China expansionism

Retired tech exec to invest NT$1 billion to train 3 million civilians to help defend Taiwan against China

UMC founder and former Chairman Robert Tsao
Business and Economy 
Are China’s coal power plants com...
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

The founder and former chairman of chip manufacturer United Microelectronics (UMC) has pledged to invest NT$1 billion (US$32.8 million) to train 300,000 specialist marksmen, and 3 million “black bear warriors” to actively assist with regional defense in the face of growing threats from the People’s Republic of China. Robert Tsao revealed the plan at an international press conference held this morning, September 1, saying that the civilian force will cooperate with the soldiers of the national army to form an

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Beijing’s big bucks billboards display chilling effect on free speech in Australia

Billboard design for Drew Pavlou Democratic Alliance campaign designed by Taiwan English News
International Politics 
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Australian Senate candidate Drew Pavlou claims that Australian billboard advertising companies have refused to display his ad campaign out of fear of retaliation by the Chinese government, and that Beijing-funded billboard ads went up instead. Pavlou’s ad was designed to protest against the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics being held in a country with serious human rights issues, and depicted works by Chinese dissident artist Badiucao. Bishopp Outdoor Advertising had agreed to place the ad for $3,000. But yesterday, a representative

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Anti-communist music video suppressed on YouTube but you can watch it here: maybe

Regional 
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In another example of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) spreading influence well beyond the jurisdictions of the single-party, non-democratic state, CCP collaborator YouTube suppressed an anti-CCP music video just seconds after its release. The Taiwanese developers of the game Reversed Front released the song to accompany the launch of the mobile version of the game scheduled for 8:00 pm, November 23. However, by the time the video went live on YouTube, it had already been flagged, and labeled as “adult

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Bipartisan advisory group urges US Congress to get real on deterring China’s aggression against Taiwan

US China Economic and Security Review Commission
International Relations 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment ,

A bipartisan congressional advisory group tasked with making an annual report on US-China relations urged US lawmakers to take urgent measures to strengthen the credibility of US military deterrence to potential Chinese aggression against Taiwan, Wednesday, November 17. The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) warned that a lack of clarity in U.S. policy could could fail to deter the Chinese Communist Party from opportunistic aggression against Taiwan. The report came just a day after a high profile meeting

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China’s gray war tactics seriously affect Taiwan’s security: MND report

map of Taiwan missile defenses
Military Affairs 
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As of October 5, Chinese military planes had flown 600 sorties into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone since the beginning of the year, up from a total of 380 in 2020, the Ministry of National Defense told lawmakers in Taiwan’s parliamentary body, the Legislative Yuan, yesterday. The MND revealed the information in a report ahead of deliberations today, October 6, by the Legislative Yuan’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee on a draft sea and air combat power enhancement special

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China intensifies gray-zone warfare with record-breaking 39 flights into Taiwan defence zone in single day

PLA H-6 bomber shadowed by ROC Airforce F-16
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 3 Comments , , ,

China sent 39 military aircraft into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone Saturday, October 2, one more than the previous record set just one day earlier. Ministry of National Defense officials said Saturday evening that the PLA Air Force had flown 20 sorties, including 14 J-16 fighters, 4 Sukai-30 fighters, and 2 Yun-8 anti-submarine aircraft into the southwest section of Taiwan’s ADIZ during the day. At midnight, the MND announced that a further 19 sorties had been flown after nightfall, including

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United Nations helps Chinese Communist Party make American high schoolers say Taiwan part of China

Xi Jinping United Nations flag
International Relations 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment , ,

A high school in Colorado changed references to Taiwan on its website after a UN committee said it was a “hiccup” in an application for students to participate in a UN teen advisory board. “Trying to give some students a taste of foreign affairs, Colorado’s Regis Jesuit High School applied for credentials to attend the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women,” The Wall Street Journal reported September 10. However, the UN emailed the school informing them of a

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Biden reassures: if Taiwan were invaded, the US would respond

Joe Biden ABC News interview
International Relations 
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The United States would respond to any action against, or invasion of Taiwan, US President Joe Biden said during an interview with ABC News George Stephanopoulos, Wednesday, August 18. In his first interview since the US’ chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan began, Biden made reassurances that the United States can be trusted to stand by its allies in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. “You already see China telling Taiwan, ‘See? You can’t count on the Americans,’” Stephanopoulos prompted Biden. “Why wouldn’t

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Afghanistan crisis bodes badly for Taiwan says former US President

Trump Sean Hannity interview August 17, 2021
International 
Phillip Charlier 2 Comments ,

Former United States President Donald J. Trump predicted that bad things will happen to Taiwan after the calamity of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Trump spoke of the implications for Taiwan in an interview with Fox News commentator Sean Hannity, Tuesday, August 17. “I think bad things will happen in respect to Taiwan because they [China] don’t respect our leadership and they no longer respect our country,” he said. “And that’s a really bad thing. China does not respect us any longer,” Trump said. Trump said that China’s

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China sends record 28 military flights into Taiwan ADIZ in one day: a response to G7 summit statement?

Chinese J-11 fighter jet.
Military Affairs 
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The People’s Republic of China made 28 military aircraft incursions into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) today, June 15, a record number that follows an ‘unprecedented’ communique from the Group of Seven that highlighted the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait just two days ago. The G7 communique issued June 13 reiterated the importance of maintaining a free and open Indo Pacific, and mentioning Taiwan for the first time in the group’s history, stated “We underscore

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China incensed after Japan’s Prime Minister, opposition leader call Taiwan ‘a country’

Wang Wenbin spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Regional 
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China expressed “strong dissatisfaction with erroneous remarks” in response to statements made in Japan’s parliamentary body yesterday referring to Taiwan as a country, according to Beijing Daily. Both the Prime Minister of Japan, Yoshihide Suga, and the leader of the opposition, Yukio Edano, made comments using the word “country” when referring to Taiwan in the Japanese Diet yesterday, Wednesday, June 9. Prime Minister Suga, speaking about epidemic prevention efforts in overseas countries cited the examples of Australia, New Zealand, and

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