TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Standing across from Taiwan’s newly elected president on Monday, House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, drew a stark parallel between China’s hostility toward the island and the tension that wracked the globe during World War II. “All democracies must stand together against aggression and tyranny, whether it’s [Vladimir Putin] and Russia, the ayatollah of Iran, or …
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House lawmakers visit Taiwan as China warns US to stay out
TAIPEI, TAIWAN – A group of House lawmakers is in Taiwan this week meeting with its newly elected officials, despite warnings from China to stay out of the region and as Beijing ramps up its military drills around the island. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, is leading the multi-day diplomatic trip, which is coming a week after …
Read More »US and allies say Taiwan should be allowed at important WHO meeting, despite China's objections
The United States and several of its allies, including Britain, Canada, Australia, Germany and Japan, issued a joint statement on Friday calling on Taiwan to be allowed to take part in a key meeting of the World Health Organization next week. Taiwan is excluded from most international organizations because of objections by China, which considers the democratically governed island its …
Read More »China launches massive military drills around Taiwan as ‘punishment’ for electing new president
The Chinese military has begun conducting massive military drills encircling Taiwan in “punishment” for the self-governing island’s election of a new president this week. The two days of drills began Thursday, and Taiwan responded by scrambling jets and placing its army and navy on high alert. China now makes common use of military drills to intimidate and harass Taiwan, which …
Read More »China criticizes South Korea, Japan for lawmakers' visits to Taiwan
China on Tuesday scolded South Korean and Japanese lawmakers for visiting Taiwan despite its strong opposition, chiding both neighbors for attending Taiwan’s “so-called inauguration ceremony of the leader”. Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, regarded by China as a “separatist”, was officially sworn in on Monday after winning a January election. China, claiming Taiwan as part of its territory, resolutely opposes the …
Read More »China sanctions former Republican Rep Mike Gallagher after Taiwan president's inauguration
The Chinese foreign ministry announced sanctions against former Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., on Tuesday,the day after Taiwan inaugurated a new president. The former U.S. lawmaker, whose early departure from Congress last month further narrowed the GOP’s slim House majority, has been banned from entering China, the ministry said according to Reuters. The Chinese foreign ministry reportedly said Gallagher “interfered in …
Read More »Taiwan's new president urges China to halt 'military intimidation' tactics
Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te, said in his inauguration speech Monday that he wants peace with China and urged it to stop its military threats and intimidation of the self-governed island that Beijing claims as its own territory. “I hope that China will face the reality of (Taiwan)’s existence, respect the choices of the people of Taiwan, and in good …
Read More »China’s foreign ministry blasts Taiwan inauguration, Philippines standoff in South China Sea
China’s Foreign Ministry warned that Taiwan independence was a “dead-end” on the day of the presidential inauguration of the self-ruled island on Monday. “No matter under what name or excuse, pushing for Taiwan independence is doomed to fail,” the ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin reiterated at a daily news briefing when asked about the inaugural speech by President Lai Ching-te. In …
Read More »Lawmakers brawl as Taiwan's parliament descends into chaos
Taiwan’s parliament descended into a brawl on Friday as lawmakers disagreed over reforms in the chamber. Video of the melee appeared to show punches being thrown, a curtain in the chamber being ripped and a lawmaker who was crawling over other members falling on his head. He was rushed to the hospital. The fight came just days before the country’s …
Read More »Taiwan’s foreign minister calls for global unity against ‘expansionism’ by China and Russia
Russia and China are helping each other expand their territorial reach, and democracies must push back against authoritarian states that threaten their rights and sovereignty, Taiwan’s outgoing foreign minister, Joseph Wu, said in an interview with The Associated Press. His comments came as Russian President Vladimir Putin was on a visit to China amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Putin …
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