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China has expanded military drills around Taiwan aimed at drawing "a red line" for the next US president, Taipei authorities said on Wednesday, branding Beijing a "troublemaker".

China's Major Military Drills Near Taiwan

China has expanded military drills around Taiwan aimed at drawing "a red line" for the next US president, Taipei authorities said on Wednesday, branding Beijing a "troublemaker".

China has expanded military drills around Taiwan aimed at drawing "a red line" for the next US president, Taipei authorities said on Wednesday, branding Beijing a "troublemaker".
Beijing's biggest maritime drills in years involve about 60 warships and 30 coast guard vessels deployed from near the southern islands of Japan to the South China Sea, a senior national security official told AFP on the condition of anonymity.
China has also ramped up military aircraft activity closer to Taiwan, with 100 sorties detected over the past two days, figures from the island's defence ministry show.
There has been no public announcement by Beijing's army or Chinese state media about increased military activity in the East China Sea, Taiwan Strait, South China Sea or Western Pacific Ocean.
However, a recent Pacific tour by Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te that included two stops in US territory drew fury from Beijing, which claims the democratic island as part of China's territory.
The security official said on Wednesday that China's plans for the massive maritime operation began in October and were aimed at demonstrating that Beijing could choke off Taiwan and also to "draw a red line" ahead of the next US administration.
"China uses President Lai's overseas visit as a pretext, with Taiwan only serving as an excuse," the official said.
"The real objective appears to be asserting control within the first island chain and establishing strategic deterrence ahead of the US presidential transition," the official said, referring to the chain linking Okinawa, Taiwan and the Philippines.
Taiwan's foreign ministry said on Wednesday that China's increased military activity around the island, including its huge maritime drills and frequent aircraft deployments, was evidence that Beijing was a "troublemaker".
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the United States was monitoring China's "latest activity" and would ensure "nobody does anything to change the status quo in the (Taiwan) Strait".
"Again, our policy hasn't changed. We'll continue to do what we can to help Taiwan acquire the means to defend itself," Austin told reporters at a US base in Japan on Wednesday.
&nbsp;
- Simulating attacks, blockade -
Chinese warships have simulated attacking foreign ships during the drills, while the coast guard has practised intercepting commercial vessels as well as disrupting and blockading sea routes, the official said.
China also held "joint operations with Russia" over several days in November, the official said.
Recent bad weather had "posed challenges for smaller vessels" involved in the drills, they said.
Taiwan lives under the constant threat of invasion by China, which has not ruled out using force to bring the island under its control.
China has ramped up the deployment of fighter jets and warships around the island in recent years to press its claim over self-ruled Taiwan.
It also opposes any international recognition of Taiwan and especially bristles at official contact between Taipei and Washington.
Lai spoke with Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, drawing a barrage of criticism from China, in addition to his two recent stopovers on US soil.
Beijing's foreign ministry spokeswoman said on Tuesday that China would "resolutely defend" its sovereignty.
&nbsp;
- 'Significantly larger' -
The security official said the sea drills were "significantly larger" than Beijing's maritime response to then-US House speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei in 2022, which was China's largest-ever war games around Taiwan.
China has held four major military exercises in just over two years, including the drills in response to Pelosi's visit and two since Lai took office in May.
Beijing usually announces its military exercises but the official said one reason it may have decided to stay silent was to avoid overshadowing China's annual Central Economic Work Conference.
China's leadership will gather on Wednesday for a closed-door meeting to hammer out plans to boost the economy next year, reports said.
Taipei-based military analyst Shu Hsiao-huang told AFP that Beijing's drills had a "pronounced sense of real combat readiness and operational intent ".
"In the East China Sea, it seems China is preparing for large-scale aerial operations to confront US naval forces," said Shu, from the Institute for National Defense and Security Research.
"Meanwhile, the deployment of significant naval assets east of Taiwan suggests a strategy to blockade the island, cutting off its economic lifelines and essential resources."
The Taiwan defence ministry's daily tally of Chinese aircraft detected around the island was 53 on Wednesday and 47 on Tuesday.
Wednesday's figure was the highest number of aircraft detected in a single day since a record 153 were reported on October 15 after China staged large-scale military drills in response to Lai's National Day speech days earlier.

For decades, the United States and China have been locked in a high-stakes arms innovation race. Despite Beijing’s relentless efforts, Washington has consistently maintained the upper hand. At the heart of America’s technological supremacy is a 70-ye

This Taiwan-Born Tech Whiz Is Helping US Counter China’s Military Advances

For decades, the United States and China have been locked in a high-stakes arms innovation race. Despite Beijing’s relentless efforts, Washington has consistently maintained the upper hand. At the heart of America’s technological supremacy is a 70-year-old woman from Taiwan, Heidi Shyu.

For decades, the United States and China have been locked in a high-stakes arms innovation race. Despite Beijing&rsquo;s relentless efforts, Washington has consistently maintained the upper hand.&nbsp;

For decades, the United States and China have been locked in a high-stakes arms innovation race.
Despite Beijing&rsquo;s relentless efforts, Washington has consistently maintained the upper hand.
At the heart of America&rsquo;s technological supremacy is a 70-year-old woman from Taiwan, Heidi Shyu.
Heidi Shyu is the undersecretary of US defence. Additionally, she serves as the Pentagon&rsquo;s chief technology officer, where she oversees all critical research and engineering efforts essential to national security.
But what elevates her status in the American defence apparatus is her leadership of the Rapid Defence Experimentation Reserve&mdash; one of the military&rsquo;s most secretive and important initiatives.
Established in 2021, the Rapid Defence Experimentation Reserve or the RDER is designed to help the US maintain its technological might over China.
This initiative is Shyu&rsquo;s brainchild, and is aimed at accelerating defence innovation.
This programme has funded low-profile but high-value niche technologies.
These include ultra-high-altitude surveillance and communication balloons, solar-powered ultra-high-altitude and ultra-long-endurance drones for the navy, and a project to integrate multiple sensors in one operating system for the marines.
An engineer and mathematician by training, Shyu has reached these heights while maintaining a low public profile.
But when she recently went public to defend the RDER programme, all attention shifted onto a woman whose family story began on the other side of the Pacific.
Her family hails from Zhejiang province in China. After the Kuomintang government lost the Chinese civil war to the Communists in 1949, her grandparents and father moved to Taiwan, and then eventually settled in US.
She has bachelors and masters degrees in mathematics from the University of New Brunswick and gained engineering degrees at UCLA.
Shyu started at Hughes Aircraft Company in Los Angeles, which later merged with defence giant Raytheon.
At Raytheon, she led a number of US Air Force research projects, including the development of the radar for the F-35 stealth fighter.
Prior to her present appointment, Shyu served under the Obama administration as assistant secretary of the US Army for acquisition, logistics and technology from 2012 to 2016.
According to Shyu, her job, as she told a defence industry conference last year, was being &ldquo;laser focused on critical technologies to deter and counter China&rdquo;.
Shyu said she wanted to ensure that Washington&rsquo;s commanding lead in technology could offset Beijing&rsquo;s industrial abilities in mass production and scale.
&ldquo;Just because you&rsquo;ve got 1,000 missiles, that doesn&rsquo;t mean I have to have 1,001,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I look at the whole situation and landscape very differently.&rdquo;
Heidi Shyu represents those American politicians and officials from the Chinese diaspora in Washington who carry the legacy of the last Cold War across the Taiwan Strait.
As the US and China engage in a strategic competition in this new Cold War era, second- and third-generation Taiwanese immigrants like Shyu are increasingly taking on prominent roles in the political landscape of Washington.

Taiwan defence ministry said that 25 Chinese aircraft and 7 naval vessels were detected in Taiwan's airspace and waters in a span of 24 hours. Taiwan mobilized its aircraft and naval vessels but there have been no direct confrontations.

Taiwan Says 25 Chinese Aircraft And 7 Naval Vessels Entered Its Territory

Taiwan defence ministry said that 25 Chinese aircraft and 7 naval vessels were detected in Taiwan's airspace and waters in a span of 24 hours. Taiwan mobilized its aircraft and naval vessels but there have been no direct confrontations.

Taiwan has reported a surge in Chinese military activity around the island.
The country's defence ministry said that 25 Chinese aircraft and 7 naval vessels were detected in Taiwan's airspace and waters in a span of 24 hours. Of these, 17 aircraft crossed into Taiwan's Air Defence Identification Zone.
This follows similar incursions earlier in the week, with 13 aircraft and 8 naval vessels having been detected.
In response to these incursions, Taiwan mobilized its aircraft and naval vessels but there have been no direct confrontations.
Taiwan is monitoring the situation closely, as China continues to assert its presence near the island.

The exercise took place at the Jiupeng Military Base in Pingtung located in southern Taiwan.

Live Fire Drill: Taiwan Fires American Missiles To Blunt Chinese Pressure

The exercise took place at the Jiupeng Military Base in Pingtung located in southern Taiwan.

Taiwan&rsquo;s military conducted a live-fire drill, launching several anti-air missiles in response to growing military pressure from China.
The exercise took place at the Jiupeng Military Base in Pingtung located in southern Taiwan.
Among the missiles launched were Taiwan's domestically-made Sky Bow III anti-ballistic missiles, U.S.-made Patriot PAC II missiles and U.S- made standard Missile.
The Sky Bow III is a key component of Taiwan&rsquo;s air defense system, designed to intercept and destroy incoming ballistic missiles, while the Patriot PAC II serves as a critical element in countering aerial threats, including enemy aircraft and cruise missiles.

China reacted to an interaction between Indian PM Modi and Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te. The island nation hit back with sharp remarks against China.

Taiwan locks horns with China over greetings to Indian PM Modi

China reacted to an interaction between Indian PM Modi and Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te. The island nation hit back with sharp remarks against China.

Taiwan had a sharp response to China's interference in its ties with India. The island nation's deputy foreign minister said "Modi ji will not be intimated" and said Beijing reaction was unreasonable interference.
China had previously criticised a conversation between Indian PM Narendra Modi and Taiwanese president Lai Ching-te. The latter had congratulated Modi on winning India's 18th general elections, making him the prime minister for the third consecutive time.
"This is a very common thing to congratulate each other. Why do other people have something to say about it? I don't understand. This is a very unreasonable interference between two leaders congratulating each other on the commonly used X platform," Lai Ching-te said.
After his re-election, Indian PM Modi responded to a flurry of foreign leaders who had congratulated him. In his reply, Modi said that he looks "forward to closer ties as we work towards mutually beneficial economic and technological partnership."
Also Watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/india-news/india-has-now-more-nuclear-warheads-than-pakistan-report-1718683548274">India has now more nuclear warheads than Pakistan: report</a>

In the viral clip, the nurses were seen collecting multiple cots of the babies and holding on to them tightly till the jolts stabilised to ensure the safety of the babies.  
 

Three nurses brave quake to protect newborns in Taiwan | Watch 

In the viral clip, the nurses were seen collecting multiple cots of the babies and holding on to them tightly till the jolts stabilised to ensure the safety of the babies. &nbsp; &nbsp;

As Taiwan intensifies the operation to rescue dozens of people missing after the country experienced the strongest quake in a quarter century, a video of three medical staff saving newborns during the tremor is going viral. &nbsp; In the video, three nurses of a hospital were seen holding the cots of newborn babies as tight as possible during the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Taiwan&rsquo;s eastern coastal city of Hualien. The heartwarming clip shows the nurses making sure babies stay safe and calm till the jolts stabilise.&nbsp;

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co swiftly resumes chip production following Taiwan's worst earthquake in 25 years. With minimal equipment damage, Taiwan's semiconductor industry rebounds


Taiwan semiconductor manufacturing industry resumes chip production after earthquake 

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co swiftly resumes chip production following Taiwan's worst earthquake in 25 years. With minimal equipment damage, Taiwan's semiconductor industry rebounds

Taiwan has begun bouncing back from its recent earthquake ordeal as its semiconductor industry, led by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), gears up for production once again. TSMC, the key supplier for tech giants like Apple Inc and Nvidia Corp, announced the resumption of operations within less than 24 hours of evacuating its staff and halting production. Notably, the company reported no significant damage to its critical chip-making equipment, reported Bloomberg.
The earthquake, measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale, struck Taiwan&rsquo;s east coast early Wednesday, marking the island&rsquo;s most severe seismic event in a quarter-century. However, due to robust technological advancements and stringent building regulations implemented following a devastating quake in 1999, casualties and damage were relatively limited.
Initial reports indicate nine fatalities, over 1,000 injuries, and nearly 100 individuals trapped, including miners. Despite the challenges, Taiwan's semiconductor industry swiftly moved to restore operations, recognizing its pivotal role in global technology supply chains. TSMC, in particular, managed to bring 70% to 80% of its machinery back online within just 10 hours post-quake.
Other semiconductor players, like United Microelectronics Corp, also resumed operations with minimal disruption reported. However, the full extent of the earthquake's impact on the island's tech infrastructure is still being assessed, particularly in regions where dozens of buildings were levelled, as per Bloomberg.
Analysts as reported by Bloomberg initially expressed concerns over potential production disruptions, highlighting the delicate nature of semiconductor manufacturing processes that demand uninterrupted operations. Nevertheless, assessments quickly turned optimistic, with analysts from Citigroup Inc. and Jefferies Financial Group Inc. suggesting that any adverse effects on TSMC's operations would likely be manageable and limited, respectively.
&nbsp;

A dog used his 6th sense to detect the deadly earthquake in Taiwan. The pet managed to alert its owners.

Heroic dog alerts owner of deadly Taiwan earthquake, video viral | Watch

A dog used his 6th sense to detect the deadly earthquake in Taiwan. The pet managed to alert its owners.

Moments before the 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan on Wednesday, a dog successfully managed to alert its owners of the destruction that followed. The dog can be seen sprinting inside the owner&rsquo;s bedroom and then running back outside as the house started to shake due to the strong tremors. The viral video then shows the dog fending for itself and finding shelter on a couch.
The video of the heroic dog has garnered more than 60,000 views on social media platform X. Netizens soon started praising the pet while some were left impressed with their ability to sense such disasters.
The strongest earthquake in a quarter-century rocked Taiwan during the morning rush hour Wednesday, killing nine people, stranding dozens of workers at quarries and sending some residents scrambling out the windows of damaged buildings.
The quake, which also injured more than 1,000, was centred off the coast of rural, mountainous Hualien County, where some buildings leaned at severe angles, their ground floors crushed.&nbsp;
Just over 150 kilometres away in the capital of Taipei, tiles fell from older buildings, and schools evacuated their students to sports fields, equipping them with yellow safety helmets. Some children covered themselves with textbooks to guard against falling objects as aftershocks continued.
The quake and aftershocks also caused 24 landslides and damage to roads, bridges and tunnels. The national legislature, a converted school built before World War II, and sections of the main airport in Taoyuan, just south of Taipei, also saw minor damage.
Taiwan's earthquake monitoring agency said the quake was 7.2 magnitude while the US Geological Survey put it at 7.4. It struck about 18 kilometres off of Hualien, on Taiwan's east coast, and was about 35 kilometres deep. Multiple aftershocks followed.
Also Watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/magnitude-6-0-quake-shakes-northeast-japan-no-tsunami-alert-1712208913544">Magnitude-6.0 quake shakes northeast Japan, no tsunami alert</a>
(With PTI inputs)

Strongly opposed by China,  Lai Ching-te wins Taiwan's presidential poll

Beijing had strongly opposes Lai, who abandoned his medical career to pursue politics from the grassroots to the presidency.

&nbsp;Ruling-party candidate Lai Ching-te emerged victorious in Taiwan's presidential election on Saturday and his opponents conceded, a result that will determine the trajectory of the self-ruled democracy's relations with China over the next four years.
China had called the poll a choice between war and peace. Beijing strongly opposes Lai, the current vice president who abandoned his medical career to pursue politics from the grassroots to the presidency.
At stake is peace, social stability and prosperity on the island, 160 kilometres (100 miles) off the coast of China, which Beijing claims as its own and to be retaken by force if necessary.
While domestic issues such as the sluggish economy and expensive housing also featured prominently in the campaign, Lai's Democratic Progressive Party's appeal to self-determination, social justice and rejection of China's threats ultimately won out. It's the first time a single party has led Taiwan for three consecutive four-year presidential terms since the first open presidential election in 1996.
At a post-election news conference, Lai thanked the Taiwanese electorate for &ldquo;writing a new chapter in our democracy. We have shown the world how much we cherish our democracy. This is our unwavering commitment.&rdquo; He added: &ldquo;Taiwan will continue to walk side by side with democracies from around the world ... through our actions. The Taiwanese people have successfully resisted efforts from external forces to influence this election." Lai and incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen reject China's sovereignty claims over Taiwan, a former Japanese colony that split from the Chinese mainland amid civil war in 1949. They have, however, offered to speak with Beijing, which has repeatedly refused to hold talks and called them separatists.
Beijing was believed to have favoured the candidate from the more China-friendly Nationalist party, also known as Kuomintang, or KMT. Its candidate, Hou Yu-ih, also had promised to restart talks with China while bolstering national defense. He promised not to move toward unifying the two sides of the Taiwan Strait if elected.
In his concession speech, Hou apologized for &ldquo;not working hard enough&rdquo; to regain power for the KMT, which ran Taiwan under martial law for nearly four decades before democratic reforms in the 1980s.
&ldquo;I let everyone down. I am here to express my sincerest apologies, I'm sorry," Hou said in front of an audience whose numbers fell well short of expectations.
A third candidate in the race, Ko Wen-je of the smaller Taiwan People's Party, or TPP, had drawn the support particularly of young people wanting an alternative to the KMT and DPP, Taiwan's traditional opposing parties, which have largely taken turns governing since the 1990s.
Ko said that dialogue between the sides was crucial, but that his bottom line would be that Taiwan needs to remain democratic and free.
&ldquo;At least this time the TPP has become a critical opposition power. I would like to say thank you to every one again, as the chairman of the TPP," Ko said. &ldquo;Each vote represents recognition and support for us.&rdquo; "This is also the first time that Taiwan managed to create a whole new three-party-competition between the clash of the green and blue,&rdquo; he said, referring to the DPP and the KMT by the colours with which they are affiliated.
Chen Binhua, spokesperson of the Chinese Cabinet's Taiwan Affairs Office, said that Beijing wouldn't accept the election result as representing &ldquo;the mainstream public opinion on the island,&rdquo; without giving any evidence or justification.
&ldquo;This election cannot change the basic situation and the direction of cross Strait relations, nor can it change the common desire of compatriots on both sides to get closer and closer, nor can it stop the general trend that the motherland will eventually and inevitably be reunified,&rdquo; Chen said.
The United States, which is bound by its laws to provide Taiwan with the weapons needed to defend itself, had pledged support for whichever government emerges, reinforced by the Biden administration's plans to send an unofficial delegation made up of former senior officials to the island shortly after the election.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Lai on his victory.
&ldquo;We also congratulate the Taiwan people for once again demonstrating the strength of their robust democratic system and electoral process,&rdquo; Blinken said in a statement.
Besides the China tensions, domestic issues such as the dearth of affordable housing and stagnating wages have dominated the campaign.
For Tony Chen, a 74-year-old retiree who voted in Taipei in the hour before the polls closed, the election boiled down to a choice between communism and democracy.
&ldquo;I hope democracy wins,&rdquo; he said. He added that more Taiwanese were open to China's model of governance decades ago, when the Chinese economy was growing by double digits annually, but are repulsed by the crackdown on civil liberties that has occurred under current Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Stacy Chen, 43, said she has always voted for the DPP, because &ldquo;Taiwan is an independent country.&rdquo; She said she wanted her son to grow up in a country that is separate from China.
Taiwan's election was seen as having &ldquo;real and lasting influence on the geopolitical landscape,&rdquo; said Gabrielle Reid, associate director with the global intelligence consultancy S-RM.
&ldquo;The outcome of the vote will ultimately determine the nature of ties with China relative to the West and will have strong bearing on the state of play in the South China Sea,&rdquo; she said.
Close ties with the United States will likely draw even closer under Lai's administration.
&ldquo;A continuation of the DPP into a third term will mean that the warming-up of US-Taiwan ties that we saw in the last eight years will likely continue at pace under the next Lai Ching-te administration," said Wen-Ti Sung, a fellow with the Washington-based Atlantic Council.
Beijing is likely to deploy a &ldquo;maximum pressure campaign&rdquo; to influence the new administration along military, economic and political lines, Sung told The Associated Press.

Voting began at the nearly 18,000 polling stations across Taiwan, with almost 20 million people eligible to cast ballots. Turnout at the last election in 2020 was almost 75 percent, but analysts predict a lower number this time.

Taiwan Presidential election underway amid rising tensions with China

Voting began at the nearly 18,000 polling stations across Taiwan, with almost 20 million people eligible to cast ballots. Turnout at the last election in 2020 was almost 75 percent, but analysts predict a lower number this time.

Millions of Taiwanese headed to the polls Saturday for a presidential election, following threats from China that choosing the wrong leader could set the stage for war on the self-ruled island.
Beijing slammed frontrunner Lai Ching-te, the current vice president, as a dangerous "separatist" in the days leading up to the poll, warning voters to make "the correct choice" if they want to avoid military conflict.
Communist China claims self-ruled Taiwan, separated from the mainland by a 180-kilometre (110-mile) strait, as its own and says it will not rule out using force to bring about "unification", even if conflict does not appear imminent.
Results are expected Saturday evening, with the outcome watched closely from Beijing to Washington -- the island's main military partner -- as the two superpowers tussle for influence in the strategically vital region.
During a raucous campaign, Lai of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) pitched himself as the defender of Taiwan's democratic way of life.
His main opponent Hou Yu-ih, of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), favours warmer ties with China and accuses the DPP of antagonising Beijing with its stance that Taiwan is "already independent".
Hou's KMT has said it will boost economic prosperity, while maintaining strong relationships with international partners, including the United States.
The race has also seen the rise of the upstart populist Taiwan People's Party (TPP), whose leader Ko Wen-je has drawn support with an anti-establishment offer of a "third way" out of the two-party deadlock.
The KMT and TPP tried to strike a deal to join forces against the DPP, but the partnership collapsed in public acrimony over who would lead the presidential ticket.
All three parties held final rallies on Friday night in front of crowds of hundreds of thousands.
As well as a president, voters will also elect lawmakers to Taiwan's 113-seat legislature as well as a president.
Taiwan bans the publishing of polls within 10 days of elections, but political observers say the 64-year-old Lai is expected to win the top seat, though his party is likely to lose its parliamentary majority.
- Cog in the world economy -
Located on a key maritime gateway linking the South China Sea to the Pacific Ocean, Taiwan is home to a powerhouse semiconductor industry producing precious microchips -- the lifeblood of the global economy powering everything from smartphones to cars and missiles.
China has stepped up military pressure on Taiwan in recent years, periodically stoking worries about a potential invasion.
There was fresh bellicose rhetoric from Beijing on Friday evening, as the defence ministry issued a statement barely 12 hours before polls opened, vowing to "crush" any effort to promote Taiwan's independence.
Chinese warplanes and naval ships probe Taiwan's defences almost every day, and Beijing has also staged massive war games -- simulating a blockade of the island and sending missiles into its surrounding waters.
A blockade would turn the key Taiwan Strait into a chokehold, affecting the transport of 50 percent of the world's containers and costing the global economy at least $2 trillion, according to one analysis.
Chinese President Xi Jinping in a recent New Year's address said the "unification" of Taiwan with China was "inevitable".
Critics of the DPP blame current President Tsai Ing-wen for provoking China by insisting that Taiwan is "already independent", a stance that Beijing considers a red line.
<a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/houthis-vow-to-continue-attacks-against-israel-linked-ships-in-red-sea-1705043223011">Houthis vow to continue attacks against Israel-linked ships in Red Sea</a>
&nbsp;

Taiwan's govt has reported several instances of Chinese balloons flying near or over the island in the past month. The balloon incidents come ahead of Jan 13 presidential election in Taiwan in which the island's relations with China are a major issue

'Harassment and threat to air safety': Taiwan detects Chinese balloons in its airspace 

Taiwan's govt has reported several instances of Chinese balloons flying near or over the island in the past month. The balloon incidents come ahead of Jan 13 presidential election in Taiwan in which the island's relations with China are a major issue

Taiwan's Defence Ministry accused China on Saturday of harassment and trying to affect public morale by repeatedly sending balloons over the self-governing island.
A ministry analysis found that the paths of the balloons posed a serious threat to international passenger flights, according to a report by Taiwan's official Military News Agency. The ministry called for an immediate end to the activity to ensure flight safety.
&ldquo;The ministry urged the people (of Taiwan) to clearly understand the Chinese Communist Party's cognitive combat methods and face it rationally and calmly so as to avoid being affected by it,&rdquo; the report said.
The purpose of the balloons is unclear, and a Chinese state media outlet has accused Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party and Taiwanese and American media of hyping what it says are harmless weather balloons.
The balloon incidents come ahead of a January 13 presidential election in Taiwan in which the island's relations with China are a major issue.
Taiwan's Defence Ministry has reported several instances of Chinese balloons flying near or over the island in the past month. It said on Saturday that two balloons had been detected over the Taiwan Strait on Friday, one 33 nautical miles and the other 51 nautical miles off the island's northwest coast.
China views Taiwan, which is about 160 kilometers (100 miles) off China's east coast, as a renegade province that must come under its control. Chinese leader Xi Jinping said in an annual New Year's address this week that Taiwan would &ldquo;surely be reunified&rdquo; with China in the future.
(AP)

Tourists visiting Taiwan, you will not be able to click photos or go near the famous Elephant Trunk Rock. The rock eroded nd fell on December 15. Deets here!

Taiwan's iconic photo spot gone! Famous Elephant rock collapses, see before-after pic

Tourists visiting Taiwan, you will not be able to click photos or go near the famous Elephant Trunk Rock. The rock eroded nd fell on December 15. Deets here!

Tourists heading to Taiwan, we have some bad news. The iconic Elephant Trunk Rock, which was a major photo spot in the country is now gone. While tourists have been not allowed near the spot since 2020, the rock eroded further and finally broke off. The famous spot got its name from the rock that looks like an Elephant's trunk.
Taiwan's famous Elephant rock no more
Elephant Trunk Rock collapsed due to strong waves and winds, according to New Taipei's Ruifang District Office. The partial collapse was probably caused by the weather conditions, as well as long-term seawater erosion. To protect the tourists and the rock, the district office had set up a warning line in 2020. The warning prevented visitors from climbing on the rock formation. New Taipei's Tourism and Travel Department has also issued a warning to tourists and told them to stay away for their safety.&nbsp;
Shen Chuan-chou, a professor in the Department of Geosciences at National Taiwan University, told Taiwan&rsquo;s official Central News Agency that it was &ldquo;natural&rdquo; for the rock to collapse.
Where was the rock exactly located?
The Elephant Trunk Rock was located about 10 kilometers (six miles) from the popular tourist area of Jiufen northeast of Taipei. It collapsed on December 15.
Also read: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/lifestyle-news/travel/thailand-eliminates-visa-for-indian-tourists-until-may-2024-get-more-details-inside-1698736475975">Thailand eliminates visa for Indian tourists until May 2024; get more details inside</a> &nbsp;

Typhoon Haikui caused significant damage in Taiwan, injuring over 40 people. No deaths have been reported.

Typhoon Haikui leaves a trail of destruction in Taiwan, over 40 injured

Typhoon Haikui caused significant damage in Taiwan, injuring over 40 people. No deaths have been reported.

Typhoon Haikui in Taiwan has left behind uprooted trees, debris and halted transport along with more than 40 injured people. While no deaths have been reported so far, strong winds have already done infrastructural damage.
More than 7,000 people were evacuated from mountainous regions as the threat of landslides and flooding loomed over southern Taiwan.
Strong winds of 200 kilometres per hour were reported, resulting in a major power outage and suspension of transport services.
The storm made landfall in Taitung County on the Pacific-facing east coast around 3 PM on Sunday.
About 75,000 homes temporarily lost power in Taitung and Hualien counties along the east coast, and a guesthouse collapsed on Green Island just off the coast.
Haiku is now making its way to China&rsquo;s southern coast via the Taiwan Strait after weakening into a tropical storm. It has now been named Typhoon Saola, news agency Associated Press reported.
Also see: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/india-news/politics/days-after-ex-chiefs-visit-to-taiwan-china-warns-india-1693533078653">Days after Indian military ex-chiefs' visit to Taiwan, China warns Delhi</a>
In recent months, China has experienced some of its heaviest rains and deadliest flooding in years. Dozens of people have been killed, including in outlying mountainous parts of the capital, Beijing.
(With AP inputs)

Protests in Taiwan against Vice-President's visit to United States

Lai Ching-te will land in New York on Aug. 12 on his way to Paraguay, and return through San Francisco on Aug. 16

Dozens of political groups on the island of Taiwan rallied on Taipei's streets, strongly protesting the island's deputy head Lai Ching-te for his planned transit through the United States over the weekend.
Lai, the 2024 leadership candidate of the Democratic Progressive Party, will reportedly stop in the United States on Saturday on his way to and from Paraguay as part of a seven-day trip.
The groups said in the statement that Lai, who claims to be a pragmatic advocate for "Taiwan independence", is attempting to seek support from the United States.
&nbsp;"This blind pursuit of personal interests and the neglect of people's livelihoods is seen as a betrayal of democracy and the welfare of the Taiwan people," they said.&nbsp;
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Parents said that their toddlers were showing unusual symptoms like mood swings and cramps. 

Taiwan: teachers arrested for allegedly drugging preschool kids

Parents said that their toddlers were showing unusual symptoms like mood swings and cramps. 

Parents said that their toddlers were showing unusual symptoms like mood swings and cramps.&nbsp;

The principal and five teachers of a preschool in Taiwan have been arrested after parents accused them of drugging their children with cough syrups. One teacher has also been accused of using corporal punishment.&nbsp;
Parents said that their toddlers were showing unusual symptoms like mood swings and cramps. Eight children reportedly tested positive for psychoactive drugs phenobarbital and benzodiazepines. Phenobarbital is used for treating epilepsy and benzodiazepines are a strong sleeping drug. It is, however, not clear why the drugs were being given to the children.&nbsp;
The school has apologised to the parents and said that while the truth is yet to come out, it will facilitate the transfer of the children to other schools.&nbsp;

Taiwan is one of the world's most important economies given its outsized role in producing high-tech equipment -- particularly state-of-the-art semiconductors, an industry that it dominates

Taiwan slips into recession as Q1 GDP hits 14-year low

This South Asian country slips into recession as Q1 GDP hits 14-year low

Taiwan is one of the world's most important economies given its outsized role in producing high-tech equipment -- particularly state-of-the-art semiconductors, an industry that it dominates

Taiwan's economy shrank for a second straight quarter at the start of 2023, the government said Friday -- its biggest quarterly contraction since the 2009 global financial crisis.
Gross domestic product in the first quarter plummeted by 3.02 percent year-on-year, according to preliminary figures released by the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics.
The statistics bureau has projected GDP will grow by 2.12 percent in 2023, revising the estimate down 0.63 percent from an earlier forecast.
"Real exports of goods and services dropped by 10.86% (yoy), mainly caused by the weak global demand and inventory adjustments. Imports also fell by 4.17%," the statistics bureau said.
Friday's numbers represented the second straight quarterly contraction after the government reported a decline for the last stretch of 2022 -- the first drop since the start of 2016.
Last year's slowdown was brought on largely by a then-worsening pandemic situation in China, Taiwan's largest trade partner.
Taiwan is one of the world's most important economies thanks to its outsized role in producing high-tech equipment -- particularly state-of-the-art semiconductors, an industry that it dominates.
The island weathered the outset of the coronavirus pandemic well, becoming one of the few economies to record growth in 2020.
In 2021 it saw an explosion of orders as the world began reopening after months of pandemic shutdowns. Demand for semiconductors was enormous and Taiwan's foundries could barely keep up.
But the industry has since been hit by an ongoing economic slowdown dampening demand, as well as a raft of US export controls aimed at preventing China from obtaining advanced chips.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, the world's largest chip maker, warned this month in its earnings call that its &nbsp;second-quarter performance would be impacted by slowing consumer demand before business picks up later in the year.

China claims the democratic island as part of its territory to be retaken one day and, under its "One China" principle, no country may maintain official ties.&nbsp;

China vows to 'fight back' if Taiwan leader meets US speaker

China vowed on Wednesday to "fight back" should Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen meet the US House speaker during a trip to the United States.

China claims the democratic island as part of its territory to be retaken one day and, under its "One China" principle, no country may maintain official ties.&nbsp;

China vowed on Wednesday to "fight back" should Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen meet the US House speaker during a trip to the United States.
Tsai left on Wednesday for the United States, from where she will head to Guatemala and Belize to shore up ties with diplomatic allies. On her way back to Taiwan she will stop in California, where US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy had said he would meet her.
China claims the democratic island as part of its territory to be retaken one day and, under its "One China" principle, no country may maintain official ties with both Beijing and Taipei.
Beijing warned Wednesday that it was "resolutely opposed" to any meeting between Tsai and McCarthy and vowed to take "resolute measures to fight back" if it goes ahead.
"If (Tsai) engages with US House Speaker McCarthy, it will be another provocation that seriously violates the One China principle, undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and undermines peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said.
Tsai's trip follows Honduras's decision this month to open diplomatic relations with Beijing, leaving Belize and Guatemala among just 13 countries that have official ties with Taipei.
"External pressure will not hinder our determination to go global," Tsai told reporters at the airport before leaving. "We are calm and confident. We will not succumb and we will not provoke (others)."
"There's absolutely no reason for China to use that as a pretext to overreact or to engage in further coercion directed at Taiwan," a senior US administration official told reporters on condition of anonymity, adding that the stopover did not represent a change in US policy.
Beijing's foreign ministry said Washington "blindly connives with and supports Taiwan independence and secessionist forces".
Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning urged the United States at a briefing on Wednesday to stop any form of official exchanges with Taiwan and to "stop the dangerous act of undermining the political foundation of China-US relations".
(AFP)

He reportedly added that risk of a "potential use of force" will "probably grow" in the next few years, and the next decade.

USA: CIA director says China's Xi Jinping 'doubtful' about military invasion of Taiwan after...

He reportedly added that risk of a "potential use of force" will "probably grow" in the next few years, and the next decade.

The chief of USA's spy agency CIA on 26 February 2023 commented on China's possible plan to invade Taiwan.
Central Intelligence Agency director William Burns said that Chinese President Xi Jinping and the military leadership have doubts about successfully invading Taiwan after seeing Russia's experience in Ukraine.
In an interview aired on 26 February, the spy chief said that USA must take Xi Jinping's ambition to control Taiwan "very seriously", even if it doesn't lead to military conflict.
He reportedly added that risk of a "potential use of force" will "probably grow" in the next few years, and the next decade.
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Taiwan extends mandatory military service over China threat

Taiwan restores 1-year military service amid threats by China

Beijing considers self-ruled, democratic Taiwan a part of its territory, to be taken one day, by force if necessary, and the island lives under the constant fear of a Chinese invasion.

Beijing considers self-ruled, democratic Taiwan a part of its territory, to be taken one day, by force if necessary, and the island lives under the constant fear of a Chinese invasion

Taiwan announced an extension in mandatory military service from four months to one year, citing the threat from an increasingly hostile China.
Beijing considers self-ruled, democratic Taiwan a part of its territory, to be taken one day, by force if necessary, and the island lives under the constant fear of a Chinese invasion.
China's sabre-rattling has intensified in recent years under President Xi Jinping, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine has further deepened worries in Taiwan that Beijing might move similarly to annex the island.
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China's "intimidation and threats against Taiwan are getting more obvious", President Tsai Ing-wen told a press conference after a high-level government meeting on national security.
"No one wants war... but my fellow countrymen, peace will not fall from the sky."
"The current four-month military service is not enough to meet the fast and ever-changing situation," she said. "We have decided to restore the one-year military service from 2024."
The extended requirement will apply to men born after January 1, 2005, Tsai added.
Mandatory service used to be deeply unpopular in Taiwan, and its previous government had reduced it from one year to four months with the aim of creating a mainly volunteer force.
But recent polling showed more than three-quarters of the Taiwanese public now believes that is too short.
Tsai described the extension as "an extremely difficult decision... to ensure the democratic way of life for our future generations".
"We can only avoid a war by preparing for a war and we can only stop a war by being capable of fighting a war."
The prospect of a Chinese invasion has increasingly worried Western nations and many of China's neighbours.
Xi, China's most authoritarian leader in decades, has made clear that what he calls the "reunification" of Taiwan cannot be passed on to future generations.
Taiwan and China split at the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949, and Tsai has said becoming a part of China is not acceptable to the people of the island.
Taiwan is a mountainous island and would present a formidable challenge to an invading force, but it is massively outgunned with 89,000 ground forces compared with China's one million, according to a Pentagon estimate released last month.
Beijing also has a huge advantage in military equipment.
Taiwan has stepped up reservist training and increased its purchases of warplanes and anti-ship missiles to bolster its defences. But experts have said that is not enough.
The island needs to go further than just extending mandatory service, said J. Michael Cole, a Taipei-based analyst.
"Given the threat level and the example of Russia in Ukraine, I hope the Taiwanese public realises that such measures are needed," he told AFP.
"The threat that Taiwan faces is just as existential."
The military service announcement on Tuesday came two days after Chinese military exercises near Taiwan, which were held in response to what Beijing described as "provocations" and "collusion" between Washington and Taipei.

China conducts 'strike drills' in sea, around Taiwan's airspace: report

Responding to the situation, Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory, said the drills on Sunday demonstrated Beijing's assault on regional peace and attempt to intimidate Taiwan's people.

China on Sunday staged "strike drills" around Taiwan's airspace, saying it was conducted in response to the provocation from the self-governed island and the US, Al Jazeera reported.
The Chinese army's Eastern Theatre Command stated in a terse statement that it had conducted "combined combat readiness patrols and joint firepower strike drills" surrounding Taiwan. The precise location was not specified.
"This is a resolute response to the current escalation of collusion and provocation from the United States and Taiwan," it said and added that theatre forces will take all necessary measures to resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as per Al Jazeera.
"The Chinese Communist's 'military intimidation' acts are obviously aimed at cowing our people and are not conducive to [China's] international image," Al Jazeera reported citing Taiwan's Defence Ministry statement. It further added that Taiwan will continue to boost its military.
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Responding to the situation, Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory, said the drills on Sunday demonstrated Beijing's assault on regional peace and attempt to intimidate Taiwan's people, according to Al Jazeera.

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