Taiwan Security Issues

Ambitious, energetic and perhaps a bit naive. That might be a fair take on how Taiwan’s Beijing-friendly opposition leader Cheng Li-wun was sized up in Washington.

‘Charismatic but naive’: Taiwanese opposition KMT chief’s peacemaker pitch leaves US unimpressed An analysis of KMT leader Cheng Li-wun's US tour and her peacemaker pitch, with insights from Washington and experts on US-China relations. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee’s approval of a Taiwan war reserve stockpile provision shows how Congress is trying to strengthen Taiwan contingency planning through pre-positioned defense supplies. The issue is not only future arms sales, but whether the United States can build faster, more resilient support mechanisms before a crisis begins.

U.S. Senate panel approves defense bill with Taiwan war stockpile provision - Focus Taiwan The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday approved a fiscal 2027 defense authorization bill, including a provision that would authorize the Department of Defense (DoD) to establish a war reserve stockpile program for Taiwan.

KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun’s visit to Washington shows how Taiwan’s domestic politics are becoming a direct concern for U.S. policymakers. Her effort to ease concerns over the KMT’s China stance comes amid criticism of opposition-backed defense spending cuts, raising questions about whether cross-Strait dialogue can coexist with stronger defense readiness and credible deterrence.

Taiwan opposition leader seeks to ease US concerns over China stance The leader of Taiwan's main opposition party said on Friday that ‌she had used a visit to the U.S. to correct "many misunderstandings" about her pro-engagement approach to China, amid strong criticism from hawks in Washington.

The Philippine government said Friday that China’s imposition of sanctions, including an entry ban, against Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. was “an unfriendly act” that could further strain relations, while he vowed to continue defending Manila’s interests against Beijing’s aggression.

Philippines protests China's sanctions against its defense chief as 'an unfriendly act' The Philippine government says China’s imposition of sanctions, including an entry ban, against Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. was “an unfriendly act” that could further strain relations.

North Korea's foreign ministry condemned a U.S. decision ​to approve the sale of advanced air-to-air missiles and ‌related equipment to South Korea, warning the move would worsen tensions on the Korean peninsula, state media KCNA said on Saturday.

North Korea condemns US missile sale approval to South Korea, KCNA says North Korea's foreign ministry condemned a U.S. decision ​to approve the sale of advanced air-to-air missiles and ‌related equipment to South Korea, warning the move would worsen tensions on the Korean peninsula, state media KCNA said on Saturday.

The next war over Taiwan may be deterred not by aircraft carriers or nuclear arsenals, but by a Dutch lithography machine. ASML, headquartered in Veldhoven, the Netherlands, is the sole manufacturer of the extreme ultraviolet lithography systems required to produce the world’s most advanced semiconductors. Without its machines, the most sophisticated foundries on earth — including those of the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) — cannot operate. This fact should be at the center of how the United States thinks about deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. Currently, it is not. The conventional wisdom holds that Taiwan’s semiconductor industry acts as a “silicon shield,” protecting the island because both China and the United States have too much to lose from disrupting TSMC’s foundries.

The Chain of Peace: Do Supply Chain Chokepoints Deter War? The next war over Taiwan may be deterred not by aircraft carriers or nuclear arsenals, but by a Dutch lithography machine. ASML, headquartered in

Taipei showcased its new American missile launchers through numerous live-fire salvos in a drill this week that Taiwanese troops claimed demonstrated the system’s mobility and long-range strike capabilities. The Republic of China Army fired its recently procured M142 High Mobility Rocket Artillery Systems (HIMARS) on Wednesday as the main highlight of a series of drills designed to validate the island’s precision strike capabilities, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said in a news release. The Lockheed Martin-made missile systems rehearsed firing missions and rapid redeployment, with the HIMARS relocating to new firing positions within three minutes of launching, according to the ministry.

Taiwan Tests HIMARS Missiles on Island’s West Coast in Major Live-fire Drills - USNI News Taipei showcased its new American missile launchers through numerous live-fire salvos in a drill this week that Taiwanese troops claimed demonstrated the system’s mobility and long-range strike capabilities. The Republic of China Army fired its recently procured M142 High Mobility Rocket Artillery...

The United States House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday released its fiscal year 2027 defense appropriations bill, which includes US$2 billion earmarked to bolster Taiwan's defense.

U.S. House panel unveils defense bill with US$2 billion for Taiwan - Focus Taiwan The United States House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday released its fiscal year 2027 defense appropriations bill, which includes US$2 billion earmarked to bolster Taiwan's defense.

China’s reported querying of foreign ships near Taiwan marks an escalation in Beijing’s maritime pressure campaign. By asking commercial vessels for route information and asserting jurisdiction, China appears to be testing whether coast guard activity can normalize administrative control around Taiwan without triggering a conventional military confrontation.

China Presses Taiwan by Querying Foreign Ships for First Time China turned to new tactics to press its claims in the waters east of Taiwan, sending maritime agency ships on a multi-day patrol that for the first time questioned foreign commercial boats in the area.

Why a Rogue North Korea Could Be Xi’s Weakest Link Xi Jinping doesn’t do overseas trips for diplomatic show. So why did he meet Kim Jong-un in North Korea earlier this week in his first trip abroad this year?