China expansionism

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

Regional 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

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 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

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 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

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 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

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 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

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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CCP plutocrat offers Hong Kong $1,000,000 reward to rat-out protest icon “eye girl” believed to be in Taiwan

reward poster for Hong Kong activist
Protest 
Phillip Charlier 2 Comments , ,

The Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, former Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Leung Chun-ying has raised the reward offered for information on the whereabouts of a young woman who became a symbol for protesters in Hong Kong in 2019. The existing reward of HK$400,000 was raised to HK$1 million (US$128,820) via Leung’s “803 Fund” after a newspaper report revealed, yesterday, May 25, that the “broken eye girl” as Chinese language reports call her,

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European Values think tank communist-watch program to open Taipei Office

Liang-Ruey Ke and EVC sign agreement
International Relations 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

The Czech think tank, European Values Center for Security Policy (EVC), will open an office in Taipei later this year, as part of its Red Watch Program, according to a press release issued today, April 20. The Taipei Office of the Red Watch Program will focus on monitoring Chinese influence operations. EVC signed a partnership agreement with Taiwan’s representative Ke Liang-Ruey at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Prague today. The EVC press release referred to Ke as “The

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