Americans would not necessarily bring South Korea into the war as a combatant against China.。
South Korea would limit its support to actions near the low end of the spectrum – strong diplomatic statements, symbolic economic sanctions, and behind-the-lines re-supply of U.S. forces returning from battle.  

　

Axios, 2023-5-2: South Korea would be unlikely to consider sending troops into the Taiwan Strait. But the U.S. could pull some of its own 30,000-strong contingent out of Korea, and would likely expect  Seoul to play a key support role.  That could leave Seoul exposed to retaliation from China, and more vulnerable to North Korea

　
  asahi.com/ajw/articles/14898395  responsiblestatecraft.org/2023/05/02/should-japan-defend-taiwan/    k. sugawa   thediplomat.com/2023/03/south-korea-will-stay-out-of-a-taiwan-strait-war/    axios.com/2023/05/02/taiwan-war-us-philippines-japan-korea-australia  d. lawler, b. a. ebrahimian

　

　

　

　

Taiwan's President  is expected to meet Speaker McCarthy, Beijing will decide how strongly it wants to respond
New York Times, 2023-4-6 Despite the combative words, any retaliation by Beijing may be tempered by the difficult calculations facing China's leader, including over Taiwan's coming presidential race - could hurt the presidential hopes of the Nationalists, which favors stronger ties with China  nytimes.com/2023/04/06/world/asia/taiwan-mccarthy-china.html   Chris Buckley and Amy Chang Chien
New York Times, 2023-4-5 Walking a Tightrope: Taiwan's president, Tsai Ing-wen, who recently visited the United States, has edged closer to America while trying not to anger China   nytimes.com/2023/04/05/us/politics/mccarthy-tsai-taiwan-china.html
New York Times, 2023-3-29 President Tsai Ing-wen risks a show of force from Beijing。 Beijing just lured Honduras to abandon diplomatic ties with Taipei in what many saw as pre-emptive punishment for her trip. nytimes.com/2023/03/29/world/asia/taiwan-president-us-china.html
Bloomberg, 2023-3-29 Tsai is unlikely to use this moment to “push boundaries" , partly to avoid "accusations of being provocative by Taiwanese voters.". Any Tsai meeting with McCarthy "puts the ball in Beijing's court"  news.yahoo.com/china-warns-taiwan-leader-mccarthy-031352507.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall
CNN, 2023-3-30 Beijing warns of ‘severe impact’ on US-China relations as Taiwan’s leader lands in New York
CNBC, 2023-3-30 Taiwan leader's meeting with McCarthy could provoke a ‘big’ reaction from China, says analyst
Washington Post, 2023-3-29 When Honduras switched allegiance from Taipei to Beijing last week, it put the diplomatic future of Taiwan in a more precarious position washingtonpost.com/world/2023/03/29/honduras-taiwan-china-allies-relations/
Newsweek, 2023-3-31 "Tsai's visit to the U.S. can be seen as a face-saving way for the U.S. to avoid another Pelosi-like fiasco from which it is still paying a price in global standing,""At the same time, Ma's visit to China shows there is strong desire on both sides of the Taiwan Straits for a peaceful solution."  msn.com/en-us/news/world/what-two-taiwan-trips-mean-for-fate-of-most-dangerous-us-china-issue/ar-AA19komh  Tom O'Connor
Bloomberg, 2023-3-31 The expected California meeting with McCarthy was considered a concession: At the request of the Taiwanese government, McCarthy decided to put off a potential trip to Taiwan until after presidential elections next year and instead host Taiwan’s leader on US soil.  msn.com/en-us/news/world/white-house-tries-to-keep-china-calm-while-taiwans-tsai-visits-the-us/ar-AA19il7y   Jenny Leonard and Cindy Wang
The Guardian, 2023-3-28 (ex president) Ma Ying-jeou's "we are all Chinese" message is starkly at odds with vision of Tsai Ing-wen, who seeks support from Washington.   Taiwan caught between superpowers as rival leaders visit China and US theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/28/taiwan-leaders-visit-china-us-ma-ying-jeou-tsai-ing-wenTaipei

　

　

　

Honduras ditching Taiwan raises larger geopolitical concerns
AP, Washington Post, The Hill, 2023-3-15 thehill.com/homenews/ap/ap-international/honduras-ditching-taiwan-raises-larger-geopolitical-concerns/   ... a blow to the Biden administration, which has rather fruitlessly tried to convince countries in the region to stick with Taiwan. Taiwan, a U.S. ally,...also exemplifies the American government is “losing it’s grasp on” Latin America
L.A. Times, 2023-3-15 The switch would leave Taiwan recognized by only 13 countries as China spends billions to win recognition of its “one China” policy.   msn.com/en-us/news/world/honduras-to-seek-official-ties-with-china-spurning-its-long-relationship-with-taiwan/ar-AA18EeCH
Bloomberg, 2023-3-15 Tsai Ing-wen has worked to raise the self-governing island’s profile on the world stage during her tenure. Tsai says Taiwan deserves broader recognition and greater support given its status as a democracy. msn.com/en-us/news/world/taiwan-may-lose-official-ally-as-honduras-mulls-china-switch/ar-AA18Du8h

　

　

　

　

Pew Research org., 2023-3-2
US respondents' views about a hypothetical conflict between China, Taiwan differ by question wording
　 a conflict between China and Taiwan China invade Taiwan Taiwan declared Independence, China invaded
support China 8% 7 10
support Taiwan 45% 49 40
remain neutral 47% 44 50
when the scenario involves Taiwan declaring independence. Under this hypothetical, 46% of Democratic respondents say the U.S. should support Taiwan, compared with 28% of Republicans.
pewresearch.org/decoded/2023/03/02/testing-survey-questions-about-a-hypothetical-military-conflict-between-china-and-taiwan/

　

　

　

General's memo spurs debate: Could China invade Taiwan by 2025?    The Hill, 2023-2-2, USA Today, 2023-2-3, FoxNews, 2023-2-3
US generals, officials, experts, law-makers China invade Taiwan by ?
CIA Director William Burns Xi has ordered military to be ready for Taiwan invasion by 2027
Philip Davidson, the former head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (Jan. 2023) China may attack Taiwan — even just its small, outer islands — by 2027
Adm. Charles Richard, commander of U.S. Strategic Command predicted war by 2027
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday (Oct., 2022) Chinese could attack Taiwan before 2024...or a potentially a 2023 window
Secretary of State Antony Blinken (Oct., 2022) on a “much faster timeline” than previously thought.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner (July, 2022) “only a matter of time”
Minihan, the leader of Air Mobility Command 2025
Jacob Stokes, a senior fellow focused on U.S.-China relations at the Center for a New American Security, before 2027,  a crisis or incident that could spiral out of control
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul agreeing with the assessment on “Fox News Sunday.”
Sen. Todd Young (Ind.) 2025
House Armed Services Committee ranking member Adam Smith (D-Wash.)  the 2025 timeline for such an event was “not only not inevitable” but “highly unlikely,”
Retired Army Gen. Barry McCaffrey 2025 ,  a“bad judgment”
Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Nov. 2022) it will be “some time” before the Chinese have the military capability to invade Taiwan.
news.yahoo.com/general-memo-spurs-debate-could-110000282.html

　

　

　

The Guardian, 2023-1-1: Ukraine is in the headlines now. But a whole new world of conflict is about to erupt，Taiwan, North Korea, Iran and Palestine are all potential flashpoints  

NBC, 2022-12-27: Taiwan to extend military conscription to one year, citing threat from China
WSJ, 2022-12-27 a once politically unpalatable move that has become imperative in the face of growing concerns about a Chinese attack and intensifying competition between Washington and Beijing. wsj.com/articles/taiwan-to-extend-mandatory-military-service-11672129529
PBS, AP,  2022-12-27 The White House welcomed the announcement on conscription reform, saying it underscores Taiwan’s commitment to self-defense and strengthens deterrence...mong the youngest demographic group of 20-24, however,  only 35.6 percent said they would support an extension pbs.org/newshour/world/taiwan-extends-compulsory-military-service-from-4-months-to-1-year
CNN, 2022-12-27  Chinese soldiers can only make an amphibious landing after taking control of the air and the sea...before they land, there will likely be bombing and blockade, and we need people to deliver goods and guide residents to air raid shelters  edition.cnn.com/2022/12/27/asia/taiwan-military-conscription-intl-hnk/index.html
Washington Post, 12-27 It had been a widely debated topic for a long time, but faced with Chinese threats, the government was left little room to be hesitant   washingtonpost.com/world/2022/12/27/taiwan-military-mandatory-service-china/
Mainichi Japan , 2022-12-28 The change is said to have come at the request of the United States
 mainichi.jp/english/articles/20221227/p2g/00m/0in/058000c
GT (China), 2022-12-27 "a deplorable decision" made under US pressure  /   the DPP authorities might incorporate some conscripts into the "cyber army" to engage in collecting intelligence and conduct information warfare against the mainland, given their relatively weak capabilities on the real battlefield. ...expecting that the US may ask Taiwan authorities to increase the defense budget to purchase more US weapons and ensure the island's military is in line with US strategy. globaltimes.cn/page/202212/1282753.shtml    12-27

　

　

　

　


★   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on swisscows ( Switzerland search engine  ), 2024-2-28, 2024-1-23, 2024-1-1, 2023-11-1, 2023-9-11, 2023-8-22, 2023-8-8, 2023-7-4, 2023-6-22, 2021-11-10, 2021-10-10, 2021-8-22, 2021-8-5, 2021-6-27, 2021-6-2, 2021-5-9, 2021-5-1, 2021-4-14, 3-23-2021, 3-8-2021, 2-20-2021, 10-1-2020, 8-13-2020

　

　

　

CNN, 2023-3-28: In 2023's “Asia's 50 Best Restaurants, Taiwan ranks No. 9 among Asia's countries, Taipei ranks No. 17 among Asia's cities, Taipei's Mume restaurant ranks No. 45 in top 50 restaurants, the number of Taiwan's restaurants entering top 50 is the least in recent 10 years.  Taipei's Logy ranks No. 57, but its chef is a Japanese.  Tapei's Adachi Sushi ranks No. 87, Kaohsiung's Liberte ranks No. 96.

 Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023
theworlds50best.com/asia/en/list/1-50

rank

countries with the most wins

  number of restaurants selected rank

cities with the most wins

 number of restaurants selected
1 China   (Hong Kong 5, Shanghai 2, ShenZhen 1, Macau 2, Beijing 1) 11 1

Bangkok (Thailand )

 9
2 Japan    (Tokyo 7,  Osaka 1, Wakayama 1, Kyoto 1) 10 2

Singapore

 9
3 Thailand  (Bangkok 9) 9 3 Tokyo (Japan) 7
4 Singapore 7 4 Hong Kong (China) 5
5 S. Korea 4 5 Seoul (S. Korea) 4
6 India 3 6 Shanghai (China) 2
7 Philippines 2 7 Macau (China) 2
8 Vietnam 1 8 Manila (Philippines) 2
9 Taiwan 1 9 Osaka (Japan) 1
♣ No.1 Le Du (Thai.), No.2 Sezanne (Japan), No.3 Nusara (Thai.), 4. Den (Japan), 5 Gaggan Anans (Thai.)...No. 45 Mume (Taiwan Taipei)

　

♣ Bangkok has long been considered a world capital when it comes to street food. But these days, its fine dining scene is proving to be just as alluring.  Though most of the winners on the list are fine dining restaurants, one street food eatery managed to break through the pack – Bangkok’s Michelin-starred Raan Jay Fai

 10 Wakayama (Japan) 1
11 Mumbai (India) 1
12 New Delhi (India) 1
13 Chennai (India) 1
14 ShenZhen (China) 1
15 Kyoto (Japan) 1
16 Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam) 1
17 Taipei (Taiwan) 1
18 Beijing (Chn) 1

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

Biden :  "U.S. forces, U.S. men and women would defend Taiwan"

　
Chicago Tribune, 2022-9-23 Biden pokes at China again over Taiwan. At what cost to US national interests?  if China needs to be confronted militarily (and that's unlikely), Taiwan is precisely the wrong place to try to do that   chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-opinion-taiwan-china-biden-tensions-20220922-tjd6rxcmozgunew3djsycoodsa-story.html
 CNN (US), 2022-9-20 looks like the US has moved from ambiguity to deterrence...  Biden's remarks don't necessarily equate to how he would behave in a real crisis. edition.cnn.com/2022/09/19/world/joe-biden-taiwan-answer-analysis/index.html  
Washington Examiner (US),
2022-9-20		 wrong to commit to Taiwan's defense unambiguously,  two key concerns here. (1) Taiwan's defense spending remains ludicrously low in face of the existential threat it faces. (2) It's one thing to tell a pollster that you're willing to fight and die for your country. It's a different thing to take painstaking steps to prepare for that eventuality. And the hard truth is that far too few Taiwanese are currently taking those steps msn.com/en-us/news/world/the-two-problems-with-bidens-taiwan-defense-pledge/ar-AA120KGw
Japan Times (Japan), 2022-9-20 Cornell prof. called Biden's remarks “dangerous",  this new combo (a pledge to send troops + decisions about independence are Taiwan’s) suggests an unconditional commitment, U.S. is issuing Taiwan a blank check japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/09/20/asia-pacific/politics-diplomacy-asia-pacific/biden-taiwan-remarks-uncertainty/
Bloomberg, 2022-9-20 “Such comments will do more to feed Beijing's sense of urgency than they will bolster deterrence” Taiwan's leaders could move closer to independence    msn.com/en-us/news/world/biden-s-vow-to-defend-taiwan-makes-us-policy-shift-explicit/ar-AA123qxX
 Politico, 2022-9-19 The big question is, what are the costs we're really willing to pay?” Stanford's Skylar Mastro said. politico.com/news/2022/09/19/biden-leaves-no-doubt-strategic-ambiguity-toward-taiwan-is-dead-00057658
Washington Post, 2022-9-19 Yet presidential pronouncements alone can only deter China so much... Congress should provide Mr. Biden and his successors with a stronger set of legislative instructions washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/09/19/biden-china-taiwan-60-minutes/

DW (Germany), 2022-9-19 scholars: "it can lead to very different results than what Biden might be thinking he has the capacity to do,"," US "strategic ambiguity is becoming more strategic and less ambiguous." dw.com/en/biden-us-forces-would-defend-taiwan-if-china-invades/a-63166248
Le Monde (France), 2022-9-19 Alors que l’occupant de la Maison Blanche a tenu des propos forts sur le dossier taïwanais dimanche soir, la Chine a dénoncé « une grave violation de [son] engagement important à ne pas soutenir l’indépendance de Taïwan .   lemonde.fr/international/article/2022/09/19/joe-biden-affirme-que-les-etats-unis-defendraient-taiwan-en-cas-d-invasion-chinoise_6142183_3210.html
 France 24 (France), 2022-9-19  most explicit statement so far on the issue, something sure to anger Beijing.。Biden's Asia policy czar, Kurt Campbell, has in the past rejected any move to "strategic clarity" over Taiwan, saying there were "significant downsides" to such an approach”msn.com/en-gb/news/world/biden-says-us-forces-would-defend-taiwan-if-china-invades/ar-AA11YIsO
Daily Express (UK), 2022-9-19 Bonnie Glaser: " if Mr Biden makes such pledges he needs the "capability" to back them up, If President Biden plans to defend Taiwan, then he should make sure the U.S. military has the capability to do so", “"Rhetorical support that isn't backed up by real capabilities is unlikely to strengthen deterrence"  express.co.uk/news/world/1671100/Joe-Biden-Taiwan-China-Xi-Jinping-CBS-Nancy-Pelosi-White-House-ont
Bloomberg (US), 2022-9-19 Expert Bonnie Glaser: “China has long assumed that the US would intervene to defend Taiwan, so these statements don’t change PLA plans”, Prof. Lev Nachman: “The worry is that this will exacerbate Taiwan's current high-tension moment rather than reduce it.。” Bloomberg     msn.com/en-us/news/world/biden-says-us-would-defend-taiwan-from-unprecedented-attack/ar-AA11Yf55
Washington Post (US), 2022-9-19 Biden’s most hawkish comments on Taiwan yet  /  The implications for that are huge. This is still in the realm of the hypothetical, but it’s a majorly consequential hypothetical that now includes a firm commitment — whether that firm commitment is technically official policy or not    washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/09/19/biden-taiwan-china-defense/
Global Times (CHN) , 2022-9-19 his most explicit answer so far on the question, which analysts believe suggested a shifting process in Washington's decades-long "strategic ambiguity" policy  ...not only his personal views, but also those in his White House team and various political forces on Capitol Hill.  China clearly knows that the US is trying to erode its "one-China policy." If the US moves further toward such "strategic clarity" that is entirely targeted against the Chinese mainland and supports Taiwan's pro-independence behaviors, we will certainly have diplomatic, military and economic countermeasures for them, Xin said.   globaltimes.cn/page/202209/1275600.shtml 
The Conversation  (Australia),
2022-9-20		 so does this support mean economic aid, supply of weapons or U.S. boots on the ground? China and Taiwan are left guessing if – and to what extent – the U.S. will be involved in any China-Taiwan conflict.    news.yahoo.com/biden-again-indicates-us-defend-181440760.html

 

　

　

　

　

Can "silicon shield" protect Taiwan?
New York Times, 2022-9-9 Taiwan is protected by something far more subtle —The "silicon shield"...If it is clear that China will be better off with a steady flow of chips from Taiwan, peace is likely to prevail
New York Times, 2022-8-29 Analysts debate how much protection China's reliance on Taiwan gives it.  Some argue that calculations over supply chains are insignificant in a decision over war.
 National Interest, 2022-5-15 Taiwan's “silicon shield”—the name for a strategy that entrusts the island's defense to both Chinese and American reliance on its semiconductors—is an outmoded concept that burdens the United States, emboldens Taiwan, and fails to deter China
VOA News, 2021-5-10 Song Hong, assistant general director at the Institute of World Economics and Politics under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences  shrugged off the geopolitical implications of Taiwan’s silicon shield, saying that China views Taiwanese issues as domestic affairs and will not be deterred from its goals by U.S. action
Fox News, 2022-8-26 Why would the U.S. fight China over Taiwan, Trade is the key reason and the aforementioned importance of semiconductor production is the glue

　

　

　

 
◆  New York Times, 2022-9-9: Now, Taiwan is protected by the "silicon shield"... “The most advanced category of mass-produced semiconductors —  is known as 5 nm. Taiwan TSMC makes about 90 percent of them. U.S. factories make none.” If it is clear that China will be better off with a steady flow of chips from Taiwan, peace is likely to prevail.  nytimes.com/2022/09/09/business/silicon-markets-china-taiwan.html

　

Taiwan dominates the global production of computer chips / ◆  BBC, 2022-1-12, source: The Military Balnce, IISS 2021
Taiwan S. Korea China Other
65% 18% 5% 12%

news.yahoo.com/china-taiwan-really-simple-guide-142542268.html

◆  New York Times, 2022-1-25:  75 percent of production takes place in East Asia.  Ninety percent of the most advanced chips are made in Taiwan...China could use economic coercion, cyber operations and hybrid tactics to try to seize or harm Taiwan's semiconductor industry — Biden promised he would work to bring production of semiconductor chips back to the United States.  nytimes.com/2022/01/26/us/politics/computer-chip-shortage-taiwan.html

◆  CBS, 2022-7-8: Taiwan accounts for 64% of the total chip foundry market, according to data from TrendForce. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, or TSMC, accounted for 53% of total foundry revenue in 2021, according to TrendForce.  cnbc.com/2022/07/08/why-tensions-between-china-and-taiwan-are-on-the-rise.html
　

　

　

　

　

World's Best Hospitals 2023
by Newsweek
comparison among Asia's selected 12 countries
newsweek.com/rankings/worlds-best-hospitals-2023

Asia's rank

country

total number of top 250  hospitals
1 Japan 18
2 S. Korea 18
3 Australia 7
4 Singapore 5
5 Israel 3
6 India 3
7 Thailand 1
8 UAE 1
9 Taiwan 1
10 Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Indonesia 0
Taiwan's NTU Hospital ranks world No. 249
Asia's China,  etc are not included in survey list - 28 countries
Opinion - Why is Taiwan behind ?

(1) Taiwan got highest CovID death rate in Asia and entire world again and again. /  "Medicine should be prescribed but not prescribed, medicine should be taken but not taken",  bad record of "failure to administer CovID remedy/medicine in time".  Bloomberg, 2021-7-25: Taiwan's medical care system is also run on a tight budget to keep costs affordable.  Newsweek: These are challenging times for hospitals. COVID-19 put unprecedented stress on health systems.

(2) Not patient-centered /  not easy to register clinic, 2-5 minutes for clinic diagnosis, 7-10 waiting days in emergency room to be hospitalized, shortage of some excellent medicines and newest equipments, the number of MDs per 10000 is very low, turnover rate of the nurses is high, some chronic disease items' score very low, poor internationalization, national health insurance ceiling issue, not to value privacy, medical disputes,  not enough resource for rural patients and the disadvantaged...

　

Newsweek: Among the hallmarks of great hospitals, however, are not just first-class care, first-class research and first-class innovation. The very best institutions also share another quality: consistency. The world's best hospitals consistently attract the best people and provide the best outcomes for patients as well as the most important new therapies and research.　

　

　

　

New York Times,  2023-2-16,  News briefing
CovID death per 100,000 people since 2020
comparison among Asia's countries
Australia Taiwan S. Korea Indonesia Japan New Zealand Singapore China (official count)
74 70 65 59 55 50 30 6
China's official toll includes only infected people who died in hospitals

　

　

　

　

Economist, 2022-3-12: Taiwan ranks top 10~11 on the crony-capitalism index
Rich folk in autocratic countries remain vulnerable to the whims of dictators / 
Rent-seeking entrepreneurs tend to use their relationships with the state to maximise profits.  some are characterised by the modern equivalent of the robber barons in late-19th-century America.

　

Economist, The crony-capitalism index
Billionaire wealth as % of GDP, 2021   Ranked by crony-sector wealth
1(1) Russia 8(7) Indonesia
2(2) Malaysia 9(12) Thailand
3(4) Singapore 10(11) China
4(3) Philippines 11(10) Taiwan
7(9) India 20(19) Japan

The crony-capitalism index
Billionaire wealth as % of GDP, 2016 Rankedby crony-sector wealth
1 Russia 9 India
2 Malaysia 10 Taiwan
3 Philippines 11 China
4 Singapore 12 Thailand
7 Indonesia 19 Japan

　

　

　

　

　

Taiwan proposes large rise in defense spending specifically to acquire new fighter jets and other projects to boost naval and air capabilities (news, 2022-8-25)
Taiwan  vs.  US

Taiwan VS. US's "porcupine"  weapons

The US disagrees Taiwan's requests for big-ticket weapons


◆ Financial Times, 2022-8-19: Intensified military pressure from China has reinforced Taiwan's desire to acquire large weapons platforms such as warships and fighters...widens gulf on procurement policy between Taipei and its main arms supplier

ft.com/content/0d492ad7-9346-4c9e-b186-834c6fc75e85


◆ Economist, 2022-5-10:These flashier purchases are politically popular... Some of Taiwan’s political and military leaders believe it is more important to counter such “grey zone” attacks than to prepare for an invasion. A full-scale assault has long been hypothetical, after all, while incursions have increased every year
◆WEEK (UK), 2022-5-12: Taiwan plans to “throw a thousand tanks at the beachhead” in the event of a Chinese invasion that could result in “brutal tank battles”

◆ United Dialy (Taiwan), 2022-5-19 : Can the guerrillas of Stinger missiles and Javelin missiles really block the Russian main force in Ukraine?

 ◆ The China Times (Taiwan), 2021-10-26 : Urban guerrilla warfare will turn cities into ruins and cause a large number of civilian casualties。
◆ Foreign Policy, 2020-8-20 : “Their underlying thinking is that PLA has grown to be too strong for us to fight militarily anyway... Taiwan should just focus on putting up a good show of being tough, buy enough U.S. weapons for display, and pray that Americans come to our rescue

◆ Financial Times, 2022-5-17: Washington was right to push Taipei to focus procurement more on the threat of invasion, but that forcing its hand was counterproductive.

　

　

◆ War on the Rocks, 2022-8-22: flashy F-16 sales do little to defend Taiwan from China's missile force. warontherocks.com/2022/08/the-fourth-taiwan-strait-crisis-is-just-starting/

◆ Financial Times, 2022-8-19:Washington is trying to force Taipei to prioritise “asymmetric” weapons — systems that exploit an adversary’s weakness instead of trying to match its strengths.

　

◆ Business Insider, 2022-8-21: expensive equipment such as fighter jets, helicopters, and tanks to prepare against a possible Chinese invasion, defense experts say these would easily be destroyed by an attacker, according to the Journal's report. businessinsider.com/taiwan-learns-ukraine-porcupine-strategy-defend-against-china-2022-8

　

◆ New York Times, 2022-5-7: US presses Taiwan to buy missiles and smaller arms for asymmetric warfare (Suited to Win Against China);  But some Taiwanese defense officials are resistant.
◆ FoxNews, 2022-5-12: Taiwan may not have military equipment to defend itself against Chinese invasion warns Rep. McCaul
◆ Politico, 2022-5-11: The Biden administration is rebuffing some of Taiwan’s requests for big-ticket weapons,...these expensive items, while fine for peacetime operations, would not survive an all-out assault from the mainland.
 ◆ Economist, 2022-5-10: expensive conventional equipment such as tanks, battleships and submarines — are hard to hide and easy to strike with a missile — a "porcupine" strategist would focus on agile and concealable weapons
◆ Politico, 2022-5-19: the U.S. effort to reshape Taiwan’s military has taken on new urgency since the Russian invasion...the administration would no longer support arms sales for Taiwan “outside their definition of ‘asymmetric’ defense,”
◆ WSJ , 2022-5-8: F-16s Are the Wrong Way for Taiwan to Defend Itself
◆ National Interest, 2022-5-15: One important task has been to tailor the provision of defensive weapons to the needs of Taiwan’s military—procuring Stingers and Javelins rather than Abrams tanks and Seahawk helicopters.
 ◆ Foreign Policy , 2020-10-19 : Taiwan's leaders have gravitated toward military showpieces
◆ Diplomat, 10-5-2020: Taiwan needs mobile systems,long-range surveillance armed drones...

　

　

　

　

　

 China published a white paper titled
"The Taiwan Question and China's Reunification in the New Era"
GT, 2022-8-10 the wellbeing of the people in Taiwan hinges on the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation... it will create huge opportunities for social and economic development in Taiwan and bring tangible benefits to the people of Taiwan。globaltimes.cn/page/202208/1272637.shtml
GT, 2022-8-24 The latest white paper actually signals an invitation to the Taiwan compatriots to participate in the future institutional arrangements,...Ironically, the DPP does not allow Taiwan people to participate in the institutional arrangements after reunification   globaltimes.cn/page/202208/1273805.shtml
NY Times, 2022-8-15  The 2000 paper said nine times that negotiations between Taiwan and China to determine that framework would be conducted on “equal footing,” or other similar language. But that pledge appeared only once in the new paper    nytimes.com/2022/08/15/world/asia/china-taiwan-us.html
 Reuters, 2022-8-10 A line in the 2000 white paper that said "anything can be negotiated" as long as Taiwan accepts that there is only one China and does not seek independence, is missing from the latest white paper.  reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-withdraws-promise-not-send-troops-taiwan-after-unification-2022-08-10/
Forbes, Reuters, 2022-8-10 ...in two previous white papers on Taiwan, in 1993 and 2000, that it "will not send troops or administrative personnel to be based in Taiwan" after achieving unification ... is missing from the latest white paper.
ABC news , Australia,
2022-8-11		 China says there are "profound historical and cultural ties" with Taiwan..."Its economy is highly complementary with that of the mainland."...Taiwanese citizens who would "enjoy a high degree of autonomy as a special administrative region".   msn.com/en-au/news/australia/why-does-china-want-taiwan-when-its-already-so-big-and-rich-the-answer-is-about-more-than-land-and-money/ar-AA10z5KJ
 NBC, 2022-8-10 ... reiterated its desire for “peaceful reunification.” But it did not rule out the use of force as a “last resort taken under compelling circumstances,” without specifying what those circumstances might be   nbcnews.com/news/world/is-taiwan-worried-china-threat-invasion-pelosi-visit-rcna41964
United Daily (聯合報), 2022-8-11 這是更為強硬的表態，除了對內部十四億人有所交代，也對國際社會明確堅定表達北京看法，同時也想加大對台軟、硬兩手力度 udn.com/news/story/10930/6528208?from=udn_ch2cate6638sub10930_pulldownmenu_v2
China Daily,
2022-8-12		 The white paper received a warm response and wide support from Chinese people at home and abroad, and the DPP authorities' misinterpretation cannot deny that "one country, two systems" is a peaceful, democratic, good-faith and win-win solution   chinadaily.com.cn/a/202208/12/WS62f58be5a310fd2b29e71b7a.html
full text:  https://www.scio.gov.cn/zfbps/32832/Document/1728489/1728489.htm

　

　

　

　

Contrast    Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1996 and 2022

◆ New York Times, 2022-8-5 the U.S. military had ordered the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan to “remain on station” in the region but some distance from the entrance to the Taiwan Strait.，... during a crisis in 1996, when President Bill Clinton moved aircraft carriers closer to the strait.  (PS: and conducted large scale drills  zh.m.wikipedia.org/zh-hant/台灣海峽飛彈危機 ) nytimes.com/2022/08/04/world/asia/taiwan-china-military-drills.html
◆ New York Times, 2022-8-4 ... failing to move more naval forces into the region, the United States would be perceived by Mr. Xi as less committed to the region than Mr. Clinton was a quarter century ago.
◆ United Daily (Taiwan) , 2022-8-5 The drill has been conducted under US tacit permission, which shakes the policy of peaceful resolution...  udn.com/news/story/11091/6515486?from=udn_ch2cate6643sub11091_pulldownmenu_v2
◆  USA Today, 2022-8-6 National Security Council:U.S. would postpone intercontinental ballistic missile test scheduled... reducing the risks of miscalculation and misperception news.yahoo.com/china-halts-climate-military-ties-152347684.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall
◆   Global Times (China), 2022-8-5 the US Navy's Ronald Reagan carrier strike group retreated hundreds of kilometers eastward overnight, after the PLA announced live-fire exercise zones east of the island。

　

　

　

China's Missiles over Taiwan  in 2022-8-5
◆  CNN, 2022-8-4 missiles flying over the island marked a significant escalation
◆ New York Times, 2022-8-3 China's CCTV stated that one of the missiles flew over Taiwan, marking another escalation of Chinese pressure on the island and risking serious miscalculation.
◆ New York Times, 2022-8-25 sending at least four high over the island itself, according to Japan
◆ War on the Rocks, 2022-8-22 Some five to nine missiles passed over Taiwan en route to targets east of the main island 

　

　

　

News
◆TIME, 2023-1-7:  the threat of a costly armed engagement may encourage Beijing to pursue non-military scenarios to try to coerce Taiwan under its control.  ◆Washington Post, 2023-1-9: Taiwan needs to be prepared to withstand a lengthy siege but has not stockpiled nearly enough energy, food, medicine or ammunition. It has only about 10 days of natural gas supplies in reserve... Unfortunately, a lot of Taiwanese still don’t seem to grasp how perilous their situation is. ◆ CNN, 2023-1-9: CSIS War game suggests Chinese invasion of Taiwan would fail at a huge cost to US, Chinese and Taiwanese militaries  ◆ The WEEK (UK), 2023-1-10:  Bloomberg:“calls growing” among American politicians for a commitment to get involved if Beijing invades the island. ◆ Forbes, 2023-1-9:  the extended-range JASSM-ER that helped to win the war in CSIS War game ◆ Asia Nikkei, 2023-1-6: reserves, supposedly 2 million strong, are a paper force, with "no way whatsoever" to reinforce existing units in combat ◆ The American SPECTATOR, 2023-1-5: coming crisis over Taiwan is now popularly treated as a foregone conclusion...What is more likely is that China will wait a while longer, probably until the early 2030s.  ◆  Forbes, 2023-1-2: Economics, often takes a back seat to geopolitics and national pride (questions of sovereignty and  the hyper-sensitivities of China's leadership) ◆ The Hill, 2023-1-3: America's ‘strategic ambiguity’ on Taiwan gets more dangerous by the day ◆  Financial Times, 2023-1-2: Taiwan's move to extend military conscription will not address broader strategic shortfalls... expert has long urged them to build a territorial defence force, a force which could operate as an urban guerrilla under a more decentralised command ◆ The Guardian, 2023-1-1: Ukraine is in the headlines now. But a whole new world of conflict is about to erupt，Taiwan, North Korea, Iran and Palestine are all potential flashpoints ◆ The Hill, 2022-12-30: Mark Esper says Taiwan is “not prepared enough” for a potential Chinese invasion ◆ The Guardian, 2022-12-30: Extending conscription may make Taiwan feel safer – but at the cost of alienating its young people  ◆ Deutsche Welle, 2022-12-30: US support for Taiwan is double edged: both essential to its survival, and risking dragging Taiwan into a much bigger conflict.

　

　

　

　

Washington Post, 2022-8-17: if there's a crisis on Taiwan, Americans say~
(msn.com/en-us/news/world/what-americans-think-about-china-and-taiwan/ar-AA10L80C)
65 percent support sending additional arms and military equipment to Taiwan
 62 percent support having the U.S. Navy prevent China from imposing a blockade around Taiwan
only 40 percent favor sending U.S. troops to help the Taiwanese government defend itself.
2021 Chicago Council Survey 46 percent of Americans were willing to explicitly commit to defend Taiwan from attack.

　

　

　

China's "staging the largest-ever People's Liberation Army exercises around Taiwan" (Newsweek,2022-8-5)     
WHY ?? 

 NY Times, 2022-8-25  They were meant to intimidate Taiwan and the United States   nytimes.com/interactive/2022/08/25/world/asia/china-taiwan-conflict-blockade.html
 NY Times, 2022-8-4 Stanford scholar: “Under the guise of signaling, they’re trying to basically test their ability to conduct complex maneuvers that are necessary for an amphibious assault on Taiwan.” nytimes.com/2022/08/03/world/asia/taiwan-china-military-exercises.html    
 Business Insider, 2022-8-5  "a show of force to respond to Pelosi's visit" and "to exhibit [China's] displeasure" and "presumably to deter the US or other countries from undertaking visits like this ..."  "readiness to respond to Taiwan provocations"    news.yahoo.com/chinas-missile-launches-military-drills-211102958.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall
 AFP (France), 2022-8-6 a former CIA Asia analyst:  main purpose with its military exercises was to change that status quo.，"The Chinese want to show... that a line has been crossed by the speaker's visit."
American University Professor: Beijing's message was meant to signal that China can alter the power balance in the region if it chooses. "The Chinese seriously believe that the United States has not been respecting their interests on the Taiwan issue"   news.yahoo.com/us-china-relations-risk-long-215317757.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

 The Times (UK), 2022-8-6

 Chinese jets menace Taiwan in an end to diplomacy

Global Times (Chn), 2022-8-5

 Some Taiwan-based media hyped that the mainland's economic punishment could antagonize the public...    "If the mainland opts for economic sanctions, it may terminate the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA)"...  Taiwan had a trade surplus of more than $170 billion with the Chinese mainland in 2021.  globaltimes.cn/page/202208/1272245.shtml
NY Times, 2022-8-8 not only to intimidate Taiwan and the United States, but also to appease a domestic audience that had seemed disappointed by what it perceived as an insufficiently bellicose posture.  cn.nytimes.com/asia-pacific/20220808/china-exercises-taiwan/zh-hant/dual/
BBC, 2022-8-9 this may possibly intimidate South East Asian neighbours which have rival claims to the South China Sea   bbc.com/news/62460809
PS: ◆ Wall Street Journal,2022-9-19: China Is Capable of Blockading Taiwan, U.S. Navy Commander Says ◆ NY Times, 2022-8-29: Analysts debate how much protection China’s reliance on Taiwan gives it. Some argue that calculations over supply chains are insignificant in a decision over war ◆ SCMP, 2022-8-21: PLA adopts nuclear deterrence to stop foreign intervention on Taiwan: analysts ◆ NY Times, 2022-8-11: Taiwan, which has struggled with accidents and morale in the face of such a would-be foe as China. By many accounts, Taiwan's forces are poorly equipped and understaffed ◆ Economist, 2022-8-10: Ms Pelosi's visit has allowed Beijing to move to a new level of military activity unchallenged, which will make it harder for America to defend Taiwan.  ◆ Washington Post, 2022-8-11: Beijing is now focusing on taking the island by force, not through peaceful reunification ◆ New York Times, 2022-8-7: After China's Military Spectacle, Options Narrow for Winning Over Taiwan  ; ◆ Reuters, 2022-8-7: The ability to enforce a blockade would give Beijing leverage to bring Taiwan to the negotiating table ;A former Chinese defence official :"Seeing how the U.S. and its allies responded to the drills, how confident can Taiwan leaders be in counting on them to come to the rescue should the PLA attack?"

　

　

　

WHY?   Taiwanese people "don't worry" China's "the largest and most sophisticated military exercises" around Taiwan island ??

CNN, 2022-8-8: Taiwan's foreign minister says : "I worry that China may really launch a war against Taiwan,";   But the mood in Taiwan remained calm, with life carrying on as usual with packed restaurants and crowded public transport.
♣ NBC, 2022-8-10:   nbcnews.com/news/world/is-taiwan-worried-china-threat-invasion-pelosi-visit-rcna41964  
A: many residents say they are used to intimidation by Beijing ..." I don't think China will attack because our rockets can also reach Beijing and Shanghai" ;
Experts:  many residents in Ukraine reacted with disbelief to Russia's long-signaled invasion...whether Taiwan is being too complacent.?   people in Taiwan need to take this more seriously, they don't fully appreciate the circumstance they're in,”...
 ♣ New York Times, 2022-8-9:  many watching from outside Taiwan seemed to expect Taiwanese to be “hysterically” stockpiling food and crafting evacuation plans ... a Taiwanese girl says: "Taiwanese people appearing calm in the face of rising tension is not due to ignorance or naïveté, but because this is accepted — even internalized — as a part of being Taiwanese”.

♣ United Daily (Taiwan ) , 2022-8-11:  A poll showed that about 60% of the respondents were not worried about further military conflict between mainland  China and  Taiwan, which surprised foreign media,  Some posts on the net reflect what Taiwanese people's thought, "because China PLA won't attack us", " we are used to it" ," we have been intimidated two or three times per year" ... It appears too many intimidations made our people NUMB !


　

PS: NDTV, 2022-8-25: Taiwan Army Reservists Stoic But "Not Ready" For War Against China   ndtv.com/world-news/taiwan-army-reservists-stoic-but-not-ready-for-war-against-china-3284620

　

　

　

　

War on Taiwan
◆ Foreign Policy,2022-9-8: strategic priorities, budgets, and acquisition limitations, are preventing Taipei from laying in the critical war-reserve materiel it would need to against PLA ◆ War on the Rocks, 2022-9-7: In Taiwan, many young citizens concluded that conscription was a waste of time and a tedious chore....those with political connections seek to be posted in cities rather than at the border or in the field. ◆ Bloomberg , 2022-9-7: China Invading Taiwan Is ‘Distinct Threat’◆ Weekend Australian , 2022-9-7: Best way to avoid war is to arm Taiwan ◆ NY Times, 2022-9-4: Washington is increasingly wary that an emboldened China might invade Taiwan in the coming years.  

　

　

　

　

　

 Pelosi visiting Taiwan       
CNN, 2022-7-29: potentially triggering the worst cross-strait crisis in decades

 　
NY Times, 2022-8-2 China is preparing a hostile response of some sort...This is an exceptionally dangerous situation, perhaps more so than Ukraine,...Much of America’s military industrial complex is busy arming Ukraine, which could hamper efforts to bolster weapons shipments to Taiwan.   nytimes.com/2022/08/01/us/politics/taiwan-pelosi.html
 CNN, 2022-8-2 China's eventual response -- perhaps, for example, an incursion into Taiwanese airspace, was unlikely to cause a war but would push the rivals closer to a danger zone.  edition.cnn.com/2022/08/02/politics/pelosi-taiwan-risks-greater-instability-us-china-analysis/index.html
NY Times, 2022-7-28 Nancy Pelosi's Trip to Taiwan Is Too Dangerous! The United States and China are on a collision course in the Taiwan Strait  nytimes.com/2022/07/28/opinion/china-us-taiwan-pelosi.html 
NY Times, 2022-7-31 Mr. Xi may feel pressure to show a tough stance — possibly including military action...ahead of an important Chinese Communist Party Congress this fall.    The Biden administration has grown increasingly worried that China’s leader, Xi Jinping, might try to move, perhaps with force, against Taiwan within the next year and a half.   nytimes.com/2022/07/31/world/asia/pelosi-taiwan-china.html
 Global Times (China), 2022-7-28  China's defense ministry issues fresh, rare warning: The US should not underestimate the crisis and possible disastrous results it will bring to the Taiwan Straits if Pelosi ultimately makes the trip... if the US does not pull back but keeps challenging the guardrail, the price will be beyond US capabilities to pay"...  The rare expressions "yanzhen yidai" (嚴陣以待),  PLA "will not sit idly by" (不會坐視) were used (in Korea war and Vietnam war).“  -  China will not sit idly by if US troops crossed the 38th parallel. globaltimes.cn/page/202207/1271693.shtml
中囯 Global Times, 2022-7-28 Those who play with fire will perish by it. It is hoped that the US will be clear-eyed about this," Xi said  via telephone,...  it is certain that if Pelosi insists on her provocative plan of visiting Taiwan, she will face serious and unbearable consequences.    globaltimes.cn/page/202207/1271696.shtml
 GT(China), 2022-7-29 it is time for Washington to slam on the brake of its radical moves on the Taiwan question!
NBC News, 2022-7-29 GT former editor :  "If the US can't restrain her (Pelosi), let China restrain her & punish her","PLA Air Force will surely make her visit a disgrace to herself and to the US." nbcnews.com/politics/congress/pelosi-leading-delegation-asia-friday-taiwan-visit-still-undecided-rcna40535
Guardian, 2022-7-31 Nancy Pelosi confirms Asia trip but does not mention Taiwan...analysts say she may yet do so in unofficial capacity 
theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jul/31/nancy-pelosi-confirms-asia-trip-but-does-not-mention-taiwan
 TIME, 2022-7-28  there's a good chance that Beijing could sanction Pelosi personally...time.com/6201447/joe-biden-xi-jinping-taiwan-china/
 NPR, 2022-7-28 President Biden looks to ease tensions with Xi over Taiwan
npr.org/2022/07/28/1114314905/biden-and-chinas-xi-discuss-tensions-over-taiwan
 Reuters(UK),  2022-7-29 "So far, there are few indications in Chinese official statements, nor online or domestic media, which would suggest that China is considering more serious military action at this time, although that could change"  news.yahoo.com/analysis-despite-xis-fire-call-003612894.html

　

　


　

　

          
★pic. left: No.1 "comment Taiwan" on Lycos, 2023-6-16, 2023-5-1, 2023-1-21, 2022-9-20, 2022-9-11, 2022-8-24, 2022-8-13, 2022-8-7, 2022-7-29, 2022-7-7, 2022-7-1, 2022-6-25, 2022-6-18, 2022-3-4, 2022-2-8, 2021-11-11, 2021-10-23, 2021-10-8, 2021-10-1, 2021-9-27, 2021-9-19, 2021-9-7, 2021-8-22, 2021-8-5, 2021-6-27, 2021-6-2, 2021-5-9, 2021-5-1, 2021-4-14, 3-23-2021, 3-8-2021, 2-20-2021, 1-19-2021,10-3-2020, 8-13-2020, 6-12-2020, 5-19-2020, 1-18-2020,12-05-2019; ★ pic. right:   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on Search Encrypt, 2023-6-16, 2023-5-1, 2023-1-21, 2022-9-20, 2022-9-11, 2022-8-24, 2022-8-13, 2022-8-7, 2022-7-29, 2022-7-1, 2022-6-25, 2022-6-18, 2022-3-4, 2022-2-8, 2021-11-10, 2021-10-23, 2021-10-8, 2021-10-1, 2021-9-27, 2021-9-19, 2021-9-7, 2021-8-22, 2021-8-4, 2021-6-27, 2021-6-2, 2021-5-9, 2021-5-1, 2021-4-14, 3-23-2021, 3-8-2021, 2-20-2021, 1-19-2021,10-3-2020, 8-13-2020 No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on ekoru (New Zealand), 2022-6-18, 2022-3-4, 2022-2-8, 2021-11-10, 2021-10-23, 2021-10-8, 2021-10-1, 2021-9-27, 2021-9-19, 2021-9-7,  2021-8-22, 2021-8-5, 2021-6-27, 2021-6-2, 2021-5-9, 2021-5-1, 2021-4-14, 3-23-2021, 3-8-2021, 2-20-2021,1-19-2021, 10-3-2020, 8-13-2020

　

　


★ No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on Dogpile, 2023-5-1, 2023-1-21, 2022-9-11, 2022-8-13, 2022-5-23, 2022-5-16, 2022-5-6, 2022-4-26, 2022-4-10, 2022-4-8, 2022-4-3, 2022-3-29, 2022-3-23, 2022-3-20, 2022-3-12, 2022-3-9, 2022-3-6, 2022-3-4, 2022-2-28, 2022-2-14, 2022-2-8, 2021-11-10, 2021-10-23, 2021-10-8, 2021-10-1, 2021-9-27, 2021-9-19, 2021-9-7, 2021-8-22, 2021-8-5, 2021-6-27, 2021-6-2, 2021-5-9, 2021-5-1, 2021-4-14, 3-23-2021, 3-8-2021, 2-20-2021, 1-19-2021, 10-1-2020, 8-13-2020, 8-2-2020, 6-12-2020, 5-19-2020;  No. 2  "comment Taiwan" on Dogpile,  2022-8-7,  No. 3 at 2022-7-19

　

　

　

★  pic.:  No. 1 "comment Taiwan" on US Google, 2022-5-23, 2022-5-20, 2022-5-16, 2022-5-6, 2022-4-26, 2022-4-16, 2022-3-3, 2022-2-14, 2022-2-11, 2022-1-31, 2022-1-29, 2022-1-20, 2022-1-15, 2022-1-11, 2022-1-9, 2022-1-6, 2022-1-3, 2021-12-31, 2021-12-25, 2021-12-21, 2021-12-15, 2021-12-11, 2021-12-9, 2021-12-4, 2021-11-29, 2021-11-27, 2021-11-23, 2021-11-18, 2021-11-17, 2021-11-12, 2021-11-6, 2021-10-22, 2021-9-18, 2021-9-6, 2021-8-22, 2021-8-4, 2021-7-15, 2021-7-4, 2021-6-27, 2021-6-22, 2021-6-14, 2021-6-3, 2021-5-26, 2021-5-14; among top ranks at 2022-8-23, 2022-8-17; No2 "comment Taiwan" on Google, 2022-4-5, 2022-4-3, 2022-3-29, 2022-3-23, 2022-3-22

　

　

　

★   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on Mocrosoft Bing, 2023-1-1, 2022-9-11, 2022-8-6, 2022-7-19, 2022-7-6, 2022-6-24, 2022-6-16, 2022-5-29, 2022-5-23, 2022-5-16, 2022-5-6, 2022-4-26, 2022-4-16, 2022-4-10, 2022-4-3, 2022-3-29, 2022-3-22, 2022-3-9, 2022-3-6, 2022-2-28, 2022-2-25, 2022-2-21, 2022-2-19, 2022-2-14, 2022-2-11, 2022-2-8, 2022-2-5, 2022-1-31, 2022-1-28, 2022-1-25, 2022-1-20, 2022-1-15, 2022-1-11, 2022-1-9, 2022-1-6, 2022-1-3, 2021-12-31, 2021-12-24, 2021-12-21, 2021-12-15, 2021-12-12, 2021-12-10, 2021-12-7, 2021-12-4, 2021-11-29, 2021-11-27, 2021-11-23, 2021-11-20, 2021-11-17, 2021-11-10, 2021-11-1, 2021-10-23, 2021-10-19, 2021-10-8, 2021-10-2, 2021-9-27, 2021-9-23, 2021-9-7  

　

　

★  pic.:   No. 1 / top "comment Taiwan" on US Yahoo, 2022-5-16, 2022-4-26, 2022-4-13, 2022-4-9, 2022-3-29, 2022-3-22, 2022-3-9, 2022-3-5, 2022-2-28, 2022-2-14, 2022-2-11, 2022-2-7, 2022-2-5, 2022-1-31, 2022-1-28, 2022-1-25, 2022-1-20, 2022-1-15, 2022-1-11, 2022-1-8, 2022-1-6, 2022-1-3, 2021-12-31, 2021-12-27, 2021-12-21, 2021-12-15, 2021-12-10

　

　

　

★   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on Yahoo Japan ( most popular search engine in Japan ), 2022-8-10, 2022-5-23, 2022-5-16, 2022-5-7, 2022-4-26, 2022-3-29, 2022-3-22, 2022-3-20, 2022-3-17, 2022-3-9, 2022-3-6, 2022-3-4, 2022-2-28, 2022-2-25, 2022-2-21, 2022-2-19, 2022-2-14, 2022-2-11, 2022-2-8, 2022-2-5, 2022-1-31, 2022-1-28, 2022-1-25, 2022-1-21, 2021-10-8, 2021-10-2, 2021-9-27, 2021-9-19, 2021-9-7, 2021-8-22, 2021-8-5, 2021-6-27, 2021-5-9, 2021-5-1, 2021-4-14, 3-23-2021, 3-8-2021, 2-26-2021, 1-19-2021, 12-5-2020, 11-28-2020, 11-9-2020, 10-30-2020, 10-10-2020, 10-1-2020, 8-13-2020, 8-5-2020, 6-12-2020, 5-19-2020; ★ No. 2 "comment Taiwan" on Yahoo Japan at 2022-8-7, 2022-7-22, 2022-7-19, 2022-7-10, 2022-7-7, 2022-4-16, 2022-4-10,  2021-6-2 


　

　

            

★  pic.:   No. 1 "comment Taiwan" on Google Japan, Google Hong Kong and Google Taiwan, 2022-2-28, 2022-2-25, 2022-2-21, 2022-2-18, 2022-2-14, 2022-2-11, 2022-2-8, 2022-1-28, 2022-1-25, 2022-1-21, 2022-1-9, 2021-12-31, 2021-12-10, 2021-12-4, 2021-11-29, 2021-11-23, 2021-11-20, 2021-11-17, 2021-11-9, 2021-10-8,  2021-9-27, 2021-9-19, 2021-9-6, 2021-8-22, 2021-6-27, 2021-4-30, 2021-4-14, 3-26-2021, 03-08-2021, 02-26-2021; No.3 at 2022-4-26, 2022-4-13  

　

　

　

　

　

2022  Michelin stars comparisons among Asian countries

 Michelin cities

number of 3 stars

num. of 2 stars

number of 1 star

total num.
Tokyo (Japan) 12 41 150 203
Hong Kong 7 12 52 71
Kyoto (Japan) 6 19 83 108
Osaka (Japan) 3 11 82 96
Singapore 3 7 41 51
Macau 3 5 7 15
Seoul (Korea) 2 7 24 33
Shanghai (China) 2 8 37 47
Taipei (Taiwan) 1 6 24 31
TaiChung City (Taiwan) 0 1 4 5
Kaohsiung (Taiwan) 0 0 2 2
TaiNan City(Taiwan) 0 0 0 0
Users/88695/Downloads/20220830_PR-MG_TTTK-2022.pdf
guide.michelin.com/th/en/article/news-and-views/michelin-guide-singapore-2022-new-starred-restaurants   2022-7-12
guide.michelin.com/en/article/news-and-views/michelin-guide-seoul-2022-eng
guide.michelin.com/hk/en/article/news-and-views/michelin-guide-hong-kong-macau-2022-unveiled-today-with-11-newly-starred-restaurants
guide.michelin.com/en/article/news-and-views/the-michelin-guide-kyoto-osaka-2022-is-unveiled-en
 michelin.com/en/press-releases/michelin-guide-2022-shanghai/
 guide.michelin.com/en/article/news-and-views/michelin-guide-tokyo-2022-eng     2021-11-29

　

★  New York Times, 2022-8-18: Taiwanese cuisine — layered, distinct, multiethnic ...has been shaped by many cultural forces, including the island's Indigenous tribes,  long-established groups of Fujianese and Hakka people; Japanese ;  Chinese immigrants in 1949+...   nytimes.com/2022/08/16/dining/taiwanese-cuisine.html

　

　

　

　

China's possible response to Pelosi's trip to Taiwan
US News, 2022-7-19 China Signals a Military Response to a Taiwan Visit by Pelosi
NY Times, 2022-7-25 ...Pelosi's trip. Better to postpone rather than risk war.
Washington Post, 2022-7-23 Key U.S. allies in Asia have expressed concerns about a visit that they believe will be viewed provocatively washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/07/23/pelosi-taiwan-trip-biden-military-concerns/
Washington Post, 2022-7-21 Biden: U.S. military opposes Nancy Pelosi visiting Taiwan washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/07/21/biden-china-nancy-pelosi-taiwan-military/
Washington Post, 2022-7-22 The U.S. military certainly is not prepared to fight two major wars simultaneously  washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/07/22/nancy-pelosi-should-ignore-china-biden-go-to-taiwan/
EurAsia Times, 2022-7-23 US Worried That China Could...Shoot-Down ‘Invading’ Aircraft 
France24, 2022-7-25 Biden's administration which fears the trip may cross red lines for China -- and that there is no exit path ... China might feel that they have to do something dramatic    france24.com/en/live-news/20220725-as-pelosi-eyes-taiwan-trip-us-anxious-on-china-red-lines
CNN, 2022-7-22 China could seek to declare a no-fly zone over Taiwan...China could also respond by flying fighter jets further into Taiwan's self-declared air defense zone, which could trigger a response from Taiwan and the US       edition.cnn.com/2022/07/21/politics/pelosi-taiwan-china-concerns/index.html
FT,2022-7-25 Taiwan fears fallout from planned Nancy Pelosi visit threatens US security commitment ... China might retaliate against Taiwan if Pelosi went ahead with her trip.  ft.com/content/8145aa97-1c46-4e5e-9ec8-1afa139a4a54
Global Times (China), 2022-7-25 Pelosi's visit may accelerate a military showdown  globaltimes.cn/page/202207/1271380.shtml  
Global Times (China), 2022-7-22  "...extremely drastic diplomatic and military measures against the US, and the US cannot afford to face such a response"..."Biden's reaction suggested that the conclusion from military is very likely definitive and it will amount to cancelling Pelosi's trip."   globaltimes.cn/page/202207/1271152.shtml
Global Times (China), 2022-7-19 If Pelosi goes to Taiwan, it will be a huge historic mistake for Washington...Defense Minister Wei Fenghe (Jun.2022): "If anyone dares to secede Taiwan from China, we will not hesitate to fight, and we will fight at all costs." "It would be a huge historic mistake for Washington to let these words fall on deaf ears."
Bloomberg, 2022-7-22 responses from China: Missile Test Near Taiwan or Flying Over Taiwan or  Shadowing Pelosi’s Trip, etc   finance.yahoo.com/news/china-might-respond-taiwan-visit-102743247.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall
　

◆ NY Times, 2022-7-25: Chinese leaders might try to move against the self-governing island over the next year and a half — perhaps by trying to cut off access to all or part of the Taiwan Strait ◆ New York Times, 2022-7-26: The risks to Taiwan from Chinese aggression have gained urgency since Russia's attacks on Ukraine... a sea-and-air invasion of Taiwan would be difficult for China to pull off in the near term. Instead, it could do so piecemeal ◆The Hill , 2022-7-26: The longer the Biden administration continues delaying and stinting its support for Ukraine without enabling Kyiv to halt and reverse Russia's invasion, the more precarious both Ukraine's and Taiwan's positions become ◆ CNN,2022-7-25: Under Xi, a rising wave of nationalism has swept China, and support for "reuniting" with Taiwan — possibly by force — is running high ◆ Washington Post, 2022-7-23: Many Asian leaders have voiced fears that Russia’s effort to take over Ukraine could embolden China to move aggressively into Taiwan ◆ le Monde (France), 2022-7-21: China appears determined on using force in Taiwan ◆ DW (Germany),2022-7-22: Japan defense report warns Russia's invasion of Ukraine could encourage China to act against Taiwan ◆ Business Insider, 2022-7-21: CIA chief: the Ukraine war likely won't shake China's resolve to invade Taiwan ◆ FoxNews, 2022-7-20: CIA director 'wouldn't rule out' near-term Taiwan invasion ◆ Asia Nikkei (Japan), 2022-7-20:  Taiwan's ex-defense chief calls for sweeping military reforms◆ FoxNews, 2022-7-7: Chinese diplomat says 'reunification' with Taiwan near  

　

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Taiwan's travel & tourism - 13th in Asia
　
STATISTA: Leading countries in the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI)

   Published by Statista Research Department, Feb 4, 2021

statista.com/statistics/186639/best-ranked-countries-in-the-travel-and-tourism-competetiveness-index/

Asia Rank

country

score

world Rank
1 Japan 5.4 4
2 Australia 5.1 7
3 China 4.9 13
4 Korea Rep. 4.8 15
5 Hong Kong 4.8 16
6 Singapore 4.8 17
7 New Zealand 4.7 18
8 Malaysia 4.5 25
9 Thailand 4.5 29
10 UAE 4.4 33
11 India 4.4 34
12 Indonesia 4.3 36
13 Taiwan 4.3 37

　

　

　

WEF (World Economic Forum) , May 2022
world Travel and Tourism Development Index
weforum.org/reports/travel-and-tourism-development-index-2021/digest
world rank Asia's rank economies/countries score (global average : 4.0)
1 1 Japan 5.2
2 2 USA 5.2
7 3 Australia 5.0
9 4 Singapore 5.0
12 5 China 4.9
15 6 S. Korea 4.8
19 7 Hong Kong 4.6
25 8 UAE 4.5
27 9 New Zealand 4.5
32 10 Indonesia 4.4
33 11 Saudi Arabia 4.3
36 12 Thailand 4.3
38 13 Malaysia 4.3
43 14 Qatar 4.3
52 15 Vietnam 4.1
54 16 India 4.1
74 17 Sri Lanka 3.7
75 18 Philippines 3.7
84 19 Mongolia 3.6
n/a n/a Taiwan n/a
statista.com/statistics/186639/best-ranked-countries-in-the-travel-and-tourism-competetiveness-index/#:~:text=In%202021%2C%20Japan%2C%20the%20United,a%20TTDI%20score%20of%205.1.

　

　

　

　

　

Taiwan's travel & tourism - 10th in Asia
　

　

World Economic Forum (WEF)  <Travel and tourism competitiveness report> released at 9-4-2019 shows Taiwan had the sub-region's largest decline in competitiveness from 30th down to 37th.    Taiwan ranks No.10 among Asian countries.   for details : click tourism
　

WEF travel & tourism category Taiwan's rankings and/or score comparison
prioritization of travel and tourism   No75  Singapore No.6 ,  Hong Kong No. 11
Natural & cultural resources No.58  score 2.6 China  No.1, score 6.0 , France No.2,  5.0,  Spain  No.3, 5.7,   Japan No.7, 5.3,   Indonesia No.18,  Thailand No.21,  Korea No.24,  Vietnam No.26,  Malaysia No.31,  HK No.40,  Philippines No.46,  Sri Lanka No.52,  Nepal No.56
Natural resources  No. 87 Hong Kong No. 42, Singapore No.120
　
cultural resources & business travel No. 36  score 2.6 China No1, score 7.0
price competitiveness No. 78 China 5.7
Health & Hygiene  No.43,  score 6 score worse than Korea, Japan, Mongolia
international openness No. 60 only better than China, Mongolia
Safety & security No. 26 human resource & labor market: Taiwan No.18
 ps: Compared to the report of 2017,  Taiwan significantly tightened visa requirements (37th down to 119th), waning cultural resources and business travel (26th to 36th) and recalibrated figures showing a drastic reduction in protected areas (20th to 118th).

For full details :  http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_TTCR_2019.pdf
　

According to  World Economic Forum (WEF)  <Travel and tourism competitiveness report> (released at 4-6-2017), Taiwan's most important indexes for promoting tourism, like "Attractiveness of Natural Assets" (parks, beaches, mountains, wildlife, etc) ranks world No.87, "Natural Resources" ranks No.55,   "Environmental Sustainability" ranks No.75 (No.69 in 2015), "Price Competitiveness" ranks No. 46, "Hotel Price Index" ranks No. 89 (82 in 2015), Taiwan got "n/a" on China's world top 5 indexes such as "World heritage natural sites" as well as "World heritage cultural sites".
comment Taiwan travel and tourism, No.1 on internet, pls. click for details

　

　

　

　

　

Taiwan's travel & tourism - not on top 10 list
　

The World Tourism rankings   are compiled by the United Nations World Tourism Organization 
Most visited destinations by international tourist arrivals


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Tourism_rankings 

Asia Pacific Rank

destination (country)

int'l tourists arrivals '19
(million)

int'l tourists arrivals '18
(million)
1 China 65.7 million 62.9 million
2 Thailand 39.8 38.2
3 Japan 32.2 31.2
4 Malaysia 26.1 25.8
5 Hong Kong 23.8 29.3
6 Macau 18.6 18.5
7 Vietnam 18.0 15.5
8 India 17.9 17.4
9 S. Korea 17.5 15.3
10 Indonesia 15.5 13.4

　

　

　


Taiwan's tourism & travel    vs.    CovID-19

　

◆ Reuters, 2022-9-5: Taiwan to resume visa free entry for some countries in latest reopening step  news.yahoo.com/taiwan-resume-visa-free-entry-063459045.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall
 ◆  Washington Post, 2022-6-2:   a poll this week found that 70 percent of Taiwanese wanted the government to retain stricter border control policies.    washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/06/02/taiwan-covid-relaxed-border-policy/

◆  DW (Germany), 2022-5-20: Taiwan's tourism industry in crisis (Taiwan 'is not ready to face an outbreak at this level) dw.com/en/is-taiwan-learning-to-live-with-covid/a-61878438
 ◆ Asia Nikkei (Japan), 2022-6-2:  Taiwan's lengthy success in keeping out COVID-19 is complicating the island's path away from a pandemic posture as a relaxation of travel curbs fuels a record spike in cases; Taiwan ranks world 113 th in Nikkei CovID-19 Recovery Index.   asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Coronavirus/Taiwan-s-COVID-success-story-hits-snag-with-shift-to-reopening
◆ New York Times, 2022-4-4: South Korea and Singapore that are reopening the borders, Taiwan has opened only for foreigners who come for business  nytimes.com/2022/04/04/world/asia/taiwan-relaxes-its-quarantine-measures-even-as-it-confronts-an-outbreak.html

◆ aljazeera, 2022-4-14: Taiwan's COVID-hit tourism stews as island shuns global reopening. 

Taiwan is a rare holdout in Asia that remains closed to tourists and still mandates quarantine for arrivals.
aljazeera.com/economy/2022/4/14/for-taiwan-tourism-frustration-as-island-misses-global-reopening

 ◆ AFP, France24, 2022-4-7: Taiwan will move away from a zero-Covid policy and instead focus on tackling the most severe infections...One sticking point could be lacklustre vaccination rates...Vaccination rates among the elderly, the most vulnerable demographic, are also low.  france24.com/en/live-news/20220407-taiwan-to-move-away-from-zero-covid-strategy-minister

◆ New York Times, 2022-3-5: Since Tuesday, people in Taiwan have no longer been required to wear masks in settings where they were previously mandatory, both indoors and outdoors: exercising, taking selfies and group photos, driving with household members, in spas and in video broadcasts, speeches and lectures... Taiwan's record (20,717 cases and 853 deaths ) is low by the standards of the hardest-hit countries.  nytimes.com/live/2022/03/05/world/covid-19-tests-cases-vaccine
◆ Reuters, 2022-4-3: Taiwan says new CovID cases won't affect re-opening plans.

　
◆ Diplomat, 2022-2-3:Taiwan, is bucking the trend and is one of the few places still sticking with its zero-COVID strategy.thediplomat.com/2022/02/how-long-will-taiwan-stick-to-its-zero-covid-approach/
◆ The Guardian, 2021-11-8: Cost of Taiwan’s pursuit of Covid zero starts to show   In 2019 there were more than 29 million international arrivals in Taiwan. In 2020, during the height of the pandemic and prior to vaccines, the figure dropped to 3.9 million. So far this year there have been just 335,000.“Taiwan sacrificed international collaboration in commerce and exchange.”despite the toll on tourism, trade and lifestyle there is no plan to reopen   theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/08/how-long-can-you-maintain-it-cost-of-taiwans-pursuit-of-covid-zero-starts-to-show		 ◆ New York Times, 2021-10-29: China is now the only country still chasing full eradication.  The approach is unsustainable.  China may find itself increasingly isolated, diplomatically and economically, at a time when global public opinion is hardening against it.

　

◆ Economist, 2021-10-9 :  Asian countries are abandoning zero-covid strategies.  Despite the risks, they are right to do so.  Yet those with a good first act in the pandemic are struggling in the second. 

　
◆  aljazeera, 2021-11-26: Taiwan continues to pursue an isolationist "zero CovID-19" policy.  Taiwan's border restrictions remain some of the strictest in the world.
 ◆  aljazeera, 2021-11-17 (brief): Asia's cautious stance is increasingly at odds with Europe and North America; mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong sink deeper into isolation under a strict “zero COVID” policy, even Japan, South Korea, Australia, Singapore and Malaysia are following a middle path under which non-essential travel remains tightly restricted.
　

　

　

　

　

2021  Michelin stars comparisons among Asian countries

 Michelin cities

number of 3 stars

num. of 2 stars

number of 1 star

total num.
Tokyo (Japan) 12 42 158 212
Hong Kong 10 18 59 87
Kyoto (Japan) 7 19 84 110
Osaka (Japan) 3 12 81 96
Singapore 3 5 41 49
Seoul (Korea) 2 7 34 43
Shanghai (China) 1 10 32 43
Taipei (Taiwan) 1 7 21 29
　
　

● China Times - Want Weekly, No.185: To emergently save dying tourism,
Taiwan government spent NT90,000,000 (USD3 millions) to have <Michelin Guide> in Taiwan. 


●  BBC, 2022-3-30: Today, stinky tofu ( that's reminiscent of sour milk and rotting garbage) is still primarily a street food throughout Taiwan, where it's as synonymous with the country's outdoor night markets as beef noodle soup.
　

　

　

　

　

　

Taiwan's COVID-19 performance

World Index

Taiwan's ranks

link
Nikkei CovID-19 Recovery Index, as of Jun. 30 (released at 2022-7-7)日本Nikkei新冠復甦指數 排在全球第 112 位 (亞太最後一名) 　
Nikkei CovID-19 Recovery Index, as of Aug. 31 (released at 2022-9-9)日本Nikkei新冠復甦指數 台灣排名第 57 , behind Vietnam, Cambodia, UAE, S. Korea, Singapore, New Zealand, Mongolia, China, Australia, Malaysia, Pakistan, India, etc asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Coronavirus/COVID-19-Recovery-Index/China-slips-in-COVID-recovery-ranking-with-fresh-lockdowns
Statista, 2022-7-27: Coronavirus (COVID-19)  death rate, in countries with confirmed deaths and over 1,000 reported cases
as of April 26, 2022, by country		 台灣排名第 143, behind NZ, Singapore, Australia, S Korea, Qatar, Mongolia, Israel, Laos, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Malaysia, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, India, Nepal, etc statista.com/statistics/1105914/coronavirus-death-rates-worldwide/
Nikkei CovID-19 Recovery Index, as of Jul. 31 日本Nikkei新冠復甦指數 台灣排名第 79 , behind Cambodia, Vietnam, UAE, S. Korea,  China, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Mongolia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Australia,  etc asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Coronavirus/COVID-19-Recovery-Index/Japan-tumbles-in-COVID-recovery-ranking-as-infections-surge
Bloomberg's CovID Resilience Ranking, 2022-6-29 台灣排名倒數第2 bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-resilience-ranking/
Bloomberg CovID Resilience Ranking   2022-5-27 台灣排名倒數第3  Taiwan ranks the 3rd from the end    bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-resilience-ranking/spanish.html
Bloomberg CovID Resilience Ranking   2021-10-28  "3-month case fatality rate ", 7.7 %, 台灣排名倒數第1 bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-resilience-ranking/
Bloomberg CovID Resilience Ranking  2021-9-28  "3-month case fatality rate ", 13.4 %, 台灣排名倒數第 bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-resilience-ranking/

full details
　

　

　

　

　

                                                             Num. of physicians in Taiwan from '12 to '20               https://www.statista.com/statistics/860217/taiwan-physician-number/

yr

 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

number

 40,938 41,965 42,961 44,006 44,849 46,356 47,471 49,542 51045

increase

 　 1,027 996 1,045 843 1,507 1,115 2,071 1503

　

　

　

　

　
According to WEF<Travel and tourism competitiveness report> (released at 9-4-2019), Taiwan's Health & Hygiene (including "physicians density" ) score 6.0 is worse than that of No.16 Japan, No. 17 Korea, and Australia, Mongolia.   According to  WEF<Travel and tourism competitiveness report> (released at 4-6-2017), Taiwan's "Physician density" ranks pretty bad   ―   world No. 65 (No. 57 in 2015's report)
 According to Wikipedia (2021-5-5) and Liberty Times (2020-1-6),  Taiwan's doctor-to-population ratio (see pic. below) almost hit lowest in Asia, behind Japan, Korea, Singapore, China, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam...even Myanmar...

Taipei Medical University professor 楊哲銘 comments Taiwan's medical quality is no longer good.  Taiwan's former medical chief 楊志良 (chinatimes.com/opinion/20210804005734-262104?chdtv) criticizes that the health & medical system has been damaged. 
　

　

　

　

　 　
　

Wikipedia (2022-3-12) : physicians density in Asia
Asia's rankings country  physicians
per 10,000 people
1 Qatar 77.4
2 N Korea 33
3 Australia 32.7
4 Lebanon 32
5 Mongolia 28.4
6 New Zealand 27.4
7 Jordan 25.6
8 UAE 25.3
9 Saudi Arabia 24.9
10 Japan 23
11 Korea 21.4
12 Singapore 19.5
13 China 14.9
14 Malaysia 12
15 Philippines 12
16 Vietnam 11.9
17 Iran 9
18 Pakistan 8.3
19 Indonesia 8
20 India 7
21 Myanmar 6.1

　
22 Iraq 6.1
23 Thai 3.9
24 Laos 1.8
25 Cambodia 1.7

　

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_dependencies_by_number_of_physicians

Doctors per 10,000 people in Taiwan

　 Taipei Southern and Eastern Taiwan (Kaohsiung, PinTung, TaiTung, PonHo), remote places
physicians (內科醫師) 5.01 2.12
surgeon (外科醫師) 1.77 0.82
Pediatrics (小兒科) 1.11 0.46
Obstetrics & Gynecology (婦產) 0.86 0.42
Accident & Emergency (急診) 0.82 0.47
Liberty Times, 2020-1-6;talk.ltn.com.tw/article/paper/1343896

　

　

　

　

◆  Lancet / Measuring universal health coverage based on an index of effective coverage of health services
Taiwan and some other countries of Asia & Pacific

　

Lancet, universal health coverage

Singapore 92 77 100 98 95 93 99 99 75 100 94 99 93 89 99 77 100 100 76 95 79 94 100 100
Japan 96 60 100 92 97 98 95 99 78 92 98 100 99 97 100 99 98 100 83 96 92 89 100 98
Korea 89 78 100 78 97 97 99 100 43 96 96 99 99 92 99 100 88 66 70 95 99 76 99 96
Australia 89 88 85 92 91 96 100 99 85 99 87 98 100 86 100 100 88 78 70 92 67 67 100 98
NZ 83 83 80 76 90 95 100 100 79 100 92 99 85 89 98 83 76 72 62 83 57 64 99 99
Kuwait 82 85 66 89 95 98 100 97 83 99 73 87 74 91 81 73 85 92 66 80 69 77 100 99
Qatar 80 71 69 59 99 93 100 99 67 97 72 85 69 91 78 75 97 49 58 97 60 95 100 97
Taiwan 79 96 84 75 100 98 100 99 46 99 88 93 89 97 91 90 82 44 55 55 89 73 99 97
Chn 70 96 70 75 98 99 99 90 32 97 72 91 60 88 86 66 43 80 61 41 86 65 98 98
thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30750-9/fulltext

Measuring universal health coverage based on an index of effective coverage of health services, 2020-10-17

　

　

　

　

World's Best Hospitals 2022

newsweek.com/worlds-best-hospitals-2022
world rank country Asia hospital
No.12 Singapore Singapore General Hospital
No.13 Japan The University of Tokyo Hospital
23 Japan St. Luke's International Hospital
30 S. Korea Asan Medical Center
43 S. Korea Samsung Medical Center
46 Japan Kameda Medical Center
55 S. Korea Seoul National University Hospital
70 S. Korea Severance Hospital - Yonsei University
76 Japan  Kyushu University Hospital
78 Japan Center Hospital of the National Center for Global Health and Medicine
87 S. Korea Catholic Univ. of Korea - Seoul St. Mary
89 S. Korea Seoul National University - Bundang Hospital
98 Singapore National Univ, Hospital
number of selected hospitals in top 100 list  -  S. Korea : 6; Japan: 5 ; Singapore: 2

World's Best Hospitals 2021, Newsweek, Statista
 www.newsweek.com/best-hospitals-2021
rank country Asia hospital
No.8 Singapore Singapore General Hospital
No.16 Japan The University of Tokyo Hospital
18 Japan St. Luke's International Hospital
34 S. Korea Asan Medical Center
42 S. Korea Seoul National University Hospital
43 Japan Kameda Medical Center
62 Japan  Kyushu University Hospital
71 Japan Center Hospital of the National Center for Global Health and Medicine
73 S. Korea Center Hospital of the National Center for Global Health and Medicine
76 S. Korea Severance Hospital - Yonsei University
84 Japan Kyoto University Hospital
87 S. Korea Seoul National University - Bundang Hospital
91 Japan Kurashiki Central Hospital
97 S. Korea Korea University - Anam Hospital
number of selected hospitals - Japan: 7 ;  S. Korea : 6; Singapore: 1
101-200 S. Korea 6 
101-200 India 2  All India Institute of Medical Sciences - Delhi, Medanta The Medicity
101-200 Thailand 1   Bumrungrad International Hospital
101-200 Singapore 2   Gleneagles Hospital,  National University Hospital
101-200 Japan 10
total number of selected hospitals - Japan: 17 ;  S. Korea : 12 ; Singapore: 3; India: 2; Thai: 1

PS:  There's no any Taiwan's hospital was selected in 2020 and 2021

　

　

　

　

　

　


migrant workers in Taiwan     https://intlhumanrights.com/TaiwanForeignWorkers.htm
　

world media

foreign laborers abuses
The Guardian, 2022-5-9, (theguardian.com/world/2022/may/09/once-a-zero-covid-poster-child-taiwan-learns-to-live-with-the-virus) Taiwan is now dealing with an “Omicron tsunami”. In factories, migrant workers have once again been discriminated against with unequal rule enforcement and eased restrictions  
Financial Times (UK), 2021-6-22
 ft.com/content/4269650e-7660-4b80-b294-f81b4368784c		 "It has now become extremely common for employers to lock their migrant workers up... ”
The New York Times, 2021-6-18
 nytimes.com/2021/06/18/world/asia/taiwan-migrant-labor-covid.html		 In Taiwan, some foreign tech workers are confined indoors to tackle an outbreak; Activists say that the measures discriminate against migrant laborers.
Heritage Org., 2021 Index of Economic Freedom In "Labor Freedom" index, Taiwan ranks No. 91 worldwide
 The Guardian (UK), 2021-5-16

theguardian.com/world/2021/may/16/lockdowns-and-panic-buying-in-taiwan-as-covid-cases-rise

 Many foreign laborers from Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, entered Taiwan by the name of care-taker but actually illegally worked in these porn parlors in Taipei's Wanhua district,
Brookings, 2021-6-25, brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2021/06/25/taiwans-vitality/  the harsh lockdowns in crowded dormitories of mostly Southeast Asian workers at some technology manufacturing companies have underscored the discrimination that has long been present in Taiwan against peoples of certain nationalities
Business Insider, 2021-5-20 businessinsider.com/taiwan-covid-19-paradise-health-politics-policy-cdc-2021-5 Taiwan ... double standards and stigma still found their way.
Equal Times org., 2021-7-30 (equaltimes.org/taiwan-s-foreign-factory-workers?lang=en#.YQSC6i7iu70) Taiwan’s foreign factory workers face rights violations amid latest Covid outbreak.  “We feel like prisoners. It’s like the company controls every aspect of our lives !"  
US Country Reports on Human Rights Practices released at 2021-3-30 Foreign workers were often reluctant to report employer abuses for fear the employer would terminate their contract
RT TV news (Russia), UDN, 2022-1-24 Two Indonesian migrant laborers got penalty fine in the amount of NY$100,000 (about USD 3,300) for stepping out of their CovID-19 quarantine hotel room for about one minute.

　

　

　

　

　

Julius Baer Group's Global Wealth and Lifestyle Report 2022  (2022-6-15)
The rankings are done after analyzing the cost of residential property, cars, airfare, business school and other luxuries.  
nBloomberg: These are the world's most expensive cities to live in if you're rich
nFinancial Review: If you like luxury, these are the world’s most expensive cities
1 Shanghai, China with four items ranked at the very top and the highest weighted-average price increase (30%).
2 London 　
3 Taipei, Taiwan moved up the ranking, mostly due to the prices of shoes, bicycles, and wine.
4 Hong Kong 　
5 Singapore 　
6 Monaco 　
7 Zurich, Swiss 　
8 Tokyo, Japan is the city which slid the furthest (previously 2nd), driven by 13 items ranking lower than in the previous year and an average depreciation of -8.8% on the Japanese yen.
9 Sydney, Australia 　
10 Paris, France 　
11. New York  12. Sao Paolo  13. Milan   14.  Dubai   15. Bangkok
juliusbaer.com/sg/en/news/julius-baer-publishes-global-wealth-and-lifestyle-report-2022/#:~:text=Shanghai%20is%20still%20the%20most,average%20price%20increase%20(30%25).

　

　

　

★globalpropertyguide.com  

House Prices/GDP per Capita in Taiwan compared to Asia
The formula is: (Price per square metre / GDP per capita)*100
rank country ratio
1  India 627.55x
2 Cambodia 227.93x
3 China 145.62x
4 Philippines 135.02x
5 Vietnam 104.97x
6 Thailand 89.22x
7 Indonesia 72.00x
8 Hong Kong 65.59x
9 Taiwan 46.11x
10 Japan 41.98x
11 Malaysia 36.71x
12 Singapore 27.14x
globalpropertyguide.com/Asia/Taiwan/price-gdp-per-cap

　

　 ★  《 New York Times》 ,  2021-10-15: Taiwan has a spotty record when it comes to fire safety... raise questions about whether the self-governing island,... had overlooked basic safety concerns in the rush to develop... 
★  《 VOAnews》 ,  2022-4-1: Taiwanese investigative magazine Commonwealth reported last year that Taiwan is undergoing its biggest real estate boom since the 1980s. Today, even small housing units in Taipei can command prices exceeding $1 million,...housing prices across six cities including Taipei rose more than 30% between 2019 and 2021.  Much of the inflated prices in housing is fueled by the long running problem of property speculation in Taiwan and very little social housing.    voanews.com/a/survey-shows-young-taiwanese-lack-savings-are-highly-indebted-/6510937.html
 ★  《 New York Times》 ,  2021-10-16: The Kaohsiung building (46 killed in a fire) is one of many aging structures across the island that have fallen into severe disrepair as a result of weak management and government neglect...  the lack of support for Taiwan's rapidly aging population... older buildings that had been constructed under outdated safety guidelines were often overlooked   nytimes.com/2021/10/15/world/asia/taiwan-building-fire.html
 ★  《 Bloomberg》 ,  2021-7-1 (bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-01/taiwan-s-red-hot-housing-defies-challenges-from-covid-to-china?srnd=prognosis) :  Taiwan home prices may reach new highs by the end of the year, residential and office deals in Taiwan's six largest cities surged 27.9% in April from a year earlier....The government is not bringing its ultimate game to fight the overly-hot market. 
　

　

★  numbeo.com/property-investment/country_result.jsp?country=Taiwan

city Price to Income ratio Price to Rent ratio, city center Affordability Index
Taipei 32.09 72.56 0.53
New Taipei City 21.48 63.59 0.77
Taichung 21.07 64.02 0.79
Kaohsiung 13.61 39.95 1.20

 finance.yahoo , 12-30-2020, (finance.yahoo.com/news/retire-taiwan-costs-visas-more-215449948.html), SmartAsset  (smartasset.com/retirement/retire-in-taiwan) 

Purchasing an apartment in Taiwan, is significantly more expensive than in the U.S.  
When it comes to renting, Taiwan is still significantly cheaper than in the U.S. In the average city center in America, a one-bedroom apartment costs an average of $1,346 per month. In Taiwan, the same apartment costs about $485 per month. If you were to choose a three-bedroom apartment, it would cost $2,156 in the U.S. and $1,132 in Taiwan.
　

　

　

★  《 OECD,org》 , 《 United Daily》 , 2022-4-9: 

The percentage of social housing representing all dwellings
Singapore 80% Holland 34.1%
Hong Kong 30.4% Denmark 21.4%
UK 16.7% S. Korea 8.9%
EU 7.5% Taiwan goal: 2%
 oecd.org/social/social-housing-policy-brief-2020.pdf ,  udn.com/news/story/121823/6220288?from=udn_ch2cate6643sub121823_pulldownmenu_v2

　

　

　

★  <United Daily > editorial, 2022-4-15 (udn.com/news/story/7338/6240482?from=udn_ch2cate6643sub7338_pulldownmenu_v2):

misery index, Taiwan
yr. 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
misery index 4.38 5.06 4.29 3.62 5.94 6.4(Q1)

chinatimes.com/opinion/20220426004891-262101?chdtv  2022-4-27 editorial

　

　

　

　

　

US military would defend Taiwan ?
◆ New York Times, 2022-5-23: Biden Says U.S. Military Would Defend Taiwan if China Invaded, dispensing with the “strategic ambiguity” traditionally favored by American presidents ...The White House quickly tried to deny ..., Mr. Biden’s unscripted declaration put Japan in a complicated position. 。nytimes.com/2022/05/23/world/asia/biden-taiwan-defense.html


 ◆ Guardian, 2022-5-23: Biden's Taiwan vow creates confusion not clarity – and raises China tensions  theguardian.com/us-news/2022/may/23/biden-taiwan-china-strategic-ambiguity-us-foreign-policy
◆ Wall Street Journal, 2022-5-23: “We agree with the One China policy and all the attendant agreements we made. But the idea that it can be taken by force, just taken by force, would just not be appropriate,” Mr. Biden said.。wsj.com/articles/biden-says-u-s-would-intervene-militarily-if-china-invaded-taiwan-11653286228
◆ New York Post, 2022-5-23:White House walks back Biden Taiwan defense claim for third time in 9 months  nypost.com/2022/05/23/white-house-walks-back-biden-taiwan-defense-claim-again/

◆ Politico, 2022-5-23:The president's “strategic ambiguity” backtrack may hasten Taiwan Strait conflict, observers say
◆ Economist, 2022-5-23: the gap between presidential statements and official policy is giving rise to a new form of ambiguity—strategic perhaps; or maybe simply incoherent 

economist.com/the-economist-explains/2022/05/23/what-is-americas-policy-of-strategic-ambiguity-over-taiwan


◆ BBC, 2022-5-23:Biden vows to defend Taiwan in apparent US policy shift
◆ TIME, 2022-5-23:president Biden's Vow To Defend Taiwan Is Bold but Incredibly Risky
◆ Bloomberg, 2022-5-23:Biden Misspeaks on Taiwan, Says US Military Would Intervene

◆ AFP, CBS News, 2022-5-23: President Joe Biden said Monday the U.S. would intervene militarily if China were to invade Taiwan, in one of the most forceful and overt statements of American government support for Taiwan in decades. 。Beijing was quick to respond, ... "No one should underestimate the firm resolve, staunch will and strong ability of the Chinese people in defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity" .  cbsnews.com/news/biden-china-taiwan-us-military-recession-monkeypox/

◆ Global Times, 2022-5-23: Biden's remarks on ‘intervening militarily’ in Taiwan question not gaffe but signals hollowing out one-China policy..."Sending troops is military interference, offering weapons and military intelligence and conducting rescue can also be interpreted as 'intervening militarily'... the US... will have no time and no willingness to come to Taiwan's rescue.  globaltimes.cn/page/202205/1266390.shtml
 ◆ New York Times, 2022-5-24:  Asked if he would send in troops if China attacked Taiwan, Biden said, “The policy has not changed at all.”

　

 　

　

　

　

What Should The US Do If China Invades Taiwan ?   TIPP Poll  2022-3-2 ~ 3-4, 1318 adults, online survey
　 come to defense of Taiwan
directly via MILITARY action		 economic sanctions combination of military action
 and economic sanctions		 allow China to take Taiwan not sure
overall 14% 27% 23% 6% 29%
Democrats 15 33 22 6 24
Republicans 16 27 27 n/a 25
Independents 11 22 24 9 34
Conservatives 17 27 28 6 21
Moderates 12 26 19 6 36
Liberals 15% 32% 25% 5% 22%
19fortyfive.com/2022/04/a-chinese-invasion-of-taiwan-what-response-would-americans-support/     TIPP Insights

　

　

　

　

" Strategic Clarity"  -  US defend Taiwan

Strategic Ambiguity
◆  Independent, 2022-4-19: Japanese former PM Abe Shinzo (安倍):China are permanent, veto-wielding members of the United Nations Security Council, the UN’s mediation function cannot be relied upon for conflicts in which they are involved... Ukraine is an independent state beyond any doubt, Taiwan is not....Unlike in Ukraine, Chinese leaders could claim that any invasion of Taiwan that China launches is necessary to suppress anti-government activities in one of its own regions, and that such acts therefore would not violate international law...The time has come for the US to make clear that it will defend Taiwan against any attempted Chinese invasion.

◆ Japan Times, 2022-4-19: U.S. 'strategic ambiguity' over Taiwan must end! US policy of ambiguity toward Taiwan is now fostering instability in the Indo-Pacific region, by encouraging China to underestimate U.S. resolve...  		 ◆ The Guardian, 2022-4-24: a switch from “strategic ambiguity” to clarity ... would prompt a major reaction from Beijing and might not enhance deterrence。
 ◆  Economist, 2022-4-23: Promising to fight for Taiwan, as some advocate, would do little to deter China, which already assumes America will do so. And such a promise would, at the very least, cause a diplomatic crisis...President Joe Biden has said explicitly that America will not join the fighting (in Ukriane) for fear of starting “World War III”.。
◆ Foreign Policy, 2022-4-26: U.S. security cooperation is a more powerful demonstration of commitment than any declaration of intent.
◆  L.A. Times, 2022-4-23: It will never be in America's interests to join a military confrontation over Taiwan that could quickly escalate to involve the use of nuclear weapons.

　

　

　

　

　

Will the US defend Taiwan ??
　

   ☉  NY Times, , 2022-5-24: Former presidents have hinted that the United States would fight for Taiwan but have otherwise remained studiedly vague...Taiwan's defense budget... remains scandalously low 
☉ Breaking Defense, 2022-3-11: Until recently, President Tsai has appeared reluctant to discuss
how Taiwanese citizens can help defend their country...
☉ Politico, 2022-3-14: Taiwan's military may be rightly criticized for its poorly coordinated forces, and its government has been hesitant to invest in its own defense... ...China's deep integration into the global economy and the leverage of Beijing's $1,068 billion in treasury bonds would make Western sanctions more painful to implement
☉Foreign Policy, 2020-10-19 :  Given these electoral realities, Taiwan's leaders have gravitated toward military showpieces — while hoping that the United States will save the day if China ever attacks.   It could take a decade to retool the Taiwanese and U.S. militaries to mount an effective defense of the island.... With China’s rapid military buildup, that may be time that Taiwan does not have. https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/10/19/china-keeps-inching-closer-to-taiwan/
 ☉ TIME, 2022-3-18: most analysts say that the island would not be able to stop a full-scale invasion on its own—and Ukraine's situation has sparked debate over whether anyone would come to Taiwan's aid
　

The US won't

The US will

◆ Times (UK), 2021-12-10: The US won't fight to save Taiwan or Ukraine
◆ Washington Examiner, 2022-03-10: The Biden administration may have encouraged China further when the White House walked back Biden's off-the-cuff commitment that the U.S. would defend Taiwan.
◆ Washington Post, 2022-3-9, Politico, 3-15-2021:Trump indicated (in 2019) America might not come to Taipei's defense in the event of a Chinese invasion，"If they invade, there isn’t a f---ing thing we can do about it."
◆  FoxNews, 2021-11-17: Hannity: "Basically his weakness guarantees Taiwan will be taken over by the Communist Chinese and Joe won't do a thing."

◆  ABC News, 2022-3-14: "Taiwan is a major interest of the US but a core interest of China...The loss of Taiwan will cause a complete overthrow of the Chinese regime. Thus, China will fight to win or die, but the US will not."
◆  Washington Post, 2021-10-15:  The United States does not want war with China over Taiwan
◆  Bloomberg, 3-14-2021:  the US will intervene. What reason is there to believe that the United States will sacrifice the lives of its own children to defend Taiwan?
◆  FoxNews, 2021-8-21: Newt Gingrich: After Afghanistan debacle, Biden ‘can't possibly protect’ Taiwan
◆ CNN, 2021-10-15 :  Biden has also been determined to keep the US out of foreign conflicts.
◆ Washington Post, 2021-10-11 : The problem is: We must have both the force with which to deter the Chinese and the legal authority to employ it. And right now, we do not...Under the War Powers and Taiwan Relations acts, the president has no legal authority, without the express authorization of Congress, to use military force to defend Taiwan...The legal limitations on a president’s ability to respond quickly could all but ensure a Chinese fait accompli. Simply put: The president has no legal authority to react in the time necessary to repel a Chinese invasion of Taiwan and deter an all-out war.
◆ Reuters, 2020-12-10: Newsham says: “How do you defend Taiwan? All I can hear is that the United States will intervene,” ... “What reason is there to believe that the United States will sacrifice the lives of its own children to defend Taiwan?”
◆ Breaking Defense, 2022-3-11:“With the PLA [People’s Liberation Army]’s significant and capable counter-intervention capabilities, the Taiwanese people must understand that a US-led coalition can only come to their aid if Taiwan can hold out for an extended period of time, regardless of a security commitment,” Kanapathy added.
◆  Express (UK), 6-30-2020: China attack on Taiwan will NOT be salvaged by US in major new warning  
◆  Foreign Policy, 2021-4-5: Taipei can't rely on a guarantee of U.S. aid◦
◆  N.Y. Times , 8-30-2020: "Taiwan cannot count on US as a matter of strategy"
◆  Economist , 8-30-2020: "The island cannot rely on American help".
◆  The Hill, 2020-8-25: Biden apparently believes the TRA constricted the president’s inherent powers when applied to Taiwan as a U.S. national security concern. In the event of a sudden attack by China on Taiwan, consultation with Congress prior to responding would cause disastrous delay, allowing China to overrun Taiwan. 
◆  Global Times (China), 2021-8-18: The US failed in all its main post-WWII wars in Asia..To maintain the illusion that the US will continue backing the island will finally exhaust Washington as time goes on. Therefore, the US will eventually have to accept the reunification of the mainland and the island of Taiwan...If the US wants to change that new status quo through a war, it will have to bet its national fate. Washington has no reason to do so. 
　

 ◆  Nippon (Japan), 2022-3-24: Were China to launch an armed attack on Taiwan at this time, the PLA could face a grueling and costly battle on multiple fronts, with the US military springing to the island's defense...

　

◆  DW (Germany), 2022-2-28: Nachman says "The US would likely intervene if Taiwan is attacked by China,"...Analyst Glaser says that the US would likely intervene militarily if China attacks Taiwan unprovoked.

　

◆  Wall Street Journal,  2022-3-2: many military analysts assume the U.S. would directly intervene to fight on Taiwan's side.

　

 ◆  The Guardian (UK), 2021-10-5 :The prevailing mood among Washington insiders is to fight if China attempts to conquer Taiwan. hard reality that fighting China over Taiwan risks an almost-certain military defeat – and gambles we won’t stumble into a nuclear war. The best that could be hoped for would be a pyrrhic victory in which we are saddled with becoming the permanent defense force for Taiwan (costing us hundreds of billions a year and the equally permanent requirement to be ready for the inevitable Chinese counter-attack).

　

◆  Brookings.edu , 2021-10-27

“Devise and implement a defense strategy capable of defending the first-island-chain nations, including Taiwan.” This could be understood as meaning that the United States itself would take direct military action to defend Taiwan, instead of just helping Taiwan to defend itself.

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

Taiwanese people were asked if they agreed that "There will be war between China and Taiwan eventually"
 / BBC, 2022-1-12, source: Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation, research at Oct. 2021
strongly agree 7% strongly disagree 23.7%
partly agree 21.1% don't know/no opinion 7.6%
partly disagree 40.6%

news.yahoo.com/china-taiwan-really-simple-guide-142542268.html

　

　

　

　

Chinese and Taiwanese armed forces / BBC, 2022-1-12, source: TrendForce 2021
　 China Taiwan
Active duty personnel 2,035,000 163,000
Ground Force 965,000 88,000
Navy 260,000 40,000
Air Force 395,000 35,000
Strategic missile Forces 120,000 0
Strategic Support Force 145,000 0
Other Forces 150,000 0

news.yahoo.com/china-taiwan-really-simple-guide-142542268.html

　

　

　

Global Fire Power  /   globalfirepower.com/country-military-strength-detail.php?country_id=taiwan
For 2022 China Taiwan
world rank 3 of 140 21 of 140

◆ Wall street Journal, 2022-3-29: Moves under discussion in Taiwan are still far from the kind of major revamp that some experts in the U.S. and elsewhere say is needed to upgrade Taiwan's military
◆ L.A. Times, 2022-3-20: over much of the last decade, Taiwan moved in the opposite direction: It cut the size of its regular army and reduced the training of its reserves.
 ◆ Breaking Defense, 2022-3-11: Until recently, President Tsai has appeared reluctant to discuss how Taiwanese citizens can help defend their country... the Taiwanese people must understand that a US-led coalition can only come to their aid if Taiwan can hold out for an extended period of time
 ◆ Economist, 2022-3-5: Taiwanese, seem too uninterested to fight to defend their land.... Taiwan's sloth in reforming its defence capabilities...(brief)
◆ Washington Post, 2022-1-25:   Taiwanese military has limited-to-no experience.

◆ Brookings, 2021-11-1 :  the asymmetric approach has been stretched beyond recognition in recent years by a recalcitrant MND  

◆ WSJ, FoxNews, 2021-10-25 :  the island's military is riven with internal problems...Among the most pressing concerns are poor preparation and low morale among the roughly 80,000 Taiwanese who are conscripted each year and the nearly 2.2 million reservists.
 ◆ WarOnTheRocks, 2021-12-6: Taiwan claims it must expend significant political capital and effort to convince its population to fight a prolonged war of attrition.  Asking the Taiwanese people to prepare for a long and bloody war of attrition — one that might become a fool's errand if the US ultimately decides to stay on the sidelines.
 ◆ Global Times, 2021-12-28:  Survey: more than 52.1 percent of people believe the Taiwan authorities are not ready for a war with the Chinese mainland, and 51.3 percent said they do not want to personally or let family members go to the battlefield,  globaltimes.cn/page/202112/1243629.shtml  

　

　

　

　

　

　

　
  Comment Taiwan

　

● Ethics of Taiwan politicians : ♣ New Yorker (2022-11-21):  When the Chinese test-fired the ballistic missiles, Tsai Ing-wen didn’t tell the public that they flew over the island; that became known only after it was announced by Japanese leaders. When a Chinese drone flew into Taiwan's airspace, Tsai Ing-wen's government reacted with similar reserve... the government looks like it doesn't know what it's doing,”♣ al jazeera, 2022-5-30:  Taiwan legislature erupts in violence over "secret expenses" bill /  KMT lawmakers try to block bill they say could be used to overturn ex-President Chen Shui-bian’s corruption conviction.   ♣ Guardian, 2021-7-12: China accused Taiwan has rejected China's offers as fake altruism. ... putting politics above its people  ♣ United Daily, 3-11-2021, editorial: smear, fragmentation, low dirty means ... Pan Green's propaganda campaign already beyond the critical point of morality. udn.com/news/story/7338/5309442 ♣ China Times, 3-12-2021: Ruling party ignoring bottom line of morality is grief of the country. ♣ The Liberty Times, editorial (7-21-2020) reports only 2.3% Taiwanese politicians are trustworthy and have professional ethics, according to a survey half year ago,  56% Taiwanese note elected representatives (lawmakers, councilman, etc) care their own interest, only 9.3% think they care "national interest".  ♣ Washington Post (7-22-2020) reports:  In a major speech in January 2019, Xi (Chinese president) offered an ultimatum to Taiwan to come to the table for unification talks or face annexation by force.   However, Taiwan's government was tight-lipped about this ultimatum, so that even famous commentator and analyst  know nothing about it, otherwise pro-Independence Tsai I. W. may not easily continue in presidential office in Jan. 2020, because, according to National Interest (6-16-2020): more than 60.3 percent of the respondents opposed Taiwan's independence if it is followed by China’s military invasion...   Taiwanese personality

○

●  democracy :  ● Economist, 2022-11-29: many Taiwanese are tired of squabbles over national identity, especially after Ms Tsai’s refusal last year to accept an offer of much-needed vaccines from China ... ● Wall Street Journal, 2022-11-28: Taiwan Ruling Party's election drubbing could ease tension with China and persuade Chinese leaders that they can peacefully influence politics there.   ●  US Country Reports on Human Rights Practices released at 2022-4-12 :  In 2020 presidential and legislative elections, President Tsai Ing-wen won re-election,...there were allegations of vote buying by candidates and supporters of both major political parties.  ●  al jazeera, 2022-5-30: Taiwan legislature erupts in violence over "secret expenses" bill /  KMT lawmakers try to block bill they say could be used to overturn ex-President Chen Shui-bian’s corruption conviction.● United Daily(聯合報) , 2022-5-9, editorial:  Taiwan's news reports seem to be free, but in recent years, the speech market has tended to be "Homogeneity" (單一化); particularly, the state apparatus controls the media very deeply ● USA Country Reports on Human Rights practices,  2021-3-30: There were allegations of vote buying by candidates and supporters of both major political parties (KMT and DPP) in Presidential election. ● Economist EIU Democracy Index 2019 shows Taiwan is "Flawed democracy", overall score is lower than 2015's and 2016's, the scores of "political culture", "political participation" are low (5.63, 6.11). ● <DW> of Germany (Chinese edition, 12-25-2020) and <RFI> of France (Chinese edition, 12-27-2020) both quoted <Yazhou Zhoukan > (亞洲周刊) criticizing Taiwan's new democratic authoritarianism. ● N.Y. Times  12-3-2019:  soft underbelly of Taiwanese politics: patronage networks.  they continue to allow community leaders, farmers’ associations and even organized-crime figures to buy votes. ● New York Times, 1-11-2020: Taiwan’s young and vibrant, if messy at times, democratic society. ● <China Times> 2-26-2020, editorial: more and more uncontrolled admin. power and withered legislative power, freedom of speech was suppressed by admin. and judicial power at all levels, ...as for political culture, partisan, stand and ideology matter. ● <Foreign Policy>, 2015: Taiwan politics belongs to mega-corporations (not the people) and is controlled by the political parties. ● Apple Daily, editorial, 12-14-2019: Taiwan gov. shows authoritarianism political culture, ignoring and being hostile to those critics.   ● Apple Daily, editorial, 12-7-2019:  in this bad election morality age, Taiwan president becomes a low threshold, min. qualification criteria position, and a laughingstock. ● <UDN> editorial,12-6-2018: Taiwan's democracy exists in name only ...; ● <United Daily News>, editorial opinion, 6-23-2019: The operation of democracy usually strays off most public-opinions, big-data became a sharp-weapon for politicians to manipulate the will of the people ... fail to solve the adverse situation of reversing democracy;  ● <United Daily News>, Opinion, 3-7-2017:  Now it seems hard to keep Taiwan's skin-deep democracy ... the people's "livelihood" was sacrificed for politics ...● <United Daily> editorial 1-8-2020, <UDN> editorial (聯合報社論) 11-14-2019／Taiwan's democracy turns into grave 。 (民主設計的良意，如今變成私欲墳場 https://udn.com/news/story/11321/4163629)  democracy & freedom

○

●  freedom of speech  :  ● US Country Reports on Human Rights Practices released at 2023-3-20 : Reporters faced the threat of legal action under the liberal libel laws.● US Country Reports on Human Rights Practices released at 2022-4-12 : CTi News was forced off the air after the National Communications Commission declined to renew its broadcast license. Opposition politicians and some academics and commentators claimed the decision was politically motivated retaliation for CTi News’ criticism of the ruling party. ●  RSF, <Reporters Sans Frontieres>, France, 2022-5-3: Taiwan's press freedom situation has been "impaired" by some "serious problems". ●  USA Country Reports on Human Rights practices,  2021-3-30: Opposition politicians and some media outlets criticized these provisions (a new law criminalized receiving direction or funding from prohibited Chinese sources to conduct political activities) as overly broad and potentially detrimental to freedom of expression, including for the press. Opposition politicians and some academics and commentators claimed NCC’s decision not to renew the license was politically motivated retaliation for CTi News’ criticism of the ruling party.  ● Global Times, 2021-3-29 : Taiwan DPP's dark "online army" underbelly in misinformation campaign ,  the DPP's "online army" which manipulated and meddled in an online public opinion field of more than 20 million people on the island.   "The DPP can collude with social media such as PTT, Facebook, print media, electronic media, and TV programs".    globaltimes.cn/page/202103/1219763.shtml   ●  USA Country Reports on Human Rights practices,  3-11-2020:  Journalists said they faced pressure from management to submit news stories to complement or support the content of paid advertisements. Oxford university (UK) Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: Only 24% Taiwanese trust in local news which remains one of the lowest in Oxford survey.  < Reporters Sans Frontieres> (RSF, France) , 4-18-2019:  Taiwan’s journalists are suffering from a very polarized media environment dominated by sensationalism and the pursuit of profit. Although President Tsai Ing-wen has said she wants to continue developing press freedom in Taiwan, few concrete measures have been taken to improve journalists’ editorial independence and encourage media to raise the quality of the public debate. Beijing is exploiting this weakness by putting pressure on Taiwanese media owners, who often have business interests on the mainland. ●  China Times, editorial <中時社論> , 3-9-2020: Political power forms threats (penalty fine and suspending the license) to certain media ... Secretly bullying by (gov.-related) cyber force.  ● Apple Daily 12-4-2019 editorial : All political parties and many politicians found cyber-forces who are mean, base, cruel and dark to destroy target's image and reputation by secretly ways, without moral bottom line ...  ● UDN 12-7-2019 editorial: The number of fake news spread by Pan-Green coalition (ruling party) is far more (and more vile) than that sent by ordinary people   ● Apple Daily 3-29-2019 editorial opinion: Democracy & Freedom of speech is the bottom line which should never be lost, the government should not create chilling effect by fishing in trouble water.  ● The China Times 12-14-2019 editorial : the gov. seriously harmed free speech by investigating those messages shared or published on the net by the masses   ● The China Times 3-29-2019 headline news:  Democracy on the surface, anti-democracy to the bone is not allowed.  ● US Country Reports on Human Rights Practices released at 3-13-2019: the impact of the concentration of media ownership on freedom of the press, self-censorship continued. ● N.Y. Times  12-3-2019:  Social media platforms are another key battleground (Chn-TW): Nearly 90 percent of Taiwan’s population is active on them, and traditional news outlets have been known to republish fake posts without fact-checking. According to Reuters, Chinese government agencies have paid Taiwanese news outlets to publish pro-Beijing content.  freedom of speech

○

●  Family  New York times, Pew Research Institute, 2021-11-28:  unlike most other countries put family first, Taiwanese ranked Material well-being above family.  Marry for money not love

　

●  justice:  ● National ChungCheng University (ccu.edu),   2023-2-13: study found the percentage of Taiwanese trust in the judges is 32.8%.● National ChungCheng University, 2022-2-14: study found 2/3 Taiwanese are not satisfied with the quality of judgment of criminal cases ●  United Daily, editorial , 2022-1-25 : More people suffered fear from invisible and delicate social control and threats by DPP government' flank and judiciary (prosecutor, police) ... ●  USA Country Reports on Human Rights practices,  2021-3-30: Some political commentators and academics, however, publicly questioned the impartiality of judges and prosecutors involved in high profile, politically sensitive cases.  ● USA Country Reports on Human Rights practices,  3-11-2020:  Some political commentators and academics,  publicly questioned the impartiality of judges and prosecutors involved in high profile, politically sensitive cases. US Country Reports on Human Rights Practices released at 3-13-2019 pointed out that justice ministry was insufficiently independent and conducted politically motivated investigations of politicians (in <Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government> section), ...  ● The United Daily, 1-6-2020, editorial:  Taiwanese don't trust law-enforcement because of government abusing power and playing with the law.   : ●　The United Daily, Focus, 11-30-2019: 　The prosecutors  and Taiwan's 'FBI'　were questioned a lot for years for their political investigations and conducts ...in recent years, the judiciary giving services to DPP almost became a routine...:●  UDN 10-20-2019: politics overrode justice   ● The Liberty Times,  head-line news, 3-16-2019: Taiwan PM is not satisfied with Judicial reform  ●  The Liberty Times, head-page, The China Times, head-page, 12-8-2018:   Taiwan P.M. (賴清德):  Taiwan has not made significant progress on judicial reform, which is roiling with public discontent;  ●  <The United Daily>,  06-18-2016, head page news: Taiwan's prosecutors admit usually following order to conclude legal cases.  ● <USA Country Reports on Human Rights practices>, 2016-2018,  public trust on Taiwan's judiciary system keeps falling down.  ● <United Daily>, opinion column, 12-16-2017:  Taiwan's public voice with a heavy heart  : The prosecutors should abide by the law too... don't be a political tool.    judiciary

　

●  corruption : 
● TaiwanPlus, 2023-3-6:

 ● China Times, 2023-6-26:  Taiwan ruling party's corruption - structural, collective and overall (結構性、集體性、全面性貪腐) ;  has already crossed the bottom line, and being out of control. chinatimes.com/opinion/20230626004425-262101?chdtv   brief   ● Voice of America, 2022-11-23:  "black gold"-"heijin." Corruption in Local Politics   ● Avios, 2022-6-28: Scandals and corruption have plagued the Taiwanese armed forces  ● Economist, 2022-8-2: Taiwan needs to do more to combat corruption and waste in its armed forces ●  US Country Reports on Human Rights Practices released at 2022-4-12 :13 high-ranking officials, 79 mid-level, 93 low-level, and 18 elected officials were indicted for corruption.  the Ministry of Justice and the Judicial Yuan referred six officials to the Control Yuan for criminal investigation, including former minister of justice Tseng Yung-fu, former prosecutor general Wu Ying-chao, and two others for investigation of noncriminal misconduct... In 2020 presidential and legislative elections, President Tsai Ing-wen won re-election,...there were allegations of vote buying by candidates and supporters of both major political parties.  ● USA Country Reports on Human Rights practices,  2021-3-30:  Significant human rights issues included: the existence of criminal libel laws and serious acts of corruption. ●  Transparency International 1-29-2019: Taiwan has stagnated in the Corruption Perspective Index rankings since 2011 with its score 61~63 (dropped 2 spots this year), in contrast, South Korea improved by 3 points in 2017. ● China Times, editorial , 2022-6-1,  "The whole DPP party backups corruption, a shame of Taiwan's democracy": When the corruption scandal broke out in 2008, all DPP members gave ex-President Chen Shui-bian a cold shoulder, Chen's daughter 陳幸妤 was mad and shouted："Has anyone in DPP not taken money from my father ?? ", which shocked all fields, therefore, pan-Green Coalition has been involved in Chen's case.(綠營因此遭扁綁架事出有因)。● In platform presentation at 12-25-2019, Nationalist Party Presidential candidate Han criticized President Tsai has allowed top officials around grow very corrupt, Tsai refuted KMT was more serious, People First Party candidate Song said that speaking of corruption and unfair judiciary, KMT and DPP are about the same. ●  Apple Daily (12-7-2018) editorial :  Taiwan's corruption is off the charts by collusions between government officials and business owners,  furthermore, Taiwan's underworld going wild to assist government officials, business and some elected representatives (e.g., legislators) in corruption has been ahead of most corrupt countries, e.g., China, Indonesia, Brazil, Philippines, Vietnam, the stinky rotten food-chain crossing pan-Blue (Nationalist, KMT) and pan-Green (DPP) resurges after Taiwan's elections...●  Liberty Times, 1-12-2020, editorial: The administration's rottenness (腐壞氣息) smells already.   corruption

●

●  medical  : ● Taiwan ranks No. 249 in World's Best Hospitals by Newsweek and Statista in 2023  ●  Bloomberg's CovID ranking: Taiwan's 3-month case-fatality rate ranks the last twice in 2021 ● Lancet / Measuring universal health coverage  Taiwan is behind countries of  Asia& Pacific like Japan, Singapore, S. Korea, Australia, NZ, Kuwait, Qatar   ● Only one Taiwan's hospital was included and ranked No. 249 in Newsweek's top 250 "World's Best Hospitals" in 2023  ● Guardian (UK), 2022-5-9: The death of a two-year-old boy last month highlighted communication failures exacerbated by Taiwan’s entrenched bureaucracy.  ● al jazeera, 2022-5-30: The fatalities have notably included the sudden deaths of several very young children, which many Taiwanese attribute to failures of the healthcare system.   ●  China Times, editorial, 2021-9-8: The government ignores human lives of high-risk older populations.  Using vaccine to draw votes is "cold-blood", "losing their souls "  chinatimes.com/opinion/20210907005525-262101?chdtv ●  United Daily, editorial, 2021-9-4: Taiwan's vaccination policy is based upon government's selfishness and special purpose. ● National Taiwan University professor, King ChwanChuen, 2021-9-1: CDC should not turn into a election campaign center. ● UDN 2021-5-31, editorial: Taiwan's government fails to purchase enough CovID-19 vaccines, and stop civil org. to purchase from the west for saving its political face.  Till end May, patients are not easy to apply for and have CovID-19 medicine, which cause more deaths, Taiwan cares money more than human lives   hospitals,   CovID19

●

●  pirate :  ● USA Country Reports on Human Rights practices,  2021-3-30:  some indigenous rights advocates argued a large amount of indigenous land was seized and privatized decades ago, depriving indigenous communities of the right to participate in the development of these traditional territories. ● Green Peace, 5-2-2019:  It remains our view that Taiwanese fisheries still have many serious problems, both environmental and social, and that the need for reform is clear and urgent.  ●  Lowy Institute & <the interpreter>, 5-2-2019: Taiwan ...illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing... Taiwan has so far refused to adopt the Work in Fishing Convention. ●  EU warned in 2015 Taiwan with a yellow card for illegal fishing till  6 '19. ●  US  state government - 2019 Trafficking in persons report, Jun. 2019:   fishermen working on Taiwan-flagged and -owned fishing vessels experience non- or under-payment of wages, long working hours, physical abuse, lack of food or medical care, denial of sleep, and poor living conditions while indebted to complex, multinational brokerage networks. Migrant fishermen have reported senior crewmembers employ such coercive tactics as threats of physical violence, beatings, withholding of food and water, and pay deductions to retain their labor.    ● Freedom House, June 2019:  labor advocates report poor implementation, citing ongoing mistreatment and abuse of foreign fishermen on Taiwanese vessels.

 ○
●  privacy : ●  The China Times (中時) , editorial , 2023-5-23: 23 millions of Taiwanese household administration data and 28 millions of labor insurance data have been leaked and were sold to fraud groups - all personal data of Taiwanese were sold out, Taiwan government looked the other way as its citizens were in fraud for leakage of their personal data  ●  US Naval Institute   , May, 2022 : Taiwan has extensive networks of closed-circuit TV cameras, and issued a national health insurance smartcard that tracks medical histories. ● Amnesty International, June, 2021 :The government took several measures to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus, some of which threatened the right to privacy.  ●  People's Daily, 10-15-2020, commentary: Taiwan's Intelligence strictly monitors its own people, which is called "Green Terror". ● The China Times (中國時報), 1-6-2021:  the human rights protected by the Constitution has been in danger for a long time... The government had not admitted the "skynet - electronic fence" until law-makers questioned them a number of times... ● New York Post  4-25-2020 : Taiwan deals CovID with "a lot more authoritarian.", "almost everyone is tracked.". ● Apple Daily 11-10-2020: Taiwanese health & medical data/information was forced without agreement of the party to be opened on purpose of business and academic use. ● The United Daily News (聯合報) , editorial, 3-31-2019 :  Taiwan is a backward country on personal-data protection.   Taiwan plans to sell general public's personal data and digital human rights (e.g., people's medical health data without giving any notice ), peep at whatever on the net , and even monitor all the citizens,  nothing people would normally notice ...   (brief https://udn.com/news/story/7338/3728815) ;  ● EU General Data Protection Regulation - GDPR was given to effect at 5-25-2018, Taiwan is far behind, even is going in an opposite way  / Apple Daily 蘋果日報, 5-28-2018,  National Taiwan University Law School professor 林鈺雄    privacy

○
● secret police : ●  Law maker (2023-6-2): What an authoritarian era in Taiwan ? (「這是什麼威權時代嗎」) /  Dr. Su Hung-dah (蘇宏達), dean of the College of Social Sciences, National Taiwan University, reveals he was threatened by National Security Bureau ( state machine ) that "we can watch your LINE" (a popular online app. )   ● USA Country Reports on Human Rights practices,  2021-3-30:  Members of the security forces committed some abuses.   ● The United Daily News, editorial opinion (9-19-2018) : "secret police" (「東廠們」) have been active around us ...  ● The Liberty Times, head-page, The China Times, head-page, 12-8-2018:   Taiwan P.M. (賴清德): "Secret Police event" (「東廠事件」) has seriously damaged public trust on the government...;   ● Apple Daily 12-4-2019 editorial : All political parties and many politicians found their cyber-forces to secretly attack targets... ,  the dark force are mean, base, cruel  and dark to destroy target's image and reputation, they executed without moral bottom line and military discipline  (brief).   ● The United Daily News, editorial 11-30-2019: The state machine was abused as government's "tributaries".  ● UDN 11-3-2018,  Intel. sys. (NSB) confirmed their investigations of Facebook and other's communities on the net.  All internet platform service providers in Taiwan were requested to hand in all users' personal information/data (intel denied).   ● <Apple Daily (蘋果日報)> 11-7-2018 editorial opinion:  by whatever name ( "secret police" or "national security bureau") it is called, what "it" did secretly were always more than what it admitted.  Taiwan's Intelligence and secret-agent systems keep on governing the country ... they're true Prime Minister (行政院長), ...So many suspected political murder cases remain unsolved  (ref to 2018.7.26【政經看民視】 FTV, "政經看民視", 7-26-2018;  SET(三立電視), 9-24-2013 "Secret agents govern the nation (特務治國)" www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBdZCdYrwF4;  Era TV,   年代電視, 9-22-2013; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1b4R2m6K3g; "Secret agent systems resurgence to control the nation (特務復辟治國)"   repression, oppression

○

●  int'l fraud :  ● United Daily (聯合報), editorial, 2023-5-11 : Taiwan government got no grades on fighting fraud。In today, Taiwanese crimes of fraud have spread all over the world, the criminal methods have deteriorated to abducting people, selling human organs, defrauding money by using the name of the administration...●The China Times (中時) , editorial , 2023-5-8: The head of fraud group,「im.B借貸媒合平台」, has close connection with DPP's top ranking officials such as deputy premier   ● Reuters, DW (Germany), 12-31-2020: Chinese court sentences 29 Taiwanese deported from Spain / In recent years, hundreds of Taiwanese nationals, suspected of committing telecoms fraud overseas...   ● United Daily, 10-23-2019, editorial: Taiwanese telecom frauds run wild the entire world to damage Taiwan's image.   ● CTV evening news, 12-14-2017,  EBC TV, 4-9-2017,  UDN opinion, 12-24-2017:  Taiwan is notorious for its fraud crimes all over the world.  quora, 4-16-2016:  Taiwan largely sees these telecom frauds/phone scammers as an asset rather than liability...  ●  China Times, 11-7-2017:  It's not easy for Taiwan to clean its bad name of 'fraud-crime empire' because "Rome is not built in one day".  (Asia Association of Police Studies, secretary general)     international fraud 

○

●  torture & cruelty :  ● Global Times, 2022-12-19:  There are forces on the island who are mentally controlling the Taiwan people...   ●justsecurity.org, Focus Taiwan, Taipei Times, etc, 2022-5-13:  international human rights review panel urges to ban torture and other cruelties ● Global Times (globaltimes.cn/content/1209528.shtml), 12-9-2020: Taiwan authority ‘persecutes mainlanders, pro-reunification activists' by 'Political persecution, framing charge' .    Taiwan is far behind and keeps stalling legislating a new law against torture and other cruelty, conclusively advised by international review panel ( Philip Alston, law professor at New York University; Eibe Riedel, former member of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; Jerome Cohen, law professor at New York University; and Nisuke Ando, professor emeritus at Kyoto University, etc. )  (ref. to Apple Daily, headline, 12-9-2017)  Taiwan's opposition party vice presidential candidate, NTU professor Lin Ruey-Shiung, was subject to electromagnetic wave attacks (French AFP ,Dec. 1, 2011 , Thailand's Bangkok Post,  Dec. 3, 2011, Yahoo UK & Ireland, etc. ), Taiwan gov. denied this.     ● State violence and white terror (product of state violence) return in Taiwan (United Daily, opinion, 12-21-2017, 12-27-2017).     Taiwan's Facebook "Green terror" suppressed free expression...... (Wikipedia 2017, The China Times, public opinion, 11-18-2017).   The key-point is state violence (Apple Daily, opinion, 8-16-2013).   repression, oppression

○

●  food safety  : ● United Daily (經濟日報社論),  2023-2-1: Food safety is an anxious issue for Taiwanese people ● Global Times,  2022-9-17 : DPP authority is sacrificing the people's interests for their political ends.   the Taiwan authorities detected Caesium-137 in the batch of konjaku jelly powder since the island in February relaxed a decade-long ban on imports of "nuclear food"  from Japan.   ● Scientific Reports Journal, Food Navigator Asia, 2-9-2021: Fish fraud findings: Almost 20% of fish in Taiwan found to be mislabelled - study (Taiwan food scare, including 5 star hotel restaurant foods  which the website revealed earlier in 2017).   ● The China Times, 10-20-2018  opinion (editorial)   https://opinion.chinatimes.com/20181019003889-262101 :  Taiwan's food safety failed again and again,  Dioxin, Fipronil poison-eggs in last year, Nicarbazin illegal drug residue event in this year.  Europe was very cautious about Fipronil event, in contrast, Taiwan did nothing about it.   Even worse, Taiwan officials hide Nicarbazin issue from Taiwanese people to baby related business ― indulge business to retrieve problematic eggs and then resell them as promotion goods.  Why do high-ranking officials always fudge Taiwanese people's only, and humblest request ？?   (brief)  ●  UDN, 2-17-2019: Gov. did not declared poison eggs until almost sold out...  ● The China Times (中國時報), 2-28-2019,  opinion (editorial) questions Taiwan officials are trying very hard to hide the epidemic state of Marek's virus in chicken eggs ...

 ○

● int'l drug base : ● Statista 2022-11-18: Offense against narcotics hazard prevention act ranks No.2 crime by the Number committed in Taiwan in 2021  ●

The Diplomat, 2022-5-17
:"patrols of the coast became almost nonexistent and, as a result, it was easy to smuggle guns and drugs into Taiwan.” ● Taiwan is narcotic drugs producing & selling center of Asia (The China Times <Want Weekly>, 9-18-2019).  Taiwan was already reduced to be a 'kingdom' of producing narcotic drugs. (United Daily, headline news, 11-2-2017)   Philippine President Duterte ... blaming Taiwan-based organised crime behind all this drug traffic... for using his country as a shipping hub. (Reuters, 9-27-2017, The Straits Times, 9-29-2017)   Duterte: Triad supplying illegal drugs to PH is based in Taiwan, not China (inquirer.net, 9-26-2017).    Taiwan is scandalous for being a major drug transit center & a major drug exporting country, part of Taiwanese government including Judicial sys. refused to improve this issue. (UDN Opinion, 11-6-2017, The China Times, head-page & focus, 4-4-2017, The Liberty Times, 5-12-2017)    illegal drugs

○

●  exploitation ,   children & women trafficking : ● US Country Reports on Human Rights Practices released at 2023-3-20: A rise in the number of reports of child sexual exploitation cases;  The NGOs called for increased prosecutions and heavier penalties. ● USA Country Reports on Human Rights practices,  2022-4-12:  the number of male victims of child sexual exploitation was increasing and that male and female minors of indigenous heritage were targeted at higher rates than those of other ethnic groups. ● USA Country Reports on Human Rights practices,  2021-3-30:  NGOs raised concerns regarding online sexual exploitation of children and reported sex offenders increasingly used cell phones, web cameras, live streaming, apps, and other new technologies to deceive and coerce underage girls and boys into sexual activity.  ● US  state government - 2019 Trafficking in persons report, Jun. 2019:   in the last five years, human traffickers subject foreign men and women to forced labor and sex trafficking in Taiwan, and traffickers subject local men and women to forced labor and local women and children to sex trafficking. ... take advantage of Taiwan and foreign women’s and children’s drug addictions to subject them to sex trafficking. Taiwan traffickers increasingly use the internet, smartphone apps, livestreaming, and other such online technologies to conduct recruitment activities, often targeting child victims, and to mask their identities from law enforcement.  ● USA Country Reports on Human Rights practices, March 3, 2017, 4-20-2018:  Exploitation of  foreign workers,  official corruption,  some media self-censorship with regard to China, vote buying, etc.     prostitution

○

●  life protection  : ● NY Times, 2021-10-15: Taiwan has a spotty record when it comes to fire safety... severe disrepair as a result of weak management and government neglect.  Skyrocketing housing costs in Taiwan’s cities — and a rapidly aging population — have exacerbated these issues in recent years and have outpaced the government’s efforts to resolve them... ● Nature, 2023-6-22:  Despite concerns from several nations and international groups (but Taiwan goes down on its knees) , Japan is pressing ahead with plans to release water contaminated by the 2011 meltdown of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean ● China times, 2021-10-15:  Behind the fire sea in Kaohsiung building (城中城) is the government's discrimination and indifference to those underprivileged group who can not afford buying fire-fighting equipments ● UDN 2021-4-1: foolish energy policy kills our lungs, people in southern and middle of Taiwan increasingly got related diseases ●  Apple Daily, 2021-4-10, editorial: The bane of Taiwan- backward infrastructures, e.g., no early-warning system for railway train, pollution in stream, dam, reservoir deposition ● The government has not well taken its fundamental responsibility of protecting the safety of people's life and property - why 5/6 bridges badly in need of repair have not done ?  government even has never made public the info. and where those bridges are. (ref. to United Daily, 10-9-2019, headline news)   why are there so many tall buildings located on the fault-zone? why are poor architectures everywhere on bad geologic grounds ? why are those shit-hole politicians doing nothing and ignoring urban renewal so as to risk millions of old houses and human beings? (ps: may face death in 6 magnitude quake)    (full text: https://udn.com/news/story/11321/2974813 聯合報社論／斷層帶上何以建了那麼多高樓？  2-8-2018,  https://udn.com/news/story/7338/2977079 勿讓軟腳樓成坑殺人命陷阱 2-9-2018,  https://tw.appledaily.com/headline/daily/20180209/37928659花蓮 都更 爛政客   2-9-2018)

○

● life protection (2) : ● UDN, 2023-6-6: Taiwan government tries to hide the safety risk - Taiwan Power's 四接 in Keelung Port - a significant risk ● CIA Fact Book, Dec. 10, 2021: air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in endangered species ● Taiwan's CCPI (Climate Change Performance Index - GHG emissions, renewable energy, etc) rank of 2019 is reciprocal third among countries, the score/ranking is from bad to worse since 2017.  ● USA Country Reports on Human Rights practices,  2021-3-30: the total number of sexual assaults was seven to 10 times higher than the number reported to police.   ●  United Daily, 2021-4-10, editorial: The death rate of traffic accident (8+ per day) is higher than hat of many backward countries.  Large-bus structure is problematic - Jerry-built or bad safety specification. So many gods are hidden in the detail  ● UDN 1-2-2018 udn.com/news/story/7266/2908720,  The China Times. 8-6-2016, <食品不安全的年代如何自保>, 2016, etc : Taiwan failed to solve food-safety issue, professors and MDs advised eating at home.  Taiwan is dishonest and 'cruel' ― trying to hide, block, delay public-health news, e.g., poisoned eggs, PCV virus vaccine, and Bird-flu more than one time.  ref to BBC news :  www.bbc.com/zhongwen/trad/chinese_news/2012/03/120304_taiwan_birdflu_investigate. ●  Due to bad Income distribution, Taiwan's social security (offender rate) worsens (China Times, 2-25-2020 editorial).   ●  The China Times 5-9-2018 column : This is an EVIL state apparatus ... The China Times 5-26-2018 column : The government likes to conceal bad news, put paper over the cracks, e.g., air pollution, rupture of diplomatic relationships, ...http://www.chinatimes.com/newspapers/20180509000843-260109  ● Taiwan's CCPI (Climate Change Performance Index - GHG emissions, renewable energy, etc) rank of 2019 is reciprocal third among countries, the score/ranking is from bad to worse since 2017. ● Apple Daily 12-11-2019, headline news: Taiwan's air pollution is bad to worse, about half population were endangered by PM2.5 and PM10 from top 10 hazardous level companies (China Steel, Taichung Power plant, etc)  ● Taiwan administration's policy led to air pollution, toxic pollution in the land and sea ...   (The China Times, 1-7-2018 台灣海陸空污染毒害，山海變色 http://www.chinatimes.com/newspapers/20180107000465-260114。Daily Mail (UK) 7-14-2017 : Shocking underwater video from Taiwan shows ocean floor littered with plastic (bottles) garbage)

●

●  transportation safety ● CNN (2022-12-6): Taiwan's 'living hell' traffic is a tourism problem.  Taiwan is notorious for its dangerous roads.  ● UDN, CTN, Apple Daily editorial、2021-4-3: NY Times, CNN: train carrying 490 derails /  Serious transportation accidents repeat -  all are SOP ignoring man-made disasters, no one treats seriously the warning message behind each accident, The gov. is good at risk management and focus-shifting, instead of preventive management in advance, all these lead to tragedy again and again. The event is just a tip of a iceberg, Taiwan should establish a culture respecting human life.  Taiwan railway bureau got rigid grading system  and reform failure.  ● United Daily News 1-20-2020:  The death rate caused by traffic accidents in Taiwan is 5 times that in Japan.  ● The SUN, BBC (UK) 2-13-2017: "BUS CRASH HORROR!" , Taiwan's tour bus  "has come under fire in recent months over safety standards"...  ● MSN, Reuters, EuroNews, Mirro(UK), NewsWeek, CNN, etc (2-4-2015) :"Taiwan has had a poor aviation safety record in recent years" .   transportation   Taiwan's aviation safety

●

●  Labor rights ● Le Monde diplomatique (France),  2023-2-14: Most migrant workers to higher-income Taiwan incur substantial debt to finance their fees, which binds them to their employers’ whims and exploitation while they pay it off.  ● US Country Reports on Human Rights Practices released at 2022-4-12: Large enterprises frequently made it difficult for employees to organize an enterprise union through methods such as blacklisting union organizers from promotion or relocating them to other work divisions. ● USA Country Reports on Human Rights practices,  2021-3-30: The right to strike remained highly restricted.  24 percent of foreign fishermen suffered violent physical abuse; 92 percent experienced unlawful wage withholding; 82 percent worked overtime excessively.  ●  , 3-16-2021: the U.S. Labor Department placed Taiwan on its 2020 List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor.  ● National Geographic, 11-25-2020 : Wildlife crimes and human rights abuses plague Taiwanese fishing vessels ...illegal dolphin catching, shark finning, and physical and verbal abuse ... ● USA Country Reports on Human Rights practices,  3-11-2020:  The right to strike remained highly regulated. Teachers, civil servants, and defense industry employees do not have the right to strike. Workers in industries such as utilities, hospital services, and telecommunication service providers are allowed to strike only if they maintain basic services during the strike. Authorities may prohibit, limit, or break up a strike during a disaster. For all workers, the law divides labor disputes into “rights disputes” and “adjustment disputes.” Workers are allowed to strike only in adjustment disputes, which include issues such as compensation and working schedules. The law forbids strikes in rights disputes related to violations of collective agreements and employment contracts.    foreign laborers

○

●  underworld gang & politics : ● Global Times, 2022-11-28:  black (underworld) gold politics and nepotism severely violated what the DPP had pledged to the people  ● China Times,  2022-11-27: Tsai's DPP has entangled with Mafia, has abused of power and corrupted (黑道纏身、濫權腐化)  ● United Daily, editorial, 2021-5-7: The underworld gang links with the legal syndicate, or the gangsters parasitize the political party, which certainly leads to deviation and collapse of the adm. order.  (udn.com/news/story/7338/5439377?from=udn-catehotnews_ch2)  ● Apple Daily, 2021-5-7:   the country has been ruled by "black-gold" gangsters and bureaucratic factions. The "big guys" of gangs can decide or influence which democratical representatives will reach the stage of electoral campaigns for law-makers, city-councilors, ....  President Tsai won't be able to crack down gangsters.  ( brief from  tw.appledaily.com/forum/20210507/AWDMO7WLEBCAZCIYHGO7UBA4DA/  趙少康)    democracy

○
●  social security  ● TaiwanPlus, 2023-5-4: Taiwan Police Chief Detained for Alleged Fraud Ring Ties  ● The China Times (中時) , editorial , 2023-5-5: The "Social security net" is proved to be broken -  they fail to protect citizens' personal basic data/information ● 《Yahoo Taiwan》, 2021-11-23:  all opposition parties blast the government not fulfilling its promise to patch the loophole of social security network.  ●《Next TV news 壹新聞》, 2021-11-23, 12:11: a big loophole in our social security net.  ● The China Times, 2-25-2020 editorial: Due to bad Income distribution, Taiwan's social security (offender rate) worsens.  ● World Economic Forum (WEF)  <Travel and tourism competitiveness report> released at 9-4-2019 shows Taiwan's "safety & security" got an Eastern Asia-pacific average score 6.0, and is worse than world No.5 Hong Kong, No. 6 Singapore , No. 7 UAE,  No. 10 New Zealand,  11 Qatar,  13 Japan, 19 Australia,   23 Saudi Arabia.   ●《Economist》UK , EIU 「The Safe Cities Index 2019  」  Taiwan's "personal security" dropped 14 places compared with previous yrs. report,  Taiwan is worse than neighbors Singapore, Japan, China, Korea...     police

●

●  discrimination  ● Taipei Times, 2023-6-12:  immigration authorities hand out insult after insult to people whose skins are a bit too brown... the reality of its suicidally discriminatory immigration policies is painful for those of us who live and work here.  ● USA Country Reports on Human Rights practices,  2021-3-30: The majority of sex discrimination cases reported in 2019 were forced resignations due to pregnancies. Scholars said sex discrimination remained significantly underreported.   There was reported discrimination, including employment discrimination, against persons with HIV or AIDS.  ● USA Country Reports on Human Rights practices,  3-11-2020:  Activists for LGBTI rights said due to victims’ reluctance to lodge formal complaints, discrimination against LGBTI persons was more widespread than suggested by the number of court cases.  There was reported discrimination, including employment discrimination, against persons with HIV/AIDS. ●  US Country Reports on Human Rights Practices released at 3-13-2019  Foreign and PRC-born spouses were reportedly targets of social discrimination outside and, at times, inside the home.   Discrimination against LGBTI persons was more widespread than suggested by the number of court cases.  Employment discrimination against persons with HIV/AIDS continues, Taipei officials pressured a magazine reporter to drop an investigative report about the city’s breach of personal information for more than 3,000 AIDS patients.

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

Times Higher Education ,  World University Rank 2022
Rank Taiwan China Korea Hong Kong, Macau Singapore Japan
1~70 　
　

　

16  Peking University Beijing

　

　

　

16   Tsinghua University Beijing
　

　

　

60   Fudan University Shanghai

　

　
 54  Seoul National University Seoul


　

 
　

30  University of Hong Kong

　

49  Chinese University of Hong Kong

　

　

66  The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

　
21   National University of Singapore

　


　

46   Nanyang Technological University

　

35  University of Tokyo
　

　

　

61  Kyoto

University

　
70~100 　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

75   Zhejiang University Zhejiang


　
84   Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai

　

　

88  University of Science and Technology of China Anhui

　

　
　

99  Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) Daejeon

　
91  Hong Kong Polytechnic Univ. 
　

　

 　 　
PS:    National Taiwan University (台灣大學) only got No. 113        more Taiwan's universities
Times Higher Education ,  World University Rank 2022 

timeshighereducation.com

　

　

　

　

　

　


Nature Index ,  2022 Tables: Institutions  

 www.natureindex.com/news-blog/nature-index-annual-tables-twenty-twenty-one-country-comparisons-difficult-year
ranks Taiwan China Korea Hong Kong, Macau Singapore Japan
1~100 　
7.  USCT  China

　

8  Peking University Beijing

　

9.  UCAS China

　

10.    Nanjing Univ.

　

13.  Tsinghua University Beijing

　

17. ZheJiang Univ.

　

25.    SJTU    Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai

　

　

28.  Fudan Univ.

　

30  Sun Yat-sen University Guangdong

　

　

38  Nankai Univ.

41.  SUSTech China
　
43. SiChuan Univ.


49.  WuHan Univ. 
　

53.  SooChow Univ.

 
54  Xiamen Univ.　


 58.  Jilin  U.　

　

61.  Tianjin  U.

　

63.  HUST 

　

84.  Hunan  U.

　

85. ECNU

　

88.  ShanDong  U.

　

96. HIT

　　

99. Tongji U.  

 

　
　
  51.  Seoul National University Seoul

　

　

　


56.   Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) Daejeon 

　

　

 

　
　

　


　


98  The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

　


　35  University of Hong Kong
24.    National University of Singapore

　

　

　

　

42.   Nanyang Technological University

　

4  University of Tokyo
　

　

　

32  Kyoto

University

　

　

　

　

57.  Osaka Univ. 

　

　

66.  Tohoku Univ.

　

　

80.
Nagoya Univ.

　

89.  Tokyo Tech.

　

　

　

　

　

　

　
　


　

　


　

　

　
　

113.  KAUST, Saudi Arabia ; 

132  NTU, Taiwan  (台灣大學)       
 180.   India Institute of Science,  India  ;

others between 101-200 omitted; 

　

　

　

　

　

Quacquarelli Symonds，QS  ,  UK,  2022   
ranks Taiwan Malaysia China Korea Hong Kong, Macau Singapore　 Japan
1~25 　 　
　

17.  Tsinghua University Beijing
　

　

18.   Peking University Beijing
　
 
　
 

　
22.    University of Hong Kong

　

　

　

No. 11.   National University of Singapore

　

　

No.12. Nanyang
 Tech. Univ. Singapore
　

23.  University of Tokyo
　

　
26~60 　 　 31.   Fudan University,  Shanghai

　

　

45.

ZheJiang Univ. 

　

50.    Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai

 36.  Seoul National University, Seoul

　

　

　

41.  KAIST  Korea

 　

34. Hong Kong Univ. Science & Tech.

　

　

39. Chinese Univ HK

　

　

53. City University of Hong Kong　

　

 　

33.  Kyoto

University

　

　

56. Tokyo Institute Tech.
60~100 68.   National Taiwan University

(台灣大學)　　

 　No. 65 Universiti Malaya 　 74. Korea Univ.

　

　

 79. Yonsei U 

81. POSTECH

　

97. SKKU Korea

　

 66.  Hong Kong Polytechnic University 　  

75. Osaka U  Japan

　

　

 79. Tohoku U Japan
　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　
https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2022
QS  Quacquarelli Symonds，QS  UK

　

　

　

　

　

Pew Research Center , 2021-11-18
   Where People find Meaning in Life
country Family Material well-being occupation
Australia 56% 22% 29%
NZ 55 19 29
Greece 54 13 25
US 49 18 17
UK 46 12 20
Sweden 45 22 37
Canada 42 22 26
Singapore 29 22 25
Japan 26 16 15
S. Korea 16 19 6
Taiwan 15% 19% 9%

　

　

　

　

Taiwan's press freedom
RSF 2022-5-3  rsf.org/en/index
Sociocultural context Reuters Institute survey in 2021: The Taiwanese have one of the lowest levels of trust in media amongst democracies
Political context The media landscape, although free, is impaired by a strong political polarisation, undeclared advertising, sensationalism, and the pursuit of profit which hinders the work of journalists and can prevent citizens from accessing objective information.
Legal framework Over the past decades, few concrete measures have been taken by consecutive Taiwanese governments to improve journalists’ editorial independence and encourage media to raise the quality of public debate.
Economic Indicator  No .49,  Social  Indicator No 57,  Legislative  Indicator  No 40,   Political  Indicator No33, No. 38 Press Freedom Index

　

　

　

Reuters Report 2022
　 proportion that trusts
 most news
most of the time		 proportion who
mostly read news
 in text		 proportion who
think news org.s
in their market
are politically
 far apart		 proportion who
accessed news
via email in
the last week
Thailand 53 56 48 16
Japan 44 67 26 13
Singapore 43 65 16 16
Australia 41 61 29 17
Hong Kong 41 60 36 14
India 41 58 33 　
Indonesia 39 69 18 13
Philippines 37 47 32 18
Malaysia 36 63 23 15
S. Korea 30 58 15 10
Taiwan 27 54 38 12
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2022-06/Digital_News-Report_2022.pdf

　

　

Trust in news ?   Reuters Institute, 2021
Trust in news overall    31% Trust in news I used   38%
Trust in news  in search 29% Trust in social media   21%
Public service television remains the most trusted in our survey, followed by the economic news media (CommonWealth and Business Weekly). The rest of the news brands in the polarised media landscape are trusted by one group, but distrusted by another.

　

　

　

　

 Telegraph (UK), 2022-5-6: Taiwan faces the daunting prospect of a vertical trajectory of infections that could trigger unprecedented death rates 

　

　


STATISTA, 2022-4-19
Coronavirus (COVID-19) death rate in countries with confirmed deaths
and over 1,000 reported cases as of April 7, 2022, by country

　

Taiwan's CovID death rate is highest among major countries in Asia & Pacific
　
country Death rate(%) Confirmed cases number of deaths
Taiwan* 3.38 25,225 853
Indonesia 2.58 6,026,324 155,464
Sri Lanka 2.49 662,342 16,486
Cambodia 2.25 135,834 3,055
Pakistan 1.99 1,526,093 30,361
Philippines 1.61 3,680,244 59,422
Bangladesh 1.49 1,951,903 29,123
India 1.21 43,031,958 521,530
Saudi Arabia 1.2 751,404 9,053
China 0.88 1,495,380 13,098
Malaysia 0.82 4,280,591 35,192
Thailand 0.68 3,807,908 25,788
Vietnam 0.43 9,980,464 42,712
Japan 0.42 6,830,997 28,462
Laos 0.36 188,985 684
Australia 0.13 4,910,819 6,495
South Korea 0.12 14,778,405 18,381
Singapore 0.11 1,123,886 1,287
New Zealand 0.06 741,987 426
statista.com/statistics/1105914/coronavirus-death-rates-worldwide/   2022-4-19

　

　

　

Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2021,   2021-3-25

 rankings     theworlds50best.com/stories/News/asias-50-best-restaurants-2021-the-list-in-pictures.html
● top 10 restaurants :  No. 1.  The Chairman, HK, China   2. Odette, Singapore  3. Den, Japan  4. Le Du, Thailand  5. Gaggan A. , Thailand 6. Suhring, Thailand   7.  Florilege , Japan   8. La Cime, Japan   9.  Narisawa, Japan   10. Mingles, S. Korea

●  number of top 40
in each Asian country:

  China  9,    Japan  9,      Singapore  6,   Thailand  5,   Taiwan 4,   S.  Korea 3,   India 2

　

　


　

　

★ Transparency International, Taiwan's corruption index ranks No. 7 in Asia & Pacific in 2021

Transparency Int'l   ,  CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX, 2021
country of Asia & Pacific score
New Zealand score 88  No.1
Singapore   No.4
Hong Kong No. 12
Australia No. 18
Japan No. 18
UAE No. 24
Bhutan No. 25
Taiwan score 68 No. 25
transparency.org/en/cpi/2021

US  Country Reports on Human Rights Practices , 2021-3-30

        state.gov/reports/2020-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/taiwan/   Significant human rights issues included: the existence of criminal libel laws and serious acts of corruption.  Authorities prosecuted officials including incumbent and former legislators involved in a high-profile bribery case.
　

　

　

　

　

worldjusticeproject.org/sites/default/files/documents/WJP-INDEX-21.pdf

Rule of Law, Adherence to the rule of law 2021 / World Justice Project
No.7 No.13 No.15 No.17 19 20
New Zealand Australia Japan Singapore Hong Kong S. Korea
Liberty Times, 2021-1-27: Public trust on Taiwan's judges is 26.7%, about 10% lower than that in previous year
news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/3450901

　

　

　

　

★  pic.:   No. 1 "comment Taiwan" on US Yahoo, 2022-1-31, 2021-12-24, 2021-12-4, 2021-10-10, 2021-10-8, No.2 at 2021-11-29 

　

　

　


★  pic.: No.1 "comment Taiwan" on US Yahoo, 2021-12-31, 2021-10-23  

　

　

　

★  pic.:   No. 1 "comment Taiwan" on US Yahoo, 2022-1-1, 2021-12-25, 2021-12-7, 2021-12-4, 2021-11-23, 2021-11-21, 2021-11-16 

　

　

　

　

　

　

Credit Suisse, Research Institute

Global Wealth Databook 2021, June 2021  -   countries of Asia & pacific
　 GDP per adult 2020 Median wealth
per adult 2020		 Wealth
per adult 2000		 Wealth per adult 2020 Financial wealth per adult 2020 Non-Financial wealth per adult 2020 Total wealth (USD bn) share of world wealth
Australia 69318 238072 108656 483755 246617 330565 9268 2.22
China 13394 24067 4247 67771 33102 41874 74884 17.9
Hong Kong 54245 173768 167949 503335 365478 195518 3167 0.76
Japan 46812 122980 191446 256596 179081 109795 26931 6.44
Korea 37340 89671 50503 211369 96543 158446 8981 2.15
Macau 96840 - 88546 271679 - - 146 0.03
Singapore 69049 86717 107007 332995 223443 158825 1627 0.39
Taiwan 32371 93044 92298 238862 184061 83761 4690 1.12
US 83265 79274 215146 505421 417248 152945 126340 30.20

credit-suisse.com/about-us/en/reports-research/global-wealth-report.html

　

　

　

　

　

 n US Country Reports on Human Rights Practices released at 2022-4-12 : In 2020 presidential and legislative elections, President Tsai Ing-wen won re-election,...there were allegations of vote buying by candidates and supporters of both major political parties.

nUSA Country Reports on Human Rights practices,  2021-3-30:  There were allegations of vote buying by candidates and supporters of both major political parties (KMT and DPP) in  Presidential election in 2020. 

N.Y. Times, 12-1-2019: the soft underbelly of Taiwanese politics: patronage networks. 
They continue to allow
community leaders, farmers’ associations and even
 organized-crime figures to buy votes
 ( NY Times, opinion : https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/01/opinion/china-taiwan-election.html ).
　

　

　

　

　

　

GDP per capita (Norminal) Ranking
Taiwan - No.10 in Asia & Pacific
country/economy (Asia) 2021 world rank 2020 world rank
Singapore 66263 ($) 8 59795 ($) 7
Australia 62619 9 52905 10
Qatar 61791 10 54185 9
Hong Kong 49485 20 46657 15
New Zealand 48349 21 41165 21
UAE 43538 24 38661 25
Macau 42107 25 35621 27
Japan 40704 26 40089 24
Korea 35196 29 31638 29
Taiwan 33402 32 28358 32

statisticstimes.com/economy/projected-world-gdp-capita-ranking.php

　

VOAnews, 2022-4-1: At $913 a month, Taiwan's minimum wage is considered extremely low for an advanced economy, Taiwan has just generally struggled with this culture of a really weak wage environment.  Survey: More than 20% of Taiwanese under the age of 40 say they lack savings and 65% report they are in debt, only one-third of respondents said their income exceeds their expenses,... Some 41.8% of respondents said their debt was high enough that they felt economic pressure.
　

　

　

　

　

　

worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/freedom-index-by-country

Personal Freedom Score, Freedom Index 2022 / World Population Review
No.1 score 9.62 No.4 No.15 No.23 No.30 No.38 No.46 No.55 No.59 No.123 No.140 No.147
Vietnam Qatar Philippines Australia Malaysia Thai. New Zealand Hong Kong China S. Korea Japan Taiwan
Economic Freedom Score, Freedom Index 2022 / World Population Review
- No.9 No.17 No.17 60 63 65 72 No.75, score 6.97 114
Singapore Vietnam India Philippines Indonesia Malaysia Australia Japan Taiwan China

　

　

　

　

　

　

Bloomberg, Nov. 25, 2021  

"Winners and Losers" from a year of ranking Covid resilience

 Pandemic MVPs - Only 7 places never fell into the bottom half of the ranking
world rank country of Asia & Pacific Asia's rank
4/53 U.A.E. 1
6 S. Korea 2
8 Mainland China 3
9 Hong Kong 4
10 Saudi Arabia 5
12 Japan 6
13 Australia 7
17 New Zealand 8
20 Singapore 9
30 Pakistan 10
31 Taiwan 11
32 Bangladesh 12

moneyweb.co.za/news/international/winners-and-losers-from-a-year-of-ranking-covid-resilience/
 Taiwan successfully eliminated and kept out Covid in the first year , now it is in the bottom half among 53 countries

　

Bloomberg CovID Resilience Ranking: Taiwan's 3-month case fatality rate in 2021-9-28, 13.4%; 2021-10-28, 7.7%, both are world worst

　

　

　

　

　
　 　

　

 　
　
　

　

◆ Financial Times (UK), 2021-10-7 : US special forces secretly training Taiwan’s military; rotations had been occurring for at least a decade... the disclosure could further raise tensions. ◆ Reuters, 2021-10-5 : experts say the island could likely only hold out for a few days in the event of a Chinese attack unless the United States quickly came to its aid ◆ Politico, 2021-10-5 : while a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is not imminent...We should think of China’s approach to Taiwan not as a bifurcated decision between war and peace but instead a continuous pressure campaign that can take various lethal and non-lethal forms  ◆ Guardian, 2021-10-5 :The prevailing mood among Washington insiders is to fight if China attempts to conquer Taiwan. hard reality that fighting China over Taiwan risks an almost-certain military defeat – and gambles we won’t stumble into a nuclear war.  ◆ CNN, 2021-10-4 :professor in Switzerland: "As long as Taiwan doesn't take irreversible steps toward independence/greater autonomous presence on the international scene," combat is unlikely ◆ Financial Times (UK), 2021-9-16 :Taiwan is failing to reorient its military towards an asymmetric strategy, US defence experts are growing exasperated over the Taiwan military’s reluctance to decisively act on their instructions. ◆  New York Times, 2021-9-13 : if China has any hope of winning a war across the Strait, its military would have to move fast, before the United States has time to respond... the Chinese economy would suffer more ◆ Nikkei Asia (Japan), 2021-9-10: Will Xi move on Taiwan? History warns he might ◆  Reuters, 2021-9-1 :Taiwan says China can 'paralyse' its defences, threat worsening  

 

　		 　

　

　

　 　

　

　

 　

       

★   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on US Google, 2022-2-1, 2021-11-5,  2021-11-1 

　

　

　

★  pic.:   No. 1 "comment Taiwan" on US Yahoo, 2022-2-1, 2021-10-11

　

　

　

　

          
pic. : This websites-group was ranked No.1 by keyword "Taiwan comments "  on Yandex of Russia, 2022-2-14, 2022-1-13

★  pic.:   The website group was ranked No. 1 "comment Taiwan" on Yandex of Russia, 2022-2-14, 2021-11-9, 2021-10-1, 2021-9-19

　

　

　

　

　

Bloomberg CovID Resilience Ranking    2022-1-27

Quality of Life (Asia & Pacific )
Economy human development community mobility% GDP growth forecast% universal health care
UAE 0.89 -10.6 4.4 63
Saudi Arabia 0.85 -14.4 5.9 64
Singapore 0.94 -11.2 4 92
Hong Kong 0.95 -5.3 3 -
mainland China 0.76 -2.7 5.2 70
S. Korea 0.92 -2.6 3 89
Japan 0.92 -13.4 2.9 96
Australia 0.94 -24.9 3.9 89
New Zealand 0.93 -13.5 3.6 83
Taiwan 0.92 -4.2% 3.3 79

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-resilience-ranking/
　
◆ Reuters, 2022-4-3: Taiwan says new CovID cases won't affect re-opening plans. ◆ United Daily, 2022-4-8, editorial: Taiwan's testing capacity and medication are obviously not good enough - Remdesivir only 16,000,  Paxlovid 4,000+ available.  udn.com/news/story/7338/6223069?from=udn-catehotnews_ch2  ◆ China Times, editorial, 2022-4-8: on average, one out of 1000 people can have antiCovID medication  chinatimes.com/opinion/20220407004272-262101?chdtv

　

　

　

　

　

　

world's most livable cities  ... include Taiwan's ?

 top ranking list of the world's most livable cities

　
world best surveys Taiwan's rankings
in top list		 comparison with
other Asia & Pacific countries
The EIU's Global Livability Index Ranking   2021 failed top 10 　
The World's Best Cities to Live In 2020 failed top 10 1. Tokyo Japan, 3. Singapore, 5. Melbourne Australia, 8 Seoul Korea, 10. Sydney Australia
Monocle's Quality of Life survey 2021 9 Taipei 1. Denmark, 2. Swiss, 3. Helsinki, Finland, 4. Stockholm Sweden, 5. Tokyo, Japan, 6. Vienna  7 Lisbon, 8. Auckland, 9 Taipei, 10. Sydney
 The EIU's Global Livability Index Ranking   2019  failed in the top 50 No.2  Melbourne,  No.3  Sydney,  No.4 Osaka (Japan), No. 7 Tokyo,  No.10  Adelaide,  No.12 Auckland (NZ),   No.15 Wellington (NZ),   18 Brisbane  (Aus) ,    No. 38 Hong Kong,  No. 40 Singapore,   No.57  Seoul (Korea),  Taipei behind   
Monocle's Quality of Life survey 2019 failed in the top list

https://monocle.com/film/affairs/quality-of-life-survey-top-25-cities-2019/

 No.2 Tokyo (Japan),  No.11 Melbourne (Australia), No.13 Sydney,  No.16 Hong Kong,  No.17 Kyoto (Japan),  No.21 Auckland (NZ), No.22 Fukuoka (Japan),  23 Brisbane  25 Singapore
Deutsche Bank Liveability Survey 　

failed in the list https://www.dbresearch.com/PROD/RPS_EN-PROD/PROD0000000000494405/Mapping_the_world%27s_prices_2019.pdf
　

 No. 2 Wellington (NZ),    No. 7 Melbourne ( Australia ),  No.10 Sydney,   No.14 Tokyo  No.16 Auckland (NZ),  No.17 Dubai (UAE), No. 23 Singapore,   No. 26 Saudi Arabia Riyadh,  No. 29 Seoul (Korea),  No. 33 India Bangalore,  No. 39 Malaysia  Kuala Lumpur,   44 Hong Kong,   46 India Delhi,  No. 48   Shanghai (China), No. 55 Beijing
Safe Cities Index (SCI)  2019,   EIU (Economist UK), NEC failed in the top 20 No.1  Tokyo, No.2  Singapore, No.3 Osaka (Japan),  No.5 Sydney (Aus), No. 8 Seoul (Korea), No10 Melbourne, No. 20 Hong Kong 　
ArchDaily / The World's Most Livable Cities in 2019 failed in the top 20 No. 3. Auckland, New Zealand, 11. Sydney, Australia,  No.15. Wellington, New Zealand , No.17. Melbourne, Australia  
 The EIU's Global Livability Index Ranking   2018  failed in the top 50 No.2 Melbourne (Australia),  No.3  Osaka (Japan),  No. 7  Tokyo (Japan) ,  No.10       Adelaide  (Australia),   No.12 Auckland (NZ)    Wellington (NZ) ... ... (omitted),  Taipei 58
 The EIU's Global Liveability Index Ranking   2017  failed in the top 50  No.1  Melbourne,  No. 5  Adelaide,  No. 7  Perth,
No. 8 Auckland (NZ),  No.11 Sydney,  No.13  Tokyo,  No.  14  Osaka,  No.16 Brisbane,   No. 20 Wellington (NZ),  No. 35 Singapore,  No.45  Hong Kong,  No.58  Seoul (Korea),  No.60   Taipei  

EIU (Economist UK)'s  Global Liveability Index evaluates stability, healthcare, culture&environment,  education,   Infrastructure

　

　

　

　

　

　


Taiwan's soft power
　
world best surveys Taiwan's rankings
in top 25~30 list		 comparison with
other Asia & Pacific countries
Brand Finance -  Global soft power Index 2022 failed 1. US, 2. UK, 3. Germany, 4. China, 5. Japan, 6. France, 7. Canada, 8. Swiss, 9. Russia, 10. Italy
Brand Finance -  Global soft power Index 2021 failed 1. Germany,  2. Japan, 3. UK, 4. Canada, 5. Swiss, 6. US, 7 France, 8. China, 9. Sweden, 10. Australia, 11. Korea, 12 Holland, 13.  Russia, 14. Norway, 15. Denmark, 16 NZ, 17. UAE, 18. Iceland,    19. Italia, 20. Singapore
US News: 2021 Best Countries Overall failed top 10 2. Japan,  5. Australia   7. New Zealand
2020 Brand Finance -  Global soft power Index ,
 top 60		 n/c https://brandirectory.com  No. 4 Japan, 5 China, 13 Aus,  14 Korea,  18 UAE,  20 Singapore,  22 NZ,  26 SA 27 India
2021 Monocle's
Soft Power survey		 included 1. Germany, 2. S Korea, 3. France, 4. Japan, 5. Taiwan, 6. Swiss, 7. New Zealand 8. Sweden, 9. Greece, 10. Canada
2020 Monocle's Soft Power survey listed No.1 Germany, No. 2. Korea, 3. France, 4. Japan, 5. TW, 6 Swiss, 7. NZ, 8 Sweden, 9 Greece, 10 Canada
 2019/2020 
Top 30 SOFT POWER by Portland		 failed No. 8 Japan, No.9  Australia, No. 17 New Zealand,  No. 19  S Korea, No. 21 Singapore, No. 27 China
2020 Best Countries Overall
 The Best Countries in the World		 n/c No.3 Japan, No.5  Australia, No. 11 New Zealand,
No. 15 China, No. 16 Singapore , No. 20  Korea,
No.22 UAE , No.25  India,  No. 26  Thailand,
No. 30  Qatar
2018/2019 Monocle's Soft Power survey failed No. 3 Japan, No.8  Australia, No. 11 New Zealand, No.15 Korea, No. 19 China,  No. 21  Singapore,  No. 25 India
2018/2019 Soft Power 30 Study by USC Center on Public Diplomacy failed No.5 Japan, No. 10 Australia, No. 18 NZ, No. 20 S. Korea, No. 21 Singapore, No. 27 China
2017/2018 Monocle's Soft Power survey failed No. 4 Japan, No.9 Australia, No. 13 New Zealand, No.17 Korea, No. 19 China,  No. 22 Singapore, No. 24 India
2017/2018 Soft Power 30 Study by USC Center on Public Diplomacy failed No.6. Japan,  No. 8. Australia,  18. NZ,  No. 20 Singapore, No. 21 S. Korea,  No. 25.  China
2016/2017 Monocle's
Soft Power survey		 failed No. 3 Japan, No.6 Australia, No. 13 New Zealand, No.17 Korea, No. 20 China,  No. 23 Singapore, No. 24 India
2015/2016 Monocle's
 Soft Power survey		 failed No. 4 Japan, No.6 Australia, No. 13 New Zealand, No.15 Korea, No. 21 China,  No. 23 Singapore
　

　

　

　

★  According to a survey of 2020, Singapore ranks No.1, Japan No.7, Korea No. 9 on "enterprise",  Japan ranks No. 5, China No.10 on "engagement", Korea ranks No. 5 on "digital", Japan ranks No.6, China No. 8 on "culture", No any Asian country ranks top 10 on "education" and "govt."
　

★ Best Countries overall in 2020:  1 Swiss 2 Canada 3 Japan  4 Germany  5  Australia  6  UK  7 USA  8 Sweden  9 Nederland  10  Norway  11 NZ  12 France  13 Denmark  14  Finland  15 China  16 Singapore  17  Italy  18  Austria  19 Spain  20  Korea  21  Luxembourg   22 UAE  23  Russia  24 Portugal  25  India  26  Thailand  27  Greece  28  Brazil  29  Israel  30  Qatar  31  Saudi Arabia   32 Malaysia   33 Mexico  34  Poland  35  Turkey

　

　

　

Bloomberg CovID Resilience Ranking    2021-10-28

Quality of Life (Asia & Pacific )
Economy Rank community mobility% GDP growth forecast% universal health care
UAE 3 -0.2 2.3 63
Saudi Arabia 15 -11.1 2.4 64
Singapore 39 -20.7 6.5 92
Hong Kong 21 -5.4 6.7 -
mainland China 28 -7.8 8.2 70
S. Korea 14 3.6 4 89
Japan 16 -11.1 2.4 96
Australia 30 -19.2 3.8 89
New Zealand 32 -12.7 5.3 83
Taiwan 47 -10.9% 6 79

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-resilience-ranking/

　

　

　

　

★  pic.:   No. 1 "comment Taiwan" on US Google, 2022-1-6, 2021-10-12, 2021-10-6, 2021-10-3, 2021-9-18, 2021-9-6, 2021-8-22, 2021-8-4, 2021-7-15, 2021-7-4, 2021-6-27, 2021-6-22, 2021-6-14, 2021-6-3, 2021-5-26, 2021-5-14 

　

　

　

　

　

Adventure /  The best countries to fulfill your wanderlust

US News : usnews.com/news/best-countries/adventure-rankings
Asia Rank 2021

country of Asia-Pacific

world rank 2021

 world rank 2020
1 Thailand 5 5
2 New Zealand 7 7
3 Australia 8 10
4 Philippines 17 17
5 Singapore 18 25
6 Malaysia 25 29
7 Japan 28 34
8 Indonesia 32 35
9 Vietnam 40 38
10 India 41 40
a study by George Washington University placed adventure tourism into three categories: physical activity, cultural exchange and interaction with the environment.

　

　

　

Travel and Tourism Index by country in Asia

worldatlas.com/articles/51-best-travel-and-tourism-countries-in-the-world.html
Asia Rank

country

index score
1 Australia 4.98;  7th
2 Japan 4.94;  9th
3 Singapore 4.86  ; 11th
4 Hong Kong 4.68; 13
5 New Zealand 4.64; 16
6 China 4.54; 17
7 UAE 4.43;  24
8 S. Korea 4.37; 29
9 Taiwan 4.35; 32
10 Thailand 4.26; 35
factors: business environment, security, health and basic sanitation standards, labor and human resource,
cultural heritage, natural resources, air transport infrastructure

　

　

　

International tourism receipts /  Asia-Pacific countries

international tourism: data.worldbank.org/indicator/ST.INT.ARVL
Asia Rank

country of Asia-Pacific

receipts  US$ million '19
1 Thailand 60521
2 Japan 46054
3 Australia 45709
4 Macau 40060
5 China 35832
6 India 30720
7 Hong Kong 29043
8 S. Korea 21628
9 Singapore 20052
10 Malaysia 19823
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Tourism_rankings

further more info.: worlddata.info/tourism.php

　

　

　

　

★  pic.:   No. 1 "comment Taiwan" on US Yahoo, 2022-1-15, 2021-10-3, 2021-10-2, 2021-9-19, 2021-9-7, 2021-8-5, 2021-6-27, 2021-5-9, 2021-5-1, 3-8-2021, 2-20-2021, 1-19-2021, 1-1-2021, 12-6-2020, 11-9-2020

　

　

　

　

                                
 ★  pic. :  This websites-group was ranked No.1  by keyword "comment Taiwan" on MetaGER of Europe at 2022-3-4, 2022-2-8, 2021-11-11, 2021-10-1,  2021-9-27, 2021-9-19, 2021-9-7, 2021-8-22, 2021-6-27, 2021-5-9, 2021-4-14, 3-23-2021, 10-11-2020, 8-13-2020, 6-12-2020, 5-19-2020, 1-17-2020, 12-31-2019, 12-18-2019, 10-23-2019    (3 items above are advertisements);No.2 at 2022-6-18;   ★  pic.: No.1 "comment Taiwan" on Excite, 2022-3-4, 2022-2-8, 2021-11-10, 2021-10-23, 2021-10-8, 2021-10-1, 2021-9-27, 2021-9-19, 2021-9-7, 2021-8-22, 2021-8-4, 2021-6-27, 2021-6-2, 2021-5-9, 2021-5-1, 2021-4-14, 3-23-2021, 3-8-2021, 2-20-2021, 1-19-2021, 10-3-2020, 8-13-2020, 12-05-2019 

　

　

　
　

　

　

 US News & World Report 2021,  Asian countries' world influence top 30 rankings  
Cultural Influence No.5  Japan   No. 7  S Korea   11. China  12. UAE   15. Singapore  16. Australia   19. NZ  22. Thailand    25. India Cutting-edge centers of art, entertainment and fashion
Quality of Life 6. Australia   10. NZ   13. Japan  16. Singapore  18. S Korea   23. China   24. UAE    28. Malaysia   29. Thailand Through all phases of life, these countries treat their citizens well
Heritage 6. India   7. Thailand    10. Japan   12 China   23. Australia  25. Vietnam  26. Indonesia   28. NZ A deep vein of history courses through these countries
Adventure 5. Thailand   7. NZ   8. Australia  17. Philippines   18. Singapore  25. Malaysia  28. Japan popular travel destinations to fulfill your wanderlust
Agility 2. Australia   5. Singapore  6. S Korea   7. Japan   9. NZ  13. China  21. UAE   27. Qatar  30. India adaptable, dynamic, modern, progressive, responsive
Open for business 6. NZ   11. Malaysia  12. Australia   14. Singapore   17. Thailand   20. Sri Lanka   21. Vietnam   22. Indonesia   25. Philippines  26. Japan market-oriented countries
Social Purpose 1. Canada  2. Denmark  3. NZ   4. Sweden  5 Nederland  6. Norway   7. Finland  8. Australia  9 Swisss   10. Austria   11. Germany  12. Belgium   13. Ireland  14. UK  15. France  16. Portugal  17. Italy  18. Spain   19. US   20. Japan Residents of certain countries can often come together to support certain causes they feel strongly about: human rights, the environment and  freedom
www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/influence-rankings

　

　

　

　

Times Higher Education ,  World University Rank 2021 
ranks Taiwan China Korea Hong Kong, Macau Singapore Japan
1~70 　
20   Tsinghua University Beijing
　

23  Peking University Beijing
　

　

70   Fudan University Shanghai

　

　
 60   Seoul National University Seoul


　

 
39  University of Hong Kong

56  The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
　
56  Chinese University of Hong Kong

　
25   National University of Singapore
　
47   Nanyang Technological University

　

36  University of Tokyo
　

　

54  Kyoto

University

　
70~100 　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

97   National Taiwan University

(台灣大學)

　

87  University of Science and Technology of China Anhui

　

　

94   Zhejiang University Zhejiang


　
100   Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai

　

　
89   Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) Seoul

　

　

　

96  Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) Daejeon

　
 
　

　

 　 　
Times Higher Education ,  World University Rank 2021 

　

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2021/world-ranking#!/page/3/length/25/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/stats

　

　

　

　

　


Taiwan's university rankings in Asia, 2020

Times High Education ,  World University Rank 2020 
　
　 ranks Taiwan China Korea Hong Kong, Macau Japan Singapore
1~100 　
23   Tsinghua University Beijing
　

24  Peking University Beijing
　

　

80  University of Science and Technology of China Anhui

　
 64   Seoul National University Seoul
　
 89   Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) Seoul

　
35  University of Hong Kong

47  The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
　
57  Chinese University of Hong Kong

　

36  University of Tokyo
　

65  Kyoto
University

　

　
25   National University of Singapore
　
48   Nanyang Technological University

　
100~200 120   National Taiwan Univ. (台灣大學)
107   Zhejiang University Zhejiang
　

109   Fudan University Shanghai
　

144  Nanjing University Jiangsu
　
157   Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai

　
110  Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) Daejeon
　
146  Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) Pohang
　
179  Korea University Seoul
　

197  Yonsei University (Seoul campus) Seoul

　
126  City University of Hong Kong
　
171  Hong Kong Polytechnic University
　

　

 　 　
200~300 　 251 ~ Sun Yat-sen University Guangdong  201–250   Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) Ulsan
　		 　
251-300 Tohoku University
　
251-300 Tokyo Institute of Tech.

　

 　
300~400  351–400  National Tsing Hua University (清華大學)

　

　

351–400  Taipei Medical University


301–350  Beijing Normal University Beijing
　
301–350  Huazhong University of Science and Technology Hubei
　
301–350  Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) Guangdong

351–400  Nankai University Tianjin
　
301–350  Kyung Hee University Seoul
　
351–400  Hanyang University Seoul

　

301–350 

University of
 Macau

　
301-350
  Osaka University
　

　

301-350
  Nagoya University


　

351-400 
University of
Occupational
and Environmental Health

　

 PS: population comparison (~ 2018) :
HK 7.45 million  ,  Singapore 5.63 million, Macau  630 thousands
　

Taiwan 23.78 million,
more than the total num. of the 3 above

　


QS 2020 Asia universities top 15 rankings :

1. National University of Singapore (NUS) Singapore  2.Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU)  3. The University of Hong Kong 4. Tsinghua University, China  5. Peking University, China  6.  Zhejiang University, China 7. Fudan University, China 8. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology 9.  KAIST - Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology  10. The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)  11. Seoul National University, Korea  12. Korea University  13. The University of Tokyo, Japan  13. Universiti Malaya (UM), Malaysia  15. Kyoto University, Japan

subtotal number : Singapore ( 2 ), Hong Kong ( 3 ), Japan ( 2 ),  Korea ( 3 ), China ( 4 ), Malaysia ( 1 ), Taiwan ( 0 )

　

 ★  In <Nature Index> ,  "2019 Tables: Institutions,  

about 32 universities in China, 8 universities in Korea, 6 Hong Kong universities, 9 univ. in Japan,
2 universities in India, 2 in Singapore, one in Saudi Arabia 
ranked higher than all Taiwan's

Taiwan's higher education

　

　

　

　

　

★  pic.:   No. 1 "comment Taiwan" on US Yahoo, 2021-10-1, 2021-9-27

　

　

　

  pic.:   No. 1 "comment Taiwan" on US Google, 2021-9-16, 2021-8-3, 2021-8-1, 2021-7-8 

　

　

　

              
★ pic. :   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on Webcrawler, 2022-2-8, 2021-11-11,  2021-10-1, 2021-9-27, 2021-9-19, 2021-9-7, 2021-8-22, 2021-8-4, 2021-6-27, 2021-6-2, 2021-5-9, 2021-5-1, 2021-4-14, 3-23-2021, 3-8-2021, 2-20-2021,1-19-2021,10-3-2020, 8-13-2020
　

　

　

　

       

★  pic. left:  No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on StartPage ( Dutch search engine  ), 2022-2-8, 2021-11-11, 2021-10-23, 2021-10-8, 2021-10-1, 2021-9-27, 2021-9-19, 2021-9-7, 2021-8-22, 2021-6-27, 2021-6-2,  2021-5-9, 2021-5-1, 2021-4-14, 3-23-2021, 3-6-2021

★  No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on EntireWeb ( Swedish search engine  ), 2022-2-8, 2021-11-11, 2021-10-23, 2021-10-8, 2021-10-1, 2021-9-27, 2021-9-19, 2021-9-7, 2021-8-22, 2021-6-27, 2021-6-2, 2021-5-9, 2021-5-1, 2021-4-14, 3-23-2021, 3-6-2021

　

　

　


★   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on QWANT ( most well-known French search engine  ), 10-3-2020, 8-13-2020

　

　

　


★   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on US Yahoo search engine , 2021-9-26, 2021-9-19, 2021-9-7, 2021-8-5, 2021-6-27, 2021-5-9, 2021-5-1, 3-8-2021, 2-20-2021, 1-19-2021, 1-1-2021, 12-6-2020, 11-9-2020

　

　

　

             
★ pic. left:   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on Baidu ( largest search engine in China  ), 2021-4-14, 2-20-2021,1-19-2021, 8-13-2020
★ pic. right:   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on Yahoo Taiwan, 2022-2-8, 2021-11-10, 2021-10-8, 2021-9-27, 2021-9-19, 2021-9-7, 2021-8-22, 2021-6-27, 2021-6-2, 2021-5-9, 2021-4-14, 3-23-2021, 3-8-2021, 2-20-2021, 1-19-2021, 10-1-2020, 8-13-2020


★   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on Mocrosoft Bing, 2021-10-21, 2021-10-8, 2021-10-2, 2021-9-27, 2021-9-23, 2021-9-7,  2021-8-22, 2021-8-5, 2021-6-27, 2021-6-2, 2021-5-9, 2021-5-1, 2021-4-14, 3-23-2021,  3-8-2021, 2-20-2021, 1-19-2021, 1-1-2021, 12-12-2020, 11-28-2020, 11-11-2020, 10-30-2020, 10-1-2020, 9-1-2020, 8-13-2020, 8-2-2020

　

　

　

           

★  pic. left:  The site-group was ranked No. 1 by  "comment Taiwan" on US Google, 2021-4-14,
2021-4-3, 2021-3-26, 3-8-2021, 02-25-2021  

★  pic. right:   The site-group was ranked No. 1 by  "comment Taiwan" on US Google, 01-24-2021  

　

　

　

　

★   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on US Google, 12-12-2020, 11-24-2020, 11-16-2020, 11-14-2020

　

　

　


★   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on US Google, 10-10-2020, 10-3-2020, 7-1-2020

　

　


★   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on Google, 8-13-2020, 7-1-2020, 6-19-2020
　

　


★   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on US Google, 10-3-2020,
 9-1-2020, 8-28-2020

       

　

 ★ No.1 "comment Taiwan" on Yippy (IBM), 2021-4-14, 2-20-2021, 1-19-2021, 10-3-2020,  8-13-2020, 1-18-2020, 12-05-2019 


★   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on US Bing, 10-1-2020, 8-13-2020, 4-26-2020

★   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on ASK, 10-11-2020, 4-26-2020, No.2 at 10-3-2020, 8-13-2020

★   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on Japan Excite, 10-11-2020, 8-13-2020, 5-19-2020


★  pic.  : No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on ecosia of Europe (Berlin Germany), 8-13-2020, 6-12-2020, 5-19-2020, 1-10-2020

★   Top  "comment Taiwan" on Yahoo search engine, 4-26-2020


★   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on US Google, 5-11-2020

　

　


★   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on US Google, 5-10-2020

　

　

　


★   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on US Google, 2-28-2020, 2-5-2020, 1-16-2020, 1-11-2020, 1-10-2020

 

　

 
 ★   pic. : This websites-group was ranked No.1  by keyword "comment Taiwan"
on Yahoo search engine at 2-28-2020, 1-17-2020, 12-31-2019, 12-18-2019, 11-27-2019 
● This websites-group was ranked No.1  by keyword "comment Taiwan" on ASK at  1-18-2020, 8-24-2019 , 9-24-2019

　

　


★   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on Google, 1-11-2020, 1-10-2020

　

　
　 　
　

　

          
★   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on ecosia of Europe (Berlin Germany), 1-10-2020
★   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" (Chinese version) on ecosia of Europe (Berlin Germany), 1-10-2020

★   No. 1  "comment Taiwan" on Google, 1-4-2020 (test in Taipei)

　

　

           
　


★  pic.: No.1 "comment Taiwan" on US Google,   11-11-2019 

　

●  This websites-group was ranked No.1  by keyword "comment Taiwan"
on US Google at  9-22-2019, 9-24-2019 

●   This websites-group was ranked No.1  by keyword "comment Taiwan"
on US Google at  9-19-2019   9-11-2019
　


  

★   No. 1 on Google by keyword "comment Taiwan"  ,
  1-5-2018, 12-10-2017, 11-1-2017,  , 5-29-2017,1-1-2017

　

　

　

★   pic.:  This website was ranked No.1 on Baidu of China
 by keyword "comment Taiwan", both in English and Chinese,  at  1-30-2018

　

              home

　

●  ps: This websites-group was ranked No.1  by keyword "comment Taiwan"
on US Google at 6-27-2019  (test at Taipei city gov., TW) 

　

　

●  This website was ranked No.1,2, 3 on MetaGER of Germany
 by keyword "comment Taiwan" at  1-30-2018, 7-2-2019