https://www.scmp.com/rss/522937/feed The latest news and top stories on Cheng Li-chun. She currently serves as Vice-Premier of Taiwan, a role she assumed in 2024. Previously, she was Minister of Culture from 2016 to 2020 and a Member of the Legislative Yuan. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Authorities in Beijing say peaceful reunification will solve Taiwan’s energy supply fears sparked by the hostilities in the Middle East, emphasising that “the removal of barriers between the two sides of the [Taiwan] strait will ensure the smooth flow of resources”. Chen Binhua, spokesman for Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Wednesday that peaceful reunification would create enormous opportunities for the island’s economic and social development and bring tangible benefits to the people... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3347012/mainland-china-says-taiwan-can-ease-iran-energy-supply-anxiety-peaceful-reunification?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3347012/mainland-china-says-taiwan-can-ease-iran-energy-supply-anxiety-peaceful-reunification?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 08:34:51 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo If Caligula were the president of the United States, Taiwan’s leader William Lai Ching-te might still kowtow to him. By now, it seems pretty clear that US President Donald Trump has no real policies to speak of, only caprice and vague ideological preferences. That was how bad emperors acted, and Trump obviously sees himself as some kind of king, unrestrained by anything other than his personal inclinations. It’s not surprising there have been “No Kings” protests across the US. From his lifelong... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3344682/taipei-must-break-free-its-abusive-relationship-washington?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3344682/taipei-must-break-free-its-abusive-relationship-washington?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 21:30:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The Trump administration reached a trade deal with Taiwan on Thursday, with Taiwan agreeing to remove or reduce 99 per cent of its tariff barriers, the office of the US Trade Representative said. The agreement comes as the US remains reliant on Taiwan for its production of computer chips, the exporting of which contributed to a trade imbalance of nearly US$127 billion during the first 11 months of 2025, according to the Census Bureau. Taiwan’s exports to the US will be taxed at a 15 per cent... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3343386/trump-admin-signs-trade-deal-lower-taiwans-tariff-barriers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3343386/trump-admin-signs-trade-deal-lower-taiwans-tariff-barriers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 23:30:16 +0000 Ann Cao,Coco Feng Ann Cao,Coco Feng Taiwan’s move to defend its “silicon shield” is the latest sign of the island’s tech dominance being used as a bargaining chip in trade negotiations, as it faces increased geopolitical pressure to shift semiconductor manufacturing capacity overseas, according to analysts. It would be “impossible” to move 40 per cent of the island’s semiconductor capacity to the US, Taiwan officials have told the US, according to Taiwan vice-premier Cheng Li-chiun in an interview with local broadcaster Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3343070/taiwan-says-proposal-move-40-its-chipmaking-capacity-us-impossible?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3343070/taiwan-says-proposal-move-40-its-chipmaking-capacity-us-impossible?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 12:00:09 +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 Alex Lo Alex Lo Fifty Shades of Grey is one of the most tediously boring films I have ever watched. But I do admit being mildly amused watching the young Dakota Johnson being “punished”, and then having to say thank you. I am reminded of the erotic Hollywood blockbuster after reading about Taiwan’s latest tariff deal with the United States, which is not so much an agreement as complete capitulation, and then having to say “thank you, master” to the White House under Donald Trump. There ought to be a separate... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3340338/taiwan-has-just-sold-out-tsmc-and-half-its-chips-industry-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3340338/taiwan-has-just-sold-out-tsmc-and-half-its-chips-industry-us?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 13:30:15 +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 Holly Chik Holly Chik Taiwan will double down on strengthening key facilities, including defences against drones, and ramp up ammunition production to withstand growing pressure from the mainland, according to senior officials on the island. Taiwanese Vice-Premier Cheng Li-chiun said on Thursday that the government would continue to reinforce critical infrastructure and defences against unmanned aerial vehicles. “Taiwan must be more fully prepared, especially in the face of the possibility of various new forms of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3339441/taiwan-fortify-critical-facilities-and-ramp-ammunition-output-ward-pla-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3339441/taiwan-fortify-critical-facilities-and-ramp-ammunition-output-ward-pla-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Jan 2026 11:00:10 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te’s pledge to support Washington’s re-industrialisation drive and “help make America great again” has reignited debate over how far Taipei should go in aligning with US objectives. Lawmakers, scholars and business leaders have warned that excessive reliance on Washington could hollow out Taiwan’s industrial base and weaken its geopolitical leverage, underscoring the Lai administration’s delicate balancing act in a shifting global order. Lai expressed support... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3328632/william-lais-pledge-help-make-america-great-again-stirs-debate-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3328632/william-lais-pledge-help-make-america-great-again-stirs-debate-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Oct 2025 12:00:07 +0000 Raymond Ma Raymond Ma Taiwan rejected the idea of splitting semiconductor production “50-50” with the United States amid concerns that such a move could undermine the island’s defences against mainland aggression. “Taiwan has never made any commitment on a ‘50-50’ division, and we will not agree to such terms in the future,” Vice-Premier Cheng Li-chun said on Thursday. Cheng led the island’s negotiating team through five rounds of US trade talks. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick earlier said he pitched the idea... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3327776/taiwan-rejects-us-chip-split-five-year-plan-meeting-golden-week-travel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3327776/taiwan-rejects-us-chip-split-five-year-plan-meeting-golden-week-travel?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Oct 2025 09:00:34 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan has sought to ease public fears that its prized chip industry could be hollowed out following US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s call for semiconductor manufacturing to be evenly divided between the island and the United States. Taiwanese Vice-Premier Cheng Li-chun said on Thursday that Taiwan’s negotiating team had never promised Washington to evenly split chip production. “Taiwan has never made any commitment on a ‘50-50’ division, and we will not agree to such terms in the future,”... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3327666/taiwan-wont-agree-50-50-chip-split-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3327666/taiwan-wont-agree-50-50-chip-split-us?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2025 14:00:09 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan has temporarily breathed a sigh of relief after learning that its exports to the United States will face a 20 per cent tariff – lower than the initially feared 32 per cent – pending further negotiations for a reduced rate. But their concerns are far from over, as pressure mounts over whether the island must make sweeping concessions, including a reported US$400 billion investment pledge, to secure a more favourable rate before the 20 per cent tariff takes effect on August 7. So far, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3320329/what-price-will-taiwan-pay-blunt-trumps-tariffs-reports-spark-worries-over-us-demands?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3320329/what-price-will-taiwan-pay-blunt-trumps-tariffs-reports-spark-worries-over-us-demands?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Aug 2025 01:00:21 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings When a 90-day tariff-free grace period expired this month, Taiwan escaped the letters that US President Donald Trump sent to two dozen other governments fixing new rates, including a 25 per cent duty on goods from Japan and South Korea. Is Taiwan’s letter still in the mail? The Trump administration announced worldwide tariffs on April 2, including double-digit rates for a list of exporters in Asia and 32 per cent slated for Taiwan. The US later paused most tariffs, including Taiwan’s, for 90... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3318831/deal-or-no-deal-us-taiwan-avoids-tariffs-so-far-remains-edge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3318831/deal-or-no-deal-us-taiwan-avoids-tariffs-so-far-remains-edge?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Jul 2025 21:46:45 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Anxiety is running high in Taiwan as the island nervously awaits the outcome of its tariff negotiations with the United States, amid growing concern it could be hit with duties of 25 per cent or higher – well above the 10 per cent rate Taipei had hoped for. The worry stems from US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff regime, announced in April, which gave trade partners 90 days to negotiate new terms or face tariffs mirroring those imposed on US exports. With the grace period now over,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3317425/taiwan-edge-trumps-tariff-deadline-passes-out-bargaining-chips?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3317425/taiwan-edge-trumps-tariff-deadline-passes-out-bargaining-chips?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Jul 2025 12:00:21 +0000