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Taiwan

Taiwan
Latest news, in-depth features and opinion on Taiwan, covering politics, economy, society and the island's relationship with mainland China.
last updated:
6 January, 2025
People demonstrate against US president-elect Donald Trump in Panama City in December. Photo: AFP
Donald Trump

Panama Canal chief pushes back against Trump’s claims of Chinese meddling

Despite the US president-elect’s demands, administrator Ricaurte Vásquez says American ships can’t get special treatment.

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US-China relations

US national security adviser fears Trump might push some nations toward China

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The Philippines

Opinion | How the Philippines is managing a cold war abroad – and at home

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TSMC

Apple and Nvidia chip supplier TSMC’s sales top estimates, boosting AI in 2025

The world’s largest contract chipmaker reported a 39 per cent rise in October-December revenue to US$26.3 billion.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s latest quarterly results raise hopes of increased artificial intelligence chip spending in 2025. Photo: Shutterstock
The Philippines

Philippine politicians worry about ‘warmonger’ Trump’s aggressive foreign policy

Several groups say Donald Trump poses a grave danger to the region and worry the US president-elect may involve the Philippines in a war.

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Hong Kong society

Tremors felt in Hong Kong as 4.2 magnitude quake strikes off Guangdong

Observatory says it received more than 10 reports of minor shaking, with duration of a few seconds.

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Taiwan economy

Opinion | Why Taiwan should reconsider its stance against nuclear energy

Taiwan, near-fully dependent on imported energy, plans to shut its last reactor. Yet renewables like nuclear can support its security and carbon goals.

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A boy at an anti-nuclear demonstration in Taipei on April 26, 2014. The sticker reads “Nuclear go zero”. Taiwan turned against nuclear as far back as 2011 in the wake of Japan’s Fukushima disaster. Photo: Reuters
Donald Trump

Trump’s ‘America First’ agenda shifts towards imperialist rhetoric

Trump’s rhetoric, reminiscent of 19th-century colonialism, has alarmed allies and emboldened adversaries, raising concerns about the potential for conflict.

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Aviation

Taiwan’s failure to warn plane away from airforce base sparks security concerns

Many question island’s wartime readiness after pilot nearly lands single-engine aircraft at sensitive military installation by mistake.

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Fame and celebrity

16 new spiders have just been named after Jay Chou’s songs

In 2011, Taiwan’s astronomers named an asteroid after the Mandopop star – now, a scientist has brought us ‘Excuse spider’ and ‘Rainbow spider’.

Jay Chou performs at Nanjing Olympic Sports Center in November 2019. Photo: Getty Images
Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong’s top court questions grounds for convicting June 4 alliance trio

Court of Final Appeal judges question how group can be defined as ‘foreign agent’ and denied evidence substantiating that allegation when mounting defence.

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Former alliance standing committee member Tang Ngok-kwan at the Court of Final Appeal. Photo: Nora Tam

Taiwan’s ruling DPP ‘backed pro-independence event’, KMT lawmakers allege

Opposition also takes aim at Beijing-sanctioned Kuma Academy’s fundraising drive on health ministry platform, says genuine causes ignored.

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China's military weapons

Why do China’s sixth-gen stealth fighters have different designs?

The smaller of the advanced jets is expected to be carrier-based while the larger plane could become a fighter-bomber, observers say.

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Jimmy Lai trial

Judges grill Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai over calls for Taiwan to join US alliance

Remarks prompt two High Court judges to question Apple Daily founder over his earlier claim that he opposed Taiwan’s independence.

Jimmy Lai Lai has pleaded not guilty to three conspiracy charges concerning foreign collusion and sedition. Photo: AFP
Jimmy Lai trial

Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai calls Taiwan ‘unique country’, denies backing independence

Former media tycoon has returned to the witness box following two-week break during holidays.

Jimmy Lai is contesting two conspiracy charges of collusion with foreign forces and a third of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious publications. Photo: Edmond So
Food and Drinks

Persimmon predicament in Taiwan as harvests continue to fall

Climate change, typhoons and ageing farmers among reasons blamed for the suffering industry as growers think of new ways to maximise revenue.

China

Could sea goddess Mazu unite atheist mainland China with believer Taiwan?

Taipei is suspicious of Beijing’s efforts to attract devotees of the goddess to her mother temple but 200,000 Taiwanese a year make the trip.

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The Philippines

‘We are a frontline state’: how the Philippines is preparing for a US-China war

The US treaty ally is spending billions to arm itself for a conflict over Taiwan or the South China Sea it hopes will never come.

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Soldiers march during a military parade held at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City last month to mark the 89th founding anniversary of the Philippine military. Photo: AFP
Focus

Beijing’s pilot zone for economic integration with Taiwan running out of steam

By 2022 there were over 3,000 people and nearly 1,300 enterprises from Taiwan in Pingtan, Fujian, but the cross-strait beacon is dimming.

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Taiwan proposes outlawing political party devoted to unification with mainland

Taiwanese ministry says the China Unification Promotion Party is involved in criminal activities and poses threat to stability and elections.

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China’s Communist Party

What happened when mainland China recruited Taiwanese for governance

The efforts started more than a decade ago to integrate Taiwanese into the mainland’s economy, society, and culture but there were bumps along the way.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Taiwan prosecutors widen corruption probe into third party leader Ko Wen-je

The former Taipei mayor is already accused of taking bribes and is now facing new accusations of receiving payments.

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Ko Wen-je says the charges against him are “politically motivated” but has resigned as head of the Taiwan People’s Party. Photo: AFP
US-China relations

China slaps dual-use export ban on 28 US defence contractors

Ministry of Commerce announces move on Thursday, with 10 of the firms also placed on unreliable entities list over Taiwan arms sales.

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Beijing’s test bed for Taiwan integration

Fujian province has become a test bed for mainland China’s push for economic, social and political integration with Taiwan. In a four-part, on-the-ground series, we examine the 15-year integration drive in Fujian’s Pingtan county, and more.

Japan

‘Maritime blockade’? Chinese drill around Japan’s islands raises Taiwan spectre

Analysts say the move could be part of China’s strategy ‘to take Taiwan without a fight’ and a Miyako Strait blockade would complicate Japan’s response.

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A Chinese aircraft carrier sails through the Miyako Strait near Okinawa on its way to the Pacific in April 2021. Photo: Joint Staff Office of the Defence Ministry of Japan via Reuters
China’s military drills

Why Beijing’s Taiwan integration experiment in Fujian is starting to fizzle

Beijing invests billions into luring Taiwanese to Fujian’s Pingtan county, but it has yet to translate into political loyalty.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
US-China relations

Beijing sanctions, US’ Chinese migrants under Trump: 7 US-China relations reads

From FBI cyber fears to Beijing’s sanctions over Taiwan, here are highlights from the SCMP’s overseas correspondents in December 2024.

Hong Kong workers/labour rights

How Hong Kong-US ties will shift when Trump returns to power in 2025

Experts say human rights will be ‘far less of a concern’ while the city’s financial services could face increased scrutiny from Washington.

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