TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan does not seek conflict with China and will not provoke confrontation, but Beijing’s “aggressive” military posturing was counterproductive, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim said on Friday. China considers democratic Taiwan as part of its own territory and calls President Lai Ching-te a “separatist”. Taiwan’s government disputes China’s claim. Speaking to the Taiwan Foreign…
By Fion Khan / Staff writer, with CNA The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) today thanked the UK and France after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron pledged their commitment to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. “We jointly reaffirm our commitment to peace and stability in the Korean peninsula,…
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. The Hong Kong Observatory cancelled the No 1 warning signal on Sunday afternoon as Typhoon Danas moved away from the city, with…
Taiwan, a self-ruled island claimed by China, has reportedly received missile launch systems from the United States that are designed to sink invading ships. An official from China‘s Defense Ministry said last week that Beijing opposed any form of what he called “military collusion”—including arms sales—between the U.S. and Taiwan. Newsweek has contacted the Taiwanese…
As a nation, China sees itself as a rational, peaceful and stabilising force in an increasingly dangerous and fragmented global order. While such national characteristics may be relative and are mostly in the eyes of the beholder, they seem to be less debatable when compared with the erratic and unpredictable actions and policy flip-flops coming…
The United Kingdom and Japan—United States allies in NATO and the Pacific respectively—have sent naval ships through the Taiwan Strait, which China has long claimed sovereignty over. Regarding the passage of the British patrol vessel HMS Spey on Wednesday, the Chinese military described it as “undermining peace and stability” across the 110-mile-wide waterway. Newsweek has…
By Fion Khan / Staff writer, with CNA A British Royal Navy patrol vessel yesterday sailed through the Taiwan Strait, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the British Office Taipei said today. The ministry said that it welcomed the transit of the HMS Spey as affirmation that the UK is taking concrete action to…
The United States will deploy ship-sinking missiles to the Luzon Strait, a choke point for Chinese naval access to the Pacific Ocean, during a military exercise with the Philippines. Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email. Why It Matters The Philippines, one of America’s oldest treaty allies in Asia,…
The United States and Japan reportedly simulated missile attacks on Chinese naval vessels invading the self-ruled island of Taiwan during a joint military exercise last year. Newsweek has emailed the U.S. Forces Japan and the Japanese military for comment. The Chinese Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a written request for comment. Why It…
En semanas recientes, China ha estado practicando maniobras inusuales cerca de su costa meridional con tres barcazas especiales. Las embarcaciones se han unido para formar un largo puente que se extiende desde aguas más profundas hasta la playa. Esa hazaña ha sido una advertencia para Taiwán. El debut de los buques sugiere que el Ejército…