China Increases Maritime Activity Ahead of Presidential Inauguration in Taiwan
China added patrols near the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen Islands and introduced new legal measures to punish “separatists” in the last week; an unofficial U.S. delegation is due to attend Lai Ching-te’s swearing-in, in line with longstanding practice (Nikkei)
Philippines, United States Hold Naval Exercise Near Taiwan
The countries simulated their response to an invasion of the northern Philippine island of Itbayat, near Taiwan, as part of joint military drills today; the United States is helping to build a warehouse to upgrade infrastructure on the island (Bloomberg)
President-Elect Lai Ching-te Names New Foreign and Defense Ministers
The incoming ministers previously served in senior roles in the current presidential administration; Lai will assume Taiwan’s presidency on May 20 (AP)
Former President Ma Ying-jeou Visits Beijing for Rare Meeting
Chinese President Xi Jinping said people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are part of “one China;” Ma’s party promotes closer ties with Beijing (CNN)
Taiwan’s President Appoints New Premier, More Cabinet Member Appointments Underway
President-elect Lai Ching-te, whose inauguration will take place on May 20, appointed the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) former Chairman Cho Jung-tai as his premier (Reuters)
Biden, Xi Talk Bilateral Relations
The nearly two-hour phone conversation between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping yesterday covered topics including U.S. curbs on Chinese semiconductor technology, fentanyl, U.S. support for Taiwan, and North Korea’s nuclear posture; it was the leaders’ first time speaking since November and is part of ongoing attempts to defuse tensions (CNN)
Meanwhile, at least nine people were killed, and several hundred were injured today in Taiwan’s largest earthquake since 1999; the 7.4-magnitude seismic rift triggered tsunami warnings as far away as Japan and the Philippines and prompted chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company to evacuate several factories (WaPo)
China Welcomes Taiwan’s Former President
Former President Ma Ying-jeou’s eleven-day trip to mainland China comes as the island’s new president-elect from the Democratic Progressive Party is expected to take office on May 20 (NYT)
Bipartisan U.S. House Delegation Visits Taiwan
Five U.S. lawmakers met with Taiwan’s president and president-elect today, pledging that the United States will stand by Taiwan amid pressure from China; the delegates are part of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (AP)
Chinese Coast Guard Boards Taiwanese Tourist Boat
Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council Minister claimed the incident on Kinmen Archipelago, which lasted thirty-two minutes, “created panic among the people” (AP)
U.S. Senate Passes $95.3 Billion Aid Bill for Israel, Taiwan, Ukraine
The bill was approved today by a vote of 70–29 after a rare overnight session of debate; Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) worked closely on the legislation (AP)
Guatemala Considers Establishing Trade Ties With China
Foreign Minister Carlos Ramiro Martinez asserted Guatemala would maintain its existing formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan but emphasized President Bernardo Arévalo’s willingness to establish a new trade relationship with the People’s Republic of China (Reuters)
Taiwanese Firm to Build Second Chip Factory in Japan
Taiwanese Semiconductor Manufacturing Company will begin construction on the $7 billion plant this year, which is due to start operating by the end of 2027; Japan has tried to rebuild its position as a leading chipmaker amid a decline in its sector and growing U.S.-China trade tensions (Reuters)
Taiwan’s Legislature Elects Speaker From Opposition Party
Han Kuo-yu is from a party that seeks improved ties with China; his election may portend tough battles over defense spending (Nikkei)
Though the ruling Democratic Progressive Party held on to Taiwan’s presidency in last month’s election, it lost seats in the legislature (Reuters)
China Claims United States Could Abandon Taiwan If Trump Retakes Presidency
A spokesperson for Beijing suggested that former President Trump’s potential victory in the presidential election could lead the United States to abandon Taiwan (TIME)
Taiwan Launches Military Drills Following Presidential Election
The military will stage naval and warplane displays later in the week to boost public confidence and display the island’s ability to defend itself against threats by China (AP)
Taiwan Extends Conscription Period Due to China Threat
New military recruits began serving (Reuters) a one-year compulsory military service today for the first time; in late 2022, Taiwan’s president announced the mandatory conscription period would extend from four months due to rising tensions with China (Reuters)
Former U.S. Officials Meet With Taiwanese President-Elect
A U.S. delegation, including senior officials from the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations, met with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen and President-Elect William Lai in Taipei; one former U.S. official said the United States’ commitment to Taiwan was “rock solid” (NBC)
The ruling Democratic Progressive Party won a third consecutive presidency but lost control of the legislature (Axios)
Taiwan Prepares for Presidential, Legislative Elections
Public debate ahead of tomorrow’s elections has focused on relations with China and the state of Taiwan’s economy, which grew by an estimated 1.4 percent last year (DW)
The candidates’ campaigns in what polls have suggested could be a tight race will end at midnight tonight (AP)
Taiwan’s Ruling Party Presidential Candidate Accuses China of Election Tampering
China is tampering with Taiwan’s election through “military threats, economic coercion, cognitive warfare [and] misinformation,” candidate and current Taiwanese Vice President William Lai of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) told reporters today ahead of Saturday’s presidential and parliamentary vote (Nikkei)
Last week, Taiwanese authorities detained one of the candidates in the parliamentary election on charges of taking campaign money from the Chinese Communist Party, while today, a Chinese satellite launch prompted air alerts in Taiwan (FT)
Beijing has called the DPP’s interference allegations “dirty tricks” to win election support and has framed the election as a choice between war and peace (Reuters)
Report: Xi’s Military Purge Linked to Corruption, War Readiness Concerns
U.S. intelligence suggests Chinese President Xi Jinping’s firings of senior military officials in recent months are due to corruption that hampered the country’s war capabilities, as unnamed sources familiar with the intelligence cited several acts of graft, including missiles allegedly being filled with water instead of fuel; the corruption has decreased Xi’s likelihood to carry out major military action in the coming years, U.S. officials reportedly believe (Bloomberg)
Taiwan Accuses China of Coercion, Election Interference After Beijing Raises Tariffs on Some Goods
Ahead of Taiwan’s elections on January 13, China ended tariff cuts on some chemical goods imports, saying that Taiwan violated a trade agreement; Taipei’s government has accused Beijing of trying to interfere in the vote and said the suspension was not in line with international norms (Reuters)
Taiwanese Intelligence: China Held Meeting to Coordinate Efforts to Interfere in Taiwan’s Election
Taiwanese leaders have warned that China is trying to boost support for pro-China candidates ahead of the country’s January 13 presidential and legislative election (Reuters)
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s defense ministry said twelve Chinese military aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line and reported detecting a balloon and naval vessels approaching the island (Al Jazeera)
China Says It Shadowed U.S. Navy Spy Plane Over Taiwan Strait
While China called it a provocative move by the United States, U.S. Navy officials said the plane traveled through international airspace (CBS)
United States Will Arm Pacific Submarines With Tomahawk Missiles
The capability will enable submarines to attack ships as part of plans to counter Chinese military capabilities, especially in the area around Taiwan, a U.S. naval official said (Bloomberg)
Taiwan’s Ruling Party Presidential Candidate Picks Envoy to U.S. As Running Mate
Ruling party candidate and presidential frontrunner Lai Ching-te chose Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan’s top envoy to the United States, as nominee for vice president; Hsiao is the first woman to serve as Taiwan’s top envoy to Washington (Nikkei)