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  ♦ ♦♦ ♦ Taiwan has Trump problem ?  ♦♦♦♦  Trump's tariffs & trade war &  Taiwan chips, AI   ♦  ♦♦♦  China-Taiwan war    ♦ ♦   a divided Taiwan♦  ♦♦♦♦  China holds drills ; Taiwan lost its China spy war ♦  ♦♦ ♦ Taiwan's largest exercise♦♦ ♦ China's "coercion without violence"♦♦ ♦   "Zero Day" - preview of China invasion♦♦ ♦♦  how world backs Beijing's claim  ♦♦♦  US supports Taiwan independence ?♦♦♦  Trump's defense policy on Taiwan ♦♦♦   political vendetta  ♦♦♦  Lawmakers brawl  ♦♦♦   more  ♦♦♦         source

   

　

　

　

pic. :  No.1  "review Taiwan"  on Bing, 2026-3-28, 2026-3-24, 2025-3-17, 2026-3-8, 2026-2-28, 2026-2-26, 2026-2-23, 2026-2-19, 2026-2-17, 2026-2-15, 2026-2-9, 2026-2-2, 2026-1-26, 2026-1-22, 2026-1-18, 2026-1-12, 2025-12-25, 2025-12-20, 2025-12-16, 2025-12-1, 2025-11-29, 2025-11-11, 2025-11-1, 2025-10-30, 2025-10-21, 2025-10-10, 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, 2025-5-26, 2025-5-2, 2025-4-1, 2025-3-14, 2025-3-3,  2025-2-28, 2025-2-18, 2025-2-12, 2024-10-10, 2024-9-30, 2024-9-15, 2024-8-20, 2024-8-8, 2024-8-2, 2024-7-23, 2024-7-11, 2024-7-1, 2024-6-3, 2024-5-1, 2024-4-19, 2024-3-15, 2024-3-3, 2024-2-28, 2024-2-12, 2024-1-14, 2024-1-1, 2023-12-12, 2023-11-29, 2023-11-11, 2023-11-1, 2023-10-6, 2023-9-18, 2023-9-6, 2023-9-1, 2023-8-21, 2023-8-8, 2023-8-1, 2023-7-14, 2023-7-4, 2023-6-17,  2023-6-3, 2023-5-23, 2023-5-1, 2023-4-30, 2023-4-15, 2023-3-31, 2023-3-20, 2023-2-28, 2023-1-21, 2023-1-1, 2022-12-24, 2022-12-17, 2022-11-29, 2022-11-1, 2022-10-23, 2022-10-10, 2022-9-23, 2022-9-16, 2022-9-5,2022-8-24, 2022-8-1, 2022-7-29, 2022-7-21, 2022-7-4, 2022-7-1, 2022-6-14, 2022-5-26, 2022-4-30, 2022-4-9, 2022-3-21, 2022-3-12, 2022-2-22, 2022-2-10, 2022-1-22, 2022-1-11, 2022-1-3, 2021-12-27, 2021-12-10, 2021-12-4, 2021-10-25, 2021-10-20, 2021-10-14, 2021-10-8, 2021-10-3, 2021-9-19, 2021-8-22, 2021-8-5, 2021-7-24, 2021-5-26, 2021-5-9, 2021-4-18, 3-26-2021, 3-20-2021, 3-8-2021, 2-21-2021, 1-1-2021, 12-6-2020, 11-29-2020, 11-1-2020, 10-11-2020, 8-2-2020 6-21-2020, 5-19-2020, 5-13-2020, 4-23-2020, 2-2-2020, 1-17-2020, 12-31-2019,  12-12-2019  
No.2 "review Taiwan" on Bing, 2026-1-1

　

　

　

　

pic. :  No.1  "review Taiwan"  on Yandex, 2026-3-28, 2026-3-24, 2026-3-17, 2026-3-14, 2026-3-8, 2026-1-26, 2026-1-22, 2026-1-18, 2026-1-12, 2026-1-9, 2026-1-1, 2025-12-31,  2025-12-16, 2025-11-29, 2025-11-22, 2025-5-26, 2025-5-2, 2025-4-1, 2025-3-19, 2025-3-3, 2025-2-28, 2025-2-18, 2025-2-12,  2025-2-4, 2025-1-6, 2025-1-1, 2024-12-31, 2024-12-28, 2023-9-13, 2023-9-6, 2023-9-1; 
No.2  "review Taiwan"  on Yandex, 2026-2-28, 2026-2-26, 2026-2-19, 2026-2-17, 2026-2-11, 2026-2-1, 2025-12-20, 2025-10-21, 2025-9-21, 2025-9-1, 2025-8-17, 2025-7-28, 2025-7-18, 2025-7-8, 2024-12-27, 2024-12-22, 2024-12-20; " No.2 "Review Taiwan" on Yandex , 2025-12-25, 2025-12-1,  2024-8-8, 2023-12-12; No.3 "review Taiwan", at 2024-12-25, 2024-12-15, 2024-2-1, 2023-11-1; " review Taiwan"  among top ranks on Yandex, 2024-12-15

　

pic.: No.1 "Review Taiwan"  on US Yahoo, 2026-3-17, 2026-3-9, 2026-2-28, 2026-2-26, 2026-2-19, 2026-2-17, 2026-2-11, 2026-2-6, 2026-1-15, 2025-11-22, 2025-9-21,  2025-9-1 , 2025-8-17,  2025-8-9, 2025-7-31, 2025- 2025-7-18, 2025-7-8, 2025-7-1, 2025-6-9,  2025-3-30, 2025-3-3, 2025-2-28, 2025-2-18, 2025-2-12, 2025-1-25, 2025-1-1, 2024-12-31, 2022-2-22, 2021-11-21; No.2  "Review Taiwan"  on US Yahoo, 2026-3-8, 2026-2-4, 2026-2-1, 2026-1-26, 2026-1-22, 2026-1-12, 2025-12-25,  2025-12-20, 2025-12-16,  2025-12-1,  2025-11-29,  2025-11-11, 2025-11-1, 2025-5-20; No.3  "Review Taiwan"  on US Yahoo, 2026-1-1 No.1 "Review Taiwan"   on Yahoo Taiwan, 2025-7-28

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pic.: No.1 "review Taiwan" on Duckduckgo, 2026-3-17, 2026-3-14, 2026-3-8, 2026-2-28, 2026-2-26, 2026-2-19, 2026-2-17, 2026-2-11, 2026-2-6, 2026-2-1, 2026-1-22, 2026-1-17,2025-12-20, 2025-11-22, 2025-10-21, 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, 2025-4-1, No.2 "review Taiwan" at 2026-1-15, 2025-12-25, 2025-12-16, 2025-12-1, 2025-11-29, 2025-11-1, 2025-10-30, 2025-10-3, 2025-5-20, 2025-5-4
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pic.: No.1 "review Taiwan" on AOL, 2026-3-17, 2026-3-8, 2026-2-28, 2026-2-26, 2026-2-23, 2026-2-19,2025-2-17, 2026-2-11,  2-6, 2-4, 2-1, 1-22, 1-15,  2025-9-21, 2025-9-1, 2025-8-17, 2025-8-9, 2025-7-28, 2025-7-18, 2025-7-8, 2025-3-3, 2025-2-22, 2025-2-12, 2025-1-30, 2024-9-15; No.2 "review Taiwan" on AOL, 2026-1-12

　

　 　
pic. : No.1 "Review Taiwan" on Baidu, 2026-3-12, 2026-2-28, 2026-2-26, 2026-2-23, 2026-2-19, 2025-2-17, 2026-2-15, 2026-2-9, 2025-2-4, 2026-2-2, 2026-2-1, 2026-1-22, 2026-1-17, 2026-1-13, 2026-1-9, 2026-1-1, 2025-12-28

　

　

　

Taiwan has a Trump problem ?!
◆Financial Times, 2026-4-1 Shutting Hormuz is a template for China in Taiwan.  Beijing will seek to replicate Tehran’s playbook in the Taiwan Strait — and the global economic impact could be even worse.
◆New York Times, 2026-3-31 Trump-Xi summit prompts speculation about whether Mr. Trump could soften U.S. verbal support for Taiwan. Some experts have said, e.g., that Mr. Xi may try to coax Mr. Trump to say that the United States opposes independence for Taiwan, which could magnify jitters in Taiwan about Mr. Trump's commitment to the island.
◆National Interest, 2026-3-31 Nuclear-armed countries are becoming increasingly comfortable with making nuclear threats while US credibility fades. Allies increasingly question the reliability of US commitments, even as technological advances fail to deliver greater security. US force posture adjustments have compounded these concerns. The longstanding question of whether the United States would risk Los Angeles to defend Seoul or Tokyo is no longer theoretical...
◆The WEEK UK, 2026-4-1 there is growing scepticism in Taipei that Trump would intervene militarily in the event of a full-blown Chinese attack.
◆Eurasian Times, 2026-3-31 Since 1949, Taiwan has relied on the United States as a security guarantor against a potential Chinese invasion. The United States' global credibility is a concern. An unreliable ally reduces Taiwanese willingness to resist military threats from China.
◆Bloomberg, BostonGlobe, 2026-3-29 Beijing continues to develop new nuclear-capable delivery systems, including an intercontinental ballistic missile and hypersonic warheads designed to evade missile defenses — along with Trump's occasional threats to pull back military support — has undermined confidence in Washington's ability to ensure the security of allies such as Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.  proliferation cascade—“If South Korea goes, Japan goes", "Then Taiwan goes. Then China is in a panic and they now have a timer for their invasion of Taiwan."
◆Washington Post, 2026-3-28 attacks on Iran, along with the U.S. capture of Venezuelan strongman leader , have been a show of American military might that could deter China  —  Taiwan's law maker Chen said:  That deterrence only works, however, if U.S. capabilities are readily available in Asia; If the conflict extends another month, Chen said, Taiwan's leaders will be wholly absorbed by an energy crisis, with little time to focus on China's military buildup or its increasing efforts to infiltrate Taiwanese society.
◆The Telegraph, 2026-3-29 According to a report from Rusi, the US is at most a month away from depleting its arsenal of THAAD air defences, and the ATACMs and PrSM ground-attack missiles. PrSMs were developed to repel an invasion of Taiwan. The demands of the war would diminish the US's ability to deter a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
◆The Telegraph, 2026-3-28 “From the Chinese perspective, the longer the US is involved in the region plays into its benefit because it really depletes US stockpiles in terms of missiles and ammunition,”  a senior analyst at the Crisis Group said, it's likely to also create disruption to US supply to allies, especially Taiwan.  “For Taiwan, the concern is about whether the Taiwan issue will be relegated to the back-burner "
◆Wall Street Journal, 2026-3-26 Trump's ambivalence on Taiwan opens a historic opportunity for China.  Xi sees Trump as unwilling to come to Taiwan's defense—especially if America's involvement in the Middle East, which has led the U.S. to redirect major military assets away from Asia, continues to distract Washington.
◆Economist, 2026-3-26 Does the Iran war increase the risk of a Chinese attack on Taiwan? China has reason to wait, but its window of opportunity has widened.
◆Wall Street Journal, 2026-3-23 There is growing chatter in Washington that Trump could tell Xi the U.S. explicitly “opposes” Taiwan declaring formal independence from China rather than simply not supporting it.  Taipei faces pressure to give Trump whatever he asks for, Taiwanese expert said, “but without promises, without firm commitment to Taiwan's security.”
◆Japan Times, 2026-3-22 Would Japan and the US risk war with a major nuclear power and the world's second-largest military spender over actions portrayed as customs enforcement? Would they want to take responsibility for a crisis-stricken Taiwan? The answer may well be no, especially at a time when the US is hemorrhaging blood and treasure, owing to Trump's multiplying military adventures abroad. 
◆Financial Review, 2026-3-24 To be sure, war is very much a matter of reserves of weapons, supply chains and logistics. In the immediate term, the US military will be stretched if it is needed in Asia...it becomes an assessment of the balance of resolve between the two great powers, and in practice, a guessing game about Trump's nerve and psychological willingness to escalate.
◆Foreign Affairs, 2026-3-20  Instead of signaling resolve to defend Taiwan, Trump took to acknowledging the importance that China places on the island. there is more to gain from productive and predictable relations with China than adversarial ones. Trump's recalibration also appears to be the result of a recognition that China can inflict serious damage in response to American economic coercion.
◆  Associated Press, 2026-3-18 Transfers of military assets from the Indo-Pacific region to the Middle East,, including a sizable portion of Marines deployed there as part of a rapid-response unit and an anti-missile defense system, have raised concerns that the U.S. could get distracted from its own stated priority to refocus on Asia.“The longer this war continues, and the more forces that are shifted out of Asia, the more it will feed Asian allies’ concerns about U.S. distraction and resource constraints,”
◆  Military Times, 2026-3-18 President Trump postpones trip to China, where Taiwan was expected to be discussed, amid ongoing tensions between China and Taiwan over sovereignty claims.
◆  NBC, 2026-3-17  Expectations for the Trump-Xi summit, which comes after years of turbulence in U.S.-China relations, have generally been low.“ a grand bargain is increasingly unlikely”
◆  Reuters, 2026-3-17 Trump's  request to delay the planned summit in Beijing shows how the Iran conflict has upended his foreign policy agenda and added war to trade and Taiwan among ‌the spectrum of issues separating the world's two biggest economies.
◆  New York Times, 2026-3-16 Trump has threatened to postpone a long-planned summit with Chinese leader Xi as he called on China to send warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, casting a new shadow over the relationship ... China would see the Trump administration's mixed messaging about the summit as more evidence of how the president's erratic behavior is damaging the United States’ credibility...  much as the war can hurt the Chinese economy, it is likely to hurt the U.S. and its global capacity and standing even more
◆  Reuters, 2026-3-13 Trump's moves to secure a favorable trade deal with China have raised concerns among some China watchers that he could curb U.S. military support for Taiwan. Beijing was seeking to delay U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and has ​been trying to create a better atmosphere ahead of the summit, including by toning down military pressure on the island.
New US weapons for Taiwan could be approved after Trump's China trip, sources say. 
◆  New York Times, 2026-3-11 China military flights near Taiwan resume after mysterious seven-day.
A Taiwanese expert said Given that Mr. Trump's administration is already engaged in war with Iran, “I think that Xi doesn't want Trump to think that Beijing is adding to the trouble”. “Beijing wants the Xi-Trump summit to go ahead smoothly, maintaining China's image as a great power on equal footing with the United States”
◆  CNN, 2026-3-8 Trump-Xi summit is expected to address a wide range of key issues, from trade frictions to Taiwan. Beijing has seized the moment to project an image of a reliable and responsible superpower – in a sharp contrast to the US, which has injected uncertainties into the world through new wars, and the launch of a global trade war against close allies and China.
◆  Washington Post, 2026-3-7 arms package for Taiwan has been delayed, reportedly because Trump is concerned about upsetting Xi before their talks. He appears to be prioritizing getting a trade deal with China over assisting with Taiwan's defense, but the best way to promote stability is to make China believe an invasion wouldn't succeed.
A conflict would also expose gaping vulnerabilities in the U.S. military. Semiconductors, or microchips, are foundational in missile systems, fighter jets and GPS satellites.
◆  Xinhua, 2026-3-8

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, The Democratic Progressive Party authorities' obstinate pursuit of their separatist agenda is the root cause undermining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, Noting that the one-China principle has overwhelming support in the international community, the firmer the international community stands against the "Taiwan independence" and upholds the one-China principle, the more assured peace and stability will be across the Taiwan Strait
◆  TIME, 2026-3-6 Lai Ching-te's ruling China-skeptic Democratic Progressive Party (DDP) is all at sea, with low approval ratings, a deadlocked legislature, political infighting, and a failed recall campaign that aimed to unseat lawmakers for the pro-Beijing opposition Nationalist Party, or KMT. These doldrums have spurred a revival for the KMT, which seeks security in closer ties with Beijing. And the KMT's message is gaining credence precisely because of the mercurial nature of the Trump Administration, as spotlighted by the Iran war, which has cast grave doubt on U.S. security guarantees.
◆  ABC (Australia), 2026-3-5 China could benefit from US distraction. Already, Washington's military campaign in Iran has pulled assets from the region. Precious US military stocks and munitions that would have served as a deterrent to China are also being rapidly depleted.  US diplomats have even questioned whether China would use the opportunity to seize the island.
◆  Brookings, 2026-3-4 Few issues in America's diplomatic portfolio are more sensitive or consequential than America’s approach to Taiwan and cross-Strait relations. The words and actions that leaders in Beijing, Taipei, and Washington embrace have the power to move markets and carry implications for war and peace.
◆  Foreign Affairs, 2026-3-3 KMT chair: Working with both Beijing and Washington is not only possible but necessary. Neither side should view such an approach as a betrayal. In essence, the 1992 consensus functions as a form of strategic ambiguity. For Taiwan, this ambiguity is not a weakness; it is a strategic asset.
◆  Reuters, 2026-3-4 Trump's Asian allies fear Iran war will sap defences against China. "The U.S. Navy is stretched thin," said expert ​at the Hudson Institute. If the war dragged on, there was a realistic possibility that ‌the United States could draw down its naval strength in Asia to reinforce the Iran conflict.
◆  Defense News, 2026-3-3 A scholar at Taiwan's Tamkang University believes the U.S. government already considers Taiwan a lower priority than Ukraine, Israel, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries and Asian allies Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines.  The strategy's focus on sales that fortify the American defense industry could backfire in Taiwan if it “strengthens the narrative by the Chinese government and by some (Taiwan opposition) politicians that U.S. arms sales to Taiwan are self-serving and exploitative” .
◆  The Des Moines Register, 2026-2-28 Even a "limited strike” Mideast war will expend large amounts of US reserve munitions, while war games have shown the U.S. could run out of critical munitions in days in a war with China alone.   China's President Xi Jinping has said that China will be ready for a Taiwan conflict next year.
◆  China Daily, 2026-2-28 China: Purchase of US-made weapons to push Taiwan closer to the peril of war.
◆  New York Times, 2026-2-27 The Trump administration has delayed announcing a package of arms sales to Taiwan to avoid upsetting Xi Jinping.  U.S. arms support for Taiwan has strong bipartisan support in Congress; but Xi warned Trump that the U.S. position on Taiwan was “the most important issue in China-U.S. relations” and that China “will never allow Taiwan to be separated from China.” According to John R. Bolton, Trump has been dismissive of Taiwan in private, by contrast, has consistently expressed admiration for Xi.
◆  Univ. of Nottingham, TaiwanInsight.org, 2026-2-27 Trump comments suggest Taiwan's defense is up for negotiation with China.  Trump alarmed earlier this month after comments suggesting that he would decide whether to suspend arms sales to Taiwan after meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in April.
The suggestion from Taiwan's KMT is that the US is seeking to reduce dependency on Taiwan in the realm of semiconductors so that it can abandon Taiwan at will.
◆  Global Times, 2026-2-28 "It would be wrong if the US administration thinks that a temporary 'delay' could work out. If the US administration truly acknowledges the sensitivity of arms sales to Taiwan region and its detrimental impact on China-US relations, it should completely cancel arms sales to Taiwan," a research fellow at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies said.
◆  New York Times, 2026-2-24 Washington has been forced to reconsider its position on Taiwan. For decades, America's commitment to the island was based on geopolitics, respect for democracy and containing China. It was viewed as a lopsided arrangement that was good for Taiwan and risky for the United States.  “Reshoring manufacturing critical to our national and economic security is a top priority for Trump, and the Trump admin. is implementing a nuanced and multifaceted policy approach to deliver”
◆ New York Times, 2026-2-22 Trump Looks Ahead to Summit With China's Xi, but Tariffs and Taiwan Loom.   Trump will focus on securing business and investment agreements, his previous statements suggest.  Mr. Xi's greatest goal may be to persuade Mr. Trump to dilute U.S. support — rhetorical, diplomatic and military — for Taiwan. Mr. Xi's main hope from the summit may be an extended period of stability in dealings with the US. Besides,  probably seek concessions from Mr. Trump on restrictions of Chinese purchases of technology, as well as on Chinese investments into the US.
◆ The Hill, 2026-2-22 Trump's remarks suggest that he's sympathetic to Xi's position. US arms sale to Taiwan clashes with Trump's desire to strike trade deal with China. The arms package's delivery to Taiwan is now up in the air. The director of Defense Priorities said the package will likely be delayed, "it is conceivable that Beijing will ask the U.S. to commit to preventing basing of medium-range missile systems on offshore islands that are closer to the Chinese coast".
◆ Bloomberg, 2026-2-21 Xi told Trump in a February phone call that Beijing would never allow Taiwan to be separated and warned the US should handle arms sales to Taipei with “utmost caution”.   Trump will travel to China to navigate a trade relationship again plunged into uncertainty and navigate tensions around Taiwan.
◆ Foreign Policy, 2026-2-20 Trump tiptoes around Taiwan.  Weeks after greenlighting the biggest-ever U.S. weapons sales package to Taiwan, Trump is slow-walking further sales to the island under pressure from Chinese President Xi Jinping.
◆  Wall Street Journal, 2026-2-19 A major U.S. arms-sales package for Taiwan is in limbo following pressure from Xi Jinping.  Trump wants to preserve a trade truce with Xi, so the timing of an arms-sale decision is being carefully considered behind the scenes.  The clear signal from the Trump admin. is that it simply wants to maintain the current status quo ahead of summit and avoid an escalatory cycle.
◆ The Strategist, 2026-2-20 It's ominous that US President Donald Trump's 2026 National Defense Strategy doesn't mention Taiwan even once and pledges ‘more limited’ support to allies it does mention. Taipei must plan for the worst.
◆  WSJ, 2026-2-19 Xi was adamant in a recent phone call that Trump block further arms sales to Taiwan.  Trump wants a stable Chinese relationship so the PRC won't again block the export of rare earth minerals or refuse to purchase American farm goods, especially soybeans. But giving in to Xi's threats on Taiwan would send a dangerous signal about America's reliability as an ally.
◆  Associated Press, 2026-2-18 Trump's comments give the impression that China may have a say in the quantity of arms sales to Taiwan.  “Even if eventually the U.S. will approve whatever arms sales packages to Taiwan, it is a disturbing development, particularly from the perspective of Taiwan because it sounds like it would be an issue that would be bargained away".  Uncertainty about whether Trump will address the issue of arms sales to Taiwan during his visit is set to amplify skepticism on the island about whether the U.S. would intervene in a potential Chinese attack
◆  Sydney Morning Herald, 2026-2-18 Trump suggested he was consulting Chinese President Xi Jinping about future American arms sales to Taiwan.  a Taiwan expert at the Council on Foreign Relations calls Trump's statement “deeply misguided” and says it will deeply worry Taipei.  "We should not give the PRC a veto on arms sales to Taiwan"; and his timing is atrocious. Taiwanese lawmakers are debating a special budget.  USC professor said even if Trump was not violating the letter of the Six Assurances, he was violating the spirit. "it is a departure from long-standing US policy in the strait".
◆  Newsweek, 2026-2-17 It appears to be the first time a U.S. president has publicly disclosed that the future of arms sales was being discussed with Beijing; That could amount to a breach of Washington's “Six Assurances” to Taiwan. But Trump doesn't know or care about those assurances and won't be bound by them.”
◆  SEMAFOR, 2026-2-18 US President Donald Trump suggested Monday he was discussing future Taiwan weapons sales with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which would signal a stunning reversal of decadeslong US policy. From Beijing's perspective, trends in Taiwan are moving in a positive direction, some experts think Xi is satisfied with mere momentum toward his goal of Taiwan “reunification.”
◆  Bloomberg, 2026-2-17 Trump Says He'll Soon Make Decision on Weapon Sales to Taiwan.  The US's military support for Taiwan has become one of the key points of contention between Washington and Beijing before the countries' leaders are slated to meet in April in China
◆  BBC, 2026-2-17 China is hitting Japan where it hurts. Will PM Takaichi give in? "Taiwan is the core of Chinese core interests, which means that Beijing is more likely to take a hardline position than in past episodes".  Compared to previous incidents, the US response to the latest spat "has been muted so far, which may embolden China", said CSIS expert.
◆  New York Post, 2026-2-13 AOC won't say whether US should defend Taiwan if China invades.  She believes Trump has played “hokey-pokey” with “many of our commitments,” including foreign aid and the Paris agreement.
◆  Asia Times, 2026-2-13 director of Defense Priorities says the US National Defense Strategy (NDS) made no mention of Taiwan whatsoever, a clear indication that Taiwan does not constitute a vital US national interest.  The US is quite willing to send arms to Taiwan, but defending the island with American forces may no longer be in the cards.
◆  Global Times, 2026-2-14 Columbia University professor Jeffrey Sachs to people in Taiwan: If you trust the US as your friend, it can kill you. Don't think the US is going to save you if you do something that does not make sense.
◆  Council on Foreign Relations, 2026-2-12 the US does not want to find itself in the position of being unable to fight a war over Taiwan because it cannot get the chips it needs for its weapons. Lutnick added, “We're going to bring it all over so we become self-sufficient in the capacity of building semiconductors.  But Taiwan will not allow its chip industry to be “hollowed out.” Taiwanese people believe the island's semiconductor prowess provides security and they fear that if the US no longer needs Taiwan for chips, it will have less of an incentive to defend it.
◆ AFP, 2026-2-12 Trump's efforts to force Taiwanese chipmakers to increase production capacity in the United States and his insistence that Taiwan spend more on defence has fuelled concerns about his willingness to protect the island.  Xi's recent purge of his top generals has sparked speculation about what it might mean for Beijing's timeline to potentially attack Taiwan, which some US officials have suggested could be in 2027.
◆ Bloomberg, 2026-2-10 After Takaichi wins historic mandate, Trump praised her "Peace Through Strength Agenda".  Treasury Secretary : "When Japan is strong, the US is strong in Asia".  Xinhua senior editor wrote "Japan is set to become more provocative on the Taiwan question".  China has become increasingly intolerant for such perceived violations of its primary red line, concerned they would embolden "separatists" in Taiwan. 
◆ CNBC, 2026-2-10 Taiwan Vice Premier said she had made it clear to Washington that the country's semiconductor ecosystem, built over decades, could not simply be relocated.  Analysts point to Taiwan's deeply integrated semiconductor ecosystem, U.S. labor shortages and elevated costs as some of the key obstacles. This Silicon Shield could further discourage Taiwan from shifting its supply chains abroad.
◆ Washington Examiner, 2026-2-10 In April. Taiwan is expected to be a tense topic at this Xi-Trump summit as the White House remains outwardly committed to defending the island.
◆ Heritage Foundation, 2026-2-10 the U.S. increasingly expects allies and partners to shoulder more of the burden for their own security and the NSS explicitly calls on Taiwan to increase its defense budget.  Taiwanese legislators moved to block a critical increase in the defense budget which risks damaging Taiwan-U.S. relations.  Taiwanese legislators have some legitimate concerns about the transparency and funding source of the defense package.  The U.S. should also expedite its shipment of already-promised capabilities to Taiwan to alleviate concerns that weapons that could never arrive.
◆ Lowy Institute (Australia), 2026-2-9 Trump's open infatuation with China's Xi Jinping, and his cavalier attitude towards allies and international law, will only reinforce a sense of insecurity among frontline Asian partners that both depend on “iron-clad” American military support as well as a rules-based international order.
◆ Reuters, 2026-2-9  U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the government needed to bring semiconductors to the U.S. "You can't have all semiconductor manufacturing 80 miles from China," he said. "That's just illogical ... So we need to bring ​it back." Taiwan says  40% shift of chip capacity to US is 'impossible'.  last month, Lutnick said that if this does not happen, tariffs on Taiwan would likely rise to 100%.
◆ Financial Times, Bloomberg, 2026-2-7 Trump's state visit to China and meeting with Xi could face uncertainty and disruption.  Xi said the American president must “handle the issue of arms sales to Taiwan with prudence,” That was unusually specific language for Xi, who normally sticks to broad statements on Taiwan.
◆ New York Times, 2026-2-5 presented with the idea that Taiwan could be seen as a threat to China, Mr. Trump then conceded that Taiwan “was a source of pride” for Mr. Xi.  “He considers it to be a part of China, and that's up to him, what he's going to be doing,” Mr. Trump said.
◆ Bloomberg, 2026-2-5 The Chinese government casts their discussion over Taiwan in a more contentious light.  Xi raised the Taiwan issue, and specifically urged the US to handle arms sales to Taipei with “utmost caution” and said Beijing will never allow the island to be separated.   The dueling descriptions of the discussion about Taiwan show that lingering tensions exist between the world's two largest economies.
◆ BBC, 2026-2-5 China's leader Xi Jinping called Taiwan "the most important issue" in China-US relations during a phone call with US President Donald Trump.
◆ New York Times, 2026-2-3 While consistently antagonizing the allies that have helped keep Beijing's geostrategic ambitions in check, Mr. Trump has shown little appetite for sustained confrontation with Beijing, appealing for summits and suing for peace in his trade war.  With fewer constraints, both internal and external, Mr. Xi would be free to squeeze Taiwan even harder, backed by a regenerated Chinese military leadership that has been conditioned to execute — not question — his orders.
◆  Foreign Affairs, 2026-2-2 Xi's willingness to strip the high command down to its studs and renovate it at this moment is also a signal that he is relatively comfortable with China's external environment—especially the cross-strait dynamic. The Trump administration does not seem to be especially ready to defend Taiwan: U.S. President Donald Trump said “it's up to Xi” what China does regarding Taiwan, and the National Defense Strategy released by his administration last month omitted any mention of Taiwan. Meanwhile, the political dynamic in Taiwan seems to be shifting in Beijing's favor ahead of the island's next national election in 2028.
◆  Wall Street Journal, 2026-2-1 Beijing views Trump as having little appetite for a costly military intervention in the Taiwan Strait.  “Beijing is convinced it may never see a U.S. president more indifferent to the Taiwan Strait than Trump”.
◆  Politico, 2026-1-30 A Pentagon planning document published this month didn't mention the self-governing island. Compare that with the most recent defense strategy before this, from the Biden administration in 2022, which decried Beijing's “provocative rhetoric and coercive activity towards Taiwan.” It also differs from the NDS in Trump's first term... This marks a shift from the White House's National Security Strategy that declared “deterring a conflict over Taiwan”a key priority.
◆  EurAsian Times, 2026-1-27 No QUAD, No Taiwan in New U.S. Defense Blueprint: Is Trump Leaving Indo-Pacific Allies To The Wolves?  “Fairness” is listed as a guiding principle, meaning the U.S. will no longer tolerate…free-riding” . American allies and partners must work and spend for their own security; American support is now conditional and limited.
◆  The Telegraph, 2026-1-24 The US Defense Department has released a national defense strategy. In a break from decades of US foreign policy, the 34-page report made no reference to Taiwan.
◆  The Irish Times, 2026-1-24 Most people in Taiwan worry that Trump will abandon Taiwan. Or even that Trump will entrap Taiwan.
◆  Asia Nikkei, 2026-1-19 Trump can't be trusted to defend Taiwan. President's words, diplomacy with Xi and economic framing send Beijing wrong signal. asia.nikkei.com/opinion/trump-can-t-be-trusted-to-defend-taiwan
◆  Wall Street Journal, 2026-1-18 Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested Taiwan's security rests not on its fabs but on America's favor: “Our president is the key to protecting their country, so they need to make him happy,”
◆   New York Times, 2026-1-17 Given the stakes, a top priority for American foreign policy must be deterring China without provoking China. a fundamental question: Why should Americans risk their lives and spend billions of dollars defending Taiwanese who aren't clearly willing to make major sacrifices themselves?
◆   Financial Times, 2026-1-17 Taiwanese officials said Taipei would exercise “extreme caution” to avoid any incident at Pratas sparking a broader conflict. “We would consult with our ally”
◆    CGTN,  2026-1-14 China made the comment in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's latest remarks regarding Taiwan in an interview with the New York Times.   ──   "the Taiwan question belongs to China's internal affairs, and its resolution is a matter for the Chinese people alone".
◆    The Hill, Reuters, 2026-1-9, New York Times,  2026-1-8 The president told  The New York Times  regarding a potential operation led by Beijing that Xi considers Taiwan “to be a part of China and that's up to him what he's going to be doing.” 
◆    CSIS.org, 2026-1-9 the Trump administration's controversial action on Venezuela would not alter China's calculation on Taiwan. Instead, China will utilize this opportunity to weaken the United States’ global image and to showcase itself as the guarantor of a rule-based international order
◆    TIME,  2026-1-6 Venezuela shows what happens when Trump perceives a threat to American interests in America's backyard: overwhelming force, no consultation with Congress, and regime change in a matter of hours. But Taiwan isn’t in America's backyard—it's in China's. And there's little evidence Trump regards Taiwan's security as a core American interest the way he regards hemispheric dominance. 
◆    CNN,  2026-1-6 while the prospect of capturing Taiwan's leader may have stoked nationalist fever online, officially Beijing has adopted a markedly different tone, portraying the US raid as a “hegemonic act” while calling for the immediate release of Maduro and his wife.
◆    The Guardian,  2026-1-6 The biggest deterrence for China in launching an attack on Taiwan is the military balance in the Taiwan Strait.  The PLA is on track to reach its 2027 goal of being able to achieve a “strategic decisive victory” over Taiwan, particularly with its rapid advances in military artificial intelligence, biotechnology and hypersonic missiles.
◆    Associated Press,  2026-1-6 Trump's rhetoric conjures up images of Teddy Roosevelt and gunboat diplomacy. The rhetoric is a return to a pre-Great War era.  “What the president's done in this case has essentially given Putin and Xi Jinping a hall pass," said Sen. Angus King, I-Maine
◆    Foreign Policy Research Institute,  2026-1-6 Maduro's ouster may well give further ammunition for Beijing to justify its claims over Taiwan in the longer term.
◆    Bloomberg,  2026-1-4 Trump's strike (Venezuela) could give Beijing space to ramp up military aggression in its own backyard, can also hand Xi another opportunity to portray China as a custodian of the international rules-based order.
“I don't expect today's events in Venezuela will dramatically shift Beijing's calculus on Taiwan,” Ryan Hass, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution said.
◆    Politico,  2026-1-4 Trump's action against Venezuela may embolden Beijing to get more aggressive over its territorial claim to Taiwan.  Beijing's reasoning may be, "Well, why not Taiwan?"“You could say China has a much more significant claim on Taiwan than the United States on Venezuela."
◆    Wall Street Journal,  2025-12-31 Taiwan's military is dwarfed by China's, and the island's ability to deflect a Chinese attack depends on whether the U.S. steps in. One big question from China's drills this week was how Washington would respond.   Trump shrugged.
China's drills, however, prompted statements of concern about heightened tensions from U.S. lawmakers, and from around the world, including the European Union, the U.K., Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
◆    NBC News,  2025-12-30 China fires a warning to the US and simulates Taiwan blockade; Trump says that Chinese President Xi Jinping had not told him about the exercises but that they did not worry him.  Trump has notably refrained from expressing public support for Japan after its prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, outraged Beijing last month by saying that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could prompt a Japanese military response.
◆    Bloomberg,  2025-12-30 Trump — whose transactional approach to foreign policy has often left allies unsure of where they stand — Washington's backing of Taiwan no longer looks guaranteed. In February, he declined to say whether it was US policy to stop China from taking the island by force. More recently, however, Trump said Xi “understands what will happen” if the PLA attempts an invasion, a comment that likely offered some relief in Taipei.
◆    Financial Times,  2025-12-29 China's‘Justice Mission 2025’ exercises to test US response after largest-ever arms sale to Taipei.  Beijing also probably saw an opportunity to help exacerbate domestic political turmoil in Taiwan. ft.com/content/fd7c69e5-b3cf-4b4f-927a-fb7f0c2cdc93
◆    Mainichi Shimbun (Japan), Asia Times,  2025-12-28 The National Security Strategy did, it is true, convey an American stance toward Taiwan that was orthodox and aligned with the stance by previous administrations. It spoke clearly against any coercive attempt to change the status quo, and in favor of maintaining military deterrence so as to avoid conflict.  But the National Security Strategy nonetheless defined China chiefly as an economic threat, not as a military one.  That emphasis must still count as a concern for all America's long-term security allies in Asia.
◆  Wall Street Journal,  2025-12-25 President Trump has played down the likelihood Beijing would use force against the island and appears determined to deepen ties with Xi as the two prepare for an April summit. The Trump administration will seek “a wider range of military-to-military communications with China and “also seek other ways to make clear our peaceful intentions.”
The Pentagon strategy document names China only a handful of times—almost exclusively in terms of the economic relationship... a surprising emphasis on improved U.S.-China relations and mil-to-mil cooperation”.
◆  New York Post,  2025-12-24 “China's historic military buildup has made the US homeland increasingly vulnerable,” the annual report on China's military power report said. “China's top military strategy focuses squarely on overcoming the United States through a whole-of-nation mobilization effort that Beijing terms “national total war.”China's top goal is to overthrow the US as a global superpower — and will continue to push its influence throughout the world.
◆  Responsible Statecraft,  2025-12-24 We must return to strategic ambiguity and resist the temptation of empty platitudes, political stunts, and commitments that we cannot back up.    Categorical statements of support for Taiwan from world leaders in recent years have made Taiwan less, not more secure. If we continue down this path, we will bring about the very outcome we seek to avoid.
◆  France 24,  2025-12-19 US arms package to Taiwan seen as a 'move to use Taiwan to contain China', professor of International Relations at King's College London says.
◆  Washington Post, 2025-12-12 Trump's second term has introduced more uncertainty into Taipei's delicate balancing act between the two superpowers — and is sowing doubt in Taiwan.  Nearly 45 percent of the Taiwanese public thinks that Trump would be unwilling to prevent a Chinese military invasion of Taiwan, according to an October poll.
◆  CNN, 2025-12-12 The Trump administration's new national security strategy (NSS)  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.
◆  Raw Story, 2025-12-15, 12-13 To the shock of the western world, Trump “cut a deal” to let Nvidia sell   some of their most advanced chips to China after our military and intelligence experts have explicitly warned of the danger that this could accelerate that country's move toward seizing Taiwan and threatening us with World War III.
 After giving the Trump family gifts, trademarks, and patents, ... so Trump    changed the rules... and Republicans in Congress are refusing to stop him.
◆  New York Times,  2025-12-2 Mr. Xi may feel emboldened because Mr. Trump has done less than his predecessors, militarily or economically, to reassure Taiwan or neighboring U.S. allies in the face of China's rise. Mr. Trump “has sent conflicting messages to Taiwan which have not helped and worried America’s allies in the region”
◆  The Guardian,  2025-11-30 Xi used the Xi-Trump call to forcefully imply that if Trump really wants a big, beautiful trade deal to boast about at home, the US must formally accept that China's sovereign right to Taiwan is an “integral part of the postwar international order".  Suspicions grow that Trump may ultimately subordinate defence of Taiwan to detente with China. At present, he seesaws. Promised arms packages are delayed or don't arrive.
◆  TIME,  2025-11-30 The fate of 23 million Taiwanese hangs in the balance. But in the age of Trump—and whatever one makes of the Japan-China spat—it is clear shared values are taking the backseat.
◆  The Economist, 2025-11-27 John Bolton: Trump  wants to make biggest trade  deal in history, that means a deal with China; He doesn't think of the bigger political military implications, that's not of interest to him. He 's focused on that trade deal.   They (Taiwanese)  should be scared. if Trump gave away Taiwan in a trade negotiation, he would declare victory nonetheless  youtube.com/shorts/h_1y0u3Sl0o
◆  Wall Street Journal, 2025-11-25 the Trump administration's delay in military aid, etc, have fueled anxiety in Taipei that American support is being sacrificed for an economic deal with China.
◆  Bloomberg, 2025-11-24 Trump has never been super attached to Taiwan, and he 's done a variety of things that have made officials and strategists in Taiwan wonder about the level of US commitment.
◆  WSJ, 2025-11-20 China has been ramping up its military incursions in the Taiwan Strait, intending to keep the squeeze on Taipei, at a time when Beijing sees the Trump administration wavering in its commitment to the island. Administration officials have characterized Trump's shift as pragmatic deterrence that forces Taipei to fund its own defense capabilities while avoiding symbolic gestures that could grant Beijing a pretext for a Ukraine-style conflict.
◆  Financial Times, 2025-11-13 Japan and China spar over Taiwan as Donald Trump tilts global ‘chessboard’.  Heavyweights clash as election of hawkish PM Sanae Takaichi and US policy unpredictability change calculus in region.
◆  National Interest, 2025-11-5 Things appear bleak for the embattled island democracy of Taiwan. First, the Trump administration blocked a $400 million military aid package intended to help bolster the besieged island's defense in the face of growing threats from Mainland China. Then, the island's second-largest political party, the KMT, nominated a fanatically pro-China politician to its leadership...
◆  East Asia Forum , 2025-11-4 As US-China tensions escalate, the Trump administration increasingly treats Taiwan not as a strategic partner, but as a bargaining chip to be traded away in broader diplomatic and economic negotiations.
◆  CNN, 2025-10-30 “Some stakeholders in Taipei have found it really jarring to be in this position where they're suddenly so unclear on whether the US president will support them,” said  a senior fellow at the CSIS, adding they have found an “unwelcome surprise” in how challenging it has been to bolster the US-Taiwan relationship this year.
◆  Financial Times, 2025-10-27 Reports are swirling that the Pentagon is about to announce a major reorientation of US defence policy — concentrating on the western hemisphere at the expense of east Asia.
The likelihood of complete American abandonment of Taiwan is still remote.
◆  Economist, 2025-10-23  Taiwan is confronting one of its deepest fears: what happens if America abandons it?  Trump hinted at that in May by suggesting that such a deal would be “great for unification and peace”
◆  TIME, 2025-10-23 Few places are scrutinizing Trump's flip flops over U.S. backing for Ukraine with greater apprehension than Taiwan. Trump's recalcitrance regarding support for military action over Taiwan is broadly shared by its allies.  Taiwan fears that the combination of Trump's diffidence toward alliances and global acclaim as a war-ending “man of peace” may embolden Xi into finally completing the revolution.  
◆  Foreign Affairs, 2025-10-22 Trump's actions in the first year of his second term have already contributed to growing anxiety in Taipei about the durability of U.S. support. Concessions to Beijing would increase skepticism among the Taiwanese about the value of investing in deterrence and preparing for a potential crisis.
◆  Financial Times, 2025-10-16 There has long been talk of a grand bargain between China and the United States. From Taiwan's point of view, what's the nightmare?   it would be something like a cessation of military sales, or perhaps a shift in the rhetorical position on Taiwan independence, maybe coming out against it explicitly rather than being ambiguous. But there is still a substantial segment of Taiwanese society that would absolutely refuse to be annexed by PRC.
◆  CBC, Radio-Canada, 2025-10-17 The key issue is whether the United States is going to come to Taiwan's rescue if Taiwan gets invaded;  Taiwan's role is actually to serve as a critical component of the alliance built by the U.S. The U.S. has made it crystal clear that we're trying to recreate a supply chain free of China's influence.
◆ 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.   Trump seems to be in favor of "Taiwan itself take more responsibility for its own defense" , since he believes that Taiwan should increase its defense spending to 10 percent of its GDP.  thediplomat.com/2025/10/trumps-approach-to-taiwan-is-taking-shape
◆ Wall Street Journal,  2025-9-29 Xi Is Chasing a Huge Concession From Trump: Opposing Taiwan Independence.  Xi believes that he can entice a switch on Taiwan from Trump, who Beijing thinks is eager to secure an economic bargain.
◆ cryptopolitan,  2025-9-29 US pressures Taiwan to shift chip production amid push for 50% domestic supply.
◆  The Hill, 2025-9-25 The idea of a grand bargain with Beijing that trades Taiwan's autonomy for “stability” is seductive. It promises to defuse the Indo-Pacific's most volatile flash point before a crisis erupts. But it's a dangerous illusion.  If Washington were to sacrifice Taiwan, allies would read it as a retreat from core commitments.  The region would grow more brittle, not more peaceful.
◆  Foreign Affairs, 2025-9-22 Trump puts a higher priority on reaching a trade deal and improving relations with Beijing than on steadfast support for Taiwan.  when Trump-Xi meet as planned this fall, Xi almost certainly will try to ask Trump for commitments to reduce arms sales to Taiwan or to make clear officially that the United States opposes Taiwan's independence and supports eventual unification—and Trump might be tempted to do so to get the deal he covets.
◆  The Guardian, 2025-9-20 In Trump's second term there has been a significant cooling on Taiwan. He has questioned the worth of US support, mused that Taiwan should pay for US “protection”, and spurned the security aid mechanism in favour of actual sales.
◆  Washington Post, 2025-9-19 Trump declined to approve more than $400 million in military aid to Taiwan this summer, as he tries to negotiate a trade deal and potential summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The decision on the aid package had not yet been finalized.
◆  New York Times, 2025-9-15 Trump so far appears wary of antagonizing Beijing over this issue; He must go further by strongly reaffirming that the United States does not support Taiwan independence, reimposing restrictions on diplomatic contact and stopping  efforts to expand Taipei's participation in international organizations... could also remove  U.S. military trainers from Taiwan and weapon systems in the region that provoke China as much as they deter it.
◆  Monocle (UK), 2025-9-11 Taiwan's broader cross-strait strategy ─  de-escalation is consistently preferred over confrontation. Against a formidable neighbour and with a long-term ally in the US that can no longer be fully relied upon – Taiwan must override its reflex to de-escalate.
◆  Washington Examiner, 2025-9-8 Taiwanese president says Trump is bolstering support for island amid China's expansionism.
◆   CBS News,  2025-8-29 Since Mr. Trump returned to the White House in January, there have been growing jitters in Taipei over the strength of the Taiwan-U.S. relationship and Washington's willingness to defend the island if China were to attack.
◆   BBC,  2025-8-26

Taiwan has been criticised for not taking national defence seriously and been urged to raise defence spending, even to as high as 10 per cent of GDP by Donald Trump and other US officials.That the government is unable to get such spending passed means it will continue to face pressure from the US.
◆   Washington Post,  2025-8-23 President Donald Trump is trying to cut another trade deal with China, fears that the United States might not assist Taiwan in the event of a war have deepened.
◆   Foreign Policy,  2025-8-21 The main concern is that Trump—seemingly desperate for a summit and trade deal with Xi—will be prepared to sell out Taiwan to get it.
◆   Brookings,  2025-8-11 U.S.-Taiwan political relations have also soured under Trump. Both  The New York Times  and  The Washington Post  linked the rejection of Lai Ching-te's visit to the Trump administration's desire to arrange a summit with PRC leader Xi Jinping.
◆   The Conversation,  2025-8-8 Trump  appears increasingly reluctant  to back Taiwan in ways that risk provoking Beijing
◆   Chicago Tribune,  2025-8-5 If Joe Biden as president had made a similar move (denied permission for Lai to stop in the US ) , the Taiwanese political and security establishment would have rested easy, knowing that U.S. support was unquestionable. but Trump's priorities are finalizing a comprehensive trade accord with China and pushing U.S. allies around the world to do more for themselves on the defense front.
◆   UNherd (UK),  2025-8-3 For the first time in nearly two decades, Washington issued a sharp and public rebuke to Taiwan. President Lai's recent rhetoric has added an unnecessary layer of tension to already fraught cross-Strait relations. Washington must act to restrain Taiwan's growing push toward formal nationhood and independence.
◆   New York Times,  2025-8-1 Mr. Trump previously said Taiwan had gained an unfair dominance in making semiconductors and had accused the country, which depends on the United States for political support against China's claims, of spending too little on its own security
◆  Fox News, 2025-7-30 A group of Senate Democratic leaders are accusing President  Donald Trump  of making "steep concessions to Beijing" by refusing to allow the Taiwanese president to come to the U.S. and allowing China to purchase Nvidia chips... "ceded leverage" in trade talks without gaining any "real breakthrough" in negotiations,
◆  New York Times, 2025-7-30 Matthew Pottinger criticized the apparent decision by American officials to “bend over backwards” in the face of Chinese objections to transit stops by the Taiwanese leader.
◆  The Guardian, 2025-7-30  the top Democrat on the house's China committee, called it “another example of the Trump administration caving to China in hopes of reaching a trade deal.”an expert called it “abnormal” for Washington not to agree when such stopovers are permitted under the Taiwan Relations Act.
◆  Foreign Affairs, 2025-8-1 In an April poll, we found that 50 percent of DPP supporters see the United States as a trustworthy or very trustworthy ally, whereas just three percent of KMT supporters and ten percent of TPP supporters think so.
◆◆Al Jazeera, 2025-7-31  there are deep currents of scepticism towards the US – known as yimeilun – running through Taiwanese society. A survey in April found that just 23.1 percent viewed the US as either a “trustworthy or very trustworthy” partner, down from 33.6 percent in June 2024.
◆  Financial Times, 2025-7-30 The US cancelled a meeting with Taiwan's defence minister in June, deepening concerns in Taipei
◆  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.
◆  Council on Foreign Relations, 2025-7-25 Trump is avowedly opposed to entering new wars and is eager to strike grand bargains. Would a grand bargain with Xi involve selling Taiwan down the river in exchange for trade or commercial concessions?
◆  Washington Post, 2025-7-23 Trump's views about Taiwan are unclear, ... Some fear that in trying to make a broad trade agreement with Xi, Trump could put Taiwan on the table.
◆  Taipei Times, 2025-7-14 The fear that Trump might launch a military response to a Chinese invasion — not out of alliance loyalty, but out of rage or opportunism — may be precisely the uncertainty that keeps Beijing at bay. taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2025/07/14/2003840240
◆  ekathimerini (Greece), 2025-7-3 Though the US Congress, the Pentagon, and much of Trump’s Ccabinet remain staunch China hawks, Chinese leaders see the president's isolationist tendencies and personal disinterest in Taiwan as a sign that US backlash to gray-zone moves may be muted. But Trump is nothing if not unpredictable...
◆◆NBC, 2025-5-30 Officials in Taipei have also been rattled by the collapse of U.S. support for Ukraine as well as the threat of steep tariffs on Taiwan's exports, which Trump has set at 32% in addition to a 10% baseline.
◆  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.

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Trump's new tariffs , Taiwan's chips, AI, trade war & deal
◆  Nikkei Asia, 2026-4-3 One year on from Trump tariffs, Taiwan sees 80% rise in exports to US.
◆  WSJ, 2026-3-23 American tech giants—were concerned about potential tariffs, with global chip-making concentrated in Taiwan. Riding the AI boom, TSMC decided to expand its U.S. footprint to a total of six chip plants.  Opposition leaders accused the government of caving to U.S. demands, saying it risked weakening the “silicon shield” many people believe makes Taiwan too valuable to be attacked.
◆  Reuters, 2026-3-17 Washington's new Section 301 unfair trade practices probes that target China and many other trading partners over alleged excess industrial capacity and failures to ban products produced with forced labour.
◆  Wall Street Journal, 2026-3-16 Micron Technology Shares Jump on Plan to Build Second Memory Chip Site in Taiwan.
◆  Wall Street Journal, 2026-3-13 New US trade probes raise concerns in Asia. Taiwan, which was also named in the probes, said it will safeguard its interests based on the agreement it already reached with the U.S.
◆  Benzinga, 2026-3-11 Taiwan's TSMC, the key contract chipmaker's expansion plans remain on track despite the U.S.–Iran conflict, which has triggered a broad selloff in semiconductor and major technology stocks.  Some politicians from the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) argue that building chip fabs in the U.S. could weaken Taiwan's semiconductor industry, the Taipei Times reported. former TPP Chair Ko Wen-je said it amounts to "selling Taiwan out to the United States."
◆  Reuters, 2026-3-7 US-Israel war with Iran sends shockwaves through global business. "If these effects last longer, everyone will start to feel ​them,"  chairman of Foxconn said.   A prolonged conflict could disrupt supplies of key semiconductor manufacturing materials sourced from the Middle East, including helium, which is ‌essential for chip production and has no viable substitute.
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US-Taiwan trade deal
◆  Washington Examiner, 2026-3-7 From tariffs to Taiwan: The cards Xi Jinping could play against Trump's Iran war.  washingtonexaminer.com/in_focus/4483416/tariffs-taiwan-xi-jinping-trump-iran-war/
◆  New York Times, 2026-3-2 Already Weathering a Trade War, Asia Now Faces a New Energy Threat.Taiwan imports more than 96 percent of its energy, most of it from the Middle East. About 60 percent of Taiwan's oil — and about a third of its natural gas — arrives by ship from countries via the Strait of Hormuz. Any shortage of energy supplies to Taiwan could endanger the global economy, which relies on the island's manufacturing powerhouses for semiconductors. A handful of factories making the vast majority of the world's advanced computer chips depend on a consistent supply of electricity.
◆  Raw Story, 2026-2-27 Taiwan's opposition party has threatened to block approval of its agreement with the Trump administration, which imposed 15 percent tariff rates on most Taiwanese goods—higher than the current 10 percent global duty. The party has used the Supreme Court decision as justification to renegotiate the terms with the United States.
◆  New York Times, 2026-2-24 Now, more than ever, it has become clear that Taiwan is critical to America's economic survival, especially as artificial intelligence — which is built using chips made in Taiwan — drives the U.S. stock market and fuels economic growth.  If China invades Taiwan and cuts off its chip exports to American companies, the tech industry and the U.S. economy would be crippled.
◆  Global Times, 2026-2-24 US tariff ruling and new hikes fuel concerns in Taiwan — Taiwan businesses are increasingly worried about rising costs, shrinking profit margins and potential supply-chain disruptions...whether the previously reached agreement and earlier talks may ultimately prove meaningless, with many also highlighting the steep costs associated with securing the deal; DPP authorities under intense backlash for ‘selling out’ island.globaltimes.cn/page/202602/1355674.shtml
◆  Reuters, 2026-2-24 Taiwan seeks US assurances tariff deal terms will not change; but Taiwan's high trade surplus with the United States is a risk going forward.
◆  SCMP, 2026-2-22

Trump renews attack on Taiwan's chip sector after US Supreme Court tariff ruling.  youtube.com/shorts/mZA-ozgoIzY  :"Taiwan stole America's chip business, and they made chips 30 years or longer, they made chip, chip, chip; And uh they put our companies"
◆  Reuters, 2026-2-21 Asian economies weigh impact of fresh Trump tariff moves.  While the initial impact on Taiwan appears limited, the government will closely monitor developments and maintain close communication with the US to understand specific implementation details and respond appropriately.
◆  Bloomberg, 2026-2-19 The US imported more from Taiwan than China for the first time in decades as President Donald Trump's tariffs reshape trade flows while a global boom in artificial intelligence fuels demand for tech products.
◆  Brookings, 2026-2-18 Bessent warned that “the single biggest threat to the world economy, the single biggest point of failure, is that 97 percent of high-end chips are made in Taiwan.” Howard Lutnick has vowed that America will reduce dependence on Taiwan's chips as much as possible, as rapidly as possible. He has set about browbeating Taiwan firms to move production to the United States.
An argument has developed that Taiwan will be protected by a “silicon shield.” ─  If Beijing attempted to use force to seize Taiwan, the global economic blast radius would be so significant that it would compel a broad coalition of countries to push back against China.
◆  CGTN, 2026-2-17 The "US-Taiwan Trade Agreement" is in reality an economic trap that hollows out Taiwan. First, the aggressive dismantling of trade barriers could deal a severe blow to Taiwan's local industries and may trigger a wave of unemployment. Second, the bundling of US goods purchases will seriously weaken Taiwan's bargaining power and increase the burden on its people. Third, the relocation of Taiwan's "lifeline" industries off the island, thus jeopardizing its long-term development prospects.  Taiwan's pledged investment in the US amounts to $500 billion, more than half of its annual GDP.
◆  CGTN, 2026-2-17 The "US-Taiwan Trade Agreement" is in reality an economic trap that hollows out Taiwan. First, the aggressive dismantling of trade barriers could deal a severe blow to Taiwan's local industries and may trigger a wave of unemployment. Second, the bundling of US goods purchases will seriously weaken Taiwan's bargaining power and increase the burden on its people. Third, the relocation of Taiwan's "lifeline" industries off the island, thus jeopardizing its long-term development prospects.  Taiwan's pledged investment in the US amounts to $500 billion, more than half of its annual GDP.
◆  Financial Times, 2026-2-14 US-Taiwan trade deal excludes the core of the two countries’ trade relationship: chips.  Washington was unlikely to release a fuller text of the January agreement until after Trump meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing in April, because Trump does not want issues over Taiwan to interfere with building stable relations with China.
◆  Benzinga, Yahoo Finance, 2026-2-15 Taiwan is reinforcing its role as a global AI and semiconductor hub  as  Nvidia Corp.  moves forward with plans for a major new headquarters in Taipei.
◆  Reuters, 2026-2-13 US, Taiwan finalise deal that confirmed a 15% U.S. tariff rate for imports from Taiwan, while committing Taiwan to a schedule for eliminating or lowering tariffs ‌on nearly all U.S. goods. 
◆  Council on Foreign Relations, 2026-2-12 U.S.-Taiwan Trade Agreement leaves major questions open.   America's trade deficit with Taiwan is set to expand. Taiwan intervenes by many creative ways to keep the NTD low and make its exports more competitive. Lutnick's talk of self-sufficiency in the capacity of building semiconductors has raised concerns in Taiwan that its "silicon shield" is eroding and that the United States is seeking to make the island expendable.
◆  CNBC, 2026-2-13 In US-Taiwan trade deal, Taiwan will remove or reduce 99% of tariff barriers on U.S. goods, as well as providing "preferential market access" for U.S. industrial and agricultural exports (autos, beef products and minerals, etc). Taiwan has also committed to purchase over $84 billion of U.S. goods, including energy and aviation products.
◆  Associated Press, 2026-2-12 Taiwan's AI-powered economy soars in the shadow of bubble fears and China threats.  China's exercises in Dec. included live rounds landing closer to the island than before, though many in Taiwan including its former President Tsai Ing-wen believe its importance to global chipmaking would deter China from attacking. The risk of an invasion is unclear.
◆  Global Times, 2026-2-13 Taiwan's trade deal with US ‘a political loyalty pledge’. The US pressured Taiwan to further open its market ─ the 15 percent rate still deals a significant blow, severely reducing their profitability and affecting the security of some supply chains, the expert said.
　
◆  Associated Press, 2026-2-12 Taiwan's AI-powered economy soars in the shadow of bubble fears and China threats.  China's exercises in Dec. included live rounds landing closer to the island than before, though many in Taiwan including its former President Tsai Ing-wen believe its importance to global chipmaking would deter China from attacking. The risk of an invasion is unclear.
◆  Bloomberg, 2026-2-10 BofA lifted its projection to 8% from 4.5% on “relentless global demand” for the tech hardware that Taiwanese companies make; BofA also highlighted risks to its forecasts from issues such as “geopolitical dynamics.”
◆  War on the Rocks, 2026-2-9 The “silicon shield” that protects Taiwan also binds China. A quarantine that strangles Taiwan's power grid would shutter the semiconductor fabs that Beijing's own economy relies upon, potentially causing a catastrophic contraction in China's manufacturing sector.
◆  Tom's Hardware, 2026-2-9 Taiwan reiterated that there are no plans to relocate the island's science parks, which form the core of its semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem, and are indispensable parts of the country's so-called silicon shield. Nonetheless, Taiwan authorities have no problems with TSMC expanding overseas as long as its most advanced technologies remain in Taiwan
◆  Wall Street Journal, 2026-2-9 Taiwan exports start 2026 strong in bright sign for economy. Global tech giants' massive AI spending plans for 2026 signal that robust demand for Taiwan's AI tech hardware isn't likely to slow down.
◆  Taiwan plus, 2026-2-8 Taiwan-US trade deal to be signed soon as legislature remains divided; Taipei mayor: We all hope the central government can explain the trade deal clearly and comprehensively.
◆  China Daily, 2026-2-5 China: Taiwan-US trade deal sells out Taiwan.The pact has yet to be enacted and is currently under review by the local legislature, where opposition lawmakers in Taiwan have raised concerns about its lack of transparency.
◆  Foreign Affairs, 2026-2-4 Taiwan plays a crucial role at the center of supply chains that exclude China. Taiwan manufactures 60 percent of the world's semiconductors and more than 90 percent of the world's advanced chips. It also leads in artificial intelligence: in 2025, the island was responsible for producing 90 percent of the world's AI servers, making it an indispensable player in the AI revolution. Taiwan hopes the U.S. Senate will approve legislation passed last year in the House that prevents double taxation to further facilitate cross-border investment.
◆  Reuters, 2026-2-3 US and Taiwan signed statements on cooperation on economic security and on the Pax Silica Declaration - a U.S.-led initiative aimed at securing AI and semiconductor supply chains amid intense competition from Beijing.  the U.S. State Department praising Taipei as a "vital partner."
The deputy chairman of Taiwan's main opposition party was ‍in Beijing for a think-tank exchange with China's Communist Party on ostensibly non-political issues like AI. He said  "We should cooperate across the Taiwan Strait to earn money from the world, rather than oppose each other across the strait and let foreign countries reap the benefits, exploiting Taiwan and hollowing it out,"
◆  Reuters, 2026-2-1 Jensen Huang praises, pushes Nvidia suppliers on mobbed Taiwan visit. "Over the next 10 years, TSMC ‍will likely increase their capacity by much more than 100%, and so this is a very substantial scale-up in the next decade."
◆  Wall Street Journal, 2026-1-31 Taiwan's exports of chips and electronics have been in high demand thanks to relentless appetite for AI, and front-loading to get ahead of tariffs.  Taiwan's economy grew at fastest pace in 15 years.
◆  Wall Street Journal, 2026-2-1 the recently inked U.S.-Taiwan “Silicon Pact” seeks to reshore advanced semiconductor manufacturing. By hardwiring the island's industrial ecosystem into the American economy,  U.S. officials say , the pact effectively converts Taiwan's high-end silicon output into an indispensable U.S. national security asset.
◆  Bloomberg, 2026-1-30 Taiwan's economy expanded at the fastest quarterly pace since 1987, propelled by unquenchable demand for the tech goods needed to develop AI.  Taiwan has remained one of the key beneficiaries of the tech boom.
◆  Seeking Alpha, 2026-1-28
◆  New York Times, 2026-1-24 Why should we care about Taiwan? More broadly, Taiwan manufactures most of the world's advanced chips, so a war there might trigger a prolonged global depression and deprive the U.S. economy and military of critical inputs.
◆  Irish Times, 2026-1-24 Taiwan has agreed to offer loan guarantees to TSMC to open more semiconductor factories in the US, a move that could undermine the island's so-called “silicon shield”; the more production is moved overseas, the less effective the silicon shield will become.◆  Reuters, US News & World Report, 2026-1-23: Taiwan Looks Forward to More Chip Investment in Arizona, President Says.
◆  CNBC, 2026-1-21 China has doubled down on its criticism of the trade deal between Taiwan and the U.S. agreed last week, criticizing the dealfor "hollowing out" the island's key industry; the Trump administration for "using Taiwan to contain China."
Experts have pointed out that the deal was unlikely to fully wean Washington off Taiwan's most advanced semiconductors anytime soon, as Taipei has stuck to its policy of keeping its most advanced technology at home.
◆  New York Times, 2026-1-21 Taiwan's $40 Billion Military Spending Plan Stalled by Political Impasse.  But president Lai Ching-te appears buoyed after Taiwan and Washington signed a framework agreement to reduce Mr. Trump's tariffs.  Washington may increase pressure on the opposition, aware that a public breach with the United States would be politically fraught for any party in Taiwan.   A political scientist in Taipei said that the opposition "cannot directly oppose the U.S.”
◆  Japan Times, 2026-1-22 With chips, investments and defense hikes Taiwan aims to appease Trump. Their ultimate impact on broader U.S.-China policy will be limited, observers say, especially given Washington's efforts to reset the rules of engagement with Beijing. An expert at the Asia Society Policy Institute's Center for China Analysis said “Trump is likely to prioritize broader U.S.-China relations over Taiwan-specific concerns” .
◆  Washington Post, 2026-1-20 Would Trump abandon Taiwan? The announcement of a U.S.-Taiwan trade agreement had a potentially ominous undercurrent.
◆  Anadolu Agency, 2026-1-20 US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland: "I would say that the single biggest threat to the world economy, the single biggest point of single failure, is that 97% of the high-end chips are made in Taiwan"; He described a potential blockade or destruction of the island's manufacturing capacity as an "economic apocalypse," emphasizing Washington's efforts to relocate semiconductor production to American soil.
◆  AFP, 2026-1-21 Taiwan's economy soared last year on skyrocketing exports of AI hardware and semiconductors, but companies in more traditional manufacturing sectors could only look on with envy as they were clobbered by US tariffs and a strong local currency.  15 percent was good news for traditional manufacturers, but it was not a panacea. 
A potential US Supreme Court ruling against Trump's power to apply levies could upend the agreement.  "If it's unconstitutional... the current negotiated result may need to be redone"
◆  China Daily, 2026-1-22 chairwoman of the KMT said forcing Taiwan's technology, talent, capital and economic foundations to move overseas constitutes a serious "security" crisis. Analysts on the island have also warned that large-scale investments in the US could trigger a sharp depreciation of Taiwan's currency, severely affecting demand-driven industries on the island.
◆  Global Times, 2026-1-21 China: So-called trade deal between US and Taiwan region would turn 'tech island' into 'hollow island'. The massive investment of $500 billion amounts to about 80 percent of Taiwan's foreign exchange reserves. US Commerce Secretary Lutnick claimed the deal is a "strategic imperative" for the Democratic Progressive Party authorities to maintain US favor, rather than a purely commercial transaction. The US goal, he claimed, is to shift 40 percent of Taiwan's entire semiconductor supply-chain capacity to the US during Trump's term. 
◆  Wall Street Journal, 2026-1-18 For years, executives at TSMC have been discussing the need to expand operations beyond its namesake island. Twin desires to be closer to major customers such as Nvidia and Apple and to mitigate the looming geopolitical risk of an invasion by China.
◆  Bloomberg, 2026-1-16 Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. will try to accelerate the transfer of its advanced chipmaking expertise to the US in the future, though it will still develop and maintain its most cutting-edge fabrication techniques at home.  Dating back to the Biden administration, US officials have also repeatedly demanded TSMC move its latest tech to America.  The CFO said that even with expedited transfers, it would still take at least a year for TSMC to bring the newest technology abroad for mass production.
◆  Yahoo Finance, 2026-1-16 Taiwan touts 'best tariff deal' with US amid Beijing's objections
◆  CGTN, 2026-1-16 China firmly opposes any countries it has diplomatic relations with from negotiating and signing agreements with its Taiwan region that carries sovereign implications and is of an official nature, Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.
◆  Wall Street Journal, 2026-1-16 Skeptics say TSMC still has most of its footprint in Taiwan and that the U.S. plants represent a long-planned move to reduce risk by building outside the island nation.  Creating a meaningful chunk of the global semiconductor supply chain in the U.S. would take decades and be costly.  Aanalysts say China wouldn't want to tank the global economy by attacking Taiwan and potentially disrupting TSMC's production of chips.  That supply also gives the U.S. incentive to protect Taiwan.
◆  CNBC, 2026-1-15 “That's what they (Taiwan) get if they don't build in America, the tariff's likely to be 100%”, Lutnick said that the government's objective was to bring 40% of Taiwan's semiconductor supply chain to the U.S.  The U.S. government has prioritized American production of leading-edge chips as the struggle for access to artificial intelligence semiconductors has become a key geopolitical matter.  There is substantial risk to the U.S. economy if China invades Taiwan and reduces access to TSMC chips.
◆  Reuters, 2026-1-16 Washington has grown increasingly impatient with its reliance on computer chips from abroad, especially an island in China's sights.  As it expands further, TSMC risks overspending on a high-flying industry, running into labor and skill shortages, navigating tricky politics around foreign worker immigration and shifting business away from Taiwan at a time of immense geopolitical vulnerability for the island.
◆  South China Morning Post, 2026-1-16 Lutnick warns Taipei to keep Trump ‘happy’ as US$500 billion chip deal draws China rebuke.  Trade official says island must stay in Trump's favour for protection.
◆  le Monde, 2026-1-16 The deal will need to be approved by Taiwan's opposition-controlled parliament where lawmakers have expressed concern about the potential for Taiwan to lose its chip dominance. Chairperson of the Kuomintang party which advocates closer ties with Beijing, criticized the deal, saying that investment risked "hollowing out" the island's economy
◆  New York Times, 2026-1-16 TSMC's commitment to spend $100 billion has stirred debate and misgivings in Taiwan, a democratically governed island where many people see the chip sector as a vital economic pillar and a shield against possible aggression by China.
◆  BBC, 2026-1-16 Taiwan has been wary of demands to transfer its expertise, seen by some as a safeguard against military action. 
◆  Bloomberg, 2026-1-16 The Commerce Department concluded an investigation that found chip imports harm US national security, but held off on imposing broader tariffs.  Lai Ching-te had indicated he supported Trump's goal of reindustrializing the US;  but Taipei had also pushed back on a request to move chip production to the US to cover half of America's demand.
◆  Reuters, 2026-1-16 Taiwan aims to become a close strategic partner with the United States in the area of artificial intelligence (AI) after striking a deal to cut tariffs and boost its investment in the country.
◆  Global Times, 2026-1-16 China's scholar said : Out of the political purpose to align itself with the US, the DPP authorities has agreed to transfer its most competitive chip industry to the US, making huge concessions that all the people on the island have to bear, Wang said, warning that this will deal a great blow on the island's economy in the upcoming five to 10 years;  the island has advantage in chipmaking and the Chinese mainland's tech firms are accelerating core technological breakthroughs, and such complementarity will unleash great development potential.
◆  NHK (Japan), 2026-1-16 Under the deal, Taiwanese chipmakers and other tech firms are to make new and direct investments totaling at least 250 billion dollars in the US. That's to expand production and innovation capacity of advanced chips, energy and AI. Taiwan's authorities will provide credit guarantees of at least 250 billion dollars.
◆  AFP, 2026-1-15 Taiwan's TSMC logs net profit jump on AI boom.  Taiwan has been under pressure to move more chip production to US soil. The US government launched investigations under Section 232 into semiconductors and chipmaking equipment last year.   The island still plans to keep making the "most advanced" chips on home ground, Taiwanese Deputy Foreign Minister F. Wu told AFP recently.
◆  Global Times, 2026-1-14 China: Taiwan's authorities treat the Island's core tech. advantages as a tribute to curry favor with external powers, 'kneeling before even starting negotiations' on tariffs, and 'offering the right cheek after slapping on the left' under economic coercion.
◆  The Nation, Feb. 2026 issue “As the DPP [Taiwan's ruling party] authorities are trying their best to pander to the United States and giving away TSMC submissively, the company has become a piece of tender meat on the chopping block,” said a Chinese government spokesperson.
The chip manufacturer has been hailed as Taiwan's “Silicon Shield” against geopolitical peril, but the best water from the region's reservoirs supplied the Science Park, (including TSMC). The residents' water, on the other hand, was sourced primarily from a nearby stream that had been plagued by pollution.
◆  New York Times, 2026-1-13 Trump administration nears trade deal with Taiwan.  The deal would reduce the U.S. tariff rate, to 15 percent, TSMC would also commit to building at least five more semiconductor facilities, or fabs, in Arizona, roughly doubling the number of plants it has in the state.  Relying on the island appears increasingly risky given Beijing's assertion that Taiwan belongs to China and should one day be brought under Chinese control.
◆  Bloomberg, 2026-1-13 Trump administration close to finalizing Taiwan trade pact.  Much remains uncertain about the benefits of a potential deal — and the possibility of quickly clinching it. The Supreme Court is set to rule on the legality of Trump's global tariffs... and it's unclear how quickly TSMC would be able to fulfill its commitment to drastically expand its US manufacturing presence. 
◆  Guru Focus, Yahoo Finance, 2026-1-14 the new plants could push incremental spending toward or beyond $100 billion, although the facilities would not be completed until the 2030s...  any agreement subject to legislative review.
◆  Wall Street Journal, 2026-1-13

TSMC is an important driver of Taiwan's economy; its production of chips has  helped deter  China from attacking the island.  Concerns about a possible invasion and scarce land and electricity have pushed TSMC to locate facilities abroad, in the U.S. and Japan...
Intel (US main hope in the sector) remains far from producing advanced AI chips used by leading companies.
◆  le Monde (France), 2026-1-13

Taiwan is a powerhouse in the manufacturing of semiconductor chips, which are the lifeblood of the global economy...Trump has previously accused Taiwan of stealing the US chip industry and his administration had made clear it wants more of the critical technology made on American soil.
◆  Chosun Daily (조선일보, S. Korea), 2026-1-13 Taiwan will pledge over $300 billion in direct investments to the U.S. This includes TSMC's previously announced $165 billion investment last year, with plans to expand further. Earlier, South Korea secured a 15% reciprocal tariff rate by committing $350 billion in U.S. investments, while Japan agreed to $550 billion.  The total amount and timeline of Taiwan's investments in the U.S. remain unspecified.
◆  Android Headlines, 2025-12-19 The US might not get TSMC's advanced chip supply chain despite huge investments.  Taiwan's regulations ensure that the most advanced chips remain produced domestically. This limits the US' access to cutting-edge nodes.   Most of TSMC's research staff and sensitive development work remain on the island and follow domestic regulations.
◆  Washington Post, 2025-12-12 “we worked so hard to build TSMC, and now you basically hand it away — this is extremely irresponsible [of Lai Ching-te, Taiwan's president]” KMT chair Cheng said. “If geopolitically you can't protect TSMC, then what is Taiwan's ‘silicon shield’?” she asked, referring to the theory that the island's chip prowess deters a Chinese attack.
The combination of tariffs, TSMC's move to the US and the Ukraine war “gives [anti-]U.S. skepticism more fuel to become a bonfire,” said a political scientist.
◆  New York Times, 2025-12-3 Taiwan's government is also navigating trade talks with the Trump administration, which has put a 20 percent tariff on the island's exports. A semiconductor powerhouse, Taiwan has sought to use its chip expertise as leverage in those negotiations. The Trump administration has said that the United States aims to manufacture 40 to 50 percent of all semiconductors globally in the next couple of years. That's an ambition that Mr. Lai said he was happy to support if it meant strengthening economic cooperation between the two sides. “President Trump wants the U.S. to become the world center for A.I., and we are willing to assist in this,” Taiwan's president Lai said.
◆  Reuters, 2025-12-1

Taiwan seeks tariffs cut to 15% in US trade deal. Taiwan has repeatedly said its offer to the US in talks has been the "Taiwan model", to help replicate the island's success in building tech clusters around dedicated science parks.

◆  National Public Radio (NPR), 2025-12-2

As political winds shift, top chipmaker TSMC looks beyond Taiwan.  TSMC's investments in U.S. stir 'silicon shield' security worries. TSMC: As its business abroad grows, the company will continue to invest in Taiwan, though, and keep some cutting edge technology and research here.
◆  Financial Times, 2025-11-28 Taiwan's economy roars ahead on back of AI demand; Although the macroeconomic outlook remains uncertain due to the US's tariff policies.  The electronics boom sharply contrasts with some parts of Taiwan's domestic economy and traditional industries. “The export momentum of certain traditional products continues to be constrained by global overcapacity”
◆  CNN, 2025-11-28 even as Taiwan's economy flourishes, driven by the outsized influence of its high-tech sector as exemplified by the world-beating chipmaker TSMC, many citizens have been unable to share in the boom, as income gaps widen and wages remain stagnant.  Taiwan's GDP per capita is forecast to outpace South Korea and Japan. But its average wage lags both countries by at least 30%.  The issue of wage stagnation in Taiwan, attributed the problem to long-term wage suppression — aimed at boosting export competitiveness.
◆  Reuters, 2025-11-26 Trump's administration is negotiating a deal that could commit Taiwan to fresh investment and training of U.S. workers in semiconductor manufacturing and other advanced industries.  The most advanced semiconductor technologies and research will remain on Taiwan; and the bulk of its production will remain in Taiwan.
◆  Bloomberg, 2025-11-24 The next a few months are critical for Taiwan's survival.

1.  Taiwan needs to seal a trade deal with the US to reduce the high tariffs; 2. Taiwan needs to pass a special defense budget which will help get defense spending upto about 5% of GDP by 2030.  If they can't Taiwan will get a crisis in US-Taiwan relationship just as China is ratcheting up the pressure.
◆  Tom's Hardware, 2025-11-21 Taiwan set to avoid 'punishing' 300% tariffs on semiconductor exports — new trade deal could spur $400 billion investment commitment from island nation.

Taiwan is also taking steps to develop a second “silicon shield.” —  “AI island” .  More importantly, Taiwan has restricted the export of TSMC's most advanced process technologies to help keep it secure — at least in the near future
◆  AOL, 2025-11-18 Trump says H-1B migrant workers are currently needed because Americans don't know how to make microchips.  We used to do it, and then foolishly, we lost that business to Taiwan, very, very foolishly. We are going to be in a period of a year, we're going to have a big portion of the chip market.
◆  Reuters, 2025-11-20 Taiwan is investigating a retired TSMC executive who may have taken the chipmaker's ‌advanced technology data to his new employer Intel.
◆  Reuters, 2025-11-14 The U.S. Treasury and Taiwan said they agreed to continue close consultations on macroeconomic and foreign exchange rate matters and both pledged to avoid manipulating the value of their currencies to gain a competitive advantage. 
◆  Economist, 2025-11-13  The island is envied for its manufacturing and exporting prowess, in chipmaking in particular. Taiwan's rise, and its astonishing current-account surplus (now at 16% of GDP, compared with a mere 3% for China), have been supported by its long-standing policy of keeping its currency weak. But while this has helped exporters, it makes imports more expensive and has deprived Taiwanese consumers of the fruits of growth. It is also storing up growing financial risks.
◆  Bloomberg, 2025-11-12 Taiwan doesn't want to weaponise semiconductors; But Taiwan said it is assessing the possibility of using chip export controls in its diplomatic efforts
◆  Reuters, 2025-11-10 Taiwan's chip industry strengthens Taiwan's defence in the face of threats, former Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen told the Berlin Freedom Conference.
◆  CNN, 2025-10-30 Taiwan is not willing to concede to the US across the board. The island vowed to resist pressure from Washington to shift half of its chip production capacity to the United States, throwing down the gauntlet to the Trump administration just earlier this month. The subject is expected to continue as an active piece of the ongoing trade talks between the US and Taiwan.
◆  Washington Examiner, 2025-10-29 Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company produces roughly 60% of global semiconductors and over 90% of the most advanced chips. A Beijing takeover would give China control of the global semiconductor supply chain, affecting industries from AI to satellites and weapons systems.
◆  Economist, 2025-10-23 Taiwan has a “silicon shield”: it is home to the world's biggest producer of the semiconductors that are used by  America's AI industry. Taiwan is confronting one of its deepest fears: what happens if America abandons it?   Trump hinted at that by suggesting that such a deal (US-China) would be “great for unification and peace”, and he asked TSMC to move much of its production to America.
◆  Politico, 2025-10-20 president Trump wouldn't say if the independence of Taiwan will be a bargaining chip in his discussions with Xi on a trade deal in their upcoming meeting.
◆  Financial Times, 2025-10-16 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...So that also creates divisions within Taiwan that are a little conducive to perceptions of continued American support.   ft.com/content/4a49b180-4208-49de-8c39-6de95cb4c91d
◆  CBC, Radio-Canada, 2025-10-17 Making microchips is likely not a particularly useful tool for coercion, say analysts, as Taiwan does not design or sell the chips it makes. Nor does Taiwan have the ability to project its financial system internationally and impose export controls on items in the same way that the United States or China can.  Taiwan should lean on diplomacy, rather than intimidation, to win more friends.
◆  Washington Examiner,  2025-10-8 Taiwan president Lai Ching-te said,“In trade negotiations, we must, of course, act in accordance with our national interests and the interests of our industries, while also safeguarding food security and the health of our people.”
◆  Bloomberg,  2025-10-1 Taiwan has pushed back on a US request to move chip production stateside to cover half of America's demand, underscoring the tensions complicating trade talks between the two sides.
◆  Wall Street Journal,  2025-10-1 Lombard Odier's expert said, 50-50 proposal requires the right combination of workforce, know-how and supply chain, and would take years.  If a 50-50 division is implemented, that would be the end of an efficient, but centralized global model of chip-making, ushering in a high-cost but resilient decentralized model, TIER's expert said.
◆  CNN,  2025-10-1 Taiwan has vowed to resist pressure from Washington to shift half of its chip production capacity to the United States, throwing down the gauntlet to the Trump administration. A legislator of the opposition party KMT, blasted the US demand as an “outright plunder”, urging the government to reject the demand that she said amounts to “selling out the nation.”“If the US forces a division of TSMC's most advanced production capacity, the effectiveness of the ‘Silicon Shield’ will be weakened, and Taiwan's strategic security leverage will be completely lost".
◆  CNBC,  2025-9-30 The Trump administration is pushing Taipei to shift investment and chip production to the U.S. so that half of America's chips are manufactured domestically, in a move that could have implications for Taiwan's national defense. Taiwan's critical position in global chips production is believed to have assured the island nation's defense against direct military action from China, often referred to as the "Silicon Shield" theory.  However, in his News Nation interview, Lutnick downplayed the "Silicon Shield," and argued that Taiwan would be safer with more balanced chip production between the U.S. and Taiwan.
◆  Benzinga,  2025-9-30 Trump and Lutnick demand: Half of America's chips must be made at home—Or Else—Taiwan will risk losing American defense guarantees.  Lutnick has argued that Taiwan's control over advanced semiconductor fabrication exposes the U.S. economy to crisis and leaves Taiwan's own "silicon shield" dangerously fragile if the U.S. cannot guarantee access to chips that are essential for military industrial power.
◆  Quartz, 2025-9-30 Bloomberg calls it “a radical shift for the global semiconductor industry.” Transplanting a dense, highly contingent and interlinked supply chain to the U.S. involves persuading dozens and dozens of component and materials suppliers to relocate, not just the fabrication facilities themselves. As industry experts acknowledge, semiconductors are among the most complicated supply chains on earth.  “Matching capacity of domestic chips with imports is a taller order than simply increasing domestic investments because overseas products are often cheaper, supply chains are difficult to tweak, and increasing U.S. supply takes time,” the WSJ reported.
◆  Bloomberg,  2025-9-29 Washington is demanding Taiwan move investment and chip production to the US so half of American demand is manufactured locally, outlining a radical shift for the global semiconductor industry
◆  arstechnica,  2025-9-29 The Trump administration is pressuring Taiwan to rapidly move 50 percent of its chip production into the US if it wants ensured protection against a threatened Chinese invasion.
◆ cryptopolitan,  2025-9-29 US pressures Taiwan to shift chip production amid push for 50% domestic supply.
◆  Tom's Hardware,  2025-9-28 US-Taiwan tariff deal coming soon — goal is to have 40% of chips made in America.  Taiwan's government has already signaled resistance to transferring its most advanced technology abroad, saying that it will ensure TSMC will “keep its most advanced manufacturing processes in Taiwan” under the proposed N-1 policy. 
◆  Bloomberg,  2025-9-25 Taiwan weaponizes chip sector to deter China on world stage. “By utilizing Taiwan's position in the global chip supply chain, this looks like Taipei's attempt at building an autonomous deterrent on the world stage,” said a fellow at the Atlantic Council. “Going forward, other governments will be looking at this example and considering not only Taiwan's carrots but also its potential sticks.”
◆  Tom's Hardware,  2025-9-26 U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox Business that he urged urgent action to distribute chip production across multiple friendly regions ( such as Japan or even nations in the Middle East.) to avoid a catastrophic collapse if disruptions occur.  the current U.S. government seems to believe that encouraging chipmakers with a stick — such as a 100% import tariff, or the recently discussed 1:1 policy — is more efficient than Biden's encouragement using the CHIPS Act grants as a carrot.
◆  New York Times,  2025-9-22 Taiwan has long been the top provider of screws to the US. But Taiwan's screw makers are facing a "triple challenge" of competition from China, Mr. Trump's tariff, and an appreciating currency, a lawmaker said.
◆  Foreign Affairs,  2025-9-22 Even with major investments in plants in Germany, Japan, and the United States, TSMC's facilities in Taiwan still produce between 80 and 90 percent of the company's total chip output. There simply is no alternative anywhere in the world to the leading-edge chips that Taiwan's top companies produce.
◆  le Monde , France, 2025-9-18 A burst in the AI bubble could quickly deflate Taiwan's growth. That is why having a diversified economy is crucial. Taiwan's indicators showed that in nineteen out of the twenty-one manufacturing sectors in Taiwan, activity was down due to higher US tariffs and the overvalued Taiwanese dollar.  lemonde.fr/en/opinion/article/2025/09/18/want-to-know-how-the-global-tech-industry-is-doing-follow-taiwan-s-gdp_6745507_23.html
◆  National Interest, 2025-9-16 What does Taiwan offer that would compel the United States and its allies to intervene in a crisis across the Strait? One potential answer lies in Taiwan's core position in the semiconductor industry, specifically its ability to fabricate artificial intelligence (AI) chips—drivers of economic growth and military strength. Taiwan should not give up its most advanced chip fabrication facilities.
◆  Taipei Times, 2025-9-21 Trump has repeatedly shifted positions, demanded sky-high concessions, and renegotiated after agreements — ranging from stacking reciprocal tariffs to the unsettled scope of Section 232 duties — while pressing global semiconductor industries to invest trillions of dollars in the US. For Taiwan, merely reacting to these moves would leave us boxed in
◆  Bloomberg, 2025-9-11 Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick signals optimism on trade with Taiwan.
◆  Washington Examiner, 2025-9-10 As world leaders line up to negotiate trade policy face-to-face with President Donald Trump, Taiwan's diplomats yearn for direct talks with Trump amid tariff negotiations; but the U.S. government's One-China policy means any formal meeting with Taiwan is virtually impossible.
◆  BBC, 2025-9-4 Beijing's military parade comes at a time when Xi seeks to project Beijing's power on the international stage - not just as the world's second-largest economy, but also as a counterweight to the United States as Trump's tariffs rock the global economic and political order.
◆  Reuters, 2025-9-3 Designed to project China's military might and diplomatic clout, it also comes as U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs and volatile policymaking strain its relations with allies and rivals alike.  "Today, mankind is faced with the choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, win-win or zero-sum," Xi said in Beijing's parade speech.
◆   Fox Business,  2025-8-27 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent:  We've ended up with is 99% of the advanced chips in the world are manufactured on the island of Taiwan. That's a national security risk like we haven't seen since the Arab oil embargo. We just have to de-risk several aspects of the U.S. economy.   Trump is very solution-oriented. It’s inconceivable to me that administration after administration has just let these strategic risks sit around. President Trump believes that if we leave office in January of 2029 and we have not de-risked the U.S. economy, then we will have failed, and we're not going to fail.
◆   Foreign Policy,  2025-8-21 Trump Might Sell Out Taiwan—Taiwan could help ensure continued U.S. support with increased investment in the United States, particularly by TSMC, the world's top chipmaker...and would be to increase spending on defense, as Lai has pledged to do, to over 3 percent of GDP
◆   Barron's,  2025-8-22 TSMC Won't Be Forced to Give a Stake to the U.S.
The U.S. government taking a stake in the company would have been controversial for the company's Taiwanese shareholders and the self-ruled island's politicians, who are seeking to ensure it doesn't transfer its most advanced technology abroad.
◆   Wall Street Journal,  2025-8-22 TSMC considers returning US subsidies if the Donald Trump administration seeks equity in the chipmaker
◆   Economist,  2025-8-21 Attempts to entice and bully tsmc to manufacture more chips outside Taiwan happen to align with the company's thinking. Increasingly, the firm seems too large for its island home.
◆   Hudson Institute,  2025-8-14 Taiwan's 20 percent reciprocal tariff rate for exports to the United States puts it at a slight cost disadvantage to neighboring countries such as Japan and South Korea. However, over 60 percent of Taiwan’s imports—such as smart phones and data processors—are currently exempt from tariffs. Despite suffering a higher tariff rate, the Lai Administration has not publicly committed to reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers for US exports, unlike other governments. Whether Taiwan can negotiate for a lower rate will become even more complicated as the US deficit with Taiwan continues to grow

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pic. : No.1  "review Taiwan" on US Yahoo, 2025-9-20, 2025-8-31, 2025-8-16,  2025-1-1, 2024-12-31, 2022-2-22, 2021-11-12

　


　

　

China - Taiwan  War
◆  BBC, 2025-12-29 China to hold military drills around Taiwan as warning to 'separatist forces'. The drills come days after the US announced the sale of one of its largest weapons packages to Taiwan; Taiwan's push to ramp up its defence this year has also angered Beijing.
◆  Reuters, 2025-12-29 The Chinese military released posters, one among them shows flaming arrows raining down on Taiwan and spearing green cartoon bugs. Beijing regularly calls Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te a "parasite"   .
◆  Bloomberg, 2025-12-19 China points to risk of clash with US after Taiwan arms package.
◆  Newsweek, 2025-12-19 Taiwan's top security agency disclosed Japan and the Philippines, two U.S.-aligned neighbors of China, have or plan to deploy anti-ship missiles on China's doorstep .
◆  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 China's missile surge puts every US base in the Pacific at risk — and the window to respond is closing. They have the capability to shoot those across the first and increasingly the second island chains.  military experts show a contest defined not by tanks or troop movements, but by missile ranges, base access and whether U.S. forces can survive the opening salvos of a war
◆  War on the Rocks, 2025-12-12 A recent Department of Defense wargame simulated a hypothetical 2034 conflict scenario : the People's Liberation Army invaded the Philippines after a hypothetical victory in Taiwan two years earlier, prompting an American-led Blue force response. Despite having significant air and maritime assets, Blue was decisively defeated by the PLA.  The operational atrophy witnessed in the wargame is symptomatic of broader challenges facing joint force planners and commanders today.
◆  Council on Foreign Relations, 2025-12-11 Taiwan is the most dangerous flashpoint in the world. No other plausible source of great power war comes close to manifesting the same combination of risk factors as Taiwan.  and, perhaps most significantly, its growing impatience with the trajectory of cross-strait relations.
◆  New York Times, 2025-11-13 Japanese PM Ms. Takaichi'  comment broke with previous policy of avoiding any explicit mention of Taiwan in the context of “survival-threatening situations.”China says Japan repeated use of “the so-called ‘crisis of survival’ as a pretext to launch foreign aggression.
◆  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.”
◆  LA Times, 2025-11-10 Japan was involved in a war of words with China after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said a Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute “a survival-threatening situation" for Japan requiring the use of force.
◆  National Interest, 2025-11-5 Taiwan's east coast defense strategy is void. And control of Taiwan's east coast affects how maritime and air forces (belonging to China, Taiwan, and other allied states) can operate in the Western Pacific.
◆  Fox News, 2025-10-27 Taiwan expects the PLA to continue its campaign of "hybrid warfare" or "gray-zone operations," a mix of nonmilitary and paramilitary actions designed to pressure and harass Taiwan without formally declaring war. He warned that the PLA seeks to "exhaust [Taiwan's] defense capability and blur the battlespace."
◆ Washington Examiner, 2025-10-8 China says Taiwan president is 'prostituting' himself, after Lai said Trump should get the Nobel Peace Prize if he could convince Chinese President Xi Jinping to abandon use of force against Taiwan. Such forceful and descriptive language is rarely seen in official Chinese Communist Party communications, suggesting that Lai's catering to Washington has touched a nerve.
◆ War on the Rocks, 2025-10-7  the exercise's most plausible hypothetical scenario. China launches precision strikes against Taiwan’s military infrastructure while simultaneously offering generous surrender terms: local autonomy, preservation of democratic institutions, and minimal mainland administrative presence. The message to Taipei is clear: accept reunification on favorable terms or face devastation. The message to Washington and the American public is equally clear: this is a Chinese civil matter, not worth American lives.
◆ New York Times, 2025-9-29 “If there is a Taiwan conflict, particularly if there's some level of U.S. involvement or the threat of U.S. involvement, then from the start it has a nuclear dimension,” said a senior fellow with the Stimson Center
◆ L.A. Times, 2025-9-29 China's “operational challenge” in Taiwan would be: suppress Taiwan's air defenses and land sufficient troops and equipment to be able to build up a force to defeat the Taiwanese military before it mobilizes.   China could do that by airdropping armored vehicles on golf courses near Taiwanese ports and airfields which could allow air troops to clear a path for landing forces
◆ 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"
◆ Foreign Affairs, 2025-9-12 Even if China avoids a war of choice, a miscalculation could spark a war of chance. Careful coordination could prevent one in the Taiwan Strait.
◆  Monocle (UK), 2025-9-11 Deterrence will depend on more than slogans; it will require pay that competes, training that produces capable forces and a broader recruiting base that includes women and specialists.
◆  The Conversation, 2025-9-10 The Chinese military parade that had the world talking last week was more than just pageantry. It was a declaration that Chinese leader Xi Jinping sees himself in a race against time to secure his place in history.  Unification with Taiwan is not just a policy aim; it is the crown jewel that would elevate him above Mao Zedong and cement his reputation as the greatest leader in modern Chinese history.
◆  The Diplomat, 2025-9-6 Washington has made clear that deterrence depends not only on U.S. commitments but also on Taiwan's own readiness. For U.S. policymakers, Taiwan cannot remain passive or ambiguous;  If Lai pushes too openly for reform and mobilization, he risks triggering public anxiety, economic disruption, and further political erosion.
◆ 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.
◆ TIME, 2025-9-4 The military parade, while ostensibly meant to honor military efforts and veterans in WWII, will certainly showcase China's military modernization and is meant as a display of Chinese power and strength, to both the U.S. and the West...
◆  The Associated Press, 2025-9-3 “The lack of public reaction to China's display of military might reflects both the limits of Beijing's intimidation campaign against Taiwan and the longstanding concern of Taiwanese people becoming desensitized by the constant military threat posed by China,” said a senior analyst for the International Crisis Group.
◆  BBC, 2025-8-26 [Citizens] have to acknowledge that China is a threat to Taiwan, and can use force, and that it is currently preparing to do so.  And so national security officials and the military must first prepare for this.
◆  SKY News, Australia, 2025-8-26 Relations with China continue to be rocky, with official communication non-existent... the public has increasingly become less enthusiastic and more apprehensive about the government's stances. There are signs that younger Taiwanese people are becoming more open to mainland Chinese culture and apps.
◆  Financial Times, 2025-8-22 Taiwan raises defence spending by 23% under US pressure to counter China
◆   InkStick,  2025-8-20 Taiwanese service members in uniform are not adequately prepared for a war with China.  Basic training is minimal, with draftees firing less than 100 rounds, as compared to  600  fired in the US Army's basic combat training. "compulsory military service in Taiwan was like summer camp". In wartime, many conscripts say they’ll be “cannon fodder.”
◆  WSJ, Bloomberg, CNN, NY Post, 2025-8-16 President Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping assured him the People's Republic will not invade Taiwan while Trump is in office.
◆  Quincy Institute, 2025-8-14 While Taiwan is a U.S. interest to a sufficient degree to merit security assistance, it is not a vital U.S. interest that warrants a war with China.
◆  Foundation for Defense of Democracies  , 2025-8-11 Ukraine shows that energy is one of the fastest ways to undermine a country's will.  Chinese attempt to throttle Taiwan's energy supply chain could still bring Taiwan to its knees.  China can leverage its maritime dominance, its legal warfare and cyber tools to choke supply...
◆ BBC, 2025-8-6 China said Taiwanese TV show <Zero Day Attack> was "plunging Taiwan into the flames of war and using the Taiwan people as cannon fodder for 'Taiwan independence'." KMT lawmaker criticised the show as "selling dried mangoes", a Taiwanese euphemism that means stoking unnecessary fear about the destruction of one's country.
◆ 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.
◆ USNI News 2025-7-29 Report to Congress on Taiwan Defense, Military Issues:  the PLA is, or soon would be, able to execute a range of military campaigns against Taiwan, including missile strikes, seizures of Taiwan's small outlying islands, blockades, and—what would be the riskiest and most challenging campaign for the PLA—an amphibious landing and takeover of Taiwan's main island.
◆  Sky News, Australia, 2025-7-31 Taiwan deputy foreign minister: alone, Taiwan can never be ready ! "It's not possible, China is so big, so huge."
◆  The Telegraph, 2025-7-28 Britain 'ready to fight' over Taiwan, Defence Secretary suggests; Mr Healey, however, said he was speaking in “general terms”
◆  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
◆  Washington Post, 2025-7-23 The biggest danger might not be a “bolt out of the blue” attack but slow strangulation through a blockade, customs controls or other nonmilitary means  — which might force the United States to act and begin a cycle of escalation.  The rough consensus was that the United States should seek a combination of “reassurance and deterrence” with China
◆  BBC, 2025-7-17 While US officials have warned of an imminent threat from China, INDSR poll found that more than 60% of Taiwanese do not believe China will invade in the next five years.  "There is just too big a difference in the strengths of China and Taiwan's militaries,"  said a citizen, "There is no use defending ourselves against an attack."
◆ Spectator (since 1828), 2025-7-19 Beijing has less risky possible strategies that are more obviously within its capabilities. One is a sudden lightning assault on the Taiwanese government. Another would be an escalation of the kind of ‘grey zone’ tactics –drills seemed to have practised how Taiwan would respond to Chinese vessels intruding its territorial watersspectator.com.au/2025/07/is-taiwan-ready-for-an-attack-by-china/  
◆  Financial Times, 2025-7-15 experts said Taiwan's military would struggle to shake off a tradition of centralised command. “Decentralisation is a difficult thing for our armed forces”
◆  Reuters, 2025-7-17 China-linked hackers target Taiwan's chip industry with increasing attacks, researchers say
◆  iNews UK, 2025-7-15 expert at the London think-tank Chatham House said a two-front war co-ordinated between China and Russia “would be a world war", “It would risk nuclear Armageddon. Instead, in the event of a Taiwan conflict China would seek to avoid escalation beyond the region as far as possible, and likely only act once confident that the US would not intervene.”
◆  Fox News, 2025-7-15 Pentagon presses Japan, Australia on role in possible Taiwan conflict. Australia responded by stressing it would not commit troops in advance of any conflict. 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.
◆   the nightly, Australia, 2025-7-14 One military affairs expert of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, has put the odds of a war at 50 per cent in the next five years.
◆  Financial Times, 2025-7-12 Trump administration raises eyebrows by calling for commitments from Australia and Japan, that has frustrated the two most important American allies in the Indo-Pacific.  “President Trump has not committed to defend Taiwan, so it is unrealistic for the US to insist on clear commitments from others.”
◆  Council on Foreign Relations, 2025-7-8 A U.S. official remarked that the PLA Navy and China's Coast Guard maintain a constant presence of approximately a dozen ships surrounding Taiwan, and that the PLA Navy could “move into a blockade posture . . . in a matter of hours.” The presence of Chinese warships and aircraft carriers in the waters around Taiwan is such that a full-scale Chinese air assault against Taiwan would also be possible without warning.
◆   New York Times,  2025-7-7 The close ties between the two economies have been seen in Taiwan as a deterrent against China's aggression, and a way for China to exert its influence over the island. The coupling cuts both ways.
◆  New York Times, 2025-6-30 Taiwan's president takes on China in speaking tour, critics say he is stoking divisions, and risking blowback from Beijing. “He is trying to fire up his base of support as much as possible in order to ensure the recalls are successful,” said Lev Nachman, a political scientist at NTU.  “Lai's only weapon is his microphone. He is unable to pass policy, and the policy changes he can make are all very limited".
◆  New York Times, 2025-6-26 Trump's attacking Iran introduces another complication for China's leaders trying to fathom how he might handle conflict over Taiwan. A senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security says : “The U.S. couldn't just swoop in there with an exquisite capability and launch a limited number of strikes and win” .
◆  CNN, 2025-6-22 Retraining and equipping existing reservists to operate asymmetric platforms like drones and anti-air missiles will have an outsized impact on Taiwan's ability to deter conflict.
◆  Reuters, 2025-6-17 Taiwan completes first sea trial for domestically made submarine; 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.  young conscripts in Taiwan refer to themselves as “cannon fodder,” it signals a crisis in trust that the government ...that equipment and instructor shortages have delayed plans to improve training for reserves. In 2024, only 6% of conscripts eligible for the one-year military service chose to enlist yahoo.com/news/taiwan-military-reform-failing-where-225030579.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall
◆  Economist, 2025-6-10 When Mr Trump scorns Ukraine as a small country that foolishly imagines it can defy a larger neighbour, Taiwanese hear echoes of their own plight.  
◆  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.
◆  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.
◆  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.
◆◆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/
◆◆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.
◆◆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
◆  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. Washington should also highlight the aspects of Taiwan's military capacity that are linked to the United States, reassuring Beijing that the island cannot act alone.
◆  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.
◆  PBS,   2025-5-20 Michael Swaine (Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft): 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.
◆◆Newsweek, 2025-5-17 the former commander of the U.S. Army Pacific, told lawmakers that "the threat of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is no longer distant or theoretical."
◆◆Foreign Affairs, 2025-5-15 China's perception that Trump is not altogether willing to defend Taiwan may lead Beijing to consider still more escalatory actions against the island.  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.
◆◆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... This could thin out Taiwan's defenses and make it harder to defend all the different places...
◆◆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...
◆◆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.  Polls show that scarcely more than one-third of Americans would favor going to war for Taiwan. Taiwan must  not assume the US will fight World War III on its behalf.
◆◆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
◆◆Deutsche Welle (DW), 2025-5-5 Energy would be Beijing's first target in case of a blockade or invasion. The water supply is powered by electricity,  communication is based on electricity and the military would not be able to function without it.
◆◆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.

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a divided, fractured Taiwan ♣ unprecedented recall effort in Taiwan's democratic history - failed
◆  Asia Times, 2026-1-29 “The DPP frames its political tactics vis-à-vis rival parties as the resistance movement against the Chinese external enemy,” wrote Versaffsungblog, a Berlin-based legal and political journal. “The KMT strategizes its position as the resistance movement against the indigenous (Taiwanese) usurper of the (China-based) constitutional identity”
◆  Politico, 2025-12-19 US Weapons on offer, but Taiwan can't pay.  Hammond-Chambers said there's been “plenty of discussion behind the scenes” between relevant DPP and KMT lawmakers. Taiwan's diplomatic outpost in Washington declined to comment on the squabble.
◆  Bloomberg, 2025-12-16 Taiwan reels from political faceoff between president, opponents.  Taiwan government refuses to sign off a legal amendment passed by the Kuomintang-led opposition, which reduces the share of tax revenue allocated to the central government by directing it instead to cities and counties,  many of which are under the control of the Beijing-friendly Kuomintang (KMT) .  KMT said that, under the constitution, the premier has no authority to protest or refuse to execute laws passed by the legislature. It added that Taiwan is now entering a “constitutional crisis” and “moving toward authoritarianism and dictatorship.
◆  Reuters, 2025-12-16 Taiwan's global credibility on the line with disputed laws, which granted more funds to local governments, "We cannot allow flawed laws to weaken Taiwan's competitiveness" president says.  The opposition has slammed him for ignoring the will of the people, " the government is acting dictatorially by refusing to enact the legislation and is trampling on the rule of law". "ordinary citizens got was more of the same low-level tactics: spreading rumours, making baseless accusations, and resorting to emotional blackmail and divisive tactics".
◆  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.
◆   AFP, 2025-11-1 Taiwan's new opposition (KMT) leader said "Taiwan isn't an ATM -- we really don't have that much money" ,  "We certainly have the determination to defend Taiwan, but it's not a blank cheque. " Taiwan president Lai Ching-te aims to boost defence spending to more than three percent of GDP next year and five percent by 2030.
◆   AP News, 2025-10-19 Taiwan's main opposition Nationalist Party chose a former lawmaker as its new chairperson in a competitive election clouded by allegations of China's meddling.   Cheng Li-wun said:“We must not let Taiwan become a troublemaker. Second, we must not let Taiwan become the sacrifice of geopolitics”.
The Nationalists, also known as the KMT, maintain strong political influence in Taiwan
◆   SKY News, Australia, 2025-8-26 the DPP's attempt to ramp up distrust of China has backfired in recent local and national elections.  The DPP has even tried to hit back at criticism of Taiwan’s reliance on the US by framing this as “US scepticism” and Chinese disinformatioThis is inaccurate and insulting to the Taiwanese.
◆   Washington Post,  2025-8-23 Opposition lawmakers in Taiwan have survived recall votes, while a referendum to bring back nuclear power has failed.
◆   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
◆  Foreign Affairs, 2025-8-1 a fundamental challenge in Taiwan's politics: deep polarization. The divide over China has fueled polarization in Taiwan for decades. But it has grown worse over the last several years.
◆  Brookings, 2025-8-1 what lessons Beijing will draw from the recall campaign presently is unknowable. 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.
◆  Bloomberg, 2025-7-28 Failed bid to oust Taiwan opposition gives China new leverage; the opposition keeps its veto power over the president's key initiatives including his target of raising defense spending to over 3 per cent of GDP.
the campaign's central theme – protecting Taiwan from China and communism – failed to resonate with most voters, who he said are more concerned about livelihood and economic issues.
◆  TIME, 2025-7-29 President William Lai's administration is engaged in recalls against opposition lawmakers, in a move widely seen as trying to gain more power.
◆  The New York Times, 2025-7-25 No national-level legislatures worldwide have faced a recall effort as extensive as Taiwan's.  Widespread rejection of the recalls could hint at tepid support for Mr. Lai's party ahead of local and presidential elections, experts say.
◆  The Guardian, 2025-7-23 The campaign has set off a political storm across Taiwan, with arrests, assaults, and accusations of authoritarianism and collaboration, fuelling the island's already deep political divisions.  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 Independent, 2025-7-23 the recallers accuse the KMT lawmakers of acting in line with China's interests and describe their campaign as an “anti-communist” movement.  The KMT denies having a pro-China stance, maintaining that it's exercising its constitutional duty to scrutinise government policy and curb waste.
◆  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.  "The DPP uses its overwhelming propaganda network to bring up a sense of fear (about China) in Taiwan society," said Huang Kwei-bo, a professor at Taipei's National Chengchi University.
◆  The Jamestown Foundation, 2025-7-7 In a historic first for any democracy at the national level, mass recall campaigns in Taiwan are seeking to overturn the opposition's legislative majority that was elected in 2024. Beijing would prefer the recalls to fail, while Washington would find a DPP-dominated legislature easier to work with.
◆  ekathimerini (Greece), 2025-7-3  Lai's remarks are designed to whip up nationalist fervor and paint the KMT, which advocates for more conciliatory policies toward Beijing, as a fifth column working against Taiwan's best interests.
◆◆Financial Times, 2025-6-20 Taiwan recall votes threaten to upend opposition grip on parliament.  Possible removal of up to 24 KMT legislators could open way for ruling DPP to strengthen defences against China ... The DPP has portrayed the mass recall campaign as a fight against politicians undermining Taiwan’s security from within.
◆◆Wall Street Journal, 2025- 6-9 Taiwan has embarked on a mission to purge any allies of Beijing from its civil service in an escalating battle against China's influence
◆◆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.
◆◆Bloomberg, 2025-5-20  Lai's tougher stance may give Beijing more pretext to ramp up pressure on Taiwan. Nearly half of respondents think Taiwan is heading in the wrong direction, and Lai's approval rating has slipped to 32% — his lowest since taking office a year ago.  Taiwan risks chipping away at its own civil liberties... Lai's policy may result in a tightening of free speech under the guise of national security ... it causes a kind of chilling effect —  a form of self censorship. msn.com/en-us/news/world/taiwan-s-lai-toughens-china-stance-stoking-debate-on-democracy/ar-AA1F3Xlz?ocid=BingNewsVerp
◆◆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/
◆◆Brookings, 2025-5-12 Taiwan's political system is in turmoil. Lai Ching-te's approval ratings have dropped. So, too, has public sentiment on Taiwan's future. Economist: about 30% say Taiwan will end up ‘being unified by mainland China’, 8% more than in 2020.
◆  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.
◆  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 already lost its China spy war
◆◆Washington Post, 2025-9-29 Beijing would give its “top intelligence priority” to organized-crime-linked groups given its numerous “more trusted and controllable” assets on Taiwan.  Behind Taiwan's ‘unification’ party, Chinese espionage — and a criminal gang.
◆◆Inkstick, 2025-8-20 Senior Taiwan intelligence officials have estimated that China has “5,000 spies” on the island, integrated into all key government and military institutions, and recent cases include penetration of President Lai's personal security detail.
◆◆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. strategypage.com/qnd/china/articles/2025072005732.aspx#gsc.tab=0
◆◆Strategist (Australia), 2025-7-21 The activation of a fifth column to incite civil unrest across Taiwan could be highly effective. It could debilitate Taipei's ability to govern and maintain stability, potentially by exploiting existing fault lines in Taiwanese politics. This could provide Beijing with a pretext to deploy what it might call stabilisation forces. A fifth column could plausibly target critical infrastructure, disrupting power grids, railways, air traffic control and water treatment facilities. Bomb threats, arson attacks and incitement of riots would further destabilise society. Combined with Beijing's formidable cyber capabilities, China could sow chaos and division
◆◆Eurasian Times, 2025-7-5 Recent cases suggest that Taiwan's most sensitive political circles are now within Beijing's reach.  “China is not only bribing retired and active military officers to leak intelligence,” President Lai warned, “but even supporting the creation of armed cells willing to turn against their own nation."
◆◆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, 2025-3-28 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.

　

“Zero Day”-  What if China invaded Taiwan? This TV drama paints a visceral picture
◆  Washington Post, , 2025-8-23  “Zero Day Attack” has gotten mixed reviews online. Some have lauded the show for its realistic depictions of how a war could play out. Others have said its creators didn't go far enough.
◆  The Guardian, 2025-6-1 A new Taiwanese TV drama, Zero Day, depicts the frightful impact of an invasion on an unprepared nation.
◆  Wall Street Journal, 2025-5-15 Is ‘Zero Day’ a Preview of Taiwan's Future? A Taiwanese realization:   if we don't do something more for this country, we will not retain our democracy and our freedom.” Watching “Zero Day” may unsettle Taiwanese viewers enough to draw the same conclusion—and to act on it.
◆ Financial Review, Australia, 2025-5-14 Zero Day addresses the issue of divided loyalties in Taiwan head-on. It features portraits of people whose first instinct is to surrender, while others flee and some collaborate with the invaders.
◆ AFP, Eurasian Times, 2025-5-13 Zero Day! Taiwanese War Drama ‘Wake-Up Call’ To Chinese Invasion Threat As Next Battlefield Could Be Taiwan Strait.  Taiwan would be outgunned in any conflict with China and would need the United States and other countries to come to its defence.
◆  Washington Post, Star and Strips, 2024-8-4 the “Zero Day” show's bleak assessment of Taiwanese readiness to fight touches upon a very real problem facing President Lai Ching-te,  new programs have continued to face shortages of funding, instructors and equipment .

　

The Beiping model: coercion without violence
◆  TIME, 2025-7-29  On Taiwan, China just has to win the psychological war. And for that, it just needs the West to carry on ripping itself apart
◆  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 Han Kuang exercise, the largest and longest one so far
◆ Asia Times, 2025-7-23 Critics pointed to weaknesses in logistics, communication, and execution—saying that appearances had improved, but fundamentals remained shaky. The US says it stands with Taiwan, but the real structure to fight together still doesn't exist.
◆ Spectator (since 1828), 2025-7-19 A full-scale invasion is the most extreme scenario the drills covered. This starts with defending possible landing beaches, but also other scenarios like protecting the main international airport and key bridges on the approach to Taipei.
◆ Financial Times, 2025-7-15 Taiwan's armed forces have taken the annual Han Kuang training exercise to civilians' doorsteps. At least three accidents involving military vehicles highlighted the complexity of Taiwan's urban terrain. “It would be a nightmare for an attacker,”“It really is very defensible"
◆ The War Zone, 2025-7-14 Taiwanese troops train to use subway to their advantage during Chinese invasion of Taipei. Camouflage, concealment, and deception tactics are already aspects of Taiwanese training for urban warfare. In addition to being transit nodes, Taipei Metro stations might be convertible to other uses, including acting as command posts or field hospitals.
◆ Reuters, 2025-7-9 The exercises start with simulated attacks on its command systems and infrastructure ahead of a Chinese invasion, and will focus on testing how Taiwan's military can decentralise command in the event of a crippling communications attack.  We are learning from the situation in Ukraine ...   Cyber attacks and misinformation campaigns are seen by Taiwan as high-intensity "grey zone" actions that are likely to precede a broader Chinese assault.
◆ BBC, 2025-7-9

Like last year, the drills will be unscripted to test troops' response to a surprise attack. This change appears to have been made in response to criticism over the years  that previous drills appeared to be more of a public relations exercise instead of an actual military exercise.  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.
◆ AFP, 2025-7-9 Twenty-two thousand reservists -- the largest ever call-up -- are participating in this year's drills.  Commanders at all levels need to be able to decide what to do based on their understanding of their superior's intent.
◆ 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.  Some of Taiwan's most sophisticated technology will also be on display, including the US Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (Himars), TOW 2B anti-tank missiles, new unmanned aviation vehicles (UAVs), and a domestically built version of the Sky Sword II missile. But 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.  A particular focus during the first three days will be on the potential for Chinese forces to escalate gray zone activities into an invasion, it will enter the "full-scale combat" phase July 13-18, drills focused on protracted warfare will round out the final three days.
What did China say ?

 ♦ Reuters, 2025-7-9: Taiwan's "attempt to seek independence through force or relying on foreign (actors) will never succeed". Taiwan's Han Kuang military exercises were "nothing but a bluff". "No matter what weapons are used, Taiwan can't resist China's sharp sword against independence" .
 ♦ AFP, 2025-7-9: China specialists at risk analysis firm Eurasia Group said Beijing was "likely" to carry out more military exercises at the end of July.
 ♦ Newsweek 2025-7-10: the Democratic Progressive Party-led government attempts to "tie the Taiwan people to the chariot of Taiwan independence."   This would be a "dead end" that would lead to Taiwan's destruction,  vowing that those efforts "will not be able to stop the general historical trend of the inevitable reunification of the motherland."

　

　

China-Taiwan war (2)
◆◆Brookings, 2025-4-25 Only 37.5% of respondents in Taiwan believed in March 2025 that it is “likely” or “very likely” that the United States would intervene in a military conflict. Across almost all measures on the survey, 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.
◆◆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 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”.
◆◆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 “We are moving toward conflict escalation with China, that's for sure,” said a professor at National Chengchi University.
◆◆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.
　
◆◆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.
◆  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"
◆  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.
◆   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.
◆   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.
◆   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. 
◆   The Hill, 2025-1-7 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.
◆   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.
◆  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 Post,   2025-1-1 Xi's New Year speech:  "No one can sever our blood ties, and no one can stop the historical trend of the reunification of the motherland!"
◆  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. The sooner the war in Ukraine ends, the sooner American forces can rearm in the Pacific. 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.
◆  New York Times,   2024-12-31 Without a plan, a Taiwan crisis risks undermining the foundations of American prosperity and security. As a report from a House panel concluded last year: "The United States lacks a contingency plan for the economic and financial impacts of conflict" with China.  Imposing sweeping sanctions on China would undermine the international economic system that the United States is uniquely positioned to protect.
◆   USNI News, 2024-12-19 The Pentagon's report recognizes that China has “both the will and capability to alter the international order in its favor”;  but 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".
◆   VOX, 2024-12-16 a majority of Taiwanese and US national security experts do not believe China currently has the capability to carry out an amphibious invasion of Taiwan, most do believe China could currently enact either a blockade or a quarantine of the island. And such an operation may prove just as effective while carrying far less risk for Beijing.
◆   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)
◆   Brookings,  2025-8-11  the US would impose a 20% tariff on imports from Taiwan—higher than Japan or South Korea (both at 15%). The administration also floated a proposal to tax semiconductors—Taiwan's most important export—at 100%. The suggestion that semiconductor firms that build manufacturing plants in the United States might be excused from the tax helped lift the value of TSMC stock, but it did little to calm fears in Taiwan.
◆   New York Times,  2025-8-8 The 20 percent  tariffs on Taiwan, add to the mounting political and economic pressure facing Taiwan's president. Lai Ching-te is facing an intensifying confrontation with opposition lawmakers able to effectively stymie his policies. And Taiwan's currency has appreciated sharply this year against the U.S. dollar — a hindrance for an economy so heavily dependent on exports.
◆   Chicago Tribune,  2025-8-5 While it's likely Washington and Taipei will eventually strike an agreement lessening the tariff rate, it's going to take significant concessions on the Taiwanese side to move past the finish line.  Even then, it might not mollify Trump; whenever he talks about Taiwan, Trump never ceases to remind people about how the island “stole” America's chip-making business.
◆   New York Times,  2025-8-1 Taiwan had not led to a trade deal like the ones struck by Japan and South Korea. And a bigger threat still loomed, as the United States weighed the possibility of putting damaging tariffs on semiconductors, Taiwan's main exports.
◆  Reuters, 2025-8-1 Taiwan says 20% U.S tariff rate is temporary, and the government expects to negotiate a lower figure; specific rates for Taiwanese semiconductors, electronics, as well as information and communication technology are still to be worked out. Those items, which form the backbone of Taiwan's economy and are key to the U.S. efforts to maintain its tech lead over China
◆  POLITICO, 2025-7-31 Trade negotiators for Taiwan have been pursuing a two-pronged strategy of trade talks backed by pledges to ramp up  purchases of U.S. products  including agricultural commodities, liquified natural gas and weapons.
◆  Bloomberg, 2025-7-23 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. Taiwan's growing reliance on sales to the US market has intensified its need to bring down tariffs.
◆   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
◆◆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.”
◆◆Bloomberg, 2025-5-30 Trump is planning to ramp up weapons sales to Taiwan to a level exceeding the pace set during his first term, Reuters reported, a move that risks escalating military tensions with China at a time the two nations are already locked in difficult talks over tariffs.  Reuters (2025-5-30): the US is pressing Taiwan's opposition parties not to oppose the government's efforts to increase defense spending;  "We're messaging pretty hard (in Taipei) to the opposition. Don't get in the way of this. This isn't a Taiwanese partisan question. This is a Taiwanese survival question".
◆◆NBC News, 2025-5-30 Officials in Taipei have also been rattled by the collapse of U.S. support for Ukraine as well as the threat of steep tariffs on Taiwan's exports, which Trump has set at 32% in addition to a 10% baseline.
◆  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
◆  Financial Times,   2025-5-14 Maybe the exporter...worried that the US would put pressure on Taiwan to strengthen its currency as part of the coming negotiation.  A stronger Taiwan dollar would make investment in the US chip industry more attractive, even in the absence of subsidies and tariffs. But the lags between a currency move, an investment decision and the actual production of chips are long; in the short-run the US would still need to import Taiwanese-made chips.ft.com/content/d71c34a0-4ded-4cba-be1c-82384915a8fd
◆  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"
　
◆  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.
◆  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
◆  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
◆  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,  For Taiwan, key areas include natural gas and defense weapons.
◆  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
　

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

　

　

　
◆   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”
◆   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.
◆   New York Times, 2025-3-6 Taiwan's president tries to ease fears and criticism over TSMC's investment in the US.  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
◆  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.
◆  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.
◆  Reuters, 2025-2-15 Taiwan pledges chip talks and investment to mollify Trump
◆  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.
◆  Reuters, 2025-2-14; PC Magazine, 2025-2-13 Trump: Intel was great until 'Taiwan took our chip business away'' ; Trump says he wants it (chip business ) back, "If they don't bring it back, we're not going to be very happy”
◆  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.
◆  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...
◆  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
◆   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 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.
◆◆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.
◆◆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, 2025-2-25 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.
◆◆ 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.”
◆◆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?
◆◆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.
◆◆Bloomberg, 2025-2-14 Taiwan President pledged to boost military spending  to 3% of GDP; Trump suggested the archipelago should devote 10% of GDP to its armed forces.  The extra funds for defense would be secured through a special budget, Lai said. Such a move would require the cooperation of opposition lawmakers because they control the legislature.
◆◆NY Times, 2025-2-13 some hard-line hawks on Taiwan have been left out, “It looks like Taiwan bet on some of the wrong horses.” ; Elbridge Colby warned that Taiwan should not assume that it was indispensable to the United States.
◆◆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
◆◆Politico (EU), 2025-1-30 President Donald Trump's threat to use military force to take control of Greenland and Panama has spooked Taiwan.  This could  embolden Beijing to apply that same logic to pursuing its claims to Taiwan.
◆◆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  Tougher Stance on China
◆◆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 holds large-scale drills around Taiwan after president Lai announced measures to counter China's influence and espionage
　
◆◆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
◆◆CNN, 2025-4-1 China's armed forces will “close in” on the self-governing island from “multiple directions”, testing US resolve.  US defense chief Pete Hegseth vowed to counter “China's aggression” on his first visit to Asia days ago.  Taiwan's government officials and experts view the Chinese drills as a signal to the Trump administration.   China also  released a series of propaganda videos, including one that depicts president Lai as a green cartoon bug and calls him a “parasite” hollowing out the island.
◆◆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”.

　

　


　

 
No.1  "review Taiwan"  on Duckduckgo,  2025-3-3, 2025-2-22, 2025-2-12, 2025-1-30, 2024-9-15, 2024-8-8, 2024-8-2, 2024-7-23, 2024-6-3, 2024-1-1, 2023-1-1; No.2 at 2024-7-11, 2024-7-1

　

　

　

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China fumes at Trump after the State Department drops website wording on not supporting Taiwan independence
♣   Washington Post, 2025-7-23 The rough consensus was that the United States should seek a combination of “reassurance and deterrence” with China;  That could include affirming to China that the U.S. opposes Taiwan's independence — but also strengthening U.S. military power in Asia
♣   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.

　

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. 

　

　

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...
◆    Washington Post, 2025-1-17 With Ko's indictment, the KMT and TPP are accusing Lai of abusing his powers to politically influence the judiciary.  Opposition supporters have been holding large-scale demonstrations in recent weeks.  Ko denies the charges, which his supporters say are politically motivated. “It's political persecution",  "an end to “DPP tyranny”.
In last year's presidential election, Ko with his party's strong performance key to why Lai's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lost its legislative majority. msn.com/en-us/news/world/taiwan-may-cut-its-defense-budget-just-as-trump-returns/ar-AA1xmU6y?ocid=BingNewsVerp
◆  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.


　


　


　


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No.2 "Taiwan reviews" on US Google, 2024-9-12, 2024-9-7, 2024-8-29, 2024-8-20, 2024-8-8, 2024-8-2, 2024-7-23, 2024-7-11,  No.3 on US Google, 2024-7-1;
among top ranks at 2024-12-25, 2024-12-22

  

　

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.”

　

Trump's defense policy on Taiwan
◆  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.

　

　

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.
◆   Newsweek, AP News, France24 2024-12-20 The dispute centers on three bills pushed by the Nationalist Party (KMT, the opposition),  including one to redistribute tax revenues, allocating a greater share to local governments; another one to raise the threshold for removing elected officials. A DPP leader said that the party's actions were extreme but that it had no other options.  KMT said it would prevent the power of recalls from "being abused" but some DPP lawmakers said they fear the move would revoke rights to remove unfit officials.
◆  CBS,   2024-12-20, video cbsnews.com/chicago/video/taiwan-lawmakers-brawl-over-controversial-legislation/   

　

　

　


　

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more stories

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.

　

China's largest deployment around Taiwan since 1996
◆  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.
The US: Taiwan may have become overly alarmed ... was trying to “wake up the public".   A senior Japanese official: “China has crossed some new line in every of their past exercises”; now they can do manoeuvres of this size without announcement.
◆  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.
◆  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.
◆  EuroNews,   2024-12-11 Expert: "They were practicing to seal off Taiwan” , referring to a scenario whereby the Chinese coast guard ships could block Taiwan's ports while the navy would form an outer barrier at sea.

Asked whether he would commit to defending Taiwan against potential Chinese aggression, Trump told NBC “I never say, because I have to negotiate things, right?"  “We talked about other things” ,“But I have a very good relationship, and I hope he doesn't do it"
◆  Reuters,   2024-12-11 China says it takes 'necessary measures' to defend sovereignty over Taiwan
◆  Associated Press, 2024-12-11 Taiwan demands that China end its military activity in nearby waters

　

　

　

　

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No.3 "Taiwan reviews" on US Google, 2024-5-1

　

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Taiwan Prepares for Trump's Return.
◆    CNN,   2024-12-15 one thing's for sure: Trump is a less vocal supporter of Taiwan than Joe Biden. That's why Taiwan is buckling up for what could be a far more volatile relationship with Washington.  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”  ...
◆    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...
◆   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,  2024-11-10 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 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,  2024-11-6 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.” But I doubt he's going to actually do that...
◆   Business Insider,  2024-11-9 In 2025, Taiwan will have to contend with uncertainty on whether the US will protect it, or play it.
◆   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.

　

Taiwan Travel & Tourism
◆    CNN , 2024-11-14 Taiwan boasts 10 national parks and 19 national forest recreation areas covering a wide range of terrain;  More than 260 peaks over 3,000 meters (9,800 feet), hiking trails blazed by Indigenous people thousands of years ago, for outdoor adventure and wellness fansmsn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/taiwan-is-fast-becoming-a-top-destination-for-outdoor-adventure-and-wellness-fans-it-s-easy-to-see-why/ar-AA1u7c09?ocid=BingNewsVerp
◆    New York Times , 2023-1-12 In the Times Travel section's 52 places to go in 2023, Taipei ranks No. 36, other Asia's selections include No.2 Morioka Japan, No. 5 Auckland NZ,  7 kangaroo island Australia, 12 Bhutan,  13 Kerala India,  19 Fukuoka Japan,  20  Flores Indonesia,  25 Ha Giang Vietnam,  27 U-K Tjuta National Park, Australia nytimes.com/interactive/2023/travel/52-places-travel-2023.html?campaign_id=7&emc=edit_mbae_20230113&instance_id=82548&nl=morning-briefing%3A-asia-pacific-edition&regi_id=93861781&segment_id=122347&te=1&user_id=4a9594d616730fc2c1567d65a316b5f1
◆   Daily Telegraph, 2024-9-14 Taiwan has historically been a rare stop on the tourist trail– its appeal long limited by an association with geopolitical tension.  telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/taiwan/taiwan-deserves-place-on-your-wish-list/
◆    CNN , 2022-12-6 Taiwan's 'living hell' traffic is a tourism problem.  Taiwan is notorious for its dangerous roads. Multiple countries, including Australia, Canada, Japan and the US, have specifically called out Taiwan's road conditions.
◆   STATISTA: Leading countries in the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI), 2021-2-4 Taiwan ranks No.13 in Asia.  No.1 Japan, No.2 Australia, No.3 China, No.4 Korea Rep., No.5 Hong Kong, No.6 Singapore, No.7 New Zealand, No.8 Malaysia, No.9 Thailand , No.10 UAE, No.11 India, No.12 Indonesia, 

　

Taiwan's pres. Lai flies to US, angering China
◆   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.
◆   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.
◆  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,   2024-12-1 Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te in Hawaii: A stopover that speaks volumes. 
◆  BBC,   2024-12-1 The trip is amid long-running tensions between the US and China and growing concerns about the possibility of conflict over Taiwan
◆  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."

　

　

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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” . 
◆◆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.
◆◆le Monde, 2024-10-15 Taiwan announced that it had detected a record 153 Chinese aircraft in one day near its territory.  Making Taiwanese air force (fighters) modernization is an acute necessity.
◆◆Bloomberg, 2024-10-15 China sent a record 111 warplanes across a US-drawn boundary in the strait separating the sides.
◆◆BBC, 2024-10-15 the deployment and how close Chinese ships and aircraft were to Taiwan - as well as the fiery rhetoric - could be seen as very aggressive behaviour -   a dramatic escalation.
◆◆USA Today, 2024-10-14 China launches "punishment drills"  as 'Stern warning'
◆◆BBC, 2024-10-14 "Scared" and "desensitised" - here's how people on the streets of Taipei are talking about China's fresh wave of military exercises - which involved all parts of the military and simulates a full-scale attack.  
◆◆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/

　

China's strategy to annex Taiwan
◆   Brookings, 2024-9-16 What Taiwan most fears—an amphibious invasion—is currently  beyond the PLA's reach. Beijing has developed two different means—military and coercive—to achieve its political objective of unification.Both require the resolve of Taiwan leaders and the public, plus a capable military to enhance deterrence. The U.S. commitment to the island's security remains critical.
brookings.edu/articles/why-does-the-us-security-partnership-with-taiwan-matter/
◆  Financial Times, 2024-9-19 The scale of China's military activity is getting larger and larger, and so it is harder to discern when they might be shifting from training to a large exercise, and from an exercise to war. military moves below the threshold of war poses challenge to Taiwan's defences.ft.com/content/3402d159-418c-4485-abb4-7e2155288d61  
◆ Politico, 2024-9-11 Nearly three in four Americans are concerned about a potential invasion of Taiwan, according to the latest Reagan National Defense Survey. And, Washington has fixated on a potential 2027 invasion scenario.  China's strategy to annex Taiwan is more about cyber power than firepower

U.S. SEAL Team Six  ──   resisting China's invasion ?
◆ Insider, 2024-9-18 A Navy SEAL unit that killed Osama bin Laden may be training Taiwanese forces to defeat a possible Chinese invasion. The US has become more hawkish about the possibility of defending Taiwan if China ever invades.
◆ 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.

　

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.
◆  Deutsche Welle (Germany), 2024-7-22 Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said that this year's drill will probe the island nation's ability to protect critical infrastructure in the capital and help refine the resilience of key facilities throughout the country.
◆  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,”"Their structure is very hierarchical, almost Soviet-style."  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.
◆  FoxNews, 2024-7-23 drills video   https://foxnews.com/video/6359009563112   

　

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 (alluded to Washington), China says
◆ Wall Street Journal, 2024-6-2
Taiwanese political security, not simply military deterrence and rhetorical balancing, are key to Chinese success.

★

China Launches Military Drills Around Taiwan as 'Punishment', 'Reprisals'
◆  Washington Examiner, 2024-5-31 Foreign Affairs : invasion does not appear to be China's preferred option. Beijing's more probable plan is to gradually intensify the policy: a creeping encroachment into Taiwan's airspace, maritime space, and information space. The United States must become more alert to the dangers posed by a slow strangulation of Taiwan.
◆  FoxNews, 2024-5-28 House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul said : "These war games to intimidate and protest the election from China are probably the most provocative I've ever seen in terms of the numbers of ships and planes", "we will probably lose if China invaded Taiwan."
◆  New York Times, 2024-5-27 “The United States must maintain the capacity to resist any resort to force or coercion that would jeopardize the security of the people of Taiwan,” Mr. McCaul, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said.
◆  New York Post, 2024-5-24 Beijing's endless saber-rattling over Taiwan proves just how high the stakes are for the United States. 
◆  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'"

　

　

　

7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off Taiwan
◆ 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.
◆ 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.
The government had also helped reinforce private apartment buildings over the past six years by adding new steel braces and increasing column and beam sizes...
◆ 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.
◆ ABC News, 2024-4-3  TSMC, one of the biggest companies in Taiwan's crucial semiconductor manufacturing industry, said its safety systems were operating normally and that some fabrication plants had been evacuated as a preventive measure.
◆ 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
◆ 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.

　

　

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

　

　

　

　

　

pic.  : No.1 "Taiwan reviews" on US Google, 2024-2-1, 2024-1-1, 2023-12-25, 2023-12-12, 2023-11-29, 2023-10-5, 2023-9-11, 2023-8-31, 2023-8-20, 2023-8-6, 2023-7-31, 2023-7-17, 2023-7-10, 2023-7-8

　

　


pic.  : No.1 "review Taiwan" on Swisscows of Switzerland, 2024-1-1, 2023-8-8, 2023-7-4, 2023-6-22; No.3 at 2024-2-1

　

　

　

     

　

　

　

      

　
New York Post (2023-12-20):Xi told Biden he plans to take Taiwan — by any means necessary;  NBC (2023-12-20):Xi's private warning to Biden was delivered at a time when China's behavior toward Taiwan is seen as increasingly aggressive and ahead of a potentially pivotal presidential election in the self-governing democratic island next month. Business Insider (2023-12-20): Xi straight-up told Biden that China is going to take over Taiwan, report says. It could end in war;  Daily Mail (2023-12-20):  Top Republicans alarmed by 'beyond unnerving' report Xi warned Biden that China WILL reunify with Taiwan in blunt message

　

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'

 

◆  New York Times, 2023-11-26: Taiwan, a highly online society, has repeatedly been found to be the top target in the world for disinformation from foreign governments.  RAND: China's disinformation work has had “measurable effects”.  Critics denounced the government's anti-disinformation campaign as a political witch hunt, Taiwan's media ecosystem, with its diverse political leanings, often produces pro-Beijing content that can be misattributed to Chinese manipulation.        

　

　



　


 No.1  "review Taiwan"  on Duckduckgo,  2024-6-3, 2024-1-1, 2023-1-1
 2023-7-4, 2023-4-15, 2023-3-20, 2023-1-21, 2022-11-22, 2022-11-1, 2022-10-23, 2022-10-10, 2022-9-23, 2022-9-16 ;No.2 at 2023-2-28, 2023-1-1
　


pic.: No.1"review Taiwan" on AOL, 2024-1-1,2023-7-4, 2023-4-30, 2023-3-20, 2023-1-21, 2023-1-1, 2022-12-24, 2022-11-29, 2022-11-1, 2022-10-23, 2022-10-10, 2022-9-23, 2022-9-16; No.2 at 2023-2-28

pic.: No.1 : review Taiwan" on Lycos, SearchEncrypt, 2023-7-4; No.1 on Lycos, SearchEncrypt, Dogpile, 2023-4-15, 2023-1-21, 2023-1-1, 2022-11-22, 2022-11-1, 2022-10-23, 2022-10-10, 2022-9-23, 2022-9-16

　

　

　

No.1 "review Taiwan " on Yahoo Taiwan, 2024-1-1, 2023-8-8, 2023-7-4, 2023-4-30, 2023-4-15, 2023-3-20, 2023-1-1, 2022-12-24, 2022-12-17, 2022-11-29, 2022-11-22, 2022-11-1, 2022-10-23, 2022-10-10, 2022-9-23, 2022-9-16

　


No.1 "Taiwan reviews" on Microsoft Bing, 2023-8-8, 2023-7-4, 2023-4-15, 2023-1-1, 2022-12-24, 2022-11-22, 2022-11-1, 2022-10-23, 2022-10-10, 2022-9-23, 2022-8-24

　

　

　

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.

　

　

　

　
  
    		　

pic.  : No.2 "Taiwan reviews" on US Google, 2023-9-1, 2023-8-1, 2023-7-4, 2023-6-8, 2023-6-4, 2023-5-23, 5-21; No.3 "Taiwan reviews" on US Google, 2023-5-2, 2023-3-26

　

　

　

 No.2  "review Taiwan"  on US Google, 2023-1-1,2022-12-24, 2022-12-17, 2022-11-29, 2022-11-20, 2022-11-15, 2022-11-6 ; No.1  "review Taiwan"  on US Google, 2022-3-29, 2022-3-25, 2021-9-29, 2021-9-23, 2021-9-21, 2021-8-15, 2021-8-5, 2021-7-24, 2021-7-9, 2021-7-4, 2021-6-22, 2021-6-15, 2021-5-31, 2021-5-1, 2020-12-20   ;   No.2 at 2022-8-12, 2022-7-21,  2022-5-25, 2022-4-30, 2022-3-21, 2022-3-12, 2022-2-22, 2022-2-10, 2022-1-11, 2022-1-3, 2021-12-27, 2021-12-10, 2021-12-4, 2021-11-12, 2021-10-25, 2021-9-19; No.2 "Taiwan reviews" on US Google,  2022-5-25; "Taiwan reviews" among top ranks on US Google, 2022-08-23, 2022-08-24; No.3"review Taiwan" on Google, 2022-9-30, 2022-9-23; No.4 "Taiwan reviews" on Google, 2023-4-30

　


pic.  : No.2 "Taiwan reviews" on US Google, 2023-7-3, 2023-6-9
　

　

 

pic.  : No.1 "Taiwan reviews" on US Google, 2023-7-10, 2023-7-8

　

　


　

　

 

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.
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

　

  More "review Taiwan" before 2024 ?  members only ~

　

　

　

pic. : This websites-group was ranked No.1 by keyword "review Taiwan" on US Yahoo, 2022-8-1, 2022-7-28, 2022-7-20, 2022-6-30, 2022-6-13, 2022-5-26, 2022-4-30, 2022-4-9, 2022-3-29, 2022-3-21, 2022-3-14, 2022-2-22, 2022-2-10, 2022-2-3, 2022-1-22, 2022-1-11, 2022-1-3, 2021-12-27, 2021-12-10, 2021-12-4, 2021-11-21, 2021-11-12, 2021-10-29;
No.2 "Taiwan reviews" on US Yahoo, 2022-3-29, 2022-2-10,2022-2-3, 2022-1-13

　

　



pic. : This websites-group was ranked No.1 by keyword "review Taiwan" on Dogpile, 2022-9-15, 2022-8-24

　

　

pic.  : top 2 "review Taiwan"  on US Google, 2022-8-12, 2022-7-20, 2022-5-25, 2022-5-14, 2022-4-9, 2022-3-13,  2022-2-22, 2022-1-1, 2021-12-25, 2021-12-10, 2021-12-3, 2021-10-20, 2021-10-14; No.1 "review Taiwan"  on US Google, 2022-3-28

　

　

　

pic. : This websites-group was ranked No.1 by keyword "review Taiwan" on US Yahoo, 2022-5-25, 2022-3-28, 2022-2-21, 2022-2-9, 2022-2-2, 2022-1-21, 2022-1-1, 2021-12-25, 2021-12-9, 2021-12-3, 2021-10-29, 2021-10-25, 2021-10-14, 2021-10-12, 2021-10-8, 2021-9-29, 2021-9-19, 2021-8-22, 2021-8-5, 2021-7-24, 2021-5-9, 2021-4-13, 3-20-2021, 3-8-2021, 2-21-2021, 2-13-2021, 1-1-2021,  12-6-2020  

　

　

　

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.
　

New York 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 ).
　

★ TaiwanPlus, 2023-3-6: A poll

★ Voice of America, 2022-11-23:  "black gold"-"heijin." Corruption in Local Politics (elections)


　

　

　

　

　

　

　

pic. : This websites-group was ranked No.1 by keyword "review Taiwan" on US Yahoo, 2022-1-21, 2022-1-2, 2021-12-2, 2021-10-22, 2021-10-14, 2021-10-12, 2021-10-8, 2021-9-29, 2021-9-19, 2021-8-22, 2021-8-5, 2021-7-24

　

　

　

  

 pic. : No.1 "review Taiwan" on Baidu (largest engine in China) at 2021-10-14, 2021-10-8, 2021-9-29, 2021-9-23, 2021-9-19, 2021-8-22, 2021-8-5, 2021-5-26, 2021-5-9  ;  This websites-group was ranked No.1 by keyword "Taiwan reviews"  on Baidu of China, 2021-10-14, 2021-10-8, 2021-9-29, 2021-9-19, 2021-8-22, 2021-8-5, 2021-7-24, 2021-5-26, 2021-5-9

　


　

 pic.  : No.1  "review Taiwan"  on US Google, 2021-9-28, 2021-8-1, 2021-7-22, 2021-5-26, 2021-5-1 

　

　

             

     pic. left : No.1  "review Taiwan"  on US Google, 2021-7-23, 2021-5-25,  2021-5-9, 2021-5-1, 2021-4-30, 2021-4-16, 3-8-2021, 2-21-2021, 2-11-2021, 1-29-2021;  pic. right : No.1  "review Taiwan"  on US Google, 12-20-2020

　

　

        

    pic. left: No.1  "review Taiwan"  on US Google, 2-21-2021, 2-14-2021     pic. right: No.1  "review Taiwan"  on US Google, 01-01-2021 

　

　

　

      

pic. left : No.1  "review Taiwan"  on US Google, 12-14-2020,  11-29-2020, 11-17-2020, 11-1-2020; pic right: No.1 "review Taiwan" on US Google, 11-11-2020

　

　

　

     pic. : No.1  "review Taiwan"  on US Google, 1-19-2021, 01-16-2021 

　

　

   pic. : No.1  "review Taiwan"  on Swisscows of Switzerland, 2021-8-22, 2021-8-5, 2021-7-24, 2021-5-26, 2021-5-9, 2021-4-18,  3-27-2021, 3-20-2021, 3-3-2021, 2-21-2021, 2-12-2021 

　

　

　

pic: This websites-group was ranked No.1 by keyword "review Taiwan"  on US Google, 3-4-2020

　

　

　

　

pic.: This website was ranked No.1 on US Google by keyword "review Taiwan"

at 1-12-2018, 12-8-2017

　

　

　 　

　

  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.   

　

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...

　

　
　 　

　

● pic.: FTV (Formosa Television) News, 7-26-2018: By expertise and team work, core members of former president Ma's Faction (clique) did 'dig' money in the amount more than ten times, or even more than 100 times that of another former president Chen Shui-bian got, Chen was sentenced to 20 years.  Ma himself did not touch the money-digging matter.   Establishing lots of foundations for donations is the culture of KMT.   Major people of DPP (political party in power since 2016) already knew about this, the intel. systems and gov. can but don't (till present) stop the cash flow making a detour  through many places including Inner Mongolia and Outer Mongolia.   further details:o 2018.7.26【政經看民視】

　

　

● 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...

　

　

●  UDN 10-20-2019: politics overrode justice 

　

　

　

◆

　 　

　

　

pic: This websites-group was ranked No.1 by keyword 
"review Taiwan"  on US Google, 5-2-2019, 5-23-2019

　

　

　

pic: This websites-group was ranked No.1
by keyword 
"review Taiwan"  on US Google, 4-5-2019

　

　

　

　

                                                

　

pic. left: This websites-group was ranked No.1 by keyword "review Taiwan"  on US Google, 3-8-2019;

pic. right : This websites-group was ranked No.2 by keyword "review Taiwan"  on US Google, 1-1-2019
　
　 　
　

　

 ★

　

　

　

 　

re○

 Review Taiwan by cartoons

●  NewsWeek, 10-28-2020: As China Threatens War, Nearly Everyone in Taiwan Wants Peace: Poll

　

●  “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 /  Foreign Policy, 8-20-2020  https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/08/20/taiwan-military-flashy-american-weapons-no-ammo/

●  Taiwan’s preparedness and its will to fight both look shaky
/  Economist,10-9-2020

　

● New York Times 4-10-2019: The US considers Taiwan's political status to be undetermined ... TW Relations Act. calls for Taiwan's status to be determined by peaceful means.  

　

● CNN 6-17-2019: mass protests (in Hong Kong) emboldened anti-China elements in Taiwan.  

　

● New York Times 4-1-2019: Taiwan protests China jets crossing center of Taiwan Strait, a provocation that seeks to alter the status quo ...  an intentional act.    Japan Times, 4-1-2019: China's move also comes less than a week after the U.S. sent ships through the strait ( mission was unusual) — the third time in as many months...those sailings have likely been interpreted by China as implicit support for self-ruled Taiwan.     Reuters 2-25-2019: US Navy ships ... riling China.    

　 ○ 　 ● New York Times at  4-18-2018: Mr. Trump questioned why the US should be bound by the One China policy if Beijing will not budge on trade ... The U.S. and Taiwan are seen as heading in a direction that is getting perilously close to Chinese red lines...... (Taiwan president Tsai  stated) " Many  people say we are pawns of other people ......"

　

　

● USA Today 5-18-2018: Xi JinPing has signaled that China will seek to reclaim its historical properties by 2049.  Freebeacon 5-17-2018 :   2020—the deadline that [Chinese supreme leader] Xi Jinping has given the [People's Liberation Army] to be ready to invade  Taiwan

　

●  Washington Post,  1-5-2018 :  Xi commanded China’s military to become “battle ready.”  ...... Taiwan will turn “grave” because Taiwan’s government refuses to acknowledge that the island is part of China. .Taiwan needs to increase its defense spending considerably...“the outcome of the game [between China and Taiwan] is undecided".

　

　

　

●  New York Times at  11-4-2017, the Pentagon report, May 2017: China’s military modernization has “eroded or negated many of Taiwan’s historical advantages (geography and the US support) ” in deterring a potential attack.

　

　

　

● New York times,  5-18-2017: Taiwan's leaders have gutted the military and continued to base defense planning on the assumption that the United States would always come to the rescue.  Policies ... have left the military understaffed and in a state of low morale...

　

　

　

● Le Monde diplomatic of France, Mai 2016, depicted Taiwan as a trembling sweating rat   (click for details), turning its back on an approaching huge cat (China), lifting high the banner "$O$"  .

  

　

☉ below each visual parody, cartoon  are related or relevant reports or comments

　
China Slams the Door on Taiwanese Appeals for Independence.

　

　

○

　 　

　

　

           

 

Taiwan is :

◆ "Washington's lapdog", "tool"  /  Global Times, Sept., 2021 globaltimes.cn/page/202109/1234662.shtml

◆  Eurasian Times  7-9-2020: The Tsai authority ... turns to Washington and is willing to be used.  Taiwan Now Under ‘Deep Control’ Of The US.

◆ "a conduit (tool)"  /    The LOWY Institute( think tank in Australia ) , 6-16-2020 : treating Taiwan as a conduit to frustrate Beijing imperils Taiwan’s security... and then the United States abandons Taiwan to deal with the consequences.

　

◆ 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. “Making this public will compel the Chinese to react  

◆ Washington Post, 2021-11-4:  Last year, an annual Pentagon report on China listed “foreign forces stationed on Taiwan,” as one of seven issues on which China had said it might use military force against the island. But Newsweek noted that in this year’s version of the report,  the “foreign forces” pretext was dropped  washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/11/04/no-one-wants-war-over-taiwan-that-wont-last-forever/

◆ Global Times, 2021-11-9: The US are aware that there is a red line - US troops and combat equipment must not land on the island. So they sent a small number of soldiers there to train Taiwan military forces globaltimes.cn/page/202111/1238576.shtml

　

　

　

 ◆ Foreign Policy, 1-22-2021 :  Taiwan seeks assurances from Biden admin., but Biden and his team
 are likely to resist using Taiwan as a cudgel against China the way Trump did. 
◆  Foreign Policy, 12-14-2016 named Taiwan President Tsai as
one of leading thinkers of 2016 for "Poking the bear" .

Trump takes Taiwan as leverage , one-China policy as bargaining chips

　

　

　

Salmon is poking the bear ?  Taiwan suffers !

　

　

● The Interpreter , The LOWY Institute ( Australia ), 6-16-2020 : treating Taiwan as a conduit to frustrate Beijing imperils Taiwan’s security.
 Already many in China’s party-state suspect that the US intends to promote Taiwan independence, ... The risk here is that
U.S. policy encourages an overreaction from China, upsetting the cross-straits status quo or whatever remains of it, and
then the United States abandons Taiwan to deal with the consequences.　https://www.lowyinstitute.org/publications/taiwan-s-wildcard

　

 

◆ DW (Germany) ,11-10-2020:The Biden administration will have to make it quite clear
from the outset whether it is ready to go to war for Taiwan's sake


◆ Japan Sankei Shimbun ( 產經新聞),10-29-2020:Japan's DM 岸信夫: Given military imbalance of
both sides, anything can happen, Taiwan must be very cautious
　

◆ WSJ,10-13-2020:  continued ambiguity in the face of Xi's escalating rhetoric and provocative movements by his armed forces
in the Taiwan Strait presents the greater risk of a confrontation as dangerous  as the Cuban Missile Crisis
　

  ◆ Bloomberg news 3-14-2018: In the future, Taiwan will suffer even more, as it

gets caught  in the middle between a stronger China and a inward-looking US...

　

◆ Chicago Tribune, Yahoo News,10-12-2020: We should defend Taiwan... Yet, to be effective as a deterrent, Beijing has to see it as
 a defensive move by Washington, aimed at preserving the status quo, and not as part of a new offensive against China
 ◆ Economist,10-9-2020:  China could wipe out Taiwan’s navy and air force ...  Taiwan’s preparedness and its will to fight both look shaky. 
Many insiders are accordingly pessimistic about its ability to hold out.


◆ New York Times at  4-18-2018: The U.S. and Taiwan are seen

as heading in a direction that is getting perilously close to

 Chinese red lines...... (Taiwan president Tsai  stated)

" Many  people say we are pawns of other people ......"   

 

　

●  CNN 2-19-2020:  TW president: "What we are expecting is, after withstanding the first wave of
Chinese attacks ourselves, the rest of the world would stand up to exert strong pressure on China" ....
"Taiwan as an underdog facing down the growing might of Beijing" ...    Taiwan military

　

　

● Washington Post, 8-20-2018:  Taiwan's precarious role in the China-US spat !
(Trump adm.'s Taiwan policy is unpredictable); 
　

● Bloomberg news 3-14-2018: In the future, Taiwan will suffer even more,

as it gets caught  in the middle between a stronger China and a inward-looking US...

　

　

◆ China military: can defeat Taiwanese army within 100 hours or 3 days ( ~  3-27-2018); 
Taiwan Defense Secretary: can resist Chinese army for about 1+ week (CTV 12-18-2016)

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

● 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 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 following order to conclude legal cases, usually.  

　

　

　

　

　

　

◆ 　

　

● CTV evening news, 12-14-2017  19:19pm: Taiwanese fraud crimes
are really all over the world. 

● UDN opinion 12-24-2017: Taiwan became international nuisances & social harms

　

● Taiwan is notorious for its fraud crimes all over the world,
damaging the image of Taiwan 
 / EBC TV 4-9-2017 6:54am

　

●    Taiwan largely sees these telecom frauds/phone scammers
as an asset rather than liability... / quora

　

● Taiwan's legal system is extremely tolerant of the scammers. Not matter how much money was involved in a scamming case  /  https://www.quora.com/Does-Taiwan-rely-on-the-fraud-industry-heavily,  /4-16-2016

　

●  Taiwan's legislators and judicial system don't have a sense of shame on int'l telecomm scammers issue
 /  ref to United Daily News (聯合報), Opinion 8-2016  

　

●  Taiwan is a "low risk-high profit" country for fraud crimes ... / EBC TV 4-9-2017 6:54am

　

　

Taiwan fraud,   full text

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

License to rape ? for  sicko raper

　

Taiwan state apparatus 'fully' support
freedom of expression  !

You can scream as loud as you want

  The louder you scream, the more I enjoy ...

 ( a violent, penetrative scientific power)
"You called Discovery,  I called the Rape ..." 
/  Jurassic Park ,  1990

　

　

more readings: ◆ State violence and white terror (product of state violence) return in Taiwan (United Daily, opinion, 12-21-2017, 12-27-2017).

◆ This is an EVIL state apparatus (column, CTN, 5-9-2018): Taiwan has shown a general tendency toward pandering state apparatus, surrendering in mind control ... http://www.chinatimes.com/newspapers/20180509000843-260109

◆ Abusing power to invade citizen's rights, going old route of anti-democracy are their nature  (United Daily, opinion, 12-20-2017).  https://udn.com/news/story/11321/2886710

ref to https://udn.com/news/story/11321/2897025。http://udn.com/news/story/7338/2179800。

◆ Now it seems hard to keep Taiwan's skin-deep democracy ... the people's "livelihood" was sacrificed for politics ...

The United Daily - Opinion, 3-7-2017

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

★★

★

　

　

Hitler resurgence ...  Nazi returns !? 

　

　

pic.: This cartoon of Zola Zu was printed in the United Daily News group,
Ming-Sen Daily about 20 years ago

 　

　

　

　

 

　

　

 †   Secret police have already been active around us...  

　

◆ People's Daily, 10-25-2020: Taiwan Intellugence strictly monitors Taiwanese people by so called "Green Terror"

◆  United Daily (聯合報), editorial opinion ,  9-19-2018
ps: 「東廠」meaning : imperial secret police serving the emperors of Ming Dynasty,
or the espionge agency under the leadership of the eunuch in Ming Dynasty, China

　

　

　

　

 　

★

Taiwan - an 'empire' of int'l fraud

　

　

 ◆ 　

●  BBC 4-22-2016: Taiwanese massive international telecoms frauds lead to diplomatic row between Taiwan and China, and cost Chinese victims billions of Yuan and to have driven some to suicidehttp://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36108762

●  CTV evening news, 12-14-2017  19:19pm: Taiwanese fraud crimes are really all over the world.

   

●UDN opinion 12-24-2017: Taiwan became international nuisances & social harms 

● EBC  TV news 4-9-2017 6:54am: Taiwan is notorious for its fraud crimes all over the world, damaging the image of Taiwan

　

●    Taiwan largely sees these telecom frauds/phone scammers as an asset rather than liability... / quora

　

● Taiwan's legal system is extremely tolerant of the scammers. Not matter how much money was involved in a scamming case  /  https://www.quora.com/Does-Taiwan-rely-on-the-fraud-industry-heavily,  /4-16-2016

　

●  Taiwan's legislators and judicial system don't have a sense of shame on int'l telecomm scammers issue  /  ref to United Daily News (聯合報), Opinion, 8-2016 

 

●  Crime liability in China, or Japan, Germany is much more serious than that in Taiwan, China may give it  life imprisonment , Taiwan treats it  minor offense, converting Imprisonment into Fine.   Taiwan is a "low risk, high profit" country for fraud crimes ... / EBC TV news 4-9-2017 6:54am ps14

　

　
†         international nuisances & social harms 　 　

★★

Taiwan - an 'empire' of  illegal drugs 

　

　

◆

　

 ◆

●Taiwan's image  ―  notorious for being a major drug transit center & a major drug exporting country ("drug" - amphetamine, etc, ps13 )

　

● Police of Japan and Australia already labelled Taiwan as "High Risk" illegal drug-exporting country

　

● Based on Japan's statistics,  Taiwan is its No.3 drug resource country ...... ref to The China Times, headline news, 4-4-2017

　

●   Taiwan was already reduced to be a kingdom of producing narcotic drugs.  (United Daily, headline news, 11-2-2017)  Taiwan's anti-drug is a phony show / CTN, 7-2017

　

● Drug-abuse in Taiwan is too serious to stop / Apple Daily, Opinion, 5-15-2017;   

　

●Philippines President Duterte (9-26-2017) : Triad supplying illegal drugs to PH is based in Taiwan, not China / inquirer.net  , UDN, opinion, 10-20-2017

　

●  Taiwan got bad records in The Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG)  for the law and law-enforcement problems / UDN 4-11-2017

　

　

†   international nuisances & social harms

       ps: Taiwan government sponsored an int'l cartoon contest under the theme of "anti-drugs", now we have reason to doubt whether or not  this probable propaganda event using world artists to fool the world.

　
　

◆

Taiwan illegal fishing

Taiwan, a pirate boat  !?

　

●  <The Diplomat> (4-14-2016) :  Taiwan's illegal fishing is 'out of control', GreenPeace criticized Taiwan gov. for knowing this issue but does little -  EU warned in 2015 Taiwan with a yellow card for illegal fishing.  (wait & see how TW nw law works)

●  Washington Post 2-22-2018: Taiwan is No.2 fishing nation as measured by Global fishing Watch's Automatic Identification Sys., 2016.

●
● Taiwan's principal human rights problems reported :

exploitation of foreign workers, including foreign crewmembers

on long-haul fishing vessels  / USA Country Reports on Human Rights practices,   3-3-2017

　

　

●   More than 100 foreign laborers were raped

 each year  / BBC 1-24-2017

　

　

●  Taiwanese endured foreign household caregivers who prefer an easy job

and are picky about patients and severe disabilities..., 

Economic Daily News ( 經濟日報, 2015-11-28)
ps: Many laborers are 'good' at committing crimes (running away, malicious destroy/damage, guilty of burglary, etc ), something wrong with TW system.

　

　

 　

●●  <Reporters Sans Frontieres> (RSF, Reporters without Borders),  France,  4-27-2017 :   Local government officials are also directly interfering in the editorial policies of state-owned media;  Taiwan's press freedom is at 45th place.

　

●●  USA Country Reports on Human Rights practices,   3-3-2017 :  some media self-censorship with regard to China......


 ●●  RSF: “the main threat to media freedom comes from China, which has been exerting growing economic and political pressure on the Taiwanese media.”

　

●●   Those faceless coward-hackers tried to damage speech-freedom and stop my modifying this and some other web-pages.  6-10-2017

　

★  ★★

Taiwan travel★

　

　

Does Taiwan
Have democracy?
　

 Taiwan democracy

　

　

　

Taiwan food

 †

●   BBC UK, The SUN (2-13-2017): "BUS CRASH HORROR !" Taiwan's "safety standards need to be improved".

●  China - People's Daily's Global Times (7-19-2016) Opinion-editorial: Tourists're gambling their lives in Taiwan  ...
 click Taiwan travel  for details

 ● Taiwan has had a poor aviation safety record/
CNN, Newsweek, 2-4-2015


 ● People's Daily (8-4-2016) Opinion-editorial: Chinese not dare to visit Taiwan without safety assurance,  there's loopholes in law and regulation, careless mistakes in administration, not-good-enough system, etc

★

●  All night-market districts across Taiwan have safety problem similar to the big gas-cylinder LPG-explosion in Fengjia (逢甲) night market (known as largest night-market business district in Taiwan) / The China Times, 7-19-2017

　

● Taiwan politics belongs to corporations (not the people) and is controlled by the political parties <Foerign Policy> 2015.

●

　

　

● Now it seems hard to keep Taiwan's skin-deep democracy ... the people's "livelihood" was sacrificed for politics ...The United Daily - Opinion, 3-7-2017
　

　

　

● Taiwan's financial system is rotten ... / FTV news, 5-29-2017

　

● Food safety is one of biggest challenges to Taiwan / The China Times. 8-6-2016,
 an interview to Taiwan president Tsai

●  Government's food-safety budget is too little, only USD0.03 for each Taiwanese, according to 前瞻plan / China Times, 7-9-2017
 ● Professor Yin M.D. (殷宗海, Doctor, Univ. of London ): Minimize the times of dining out to protect your health !
● The  limit-amount  (ppm, part per million) of pesticide  residue are restricted to in Taiwan is 1000 times that in Europe / The China Times, Opinion <短評 "Taiwan is more toxic than before>, 4-21-2017
　

　

Beaviss : dummy ! the re's no poison, addictives, MSG, lard oil, gutter oil,  added in these Chinese heritage arts - pork stone and cabbage jade
 Butter-Head: so, we can eat these healthy foods now?!  ps4
 a visual parody by Zola Zu　


●

　

　

　

●

★  ps: The incidence rate of Taiwanese people suffering colon/rectal cancer was ranked world No.1,  many black-heart tainted foods containing Carcinogen (cancer producer)...../ 8-28-2015 apple daily.

★  ◆

　

　

Taiwan politicians buried people alive 

　

　

in quakes of magnitude 6.0

　

 　

Taiwan government (including local gov.) 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 been done ?  government even has never made public the info. , where are those fatal bridges' locations ?   (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 ?? 

　

　

  (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)

 †  

　

★

★

★　

★　

★　

 †  Taiwan, a "kingdom" of mask  ― 
　

　

● Taiwan's environmental quality (serious air pollution, bad water) was ranked almost the last
in all OECD countries  / 9-21-2015 China Times

　

●  Taiwan built an environment to kill legally , for its PM2.5 air-pollution-control standard
15 years behind  / dean, College of Public health, National Taiwan University,  UDN headpage, 10-16-2017;   Liberty Times 1-4-2016 (http://news.ltn.com.tw/news/life/paper/945998).

　

● Taiwan,  in the lower ranks, placing 54th out of 57 nations in the CCPI with regards to cutting down carbon emissions

and other greenhouse gases. / Taipei Times, 11-23-2017★taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2017/11/23/2003682785
 　●  United Daily, Opinion, 12-2-2017: 2/3 of Taiwan's air pollutions came from local, the "culprit" is too many
coal-fired power generation - Taiwan government's policy.

　

　

　

★  ★

★★


 Justice's raped  !

Taiwan justice dead


Taiwan Justice sys. is ruler's tool, judiciary is controlled by politics - Liberty Times, 6-19-2016
　

Nearly 80% Taiwanese don't believe justice...   United daily 2-26-2019

　

Nearly 80% Taiwanese are not satisfied with gov. measures against corruption  - Liberty Times 2-23-2016  †

★

　

　

　

 Taiwan, a rotten country

One of Taiwan's Principal
human rights problems :
rotten (corruption)

　

　

ref. to US Country Report on Human Rights, 2015-2017, and PERC 2009, etc.

　

cyber-link:
 Corruption in Taiwan
 Prosecutors in Taiwan
 Justice in Taiwan

　

DEMOcrazy?  vs   democracy
　

★Taiwan torture★

   

Torture on Taiwan's own people - a major difference

from what CIA did (ps2)
also violate Nuremberg Code (ps12)

Professor Lin R.S. was subject to electromagnetic

wave attacks / French AFP, Bangkok Post,  Dec. 2011,

 Yahoo UK & Ireland, etc  †

　

★  

★  ★

★　

★　

　

　

　

★

Taiwanese


have been patient sufferance of so many politically bullies and toying (and killings),
hence turned into obedient, docile people   †

★

Washington Post, 1-2-2017 : 83 percent chose "bread" over "romance"...

　

　

　

 　
★

   

Hawks at home, chicken abroad,
sharp spikes pointing

to its own hoi polloi


 ◆

in Presidential inaugural speech, Tsai referred to the Constitution of the Republic of China and the legislation governing cross-strait relations, both imply the acceptance of a “one China” framework.

　

◆

★  

★  ★

　

　

Taiwan air force●●

　

 ●

　

●  Express UK, 6-17-2020:  World War 3: China preparing for 'military struggle' as Taiwan row intensifies ●   CNN, 8-11-2020 : Beijing's warplanes have only crossed  the Taiwan Strait "median line" ( "the de facto cease-fire line") intentionally three times since 1999 (ps: Newsweek 8-12-2020: since 1949)-- once in March 2019, in February of this year, and again on Monday (Azar met with Taiwan President Tsai) ps: In 2020, PLA fighters crossed median line more than 40 times

　

VS

 

●Taiwan declared no other air forces are allowed to flex their muscle in Taiwan air space/ Apple Daily 5-30-2016,...

●

†   Taiwan's sky, our air-space ? 

      

●

　

★  

　

★  ★

   

    ◆ United Daily, 9-6-2018, headlines : Any solution to our ocean crisis  ??  a bowl of plastic trash soup still trouble Taiwan 
     ◆ Apple Daily, 9-6-2018: serious pollutions in many locations around Taiwan, Phenol may harm human health ...
     ◆ MicroPlastics were found in 44% tap water samples, medical circle believes it's a very serious environmental pollution, since something bad, e.g., Dioxin, Bisphenol A (BPA), PAHs, heavy metal elements, may be brought into food chain, and then are/were accumulated in human body...... we better use purified water by RO machine for safety.  Furthermore, mussels, oysters, clams (扇貝與蛤) were also found some microplastics......  brief -  headlines of Apple Daily, United Daily, 9-26-2018.

　

　

　

　

 　

†  

        Taiwan  ―   a piss boy polluting the environment 

      

　

     ●   Asian's biggest sewage treatment plant in Taiwan's New Taipei,  skipped the process of removing contaminants from wastewater and disposed dirty and disgusting water into the sea for probably 4-5 years, witnesses confirmed. / Next, front-page, 4-6-2017
     ●  Taiwan administration's Dioxin ("poison of the century") control system crashed completely / FTV news, 4-22-2017
     ●   NO justice !  The courthouse judged enterprise's disposing 5000 ton cancer-producer strong acid and waste water into the river-creek (color changed to dark yellow ) and endangering the natural environment  is no guilty !  / headline news of Apply Daily, 9-30-2015  http://www.appledaily.com.tw/appledaily/article/headline/20150930/36807420/
     ●  Taiwan ignores environmental protection (ocean garbage clean-up) of 90% coast-line of Taiwan island for large garbage-distributions... / UDN, 5-30-2017
     ●  "Wanna murder people?"  Official certification  for food (CAS) includes not Dioxin.    Pollution for12 yrs never end, Dioxin inside many people already over the limit probably, TW government has never done source-control, never stop contaminants (pollutant, e.g., plastic, inks from industry, fly-ash from incinerator, etc) going to our environment  / Apple Daily, head-page, 4-22-2017 

     ●  Taiwan is reduced to a world dumping ground  -  one million ton of stinky trash were delivered to Taiwan between Jan. 2018 ~ July 2018 / Apple Daily, headline news, 8-30-2018

　

　

　

　

　

★

★

★★
　

　

　

Taiwan weakness

　

Taiwan, a soft chicken

　

◆

NY Times, 5-18-2017:  Taiwan has left the military
understaffed and in a state of low morale...

　

◆

　

 Taiwan president beset by low approval rate because of

weakness against foreign countries, even including

Philippines, a backward country dared to hurt Taiwan,

not to mention military strong ones, China, Japan, etc
ref. to Forbes, 5-21-2013
　

ps: The Philippines is little & weak, but not soft   / Independent UK, etc, 10-11-2016,
Philippines refused to be "a dog with leash" / CNBC 10-25-2016

　

　

　

 　

　

 　

　


lay the blame to an innocent one

Major crimes fled easily,
The little or innocent took the rap


. ◆Taiwan's legislators and judicial system don't have a sense of shame on releasing many int'l telecomm scammers and fraud groups (United Daily, 8-24-2016 editorial ).   In the past 8 years, ◆about 100 major crimes escaped overseas easily and happily (Next magazine, Liberty Times, 12-31-2015), including Legislators leader Liu 劉松藩 (apple daily 12-8-2016) ps3;

ps15

　

 　 　  †
★  ★

  

★  ★
privacy toilet 
　

   pic. : political dig-dirt...ps1

　

◆ watch the people, or listen to the people?

◆ keyhole or loophole ?

Taiwanese privacy

　

　

　

   pic. : 
murder the image, firstly

　

　

　

　

Wanted Poster

　

pic. :  Looking for the guilty?
need only look into a mirror

 on WANTED poster  /
TTaiwan's political culture & ecology can't cultivate citizens knowing and obeying the law ...
/ <United Daily> 8-24-2016 editorial

TW Taiwan government logo
 Taiwan lacks creativity, not cold calculations
  The logo (pic. above) of Taiwan gov. / Ministry of Economic Affairs (pic. above) is similar to Canadian logos (pic.below) appeared earlier       click for Taiwanese creativity


       logo Canada    
★    ps: The China Times, 3-29-2017: Taiwan lacks key tech. to make a  coach (L  bus).

★  ★  

★  
                  
         
 

 ◆  Hypocritical government / Taiwan declared crackdown on prostitution, only to turn into a country with world No.1 percentage of  sex-related business consumers of all the adults. (Apple Daily 12-25-2014 )  ◆Taiwan is hard to stop sex transactions, a 9 yrs old girl as prostitute (Next Magazine, no. 1887) ◆ Prostitution is violence against women / ref to <Prostitution : violence with no name>, "Prostitution et Societe", 2010, "Int'l Day for the Elimination of Violence against women", 11-25-2016 France.   ◆Taiwan government is the main criminal  to harm women's rights in large scale.  †

★  
　

  

　

　

Taiwan diplomacy

　

'comfort women' style kowtow diplomacy,
Taiwan served 2 powers, USA and/or China

　

◆

　

Taiwan's economy is highly reliant on China,
Taiwan needs the US for national defense

　

ps: "serving dicks" ("捧L.P.") is a widely-known political slang in Taiwan

　

　
★  
★  
white

 terror
　

 　

Taiwanese privacy   / Leaking patients' medical records is a normal social protocol in Taiwan     UDN  1-3-2017

In Taiwan, journalists are not used to respect patients' privacy... our hospital members do not get (cognosis) very clearly on the principle of protecting patients' privacy...
 <<快速看診、洩露病歷淪常態 醫療倫理何在？>> https://udn.com/news/story/7266/2205935  by  president of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Cancer Center  †

★

★

 　
Potential 'suicide bomber' !?

undergound das explosion disaster Taiwan


  †

●   It triggered public anger that Taiwan gov. never

 and refuse to go public residential-area locations

with potential explosion risks,

●   Hidden underground pipelines with dangerous Ethylene,

Propylene, liquefied petroleum gas, etc may pass

 through your home  / apple daily,  8-2-2014  (ps15)

  ps: the little whale is Taiwan-island shape.

　

　

 　

★

★


★★Land slide disaster in Taiwan★★

   

　

●  Taiwan has never gone public via media
those area with landslide disaster risks,

lots of houses with potential fatal dangers in Taiwan.

　

●  <CTS HD>, 5-23-2016 :

<遠見>study found Taiwanese people

gave a "failure" score (53.5)

on "living safety".   †

★

　

　

　

　

　

★ 

　

　

　

　

　

 USA Country Reports on Human Rights practices,
   3-3-2017 & 2016, 2015 /

One of Taiwan's principal human rights
problems -domestic violence, Taiwanese
Women suffered being raped (spousal rape).
  Many victims did not report the crime for fear of social stigmatization.  Various nongovernmental

organization (NGO) and academic studies
 estimated that the total number of sexual assaults

was seven to 10 times the number

 reported to police. 

†

　

　

　

 

 　

where's Birds Flu ...?

　

　

 

　

Taiwan (TW) 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


(1-2-2018 UDN udn.com/news/story/7266/2908720, 2012 BBC news :  www.bbc.com/zhongwen/trad/chinese_news
/2012/03/120304_taiwan_birdflu_investigate)

　

　

★  

★  

　

　

　

Taiwan ! Save the ocean !


 save the ocean

　


 ●  Daily Mail  (newspaper UK),  7-14-2017
comments it as "selfish" human beings ,
"Taiwan was once called 'Garbage island'
and more conversation is needed" ......

    ● Taiwan ignores environmental protection (ocean garbage clean-up) of 90% Taiwan's coast
 with large garbage-distributions...
/ UDN, 5-30-2017

　

pic above: Daily Mail (UK) :
Shocking underwater video from Taiwan
shows ocean floor littered with plastic (bottles) garbage
　

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4690526/The-bottom-ocean-filled-plastic-bottles.html  (news & video)

★  

　

                                         Free speech in Taiwan   

　  

 Nov. 18, 2017  The China Times : Taiwan president gave tacit (secretly) permission to Facebook (Taiwan) to restrict or block certain contents  ... brief http://opinion.chinatimes.com/20171118000516-262114;  Taiwan government did not deny or respond this.   

　

free expression on FB Taiwan ,  Freedom of speech in Taiwan

◆

★  

★
　

　

　

　

　

　
　

　

Too many fake scholarly papers

　

●  Fake papers again  -

Taiwan's image worsens for top scholar Chen (陳慶士) 's eight papers were found fake in the US.  / UDN 4-1-2018

● There's neither democracy on campus (colleges) nor university autonomy, / Apple Daily, opinion, 5-1-2018

●  UDN 5-5-2018 opinion: Associations of national and private universities criticized this is the darkest ever moment in Taiwan's history of university autonomy.

●  Lousy conducts and bad ethics in Taiwan's academic circle happened again and again, but never be handled seriously,
some careless-done fake papers are either ignorant or extremely audacious, some are even fraud-crimes,
only legal punishments can stop these, Taiwan government should take hard line now, even resulting in "corpses lie all over the country "  / UDN 1-11-2017  ps11

●   Lousy students with totally 38 score in entrance examination are good enough to be freshmen of Taiwan's university,
 it's an international joke ! / The China Times, 7-20-2017

　

　

　

　

★   ★  

　

　

　

Taiwan

　

　

Deposit room safety box

 †  Taiwan's society,
 laughs the poor instead of the prostitute

 †    

　

Organs harvest  2.0 / unbloody version 

Some people's compliance with the powerful  (ps: In the past, government encouraged its people to struggle and sell out each other for self-preservation or benefits which may degenerate humanity and make a decadent society. ) this cartoon was prt. in The China Times.

　

　

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Taiwan prosecutor

　

　

　

　

Taiwan justice

　

　

　

†   Lack of  judicial independence  
     United Daily 6-18-2016 head page: Taiwan prosecutors admitted they usually took compliant & subordinate manner to follow their commanding officer's order to access legal cases  Prosecutors in Taiwan
 Also ref to "USA Country Reports on Human Rights practices", the US State Department, 3-3-2017.

　

 † Taiwan's justice dodged the celebrity
       ps: The official hat has 2 flies-swappers - implying they only deal with
             tiny little ones instead of major crimes    Justice in Taiwan

　

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 †   Taiwan Police fired strong water cannon
against unarmed students and compatriots

courtesy news photos by Apple Daily and Liberty Times

　

　

 †  Japan fired strong water cannon
        toward Taiwan's official ship and fishing boat,
        Taiwan's very weak water cannon was mocked by Japanese media  (ps5)

　

　

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fire dragon

　

　

　

　

old man, sea, remote island★

　

　

†   Taiwan has enough laws, but lax management (administration)

 hurt too many people, e.g., traffic accidents killed too

many people - local and international tourists.

 / ref. to The Sun, BBC, People's Daily, Washington Post,

CNN, etc 2015 ~ 2017.
The SUN 2-13-2017: : BUS CRASH HORROR !

 it has come under fire in recent months over safety standards.
BBC 2-13-2017 :

　

　

 †  

Cart before the horse


Be blind to fundamental issues - democracy,

human rights,

food safety, judiciary, etc, 

But put efforts on political propaganda 'show' !? 


ps: this cartoon was exhibited in Bulgaria, Cyprus, etc

　

　

　

　

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Taiwan legal system

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

 †    Big muzzle on law enforcement officers
          money-talks working fine in Judicial system -
         a deep-rooted perspective in Taiwanese mind

　

. 

 †  Lady Justice turns into Venus

　

　

　

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◆

     More reviews on Taiwan

　

　

　

US president Bush was in Taiwanese restaurant

 　

Taiwanese Presidential Office Building

pic.  former US president Bush was in Taiwan's restaurant - Beijing Do It True

 pic: Taiwanese Presidential Office Building ― this original Japanese governor office which was a symbol of Japanese power's colonial domination sparked a controversy about moving to new place for transitional justice.  Taipei mayor Ko also stated it's really weird !    In the dinner of Ma-Xi meeting, the 1st time highest-ranking meeting since 1949, Communist Chinese leader Xi JinPing mentioned "Presidential Office" to Taiwan's leader Ma  ― probably both friendly and satirical ... 

　

　

　

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reviews on Taiwan

pic.1

　

● pic1:

 Ocean pollution in Taiwan coast

Daily Mail (UK)  7-14-2017 :
Shocking underwater video from Taiwan
shows ocean floor littered with plastic (bottles) garbage. 

●

●

　

●  Taiwan ignores environmental protection (ocean garbage clean-up) of 90% coast-line of Taiwan island for large garbage-distributions... / United Daily, 5-30-2017

●

●

　

●  Daily Mail  (newspaper UK),  7-14-2017
comments Taiwan coast garbage as  :
"selfish" human beings ,
"Taiwan was once called 'Garbage island'
and more conversation is needed" ...... ......

●

　

 　 　 　 　

review Taiwan's environmental pollution

　

pic.2

●   Next Magazine (Apple Daily), front-page, 4-6-2017 - ocean and river pollution by Taiwanese

●

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●    Asian's biggest sewage treatment plant in Taiwan's New Taipei,  skipped the process of removing contaminants from wastewater and disposed dirty and disgusting water into the sea for probably 4-5 years, witnesses confirmed. / Next Magazine (Apple Daily), front-page, 4-6-2017

●

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●   NO justice !  The courthouse judged enterprise's disposing 5000 ton cancer-producer strong acid and waste water into the river-creek (color changed to dark yellow ) and endangering the natural environment  is no guilty !  / headline news of Apply Daily,

9-30-2015  http://www.appledaily.com.tw/appledaily/article/headline/20150930/36807420/

　

●
　

　

　

　

ps: Dioxin & Fipronil in Taiwan


     ●  Taiwan administration's Dioxin
 ("poison of the century") control system crashed completely / FTV news, 4-22-2017

●

●

●  "Wanna murder people?"  Official certification CAS for food  includes not , but Dioxin was already inside many people's body, probably was over the limit ,  TW government has never done source-control, never stop contaminants (pollutant, e.g., plastic, inks from industry, fly-ash from incinerator, etc) going to our environment.   Pollution has exited 12 yrs, and never end  / Apple Daily, head-page, 4-22-2017 

　

　

● United Daily, opinion, 8-26-2017 : Taiwanese are mad at the administration is so careless that too many loopholes for business to illegally use chemical......  randomly inspections of some farms found Fipronil in sample chicken-eggs 30 times exceeding Euro. official standard.    

　

●   CTN  8-23-2017 : Taiwan's pesticide-control on foods was only half-done.

　

　
　 　

　

　

　

　
†

　

pic:    ● BBC UK, The SUN (2-13-2017): "BUS CRASH HORROR !"
Taiwan's "safety standards need to be improved".
 ● China - People's Daily's Global Times (7-19-2016) opinion-editorial:
Tourists're gambling their lives in Taiwan  ...  click Taiwan travel  

● CNN, Newsweek, 2-4-2015: Taiwan has had a poor aviation safety record
 ●

　

★

◆  Taiwan is reduced to a world dumping ground  - 

one million ton of stinky trash were delivered to Taiwan

between Jan. 2018 ~ July 2018 / Apple Daily, headline news, 8-30-2018
　 　 　 　 ●

PS:  among top rankings on the net !!★

　

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pic: This websites-group was ranked No.1 by keyword 
"review Taiwan"  on US Bing, 3-8-2019, 1-1-2019, 11-2-2018, 8-1-2018, 6-18-2018, 5-17-2018, 2-14-2018,
11-28-2017, 9-6-2017  ("comment Taiwan", "understand Taiwan" both rank No.1 too)

 

　

　

　

　

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pic: This websites-group was ranked No.1
by keyword  "review Taiwan" 
on US Google, 9-27-2017, 12-2-2017, 1-20-2018

214,000,000 results
　

　

　

　

　

pic: This websites-group was ranked No.1
by keyword "review Taiwan" 
on US Google , 1-11-2018, 9-19-2017, 5-13-2018
　

　

　


pic: This websites-group was ranked No.2 by keyword "review Taiwan"  on US Google,
2-2-2020, 1-31-2020,1-17-2020

　

　

　

pic: This websites-group was ranked No.1 by keyword "review Taiwan"  on Baidu of China, 2-2-2020

　
　

　

　

　

　

　

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pic: This websites-group was ranked No.1 by keyword
"comment Taiwan" on US Google at 10-15-2018, 1-11-2018, 12-4-2016,

1-14-2017,  5-29-2017,  9-5-2017, 12-2-2017

No.1 on US Bing, Yahoo search engine, 6-18-2018

　

●  Facebook in Taiwan

　

This websites-group was ranked No.1 by keyword
  "Understand Taiwan" on Google,  10-15-2018, 1-11-2018, 9-5-2017,  5-5-2017,
1-6-2017, 5-29-2017 , 12-2-2017

images' ranks - No.1, 2, 3

　

No.1 on US Bing, Yahoo search engine, 6-18-2018  

　

★

a survey to find political persecutions in Taiwan

◆ 　

   

a survey since years ago  (in various versions)

　

To all the people:

　

According to Amnesty Int'l report years ago, "over half the world's government continue to use torture against their own citizens"

　

Is Taiwan a country which should be ranked latter half of the world ?

　

Taiwan had numerous lousy records of fooling Taiwanese and even the world, e.g., murdering American journalist 江南, making Taiwan white terror again, the latest one is trying to hide minor news about birds-flu at 1-2-2018 (BBC '12 reported this) not to mention big issues.

　

This website is much better in credibility, reliability and objective degree than the mouthpiece of the government.

 

To accelerate Taiwan's reform, please provide with what you saw, knew or experienced about attacks or persecutions on someone in the way of demonization,  setup/conspiracy (e.g., giving dog a name and hang it), high-tech tortures, Orwellian terror, murders ...... by the state apparatus - if any.

　

Scary political climate for many years has made Taiwanese very obedient, hope some may speak out this time.

　

　

　

　

　

　

To the state apparatus:

　

Any rats doing cat's job, or cats with rat's genes in state apparatus should be completely revealed and eradicated ! (if any)

"Police" should be open as the day, not hiding at dark corner underground, doing & speaking things sneaky and lousy like a crime.

Bring everything to light ! No keeping people mis-informed or half informed (worse than a lie) any more.   No waiting until media dig dirt one after another.

Obscurantism and avoiding admitting mistakes only prove rats' intention of repeating mistakes, as US Obama said.

　

　

　

  ps: straight-forward words pls. to avoid any mis-interpretations

  Below is a Chinese-version survey

　

　
　

Survey for catching rats or cats with rat-genes

　

 

　

◆ 致台灣百姓

　

根據近年來國內外研究與報告，台灣是個 '惡名昭彰' 的國家 !

台灣 是否還隱藏諸多施加人民之惡，尚未被揭露??

　

intlHumanRights.com網站群，  中英文"評論台灣"排名國際第一 (click  排名第一)， 經Google, Bing, Yahoo, Metager, Baidu,  Facebook, Twitter...遍傳全球百國，公正、 客觀與可信度非 '為官喉舌'力能企及，

為加速台灣改革、除惡務盡，敬請仗義「直」言 ，如您經歷或知悉 如有羶犬奸吏 謀害、戕傷人權、Orwellian terror, 散播耳語(常備有晃子,藉口)妖魔化攻擊特定對象 等等情事，請惠予提供 具體合法證據，以便全球清譽機構及研究單位， 紀錄國家行徑、分析真相全貌、 發現包藏之禍心 (請直白文字以免誤譯或解讀錯誤)；

　

「國家機器」不應再利用人民長年被迫養成的「謹小慎微」，台灣人的名字不 應再叫「順民」 !!

　

　

本survey只針對公共議題政治迫害，不包括一般 刑民犯 罪， 多年來且將繼續  隨機選擇政府機構、跨國知名企業、以及個人，挖掘可能之犯行。

　

　

◆ 致國家機器:

法國媒體le monde diplomatic將台灣畫成發抖 躲貓的耗鼠(click !)。 「國家機器」如 真有黑幕掩護之 白色恐怖，應主動"棄暗投明"，別做偷偷摸摸、行不由徑 的碩鼠， 或老鼠基因的貓 !! 如美國Obama所說, 公開認錯 才代表不貳過。

　

　

　

CourageZu@gmail.com

　

　

　

　

　

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