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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.
Defence ministry report to Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan says the military will aim to disrupt an attack before incoming forces can reach the island’s shores. Photo: EPA-EFE
United States

‘Deny, delay, degrade’: Taiwan reveals long-range strategy to hold off PLA

Focus is on building sustained and scalable combat capability, defence minister tells legislature as procurement report is tabled.

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China exports

China cuts some hi-tech metals sent to Japan – but magnet exports rise. Why?

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Open Questions series

Open Questions | Trump-Xi summits: an inside view with US ex-diplomat William Klein

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China's military weapons

Why is China’s ASN-301 suicide drone more deadly than its Iranian counterpart?

In a conflict over Taiwan or western Pacific, Beijing may overwhelm air defences through sheer numbers in a war of economic attrition.

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China’s ASN-301, anti-radiation loitering munition, which shares the Iranian Shahed-136’s aerodynamic delta-wing design. Photo: Handout
China-Japan relations

Trump’s biggest cheerleader? Why Japan’s Takaichi is making waves in China

White House photo of Japanese prime minister apparently dancing to a band draws derision on Chinese social media.

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South Korea

Chinese ‘new style tea’ makers expand in South Korea in challenge to coffee

More Koreans, aided by Beijing’s visa-free policies, are travelling to China where they become familiar with tea-based beverages.

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China manufacturing

AI, flying cars drive economic transition in China’s Kunshan

City at heart of Yangtze River Delta region sees new tech dreams emerge as old ones based on mass production of electronics fade.

illustration by Lau Ka-kuen
US-China relations

Does USS Tripoli’s deployment to Middle East create an opening for China?

Amphibious assault ship’s transfer said to cause ‘dip’ in deterrence against Beijing’s military activity around Taiwan and South China Sea.

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US-China relations

China, India and why Jeffrey Sachs says the US needs to make the UN great again

The world needs to act like grown-ups and get back to sensible management of global affairs, Sachs says.

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US, Israel war on Iran

Could Taiwan’s military continue to fight after an Iran-like decapitation?

Analysts and officials in Taipei are assessing what lessons they can learn from the US-Israel precision strikes on the Iranian leadership.

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Iran’s capacity to absorb the loss of its top leadership, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is being closely studied by military strategists in Taiwan. Photo: Reuters
China trade

Exclusive | Japanese executives absent from China’s key annual summit amid tensions: sources

Nearly 80 executives from foreign firms, with those from the US making up the largest group, will attend the two-day forum.

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Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the China Development Forum, in Beijing, on March 23, 2025. Photo: Xinhua
Taiwan election 2024

Taiwan opposition parties join forces for local polls with eye on 2028 race

Main opposition Kuomintang and smaller Taiwan People’s Party approve cooperation agreement to contest local elections in November.

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China-Japan relations

Trump to praise Japan in China, Xi summit delayed, PLA-Nato talks

This week: Trump praises Japan during Takaichi visit after delaying Xi summit, US-China trade talks conclude in Paris, China economy surpasses expectations. Next week: PLA delegation travels to Brussels, Hong Kong may issue first stablecoin licences, Art Basel opens in the city, and more.

2026 Trump-Xi summit

Open Questions | US ex-diplomat’s inside view on Trump-Xi summits

Former envoy in Beijing William Klein on US leader’s approach to foreign policy, tariffs, China weaponising rare earths and risks of Taiwan conflict.

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
Hong Kong economy

Letters | Hong Kong has a chance to lead the world in marine underwriting

Readers discuss developments in shipping, and the implications for Taiwan of US actions in the Iran war.

The Kwai Chung Container Terminal. 04MAR26 SCMP / Elson Li
Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks mark third weekly loss as oil volatility pressures sentiment

Hang Seng Index falls for a third week as investors weigh the US-Israel war on Iran, oil swings and corporate earnings.

Hong Kong property

Office vacancy rate in Hong Kong’s Central drops to single digits after 2 years

Wan Chai-Causeway Bay area also improves, reducing citywide vacancy rate even though most areas remain under pressure, JLL says.

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China-Japan relations

‘Uncompromising’: Takaichi’s meeting with Trump seen as key to China-Japan ties

Neither Tokyo nor Beijing has enough incentive to compromise, observers say, signalling a new reality between Asian giants.

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Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, pictured soon after being re-elected in February, has sought to cultivate a close relationship with US President Donald Trump amid Japan-China tension. Photo: Kyodo via Reuters
Mainland China

Taiwan leader ‘glorifying Japanese colonial rule’, Beijing says

Backlash was prompted by a speech that said the early days of the KMT’s rule over island were ‘worse than the colonial regime’.

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The Philippines

Beyond ‘lip service’: Philippines urged to act on air defence gaps

The Iran war has underscored the need for robust air systems and Manila should look to build a layered defence architecture, experts say.

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SCMP Highlights

Jean-Claude Van Damme talks art; a chemist’s soy empire: 7 Lifestyle highlights

From a mother’s 22kg weight loss to a Taiwanese chemist’s soy empire in Australia, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.

Van Damme with his artwork “Hong Kong”, an impressionistic reproduction of a scene from his 1988 film Bloodsport, at the University Museum and Art Gallery of the University of Hong Kong. Photo: Elson Li
Animal welfare in Hong Kong

Call for review over how Hong Kong manages wild boars and buffaloes

Activists say city must take different approach to minimising conflict between people and wild animals after two incidents over consecutive days.

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A wild boar is seen at Fei Ngo Shan Road. The number of wild pigs fell from about 1,830 in 2022 to around 900 in 2024. Photo: Sam Tsang
China-Japan relations

Why Beijing has struggled to rally Asia against Japan over PM’s Taiwan remarks

Many in the region harbour security concerns similar to Tokyo’s and prefer to stay neutral between the Asian heavyweights, analysts say.

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US-China relations

US says mainland China has no plans to attack Taiwan in 2027

Beijing seeks to control the island without the use of force, the US intelligence community confirms in its annual report on global threats.

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US, Israel war on Iran

Chinese analysts draw lessons from military decapitations in Iran, Venezuela

Beijing would not overestimate impact of decapitation strike on Taiwan, seeing it just as part of amphibious landing operation, analyst says.

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The Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was the first in a string of top officials killed in US-Israeli strikes on Iran since February 28. Photo: Reuters
US, Israel war on Iran

Taiwan can ease Iran energy anxiety with peaceful reunification, Beijing says

Comments build on Beijing’s recent tendency towards detailing economic and lifestyle benefits for island from reunification.

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A petrol station worker refuels a car in Taipei on March 9. Photo: AFP
Semiconductors

Korea, Taiwan chip sectors most exposed to helium shortage amid Middle East war

South Korea and Taiwan face the highest risk as they source most of their helium from Qatar, while Japan is seen as relatively stable, Fitch says.

US-China relations

Why delayed US-China summit raises stakes for Takaichi ahead of White House visit

Analysts say the combination of the Iran war and the new date for Trump’s trip to Beijing could put Japan’s leader on the defensive.

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