Taiwan

Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te is pushing for zero tariffs and deeper trade cooperation with the United States in response to new tariffs announced by President Donald Trump. Trump’s move slapped a 32% tariff on nearly all Taiwanese exports except semiconductors, sparking sharp criticism from Taipei and setting the stage for major shifts in U.S.-Taiwan trade policy.

Taiwan believes that it may be attacked by China by 2027, its Defense Ministry said.

Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC has committed to investing $100 billion in the United States.

Taiwanese Minister of Education Cheng Ying-yao announced Thursday that the island’s universities will no longer collaborate with three Chinese institutions due to their affiliation with the United Front Work Department, the Chinese Communist Party’s propaganda arm.

Taiwan will invest more in the United States following President Donald Trump's pledge to impose tariffs on countries, President Lai Ching-te suggested.

Taiwan’s top prosecutor has ordered an investigation into Zhang An Le, known as “White Wolf,” over allegations that he assisted Mexican drug cartels in producing fentanyl. The announcement specifically cited revelations from investigative journalist Peter Schweizer’s 2024 book, Blood Money, which details connections between Chinese criminal organizations, the Communist Party, and American politicians, including the Biden family.

During PBS’s coverage of President Donald Trump’s inauguration, New York Times columnist David Brooks remarked on Trump’s pragmatic approach in his inaugural address. Brooks observed that Trump’s focus on tangible policies rather than lofty rhetoric resonated with a public that has grown increasingly distrustful of political promises.

China announced that it added four U.S. companies to its "Unreliable Entity List" for their arms sales to Taiwan.

Tensions between China and Taiwan escalated Friday as a Hong Kong-owned freighter allegedly severed a vital undersea communications cable near Taiwan. The incident, echoing earlier sabotage in the Baltic Sea, has heightened fears of a potential Chinese "quarantine" of Taiwan, aimed at isolating the island from the global community.

In his New Year's address, Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted China's resilience and confidence while acknowledging the challenges posed by global uncertainties. Xi's speech, delivered ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, emphasized the strength of China's economy, noting its ability to overcome obstacles despite external pressures and the ongoing need for economic transformation.