Taiwan in the news: rising U.S.-China tensions over Taiwan’s security, arms and regional stakes. ROC/ Taiwan: self-ruled democracy, rival to PRC, kept separate since 1949.
The WTO's 14th ministerial in Yaounde has failed to reach agreements on key reforms, including digital trade and agricultural subsidies. Major players like the US, India, EU, and China remain divided, risking the organization's future amid global economic instability and rising protectionism.
European Parliament members visited China to discuss safety concerns over Chinese e-commerce platforms and the high volume of unsafe products entering the EU. The trip follows the EU's recent overhaul of customs rules targeting illegal goods, especially from China, to improve market access and consumer protection.
Taiwan plans to reroute oil shipments through the Red Sea due to Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, following US-Israeli strikes on Iran. South Korea and Taiwan are preparing emergency measures as oil prices surge, relying on alternative routes and international support to secure supplies.
President Trump has expressed frustration with NATO's support for the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, criticizing allies' reluctance to participate. He has posted on social media that NATO was not there when needed and will not be there in future conflicts. Discussions with European leaders reveal ongoing disagreements about military commitments and alliance cohesion.
Taiwan and China are escalating posturing ahead of a high-stakes summit, with Beijing expanding measures toward Taiwan and Washington reaffirming deterrence and dialogue. The U.S. remains Taiwan’s key arms backer while European and Czech ties intensify scrutiny of dual-use exports amid sanctions.
The Balikatan exercises are extending to include Japan, Canada and France, with more than 17,000 personnel from the Philippines, United States and allies practicing coastal defense, maritime operations and live-fire drills across multiple locations through May 8. The drills highlight a broadened security network amid ongoing tensions in the South China Sea.
TSMC has announced a record quarterly net profit of 572.5 billion Taiwan dollars ($18.1 billion), driven by strong AI demand. The company is expanding its manufacturing capacity in Taiwan, the US, and Japan, focusing on advanced 3-nanometer chips. It warns of potential impacts from the Iran war but remains optimistic about future growth.
Chinese military vessels have completed training in the Western Pacific and are returning through the Yonaguni-Iriomote Waterway. This follows recent Chinese carrier transits through the Taiwan Strait, with Taiwan maintaining surveillance. Tensions are escalating as China asserts sovereignty over the region, while Japan and the US monitor closely.
Recent attacks on Chernobyl's containment structure highlight ongoing risks linked to the Ukraine conflict. A drone strike in February damaged the New Safe Confinement shell, raising concerns about nuclear safety and the potential impact on long-term containment. The incident underscores the evolving security threats to nuclear sites amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Tim Cook has announced he will step down as Apple CEO and become executive chairman on Sept. 1, 2026, and John Ternus, the company’s head of hardware engineering, has been named CEO-designate. The move has been presented as a planned succession while Apple is confronting AI shortfalls, China supply risks, and pressure to produce a new product wave.
Paraguay's president Santiago Peña has visited Taiwan and has reaffirmed diplomatic support, signing cooperation agreements and praising shared democratic values. China has urged Paraguay to sever ties, saying most Paraguayans favour establishing relations with Beijing, and has criticised Paraguayan officials who visit Taipei.
Japan's Yasukuni Shrine has seen renewed visits from right-wing lawmakers, triggering criticism from China and South Korea. A protester has held up banners condemning the shrine's visits, which honor Japan's war dead, including convicted war criminals. Japan's Prime Minister has sent a religious ornament, prompting diplomatic protests. The controversy highlights ongoing regional tensions over Japan's wartime history.
Global military spending has reached a historic high, topping $2.89 trillion in 2025. The United States, China and Russia lead the spenders, while Europe and Asia show the strongest growth. U.S. expenditure has fallen slightly in 2025 but is expected to rise again in 2026, with European and Asian budgets expanding amid ongoing conflicts and tensions.
The South China Sea remains volatile as Manila and Beijing exchange coast guard actions around Sandy Cay and Scarborough Shoal. Philippine coast guard identifies Chinese vessels and personnel deemed illegal, while Taiwan’s minister notes sovereignty patrols and environmental drills in Spratly-held Itu Aba and Zhongzhou Reef amid ongoing US‑Philippine exercises.
The United States has said it does not want destabilizing events around Taiwan. Rubio has noted a topic of conversation with Taiwan will continue, and both nations understand stability is in their interests. Trump is set to visit Beijing in mid-May as Beijing maintains Taiwan is a core concern in its relations with Washington.
China has extended zero-tariff treatment to 20 more African nations, bringing the scheme to 53 of Africa’s 54 countries. Eswatini remains excluded due to its ties with Taiwan. Analysts say gains are limited, but the policy signals Beijing’s openness push and aims to boost China‑Africa trade.
France 24 reports that Beijing rejects simplistic depictions as a “puppet master,” instead pursuing mercantilist and predatory motives while balancing Washington and Tehran. The interview highlights China’s energy interests and its role in the Persian Gulf crisis, with warnings against Western overreaction to Iran’s maritime pressure. The New Arab notes Pakistan’s mediation of the US–Iran ceasefire, signaling a broader shift in South Asia–Middle East security, despite ongoing tensions and new defence partnerships. Together, the pieces describe a tense, evolving regional landscape with multiple actors pursuing strategic lines.
RightsCon 2026 has been cancelled after diplomats pressure the Zambian government amid concerns over Taiwanese civil society participation. Organisers say the postponement limits on-stage discussion of key human rights themes, drawing immediate criticism from civil society groups.
President Trump has completed a two‑day state visit to Beijing with US business chiefs, holding talks with Xi Jinping on trade, Taiwan, Iran and AI. Leaders have agreed to set up trade and investment councils; Trump has touted unspecified "fantastic" deals including a reported 200‑plane Boeing order while Chinese statements remain cautious.
President Donald Trump has met Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing for two days of talks over trade, Taiwan, Iran and energy. The leaders have discussed reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Chinas oil purchases from Iran and military assistance; the White House has said Xi pledged not to send Iran military equipment.
Taiwan’s defense policy is guiding government messaging as U.S.-China meetings focus on the Taiwan question. Washington has reiterated that its policy toward Taiwan has not changed, while Beijing warns against destabilizing moves. Taiwan’s leaders are assessing how the summit could affect security and regional balance.
Paraguay, a rare South American ally of Taiwan, is hosting a business delegation led by Peña as President Lai Ching‑te welcomes him with military honors. Beijing is intensifying pressure on Taiwan’s diplomatic partners, while Taiwan has sought to project international presence and expand ties.
The Trump administration has been engaging with China on tariffs, Iran, and Taiwan during a high‑profile Beijing visit. Xi Jinping is presenting a stable, constructive path while warning against missteps on Taiwan; Washington is pressing for economic reciprocity and deeper cooperation on Iran, with the Straits of Hormuz and tech supply chains in focus.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has joined President Trumps delegation to China and has been pictured in Beijing; the trip has been focusing on trade, AI export controls and Iran. China has not approved any purchases of Nvidias H200 chips and is continuing to push domestic chip development while U.S. export controls remain in place.
The U.S. and China have opened a 36-hour summit with talks focused on tariffs, Taiwan, and Tehran’s oil sales, but no substantive agreements have emerged. The Iran conflict continues to shape energy markets and global inflation, limiting any immediate market relief.
Trump has been meeting Xi Jinping in Beijing on a visit that seeks to stabilise the China-US relationship, with discussions focusing on trade, Iran and Taiwan. A small business delegation accompanies him, and both sides have signalled a desire to extend the trade truce and discuss future cooperation.
The UAE has emerged as a more direct participant in the Iran conflict, with reports that it carried out strikes against Iran, including an attack on the Lavan Island refinery. The ceasefire holds but regional tensions are rising as Gulf states respond to Iran's actions and to allied pressures from the US and Israel.
The Guardian and Independent reports show the Iran conflict informing US-China talks, with Trump’s Beijing summit shaped by Middle East tensions, while Britain weighs foreign-policy calls and domestic concerns.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is traveling to Beijing with Donald Trump amid Chinese sanctions that have been navigated by a name transliteration change. Beijing has reportedly shifted the first syllable of Rubio’s surname to a different Chinese character, enabling his entry while sanctions remain in place. The move follows Rubio’s history of criticizing China and backing human-rights measures.
During a state visit to Beijing, Trump and Xi have discussed Taiwan, trade, and the Strait’s openness. Xi has warned that mishandling Taiwan could trigger clashes or conflict, while Trump has kept US policy on Taiwan unchanged. A White House readout highlights themes of economic cooperation and the Iran situation.
The United States has not established direct presidential talks with Taiwan’s Lai Ching-te since 1979. Donald Trump has said he will speak with Lai, a move that could unsettle U.S.-China relations and Taiwan’s strategic position amid ongoing tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
Taiwan has monitored and responded to Chinese military activity around the island, following a Beijing summit between Xi and Trump. The United States has signalled continued support for Taiwan’s defence under the Taiwan Relations Act, while Taipei cautions against independence. Washington is weighing a new arms package as relations with China remain tense.
G7 finance ministers and central bank governors have been meeting in Paris to coordinate responses to economic risks tied to the Middle East conflict, energy and food supply chains, and volatility in bond markets. The final communiqué reaffirms commitment to multilateral cooperation and outlines plans to monitor markets and diversify critical minerals away from China. The Evian summit in June remains a focal point, with talks inviting non-member nations.
Taiwan Travelogue by Yang Shuang-zi, translated by Lin King, has won The International Booker Prize 2026. It is the first Mandarin-origin book and first by a Taiwanese author to win the prize, with the authors sharing £25,000 each. The novel blends romance with postcolonial inquiry, set around 1938 Taiwan under Japanese rule.
Taiwanese President Lai has stressed that Taiwan's future is decided by its people, insisting that external forces cannot decide or threaten the island's status. He has pledged to increase defence spending and maintain peace across the Taiwan Strait, amid ongoing tensions with China and US deliberations on arms sales to Taiwan.
At the Shangri‑La Dialogue in Singapore this week, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has urged Indo‑Pacific partners to build their own militaries while affirming continued U.S. commitment. The administration has paused a congressionally approved up‑to‑$14bn arms package for Taiwan while reviewing munitions used in Operation Epic Fury; Taipei says it has not been formally notified.
The Philippines is reinforcing its defense partnerships and upgrading infrastructure as regional tensions in the South China Sea and around Taiwan intensify. Manila says it remains resilient amid Chinese pressure while expanding alliances with the United States and other partners. Vietnam hosts a state visit signaling deeper security cooperation.
Memory-chip stocks have surged as AI demand drives higher memory usage. Micron, SK Hynix and Samsung have reached trillion-dollar valuations amid consolidation and persistent AI-driven demand. Investors remain attentive to moat durability and future demand.
CSIS warns depleted inventories of key munitions used in the Iran war have created a multi-year window of vulnerability. Replenishment will take years due to production limits and lead times, even as US officials promise combat readiness.
The International Institute for Strategic Studies has warned during the Shangri-La Dialogue that the world is on the cusp of a new nuclear arms race, with the Asia-Pacific at its core. Regional states are expanding nuclear arsenals while non-nuclear states pursue long-range conventional capabilities, challenging strategic stability.
Arcadia’s former mayor, Eileen Wang, has pleaded guilty to acting as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China, admitting she boosted Beijing propaganda on a US-based site while failing to notify US authorities. Sun, her former fiancé, has been sentenced for the same charges. Sentencing for Wang is set for Oct. 6 with a potential 10-year term.
At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is pressing regional partners to shoulder more of the security burden, while signaling unwavering U.S. commitment. Allies are expanding cooperation and weighing new assets, with Japan emerging as a regional hub and several nations outlining deeper security ties.
China has announced humanitarian aid to Congo and continues to navigate regional security concerns amid high-level defence talks in Singapore. Diversified statements from regional partners reflect ongoing friction over Japan-China relations and the role of the United States in Asia-Pacific defense coalitions.
Taiwan has asked Japan and the Philippines to respect its rights as talks on delimiting the EEZ and continental shelf proceed, while China denounces the move. Tokyo and Manila say talks will follow international law, with Taiwan warning against any encroachment on its sovereign rights.
Cheng, chairwoman of Taiwan’s Kuomintang, has embarked on a two-week trip to the United States following an April meeting with Xi Jinping in China. She has stated openness to meetings with key U.S. figures and emphasized a goal of peace, while noting no Taiwanese leader has met a sitting U.S. president since 1979.
China has deployed ships to waters east of Taiwan in response to Japan and the Philippines signaling they will start formal talks on delimiting their maritime boundaries. Taiwan reports Chinese vessels entering restricted waters near the Pratas Islands, prompting coast guard warnings and rapid expulsions as Beijing asserts jurisdiction.
The Trump administration has proposed 10% tariffs on allies and 12.5% on others after reviewing 60 trading partners for enforcement gaps on forced-labor bans. Public comment and hearings are expected before any final decision, with the aim of restoring a level playing field for American workers.
Taiwan’s president has urged Beijing to acknowledge the June 4th Tiananmen crackdown, promote truth, and pursue dialogue. In parallel, Reuters reports that Western leaders reiterate that censorship cannot erase history, while vigils and commemorations in Hong Kong and abroad continue to face restrictions. The anniversary is marked overseas and by human rights groups, with activists pressing for accountability.
New Zealand lawmakers who visited Taiwan have been banned for a year from China, Hong Kong and Macau. The move prompts diplomatic friction as Wellington defends parliamentary travel to Taiwan as longstanding practice under its One China policy. Officials say the ban is a China-driven reaction to cross-strait diplomacy.