China’s Military Holds Joint Combat Readiness Patrol Near Taiwan
The Chinese defense ministry reported that the military had conducted a “joint combat readiness patrol” with warships and twenty-one military aircraft, including Russian Su-30 fighters; a spokesperson reiterated previous Chinese claims that Taiwanese President Lai was distorting history and that Taiwanese independence was a separatist act (Reuters)
China to “Take Forceful Measures” Toward Taiwan Over Export Control List
One week after Taiwan added Huawei and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) to its export control list, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson stated that China will “take forceful measures” to regain normalcy between the two entities (MarketWatch; Bloomberg)
Meanwhile, days after Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te said that Taiwan is its own country, Zhu Fenglian and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, when speaking to European ambassadors and reporters in Beijing, expressed that Taiwan is part of China, and there is therefore “no invasion to speak of” (Reuters)
China Accuses Taiwan’s President of “Heresy”
One day after Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te stated that Taiwan was “of course” a country, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office stated that President Lai was intentionally distorting history to promote Taiwan’s independence agenda and making claims with “fallacies and heresies full of errors and omissions” (Reuters)
China Sends Over Sixty Planes Across Central Line in Taiwan Strait
One day after a UK ship conducted a navigation of the Taiwan Strait, China sent six warships and seventy-four warplanes toward Taiwan, including sixty-one planes that crossed the de facto dividing line between China and Taiwan (AP; Euronews)
First Domestically Made Submarine Completes Maiden Trip
Representatives from the Taiwanese shipbuilding company CSBC Corporation announced that the first vessel in a planned fleet of eight successfully completed its initial sea trial; the submarines are expected to be used in Taiwan’s asymmetrical warfare strategy amid a potential conflict with China (Reuters)
Taiwan’s Submarine Trial
Taiwan completed the initial sea test for its first domestically built submarine, the Narwhal; the Indigenous Defense Submarine program is a main pillar of Taiwan’s efforts to modernize its military amid fears of potential conflict with China (Reuters)
Taiwan Strikes Deal for Ukrainian Drone Software
Taiwan agreed to partner with the U.S. and German-based firm Auterion to procure unmanned drone software that has been battle-tested in Ukraine and may be used in “millions” of Taiwanese drones (Reuters)
Separately, the Taiwan government’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology tested the capabilities of a sea drone made by Taiwanese shipbuilder Lungteh; the Unscrewed Sea Vehicle (USV) can be used for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and striking targets (AFP)
Taiwan Adds Chinese AI Companies to Export Control List
On Monday, Taiwan added Huawei and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) to its export control list, henceforth requiring government approval before Taiwanese businesses export products to the companies (Reuters)
The decision came while U.S.-China tensions over AI and semiconductors have accelerated, and Taiwan said its decision was driven by “concerns over weapons proliferation and national security” (CNN)
Taiwan Espionage Indictment
Taiwanese prosecutors charged four people with spying for China, including two former senior political aides (Focus Taiwan)
One of the defendants worked in President Lai Ching-te’s office, and another worked for Taiwan’s former foreign minister (Bloomberg)
Taiwan’s Stance Toward China
Taiwan seeks “peace” and “dialogue” with China but will continue to strengthen its military defenses, President Lai Ching-te said in a speech marking the first year of his tenure (CNA)
China has declined multiple offers for talks from Lai. Its Taiwan Affairs Office yesterday said his speech was a “waste of effort and doomed to fail” (Reuters)
Haiti and Saint Lucia Attend Forum in Beijing Despite Diplomatic Ties to Taiwan
Haiti and Saint Lucia are two of twelve nations that formally recognize Taiwan; unidentified diplomatic sources stated that similar interactions between Beijing and Taiwan allies are normal, though two other allies to Taiwan, Guatemala, and Belize were not present at the Forum of China and Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) (Reuters)
Taiwan Sends Condolences to Vatican Following Pope Francis’ Death
Taiwan’s President expressed condolences over the passing of Pope Francis and announced plans to send envoys to his funeral; the Vatican is one of only twelve countries to maintain formal relations with Taiwan (Reuters)
U.S. Senator Reaffirms Support for Taiwan’s Self-Defense
During a visit to Taipei, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts emphasized continued American support for Taiwan’s self-defense and regional peace, opposing “any unilateral change” to the island’s status; Ricketts also stated that there is “broad consensus in the U.S. Congress to support Taiwan’s self-defense” (Reuters).
Taiwan to Assess Impact of Potential U.S. Tariffs on Semiconductor Industry
In response to potential U.S. tariffs on imported semiconductor chips, Taiwan’s Economy Minister Kuo Jyh-huei announced plans to simulate the effects on its semiconductor sector and seek dialogue with Washington to ensure “fair competition” (Reuters)
Chinese Contractor Linked to Malicious Software and Spyware in Taiwan
Western intelligence agencies advised that the contractor possesses close ties to Chinese security and intelligence agencies and could employ the malware packages to surveil advocates in Taiwan, as well as targets in Tibet and Xinjiang; the malware targets mobile devices and allows access to sensitive data, such as user location and cameras (Reuters)
China’s Military Begins Large-Scale Drills Around Taiwan
A Chinese military spokesperson called the drills “severe warning and forceful containment against Taiwan independence,” while Taiwan’s presidential office said China’s “blatant military provocations not only threaten peace in the Taiwan Strait but also undermine security in the whole region” (AP)
The previously unannounced drills follow a weekend visit to the region by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (Nikkei)
Taiwan Holds Civil Defense Drill
More than 1,500 people in the southern city of Tainan practiced how they would respond to disasters including an explosion at a port terminal, an earthquake, and a cyberattack; participants, including local officials and civilians, simulated bringing wounded people to temporary medical centers (Nikkei)
Also today, China held a military drill around the island that included warships as well as twenty-eight fighter jets, drones, and other aircraft, Taiwan’s defense ministry said (Reuters)
Taiwan’s Deputy Defense Minister to Visit the United States to Commemorate Completion of New Fighter Jet
The senior official will lead a delegation to attend a ceremony in the United States this week; Taiwan purchased $8 billion worth of new F-16 fighter jets in 2019 to add to its fleet (Reuters)
Taiwan Conducts Five-Day Military Drills in Scenario of China Turning Drills into Invasion
The Taiwanese military drill focused on rapid mobilization, counters against a Chinese amphibious landing, and identifying “crucial signs” of a possible Chinese attack launched directly from military drills—which have become increasingly common near Taiwan (Reuters)
Trump Declines to Comment on Whether the United States Would Allow China to Take Taiwan by Force
Washington has traditionally shied away from making an explicit security guarantee—instead preferring to maintain a policy of strategic ambiguity—though Joe Biden said multiple times while president that he would intervene to protect Taiwan (Bloomberg)
China Conducts Live-Fire Military Drills in Taiwan Strait
Chinese naval vessels and aircraft participated in the exercises forty nautical miles off Taiwan’s coast, prompting Taipei’s condemnation and the deployment of its own forces to monitor the area after the Chinese forces left (Reuters)
Taiwan Coast Guard Detains Chinese Crew of Cargo Ship
Taiwan detained the Togolese-registered cargo ship after a nearby underwater cable was severed, saying it is investigating the incident for potential “gray-zone harassment;” a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said he was not familiar with the matter and it was not “related to China’s diplomacy” (FT)
Taiwan as well as Baltic governments have probed suspected cases of sabotaging subsea cables in recent months (CNN)
Beijing Urges Washington to “Correct Its Mistakes” After Department Webpage on Taiwan Policy Was Updated
The new version omitted a phrase about not supporting Taiwan’s independence, and said Washington would support Taiwan’s membership in international organizations “where applicable” (Reuters)
Taipei welcomed the revision, while a State Department spokesperson said the United States “remains committed to its One China policy” (WaPo)
Taiwan Bans Use of DeepSeek AI in Government Agencies
Taipei justified the decision, citing concerns over Taiwan’s “information security” and fears of personal data collection by China (Reuters)
President Trump Threatens to Levy Tariffs on Taiwanese Semiconductors
Trump floated the idea of enacting tariffs anywhere from 25 to 100 percent on chips imported from Taiwanese manufacturing companies, prompting Taipei to restate the economic benefits of bilateral cooperation (Newsweek)