Latest from Taiwan: Conflict with China is “not an option”, says Taiwan president

Since speculation arose that US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi would visit Taiwan during her Asia tour, the Chinese government opposed the leader's entry into the island self-governed. Beijing partially controls Taiwanese territory and, despite the US formally recognizing the policy that there is only “One China”, the risk of separation or enemy invasion has been resurrected old concerns (BBC). President Xi Jinping has made repeated assertive statements toward Pelosi, threatening that the US would “pay the price” if Pelosi insisted travel to the island.

• Fire in the Cold War: why has Nancy Pelosi's trip to Taiwan escalated tensions between China and the USA?

(10.10)

• This Monday (10), the president of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, reiterated her will to talk to China and said that a war between the island and Beijing is “absolutely not an option”. But anyway, promeyour increase Taiwanese defenses. (Power 360)

(19.09)

• Joe Biden, President of the United States, declares that the country would defend Taiwan if China invaded it. The speech responded to questionment of CBS. Without citing the president, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that “the US statements” violate Washington's commitment not to support formal independence for the Taiwanese island, which according to China would lead to war.
  The White House then said, in an interview, that the country's policy has not changed. (G1)

(31.08)

• In a new warning, Taiwan said it will defend itself if Chinese planes and ships enter its airspace or sea.. The director's statement from a senior member of Taiwan's defense came in reaction to a series of military exercises carried out by Chinese forces around the island. “The closer the incursions are to Taiwan, the stronger the countermeasures will be.” Lin Wen-huang promeyour “counterattack” if the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) exceeds nautical, territorial or aerial limits, as an exercise of the island's “right to self-defense”. (G1)

(30.08)

• Tension between China and Taiwan increased after a series of drones flew under the Taiwanese Kinmen Islands, located a few kilometers from the Chinese city of Xiamen.. On social media, a video shows soldiers from the island trying to repel the devices with stones. Taiwanese and Chinese authorities exchanged criticism, and China declared that the case was not “worthy of fuss” because the drones were “flying through Chinese territory” and was accused by the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs of “spying” on military posts on the island. like a “thief”. (UOL)

(28.08)

• Two US warships transit the Taiwan Strait, being the first US Navy operation of this nature since US House leader Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan. (360º power)

(23.08)

• After the delegation led by the American governor of Indiana arrived in Taiwan on the 21st, The Chinese Foreign Ministry called for “an end to all forms of official interactions with the Taiwan region“. The ministry also stated that “the Chinese side firmly opposes official US exchanges with the Taiwan region in any form and under any name.” This is the third (Newsweek)

(22.08)

• The governor of the American state of Indiana met with the president of Taiwan, after embarking on the island last Sunday (21) for an “economic development trip”. In his approach, Republican governor Eric Holcomb asked that “democratic allies” unite in confronting military threats from China. The trip took place just days after Washington announced trade negotiations with the Taiwanese capital, Taipei.

(20.08)

• Japan is considering strengthening its defense program with the deployment of more than 1000 long-range cruise missiles, in response to the growing threat from China and the escalation of geopolitical tensions involving Taiwan and Ukraine. Listen to the full news broadcast by CBN:

(19.08)

• The presidents of Russia, China and the United States will attend the G20 summit in Indonesia in November, according to the Indonesian president. Volodimir Zelensky, Ukrainian president, also confirmed his presence, at least virtually. Although several nations have condemned the Russian presence at the event, Indonesia remains neutral in the face of the conflict in Ukraine, which has lasted around six months.

(18.08)

• Chile declared a “permanent” commitment to China over the status of Taiwan. (Epoch Times)

• The United States announced bilateral trade negotiations with Taiwan. The 'US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade' aims to achieve “economically significant” results in the face of Chinese “economic coercion”, according to the two nations. (Earth)

(17.08)

• Taiwan demonstrates air military strength to defend the island. Following anti-ship missile launches, Taiwan's Defense Ministry spokesman said that while they condemned China's actions, this was a good chance for Taiwan's forces to hone their skills. The exercises are also a chance for the island's air force to “test its training” and increase its “combat effectiveness,” according to the spokesperson. (MoneyTimes)

(16.08)

• A high US commander said it is “very important” that “responses” are given to the missile fires taking place around Taiwan two weeks ago. He also stated that he knows that the “gorilla in the room,” referring to the Chinese military, is responsible for the attacks. Chinese state media Karl Thomas is vice admiral of the United States Seventh Fleet, which is based in Japan and is considered an essential element of the American presence in the Pacific. (G1)
• The US launched an intercontinental missile. The action is part of a ballistic test that started from California. The US Air Force did not say what the missile's target was, and said it was not a response to a specific global event. The test was carried out two weeks after tensions between China and the US increased over Taiwan. (360º power)

(15.08) China resumes military exercises and Taiwan experiences a wave of disinformation

• China announced that it “organized a joint combat readiness patrol and military exercises” in the air and maritime space around Taiwan, two weeks after Nancy Pelosi, the US leader, visited the territory.
• Taiwan is experiencing a wave of disinformation aimed at undermining the territory's democratic credentials and promoting Beijing's version. 270 “false” statements were identified on the internet by Taiwan’s Defense Ministry. One of them said that China would regain “sovereignty” over Taiwan on August 15th. Most of the disinformation raises the idea that the island should “surrender” to China, according to Charles Yeh, editor-in-chief of the Taiwanese portal MyGoPen.

(14.08) Delegation with US senator and deputies arrives in Taiwan

• A delegation of 5 members of the United States Congress arrives in Taiwan. The visit was not announced, and takes place two days after the largest military maneuvers ever carried out by Chinese Forces in the region.

(12.08) Indonesia holds military exercises with the US

• The United States will strengthen trade with Taiwan and make new air and sea crossings through the Taiwan Strait, as a response to the Chinese government's “provocative” actions. The White House said it will release an “ambitious roadmap” for trade in the coming days.
• At least 4 soldiers from Indonesia, the United States and their allies participated in firing exercises, the so-called “Super Garuda Shield” in the Indonesian region. The operations are a form of conflict prevention, according to a US general.
• O International LGBT Pride Day 2025 in Taiwan was canceled after international promoters asked for the island to be removed from the event's name. The name suggested as an alternative was Kaohsiung International Pride Day, the city in which the activities will be held. The Taiwanese government regretted the political interference of InterPride, an international organization that works with the rights of the LGBT population.

(08.08) Replenishment and repudiation

The Chinese Eastern Command has stated that it will new activities focusing on maritime assault operations in Taiwan. The maintenance of military exercises was repudiated by the Ministry of International Relations of the self-governed island. For the department, China's decision to occupy the skies and seas – in response to Pelosi's visit – only fuels the crisis in the region.

This Monday (08), Taiwan received a visit from the Prime Minister of the Caribbean country Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The Taiwanese premier praised the politician for his courage. She said she was “deeply” touched because “the Chinese military exercises did not prevent him from visiting friends”.

(07.08) Attack simulation

On the fourth day of military actions by China, 66 Chinese Air Force planes and 14 warships were detected by Taiwan's Ministry of Defense. The self-ruled island accused China of carry out attack simulation exercises. The activities were seen from Taiwanese territory and also around the Taiwan Strait, which separates the island from Mainland China. Also on Sunday (7), a commentator on Chinese state television stated that the country's army would hold “regular” exercises very close to Taiwan.

(06.08) Heart attack

On Saturday (6), Taiwan's missile production leader passed away, aged 57, after having a heart attack. Ou Yang had a history of heart disease and worked with other employees to double the annual missile production capacity on the Asian island, together with the National Institute of Technology of the Taiwan Ministry of Defense.

• US-China diplomatic breakdown clouds prospects for global climate progress (Reuters*)

(05.08) Australia and Tokyo take a stand

On the second day of military exercises, ships and warplanes crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, which separates the island from the mainland. The statement was made by the Taiwan Ministry of Defense. This Friday (05), Nancy Pelosi responded to Chinese advances and said his country “will not allow” China to isolate Taiwan (Stay). The president of the American Chamber is in the capital of Japan, which calls for the “immediate cessation of Chinese military exercises” and is China's number one trading partner. Also on Friday, Beijing suspended dialogue channels with the US capital.

The defense minister of Australia, Andrew Hastie, was questionabout how the country would act in the event of an invasion of Taiwan. The “era of the lucky country is over”, she said, explaining that to protect yourself you also need to protect your “friends”. He did not rule out the possibility of visiting Taiwan amid current tensions.

(04.08) Military intensification

On Thursday (04), the Chinese army fired long-range missiles with live ammunition around Taiwan, as part of retaliation and show of force after diplomatic tension with the USA. The Defense Minister condemned China's stance: “irrational actions that undermine regional peace”system. (UOL)

These and other military actions in Taiwan carried out in response to “serious provocations by American politicians and Taiwanese independence activists” should continue, according to Hua Chunying, spokesperson for Chinese diplomacy. According to Japan's Defense Minister, five ballistic missiles were launched into Japanese waters on Thursday. Fumio Kishida, Japanese Prime Minister, considered military exercises near Taiwan “a serious problem”, as they threaten peace and security in the region.

(02.08) – Pelosi arrives in Taiwan

Pelosi was advised against it by US government officials and President Joe Biden, but it was not stopped to make the trip. According to her, the passage through the controversial territory considered a “rebellious province” by China came from “her own will”. The autonomous island of Taiwan is controlled by Chinese government forces, and the visit of the American official was seen as a stimulus to the Taiwanese pro-independence movement and a threat to its national security and sovereignty. Nancy Pelosi has a long history of opposing the Beijing-based Chinese governmentsystem. (G1)

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