Taiwanese president and physician, shaping cross-strait policy
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.
Beijing has expelled Vivian Wang of The New York Times after a DealBook appearance by Taiwan’s Lai Ching-te; the United States has responded by revoking a visa for a Chinese state-media journalist, in a tit-for-tat move that underscores deteriorating press access and ongoing tensions between Beijing, Taipei and Washington.
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.
Since early June, Chinese coast guard and survey ships have intensified activity near Taiwan and Pratas Island, prompting Taiwan to condemn Beijing’s maritime claims. Several incidents involve harassing inquiries, standoffs, and expulsions, with Taiwan emphasizing sovereignty and international law.
On June 4, 2026, authorities mark the anniversary with tightened security. Relatives of victims are barred from graves in Beijing; vigils in Hong Kong remain restricted. International voices insist on memory and accountability while protests occur abroad and in other cities.
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.
Taiwan is expanding its anti-ship missile stockpile and modernising its forces to deter a potential Chinese invasion. The plan includes Harpoon and Hsiung Feng missiles, greater mobility, and longer-range options to create a defendable sea corridor and threaten invading fleets.
Taiwan has launched a secure website for Chinese nationals to provide intelligence information, citing growing discontent amid China’s economic and political pressures. The move mirrors practices by the U.S., U.K., and Israel and follows a broader pattern of cross-strait distrust and security measures.
Japan has publicly questioned China’s defense-spending transparency while outlining steps to bolster its own defense posture, including arms exports reforms and drones, amid regional tensions. Tokyo is urging trust, openness, and dialogue as it expands capabilities in a changing security landscape.
Taiwan and the United States continue to push for stronger defense cooperation as Washington’s arms-sale process remains under review. Taiwan is increasing defense spending and seeking timely deliveries while urging readiness for potential cross-strait tensions. Beijing maintains pressure but the United States signals ongoing support within its legal framework.
Taiwan faces intensified pressure as China expands coast guard patrols and maritime activities near its east coast. Western capitals warn that regional stability is at risk, while Taiwan conducts drills to test rapid deployment amid ongoing defence modernization and new drone capabilities being debated in Taipei.
Typhoon Bavi has made two landfalls in Zhejiang province and has weakened to a severe tropical storm while still carrying vast moisture. Authorities have evacuated more than 1.7 million people in Zhejiang and moved hundreds of thousands in neighbouring provinces; flights and train services have been cancelled and flooding, fallen trees and landslides have been reported.
Independent bookstores in Hong Kong have faced a third round of arrests under the 2024 national security law, with two shops raided and five people arrested for suspected displaying and selling seditious materials. Authorities say the operation targets materials that incite hatred toward the government, judiciary and police. The decoupled sales of such titles have intensified amid ongoing questions about freedom of expression in the city.
Taiwan’s Han Kuang exercises are extending to 10 days, testing 24-hour defense operations, urban resilience, and new US-inspired tactics. Civilians are mobilized, internet slowdowns simulate disruption, and reservists are being expanded to strengthen civil defense amid heightened tensions with China.