https://www.scmp.com/rss/322002/feed Lawrence Chung covers major news in Taiwan, ranging from presidential and parliament elections to killer earthquakes and typhoons. Most of his reports focus on Taiwan’s relations with China, specifically on the impact and possible developments of cross-strait relations under the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party and mainland-friendly Kuomintang governments. Before starting work at the South China Morning Post in 2006, he wrote for Reuters and AFP for more than 12 years. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) is showing signs of internal strain ahead of its leader’s planned visit to mainland China, with divisions over defence spending and ties with Washington and Beijing raising questions over the party’s strategic direction. KMT chairwoman Cheng Li-wun is set to go to mainland China with a delegation from April 7 to 12 on a trip that could include a meeting with Communist Party leader Xi Jinping. The trip comes as the party remains divided over a contentious... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3349025/taiwans-opposition-kmt-splitting-pro-us-and-pro-beijing-camps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3349025/taiwans-opposition-kmt-splitting-pro-us-and-pro-beijing-camps?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 10:00:14 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s Premier Cho Jung-tai has warned the chairwoman of the main opposition party Kuomintang (KMT) against engaging in talks or agreements involving government authority when she visits mainland China next month. Cheng Li-wun’s coming visit has rattled Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and exposed unease even within KMT ranks – highlighting mounting friction over the opposition outreach to Beijing amid heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait. Cheng is expected to lead a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348556/no-deals-mainland-china-visit-taiwans-premier-cho-jung-tai-warns-kmt-chairwoman?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348556/no-deals-mainland-china-visit-taiwans-premier-cho-jung-tai-warns-kmt-chairwoman?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:13:27 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan has pushed back against a growing number of foreign governments that label it part of China in their internal systems. But questions are mounting over whether Taipei’s retaliatory moves can deliver results. The dispute has widened in recent weeks after South Korea, Denmark and Cameroon were found to have changed how they designate the island in official systems, such as those that handle visa documents, residence permits and international conference credentials. Taipei has responded with... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348438/names-and-games-taipei-hits-back-over-china-label-will-it-pay?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348438/names-and-games-taipei-hits-back-over-china-label-will-it-pay?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 01:00:12 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Four senior US senators are on a two-day visit to Taiwan to press for legislative approval of a NT$1.25 trillion (US$40 billion) special defence budget proposed by the island’s government but stalled by the opposition as military pressure from Beijing intensifies. The visit – seen as signalling growing frustration in Washington over the delays – comes as Taipei faces looming payment deadlines for several US-approved arms packages, with funding still unresolved due to the legislative... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348433/us-senators-visit-taiwan-push-defence-spending-arms-deadlines-loom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348433/us-senators-visit-taiwan-push-defence-spending-arms-deadlines-loom?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:39:24 +0000 Phoebe Zhang,Lawrence Chung Phoebe Zhang,Lawrence Chung Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of Taiwan’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), will lead a delegation to mainland China next month at the invitation of Beijing, her first visit since assuming the position in November. Song Tao, head of Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Monday that the Communist Party Central Committee and Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party Central Committee, would welcome her visit to Jiangsu province, Shanghai and Beijing from April 7 to 12 to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348342/taiwans-kuomintang-leader-visit-mainland-china-aid-peaceful-relations-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348342/taiwans-kuomintang-leader-visit-mainland-china-aid-peaceful-relations-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 02:47:18 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taipei aims to leverage geopolitics by positioning itself as an Asia-Pacific drone hub built on a supply chain decoupled from mainland China, though challenges relating to scale, politics and timing threaten its ambitious industrial strategy. The push reflects a broader effort by the administration of Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te to position the island as a node in what officials have described as a “democratic supply chain” free of mainland Chinese components amid rising geopolitical... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347745/can-taiwan-fulfil-its-asia-pacific-drone-hub-goal-non-red-supply-chain-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347745/can-taiwan-fulfil-its-asia-pacific-drone-hub-goal-non-red-supply-chain-push?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 02:00:14 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s defence ministry has outlined a wartime strategy of using long-range firepower to “slow the advance” of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) forces in the event of a cross-strait assault. The ministry report on Monday comes as lawmakers began formal discussions on a proposed NT$1.25 trillion (US$40 billion) special defence budget. The ministry said the military would prioritise targeting the incoming adversary – including amphibious fleets and logistics support forces – as they mobilised and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347617/deny-delay-degrade-taiwan-unveils-long-range-strategy-hold-pla-strait?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347617/deny-delay-degrade-taiwan-unveils-long-range-strategy-hold-pla-strait?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 12:00:41 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung The survival of Iran’s political and military apparatus following a massive US-Israeli decapitation strike has ignited a strategic debate in Taiwan, with experts weighing the island’s ability to withstand a similar “surgical” opening to an attack from the mainland. Military analysts and officials in Taipei are closely studying the February 28 strikes that killed Ali Khamenei, the Iranian supreme leader, and Iran’s ability to sustain organised resistance in the weeks that have followed. Iran’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347431/could-taiwans-military-continue-fight-after-iran-decapitation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347431/could-taiwans-military-continue-fight-after-iran-decapitation?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 12:00:09 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung A possible delay in the planned summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping later this month has raised concerns about a pending record US arms sale to Taiwan, though officials in Taipei insist the deal remains on track. Reuters reported on Friday that the US$14 billion arms package – possibly the largest ever for Taiwan – was ready for the US president’s approval and could be announced after his visit to Beijing. The package is expected to include advanced air-defence systems such as Patriot... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3346914/will-postponed-trump-xi-summit-affect-us-arms-sales-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3346914/will-postponed-trump-xi-summit-affect-us-arms-sales-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:01:21 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Lessons from the wars in Iran and Ukraine are pushing Taipei to rethink its air-defence strategy, with officials now warning that expensive missiles alone cannot stop large waves of rockets and drones. In a report submitted to Taiwan’s lawmakers on Monday, the island’s defence ministry said low-cost interceptor weapons were urgently needed to counter the mainland Chinese military’s growing arsenal of long-range rockets and uncrewed aircraft. The new systems would form part of Taiwan’s planned... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346773/what-lessons-does-taiwan-see-iran-and-ukraine-its-air-defence-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346773/what-lessons-does-taiwan-see-iran-and-ukraine-its-air-defence-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 13:30:08 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai has come under fire over what he said was a private visit to Japan to support the island’s team at the World Baseball Classic last week – a trip that drew a sharp rebuke from Beijing. Cho travelled to Tokyo on March 7, watching Taiwan defeat the Czech Republic 14-0 at the Tokyo Dome in the tournament’s Pool C round. He returned to Taipei the same day. It was the first visit to Japan by a sitting Taiwanese premier since Tokyo ended official ties with Taipei in 1972... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3346546/swing-and-miss-taiwans-premier-under-fire-over-baseball-trip-tokyo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3346546/swing-and-miss-taiwans-premier-under-fire-over-baseball-trip-tokyo?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 04:00:15 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s defence ministry has received a US letter of offer and acceptance (LOA) for 82 Himars rocket launchers, according to officials, who said the deal must be signed by March 26 as other pending arms contracts near expiry. Speaking before a legislative session on Tuesday, Wellington Koo Li-hsiung, the island’s defence minister, said the Himars, or High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, agreement was one of five US arms procurement deals awaiting legislative authorisation. Koo noted that the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3346131/taiwan-scrambles-sign-us-arms-deals-deadline-amid-defence-budget-gridlock?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3346131/taiwan-scrambles-sign-us-arms-deals-deadline-amid-defence-budget-gridlock?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 01:00:13 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s legislature has agreed to begin reviewing a long-stalled special defence budget, but competing opposition proposals are set to complicate passage of the government’s NT$1.25 trillion (US$40 billion) plan despite mounting pressure from the United States. Lawmakers began scrutinising the bill on Friday, as three rival proposals from the island’s main political parties exposed deep divisions over how much Taiwan should spend on defence and what mix of foreign weapons and home-grown... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3345756/taiwan-starts-review-defence-bill-competing-proposals-expose-divisions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3345756/taiwan-starts-review-defence-bill-competing-proposals-expose-divisions?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 04:00:12 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stirred unexpected debate in Taiwan after invoking the phrase “unleash Chiang” while warning that Washington would intensify its strikes against Iran. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday about the escalating Middle East conflict, Rubio said the world would soon see a change in the scope and intensity of the attacks. “We’re going to unleash Chiang on these people in the next few hours and days,” he said. The remark, made in the context of US efforts to dismantle... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3345581/what-does-marco-rubios-unleash-chiang-threat-against-iran-actually-mean?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3345581/what-does-marco-rubios-unleash-chiang-threat-against-iran-actually-mean?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan has reacted to the US strike on Iran with surprise, strategic calculation and renewed debate over the island’s air defence readiness. While some observers were struck by what they saw as overwhelming US military dominance, others said the conflict underscored the urgency of accelerating plans to build a more integrated, layered air defence network amid mounting pressure from Beijing. On Monday, the island’s cabinet said relevant ministries were “closely monitoring developments in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3345172/us-strike-iran-fuels-taiwans-air-defence-debate-and-energy-supply-fears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3345172/us-strike-iran-fuels-taiwans-air-defence-debate-and-energy-supply-fears?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 14:00:22 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s procurement of three US arms packages has come under renewed scrutiny, with military experts now questioning their effectiveness in deterring Beijing. The debate has sharpened after opposition parties repeatedly blocked a proposed NT$1.25 trillion (US$40 billion) special defence budget in the legislature’s procedure committee last month. At the centre of the latest criticism are three US-approved systems for Taiwan: the Patriot PAC-3 missile defence system and its upgrades, the National... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344968/taiwan-buying-expensive-us-weapons-systems-are-they-right-ones?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344968/taiwan-buying-expensive-us-weapons-systems-are-they-right-ones?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 13:00:09 +0000 Amber Wang,Lawrence Chung Amber Wang,Lawrence Chung Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te’s rare reference to “mainland China” signals caution ahead of a highly anticipated Xi-Trump summit, according to analysts who say it is premature to declare a shift in his cross-strait policy. Addressing a group of Taiwanese businesspeople operating on the mainland on Tuesday, Lai used the term “mainland China” multiple times, contrasting with his frequent use of “China” in major speeches since his 2024 inauguration as the self-ruled island’s leader. During... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3344765/what-does-taiwanese-leader-william-lais-rare-mainland-china-reference-mean?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3344765/what-does-taiwanese-leader-william-lais-rare-mainland-china-reference-mean?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 01:58:29 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan is at risk of missing out on three US-approved weapons packages for the first time because of delays to a stalled NT$1.25 trillion (US$40 billion) special defence budget in the legislature. The unprecedented situation has prompted Defence Minister Wellington Koo Li-hsiung to urge opposition lawmakers to give the budget emergency authorisation ahead of a March 15 deadline, when letters of offer and acceptance for three arms deals will expire. If the deals – to buy M109A7 self-propelled... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3344482/taiwan-may-see-us-arms-deals-fall-through-first-time-because-legislative-deadlock?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3344482/taiwan-may-see-us-arms-deals-fall-through-first-time-because-legislative-deadlock?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 12:00:10 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan has moved swiftly to seek clarification from Washington after the US Supreme Court struck down Donald Trump’s tariff authority. The ruling on Friday prompted the US president to invoke a separate statute – Section 122 of the US Trade Act of 1974 – to impose a 15 per cent global tariff, casting fresh uncertainty over Taiwan’s trade outlook. The legal reset has raised questions in Taipei about whether tariff exemptions negotiated under the existing Taiwan-US trade framework – including... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3344364/taiwan-seeks-clarity-after-us-supreme-court-upends-trumps-tariff-powers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3344364/taiwan-seeks-clarity-after-us-supreme-court-upends-trumps-tariff-powers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:01:25 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s parliament is set to prioritise review of a disputed NT$1.25 trillion (US$40 billion) special defence budget bill when its new session begins on Tuesday, as pressure mounts from Washington. But US President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about consulting Chinese President Xi Jinping on arms sales could complicate the debate, potentially giving Taipei’s opposition parties greater room to manoeuvre and reshape the final version of the bill, according to analysts. The renewed push follows... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3344220/how-trumps-beijing-bargaining-could-derail-taiwans-multibillion-dollar-defence-budget?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3344220/how-trumps-beijing-bargaining-could-derail-taiwans-multibillion-dollar-defence-budget?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 10:00:26 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te has appealed for public support amid a dispute about a special military budget, warning that the deadlock could delay key weapons deliveries and send the island down the US arms supply priority list. The NT$1.25 trillion (US$40 billion) special budget has been repeatedly blocked by opposition parties, even as Taipei has come under increasing US pressure to prove its commitment to its own defence. Analysts warn that continued delays could weaken perceptions... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343466/taiwan-defence-budget-delays-may-push-island-down-us-priority-list-william-lai-warns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343466/taiwan-defence-budget-delays-may-push-island-down-us-priority-list-william-lai-warns?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 06:00:18 +0000 Lawrence Chung,William Zheng Lawrence Chung,William Zheng Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s sweeping victory in Sunday’s snap election has sounded alarm bells in Beijing, which is wary that closer ties between Tokyo and Taipei could complicate its long-term objective of reunifying Taiwan. Beijing’s annual work conference on Taiwan affairs, held on Monday and Tuesday, came just after Japan’s lower-house election, in which Takaichi’s party secured a two-thirds supermajority. At the event, Wang Huning, the Communist Party’s fourth-ranked leader,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343095/how-sanae-takaichis-big-win-japan-may-complicate-beijings-taiwan-policy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343095/how-sanae-takaichis-big-win-japan-may-complicate-beijings-taiwan-policy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 01:00:17 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan has conducted a series of shallow-water submerged tests of its indigenous submarine prototype over the past two weeks, marking a key step towards potential navy delivery as early as June. The Hai Kun, or Narwhal, is part of the island’s Indigenous Defence Submarine programme, a project widely seen as central to its efforts to boost asymmetric naval capabilities amid increasing military pressure from Beijing. Surface navigation tests began last year, with undersea trials and weapons... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342948/will-taiwan-meet-submarine-delivery-deadline-unlock-defence-budget-hai-kun-tests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342948/will-taiwan-meet-submarine-delivery-deadline-unlock-defence-budget-hai-kun-tests?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 02:00:13 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan is moving to plug one-year conscripts directly into frontline combined-arms operations, mandating joint live-fire training with troops across all services to bolster resilience against a potential attack from Beijing. But the push is facing challenges, with experts saying that the inexperienced recruits could become a battlefield burden while the military also deals with training capacity issues and weakening public resolve on defending the island. The Taiwanese cabinet’s latest policy... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342711/taiwan-wants-train-effective-reserve-force-will-live-fire-drills-do-job?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342711/taiwan-wants-train-effective-reserve-force-will-live-fire-drills-do-job?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 06:00:20 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Talks between the US and Chinese presidents on Taiwan and arms sales have fanned fears on the island that it is slipping down the ladder of Washington’s strategic priorities in an era of great-power bargaining. The concern compounded unease raised by the release last month of the US’ National Defence Strategy, which made no mention of Taiwan. In a phone call on Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping told his American counterpart Donald Trump that Taiwan was the “most important” question in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3342534/xi-trump-and-why-their-talks-are-stoking-unease-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3342534/xi-trump-and-why-their-talks-are-stoking-unease-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 12:00:15 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) on Monday reaffirmed its view of mainland China as “family” as the party’s vice-chairman departed for talks with counterparts in Beijing. The trip by Hsiao Hsu-tsen has drawn fierce criticism from Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and reignited debate over the island’s cross-strait strategy. Hsaio, who is leading a 40-member delegation to a think tank forum with the Communist Party of China, said the visit was aimed at creating a more... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3342127/kmt-stresses-family-ties-mainland-china-vice-chair-begins-beijing-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3342127/kmt-stresses-family-ties-mainland-china-vice-chair-begins-beijing-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 11:30:11 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s absence from the United States’ newly released 2026 National Defence Strategy has fuelled fresh debate on the island over whether Washington is deliberately sidestepping Taiwan as it prioritises bigger interests with Beijing. The omission is in sharp contrast with earlier editions of the Pentagon’s quadrennial flagship strategy, which had explicitly referred to Beijing’s pressure on Taiwan and pledged support for the island’s asymmetric defence. The 2022 iteration mentioned the island... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3341816/us-defence-strategy-omission-raises-alarm-taiwan-over-trumps-intentions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3341816/us-defence-strategy-omission-raises-alarm-taiwan-over-trumps-intentions?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 04:00:09 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s defence ministry on Tuesday pushed back against an opposition party proposal to cut a planned NT$1.25 trillion (US$40 billion) special military budget to NT$400 billion and drop plans for the “T-Dome” layered air defence system. It said the plan would not only be unworkable but could also undermine the island’s defence readiness in the face of mounting military pressure from Beijing. The warning came as Taiwan’s legislature remained deadlocked over the special funding bill, which was... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3341455/taiwans-defence-ministry-slams-tpps-unworkable-military-spending-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3341455/taiwans-defence-ministry-slams-tpps-unworkable-military-spending-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 04:00:08 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan has set up a top-tier firepower coordination hub in partnership with the US to sharpen asymmetric strike integration as military pressure from Beijing intensifies. The new Joint Firepower Coordination Centre – the highest-level facility of its kind in Taiwan – is designed to coordinate long-range precision strike planning and intelligence-sharing across the island’s military services. This comes as Taipei ramps up coordination between its US-made weapons systems and locally developed... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341291/taiwan-launches-firepower-hub-us-beijing-steps-military-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341291/taiwan-launches-firepower-hub-us-beijing-steps-military-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 12:37:10 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung The opposition’s push to impeach Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te has entered a new phase after he refused last week to appear at related legislative hearings. The no-show has further deepened partisan strife and is likely to complicate governance ahead of year-end local government elections, observers warn, although most agree that the impeachment motion is unlikely to clear Taiwan’s high constitutional threshold. The impeachment motion – an unprecedented move against a sitting leader of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3341116/what-next-taiwan-william-lai-refuses-attend-impeachment-hearings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3341116/what-next-taiwan-william-lai-refuses-attend-impeachment-hearings?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 02:00:36 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s opposition parties are stepping up criticism of the island’s government over a controversial economic deal with the United States, warning that what officials portray as a tariff win could carry heavy long-term costs for the island’s economy and industrial base. The cabinet on Tuesday released further details of the agreement, which allows Taiwan to secure a 15 per cent reciprocal tariff rate. The rate is down from a previously proposed 20 per cent and broadly in line with Japan, South... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3340583/taiwan-pressure-builds-over-us-deal-critics-question-true-cost-us-tariff-cut?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3340583/taiwan-pressure-builds-over-us-deal-critics-question-true-cost-us-tariff-cut?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 12:04:32 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s military held a closed-door briefing on Monday to break an opposition blockade of a controversial NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.5 billion) special defence budget that has prompted accusations of “black box” decision-making from rival parties. Taiwanese Defence Minister Wellington Koo Li-hsiung delivered a classified briefing to the legislature’s foreign affairs and defence committee, seeking to persuade lawmakers to allow the long-stalled bill to be referred for committee review. The package... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340451/taiwanese-militarys-closed-door-meeting-draws-black-box-criticism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340451/taiwanese-militarys-closed-door-meeting-draws-black-box-criticism?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 01:00:15 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung The United States’ decision to withdraw from dozens of UN and other international organisations may have dealt another blow to Taiwan’s efforts to raise its global profile amid mounting pressure from Beijing. While Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te’s government has sought to play down the impact, observers have warned that Washington’s retreat could further squeeze the island’s already narrow international space. US President Donald Trump on January 7 ordered the US to exit 66 international... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3340149/taiwan-faces-possible-beijing-squeeze-after-us-quits-who-and-other-agencies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3340149/taiwan-faces-possible-beijing-squeeze-after-us-quits-who-and-other-agencies?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Jan 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan has secured a US deal slashing export tariffs to 15 per cent after more than nine months of talks, with Taipei hailing the result as a “home run” that will put the island on an equal footing with Japan and South Korea. But observers and opposition parties have raised sharp concerns over Taiwan’s commitment to invest up to US$500 billion in the United States in exchange for the tariff cut. The arrangement could hollow out Taiwan’s industrial base – particularly its prized semiconductor... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3340216/taipei-hails-us-15-tariffs-home-run-despite-fears-over-us500-billion-cost?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3340216/taipei-hails-us-15-tariffs-home-run-despite-fears-over-us500-billion-cost?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 13:23:48 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan has begun co-producing 155mm (6.1-inch) artillery shells with the US, as the island moves to strengthen wartime ammunition resilience amid Beijing’s escalating military pressure and concern over supply disruptions in a high-intensity conflict. Taiwan’s defence ministry on Monday said Taipei and Washington had launched early-stage joint production of a new type of 155mm howitzer ammunition. Lieutenant General Lin Wen-hsiang, head of Taiwan’s Armaments Bureau, testified during a legislative... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339770/taiwan-and-us-launch-joint-production-155mm-artillery-shells-amid-blockade-fears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339770/taiwan-and-us-launch-joint-production-155mm-artillery-shells-amid-blockade-fears?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 13:00:13 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s legislature is weighing amendments to an anti-infiltration law that would impose a minimum one-year prison term on Beijing-linked influence and infiltration activities, while critics have raised concerns about tighter social controls. The proposed changes to the Anti-Infiltration Act, under review by the legislature’s Interior Affairs Committee on Monday, come six years after the law took effect. They also come amid growing concerns within the government that prosecutions have resulted... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3339634/taiwan-targets-beijing-linked-infiltration-push-stricter-punishment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3339634/taiwan-targets-beijing-linked-infiltration-push-stricter-punishment?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 13:08:58 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s latest military crash involving an upgraded F-16 fighter jet has sparked fresh scrutiny of the readiness of the island’s ageing arsenal amid the sustained high-tempo demands of cross-strait tensions. The episode on Tuesday has sharpened debate over whether upgrades and new armament purchases can realistically keep pace with increasing wear, maintenance constraints and the rapid modernisation of mainland China’s forces, according to lawmakers and analysts. The incident involved an F-16V... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339444/f-16-fighter-jet-crash-brings-fresh-scrutiny-taiwans-ageing-military-equipment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339444/f-16-fighter-jet-crash-brings-fresh-scrutiny-taiwans-ageing-military-equipment?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Jan 2026 14:00:09 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan,Lawrence Chung Cao Jiaxuan,Lawrence Chung US President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the Taiwan issue is “up to” Chinese leader Xi Jinping has stirred fresh concerns about the United States’ defence commitment among some on the island. Responding to Trump’s remarks, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Friday that Taiwan was an inalienable part of China’s territory and that the Taiwan question was purely China’s internal affair. Mao said that resolving the Taiwan issue was a matter for the Chinese people alone and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339252/taiwan-xi-jinping-and-nothing-venezuela-donald-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339252/taiwan-xi-jinping-and-nothing-venezuela-donald-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 02:12:06 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung A controversial plan to change Taiwan’s law governing relations with mainland China, which critics said could edge the island towards “de jure independence”, appears to have collapsed within days. The failure of the draft legislation to even reach the legislature’s agenda committee underscored the sensitivity of the issue amid mounting pressure from Beijing, which warned on Sunday that a declaration of independence would mean war. The initiative to amend the Act Governing Relations Between the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3338958/bid-change-taiwan-law-prompted-beijing-warn-war-risk-falls-first-hurdle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3338958/bid-change-taiwan-law-prompted-beijing-warn-war-risk-falls-first-hurdle?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 13:02:01 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung The US “decapitation-style” operation against Venezuela’s leadership has heightened concerns in Taiwan that Beijing could one day attempt a similar strike against the island, even though Taipei has played down such a possibility. The anxiety has been amplified by the People’s Liberation Army’s two-day drills around Taiwan last week, parts of which simulated joint operations aimed at paralysing political and military command structures – a scenario analysts say echoes elements of leadership... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338812/us-decapitation-strike-venezuela-sparks-pla-copycat-fears-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338812/us-decapitation-strike-venezuela-sparks-pla-copycat-fears-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Jan 2026 13:03:24 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung A plan by the chairwoman of Taiwan’s main opposition party to visit Beijing this year, hoping to meet President Xi Jinping, has fuelled hopes of better dialogue amid soaring cross-strait tensions. But while supporters have hailed Cheng Li-wun’s planned trip as a chance to ease frictions across the Taiwan Strait, critics warn that it risks signalling alignment with Beijing as it increases military pressure on the island. Cheng, who was elected chairwoman of the Kuomintang (KMT) in October, has... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3338624/new-kmt-chair-hopes-take-peace-message-beijing-while-taiwan-political-tightrope?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3338624/new-kmt-chair-hopes-take-peace-message-beijing-while-taiwan-political-tightrope?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jan 2026 04:00:19 +0000 Sylvie Zhuang,Lawrence Chung Sylvie Zhuang,Lawrence Chung The latest People’s Liberation Army drills around Taiwan may have been testing how to wear down the island’s air defences using rockets that are “cheap enough to be used in large quantities”, military observers said. On Tuesday, the PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command wrapped up a two-day live-fire exercise named Justice Mission 2025. The exercise surrounded large parts of the island and came less than a fortnight after the United States approved a US$11.1 billion weapons package for Taiwan – the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338335/was-plas-taiwan-drill-testing-inexpensive-ways-wear-down-islands-air-defence-system?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338335/was-plas-taiwan-drill-testing-inexpensive-ways-wear-down-islands-air-defence-system?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 14:00:09 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan is seeking to fuse satellite, radar and drone data into a “connectivity” network as part of Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te’s multibillion-dollar bid to build a layered defence shield to counter Beijing’s possible missile attacks. The plan, which Lai calls the “Taiwan shield” and officials and analysts often refer to as the backbone of a broader “T-Dome” concept, is intended to overhaul how Taiwan detects, tracks and intercepts incoming threats. In a televised interview on Sunday,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338061/taiwans-leader-seeks-t-dome-connectivity-network-defend-against-beijing-attack?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338061/taiwans-leader-seeks-t-dome-connectivity-network-defend-against-beijing-attack?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Dec 2025 13:00:27 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te’s plan to push through a NT$1.2 trillion (US$37 billion) special military spending package has been thrown into limbo as political clashes escalate over fiscal reform and a controversial court ruling. Taiwan’s opposition-controlled legislature has blocked the cabinet-proposed “Special Act on Strengthening Defence Resilience and Asymmetric Warfare Capabilities” from committee review four times since Lai unveiled the plan in late November. The procedural... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3337851/what-next-taiwans-lai-us37-billion-defence-boost-frozen-kmt-allies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3337851/what-next-taiwans-lai-us37-billion-defence-boost-frozen-kmt-allies?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Dec 2025 02:00:08 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan has bolstered security ahead of the coming holidays to pre-empt potential copycat attacks following a deadly mass stabbing that has left the island on edge. The island’s Ministry of the Interior and National Police Agency (NPA) ordered tighter deployments at transport hubs and major events, increased monitoring of online threats and accelerated reviews of police resources and command procedures. Announced in separate statements on Tuesday, the measures came after last week’s violence... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3337522/taiwan-ramps-security-measures-coming-holidays-after-mass-stabbing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3337522/taiwan-ramps-security-measures-coming-holidays-after-mass-stabbing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 11:01:55 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung F-16V fighter jets ordered by Taiwan are undergoing ground tests in the United States, as Washington and the American contractor come under pressure to speed up deliveries following criticism of repeated delays. Photos circulating online in recent days showed at least one Taiwan-bound F-16V Block 70 two-seat aircraft during taxi and systems checks at a US airfield, offering the clearest public indication yet that the long-delayed programme had entered a substantive testing phase. Images of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337372/f-16v-fighter-jet-ground-test-taiwan-presses-us-and-lockheed-martin-delivery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337372/f-16v-fighter-jet-ground-test-taiwan-presses-us-and-lockheed-martin-delivery?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 01:00:11 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s military has stepped up training in decentralised command and control, aiming to ensure frontline units can operate independently in the event of a sudden attack from Beijing. The shift comes as defence and intelligence officials warn lawmakers that mainland China has significantly expanded its ability to pivot from military exercises to actual combat. This expansion raised the risk that a crisis in the Taiwan Strait could escalate with little warning and overwhelm traditional top-down... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337064/will-taiwans-decentralised-military-model-raise-more-questions-it-solves?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337064/will-taiwans-decentralised-military-model-raise-more-questions-it-solves?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Dec 2025 02:00:13 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung The Taiwanese government has sparked fresh controversy by refusing to enforce amendments passed by the opposition-controlled legislature about local government funding. The move risks deepening a political stand-off and has drawn criticism that the island’s leader William Lai Ching-te was “bypassing the legislature when you can’t win”. The dispute centres on revisions to a law about how the central government distributes revenue to local authorities. Observers said the clash had escalated well... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3336672/taiwan-government-accused-trying-bypass-legislature-amid-bitter-funding-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3336672/taiwan-government-accused-trying-bypass-legislature-amid-bitter-funding-row?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 05:00:10 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan has moved to tighten conscription rules after a string of high-profile cases involving celebrities and young men who falsified their medical records to evade mandatory military service. In addition, the proposed changes would also mandate alternative service for transgender and intersex people, a move that has sparked backlash from rights groups and other members of the public. The island’s defence ministry on Monday unveiled a draft amendment to its physical classification standards,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336512/taiwan-moves-tighten-conscription-rules-after-high-profile-draft-dodging?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336512/taiwan-moves-tighten-conscription-rules-after-high-profile-draft-dodging?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Dec 2025 04:00:10 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung A proposal to invite Taiwan to next year’s US-led Rim of the Pacific (Rimpac) military exercises has been removed from defence policy legislation progressing through Congress, raising concerns in Taipei that Washington’s political calculus may be shifting. Some analysts have warned that the removal of language approved by the US Senate in the 2026 National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) could even pave the way for Beijing’s return to the world’s largest naval exercise. For the first time, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336217/why-has-reference-taiwan-attending-rimpac-been-removed-us-defence-bill?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336217/why-has-reference-taiwan-attending-rimpac-been-removed-us-defence-bill?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Dec 2025 12:40:02 +0000