William Lai Ching-te
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William Lai Ching-te

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William Lai Ching-te
William Lai Ching-te
The latest news on William Lai, (also known as Lai Ching-te),Taiwanese politician, former physician and currently the 8th president of the Republic of China, including politics news.
Born
6 Oct 1959
Industry
Politics
Job Title
Leader of Taiwan
PLA soldiers fire a rocket into the air during military drills on Pingtan island in Fujian province, the mainland’s closest point to Taiwan, on December 30. Photo: AFP
Taiwan

Taiwan fears copycat PLA ‘decapitation’ strike after US grabs Venezuelan leader

Taipei says its military stands ready, but security experts warn about Beijing’s ability to quickly pivot from drills to actual combat.

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Taiwan

KMT chair hopes to take peace message to Beijing while on political tightrope

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War and conflict

Opinion | If Trump wants a deal with China, he must rein in US allies in Asia

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Taiwan

Taiwan’s leader seeks T-Dome ‘connectivity’ to fend off Beijing attack

William Lai Ching-te outlines ‘layered defence’ fusion of satellite, radar and drone data to create backbone for security shield.

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A Taiwanese Patriot missile system is deployed at a park in Taipei on July 11 as part of the annual Han Kuang military exercise. Photo: AFP
Taiwan

What next for Taiwan’s Lai as US$37 billion defence boost blocked by KMT, allies?

Procedural blockade for eight-year military spending package has also stalled 2026 general budget review, piling up pressure on ruling DPP.

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Taiwan

Taiwan’s lawmakers vote to start impeachment process against William Lai

Opposition-controlled legislature will hold a series of hearings before a formal vote in May.

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Taiwan

How Beijing’s strategy shift explains decreased PLA activity in the Taiwan Strait

PLA warplanes and ships have been less active around the island in the second half of the year, Taiwanese data shows.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
China-Japan relations

Beijing ‘firmly opposes’ Japanese lawmakers’ trips to Taiwan

Visits to the island by parliamentary members ‘seriously violate’ political foundations underpinning bilateral relations, Beijing says.

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Taiwan

Taiwan’s missile shield plan has ‘critical flaws’, mainland Chinese report says

Military magazine claims the island’s proposed air defence system would be unreliable against an attack by the PLA.

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Taiwan

Taiwan’s opposition lawmakers vow to impeach leader William Lai

Proposal is likely to be a symbolic gesture as impeachment would require 76 legislators to agree, while opposition camp holds only 62 seats.

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Tensions between Taiwan’s legislature and the Democratic Progressive Party-led government have been high since William Lai Ching-te took office as the island’s leader in May last year. Photo: EPA
Taiwan

Taiwan government accused of trying to ‘bypass legislature’ amid bitter row

A dispute over how funds are allocated has triggered a stand-off in which both sides accused the other of undermining the constitution.

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Taiwanese leader William Lai has been accused by the opposition of “misusing” the constitution. Photo: EPA
Taiwan

Taiwan RedNote ban backfires, driving mainland Chinese app’s top download rise

Many users and opposition politicians accuse Taiwan’s ruling party of overreach and damaging island’s reputation for open internet access.

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US-China relations

What could challenge Washington’s latest strategic goal on Taiwan?

The White House says it wants to deter a conflict over the island, ‘ideally’ through its military advantage.

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Taiwan

Lifeline or rubbish? Taiwan updates disaster and conflict survival guide

‘Little orange book’ sent to nearly 10 million households advises on survival response, but many question its cost and value.

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People take part in a mass casualty evacuation drill during Taiwan’s annual Han Kuang military exercises in Taipei on July 17. Photo: AFP
China’s military drills

PLA holds urban warfare drill as Taipei looks to boost ‘asymmetric capabilities’

State television report showing operation in war-torn city airs soon after Taiwanese leader proposed extra US$40 billion in defence spending.

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State broadcaster CCTV aired footage of PLA troops conducting a drill aimed at seizing part of a war-torn city. Photo: Handout
Taiwan

Taiwan blocks mainland Chinese platform RedNote citing ‘high fraud risk’

Island’s digital affairs ministry says five Chinese apps collect sensitive data, access biometric functions and ‘extract system information’.

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Taiwan

Taiwan opposition blocks US$40 billion defence budget, prompting DPP protests

KMT and TPP say William Lai’s government is seeking a ‘blank cheque’ and demand details of procurement plans before proposal can be reviewed.

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US-China relations

Opinion | Trump’s world view offers Beijing a window of opportunity on Taiwan

As the US reframes the dynamics between allies and adversaries, Beijing may see an opportunity to advance its cross-strait goals.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
China’s military drills

Could the PLA use long-range rockets against ships in an attack on Taiwan?

State TV footage shows PHL-03 launchers hitting moving maritime targets during drill.

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Open Questions series

Open Questions | Ex-PLA colonel on Taiwan, the Ukraine war, China-US ties

Zhou Bo ponders Japanese PM Takaichi’s recent remarks, lessons from the Ukraine conflict and why China won’t be world’s policeman.

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Taiwan

Taiwan’s William Lai accused of stoking fear with 2027 countdown confusion

Critics question where the money will come from to finance Lai’s plans for a massive increase in military spending.

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William Lai’s government plans to introduce a US$40 billion (NT$1.25 trillion) special defence budget over the next eight years. Photo: EPA
Taiwan

Taiwanese leader Lai pledges US$40 billion rise in defence spending

William Lai says in newspaper article that the eight-year spending commitment is aimed to create ‘greater costs and uncertainties’ for Beijing.

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Lai said the increase would support more arms purchases from the US. Photo: AFP
Taiwan

Taiwan on edge amid Beijing fury over Takaichi’s ‘survival-threat’ remarks

Island now at risk of becoming a flashpoint in confrontation between two major world powers, opposition says.

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Taiwan

‘Milestone’ or stunt? Taiwanese debate No 2 leader’s European Parliament speech

Supporters call Hsiao Bi-khim’s secret address a diplomatic win but critics label it a show to ‘deceive voters’.

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Taiwan

Taiwan faces new unease after Xi-Trump summit leaves island sidelined

With the issue left off the table during last week’s meeting, analysts suggest that ‘strategic silence’ could mean new risks ahead.

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While most Western media described the outcome of the Xi-Trump summit as a “detente”, Taipei has sought to see it positively amid growing scepticism about Washington’s defence commitment to the island. Photo: AFP
Taiwan

Taiwan revokes 50 citizenships over Beijing’s infiltration as critics slam move

Taekwondo star, professor among those stripped of household registration because they held ID cards from the mainland.

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Taiwan’s interior ministry and immigration agency have stepped up checks to track Taiwanese found to have registered as mainland residents or obtained mainland Chinese passports or identity cards in a move authorities said was essential to safeguard security. Photo: Reuters
Taiwan

Taiwanese increasingly reluctant to give lives to defend island, poll finds

Analysts said the findings suggest growing ‘fatigue from constant talk of war’ in the face of escalating tensions with mainland China.

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Taiwan

KMT accuses Taiwan government of erasing Chiang Kai-shek after army hall renamed

While leadership says new Loyalty Hall name highlights army ethos, opposition accuses DPP of politicising military and rewriting history.

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