I was in Berlin this week for a conference on the EU’s relationship with Africa in the context of the continent’s growing ties with external actors, many of whom Europe finds acutely worrying.
The conference eerily landed on the second anniversary of the October 7 attack in Israel. I was in Berlin two years ago as well. In the weeks after the attack, one could see how Western powers’ ...
Category: One China Policy
Taiwan Leader Vows Stronger Air Defenses to Counter ‘Enemy Threats’
By Amber Wang Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te vowed Friday to speed up construction of a multi-layered air defense system as part of efforts to counter "enemy threats." Lai's government has been under U.S. pressure to ...
China Exiles in Thailand Lose Hope, Fearing Beijing’s Long Reach
With tears rolling down his cheeks, detained Chinese political exile Zhou Junyi struggles to make his voice heard over dozens of families visiting Bangkok's main immigration detention center. Zhou's China Democracy Party, an exile group, organized a commemoration on June 4 ...
Paraguay’s New Ambassador Presents Credentials to Taiwan’s President
Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te accepted the credentials for Paraguay's new ambassador, Darío Filártiga Ruiz Díaz, on Friday at a ceremony at the Presidential Office Building in Taipei. Paraguay is among the island's staunchest diplomatic partners, even amid mounting pressure from China to switch ...
Pacific Leaders Agree New Summit Rules After China, Taiwan Bans
By Ben Strang Pacific Island leaders agreed on Friday to a new framework that would allow nations to join a key regional forum as strategic partners, after accusations that China was influencing regional decision-making. The ...
China Blasts Ted Cruz’s Call for Somaliland Recognition as “Coercive” and “Hegemonic”
Powerful conservative U.S. Senator Ted Cruz kicked up a Texas-sized social media storm on Friday when he declared his support for the U.S. government to diplomatically recognize the breakaway nation of Somaliland on the Horn of Africa. Cruz's post generated a huge ...
Analysis from Cobus van Staden
Betting on Beijing: How a Diplomatic Switch Sank Honduras’s Shrimp Exports
In 2023, Honduras severed ties with Taiwan and recognized China, betting that access to one of the world’s largest markets would bring new prosperity. The move was hailed by President Xiomara Castro’s government as a strategic step toward bigger trade deals and deeper economic cooperation.
Marcos Downplays Taiwan Comments After Chinese Pushback
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. downplayed recent comments linking the Philippines to a possible conflict over Taiwan, following an angry reaction from China. During his visit to India last week, he said that “there is no way that the ...
Marcos Says Philippines Would Be Dragged ‘Kicking and Screaming’ Into Taiwan War
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos warned Monday that his country would be dragged "kicking and screaming" into any war over Taiwan, but must prepare for it. China considers self-ruled Taiwan, Manila's closest neighbor to the north, to be part of its territory ...
Solomon Islands Bars China and Taiwan From Top Pacific Summit
Pacific nation Solomon Islands has said it would exclude non-member nations from a key regional summit in September, a group that includes China, Taiwan, and the United States. Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele said earlier this week he would defer a meeting ...
Taipei Holds Air Raid Drill to Prepare for Chinese Attack
By Joy Chiang and Amber Wang Taipei came to a brief standstill on Thursday when air raid sirens forced people off the streets and into underground shelters in a rehearsal for a Chinese attack. The ...
China Criticizes Paraguay on Taiwan
China’s Foreign Ministry criticized the news that the Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-te is scheduled to visit Paraguay and Belize in August, a visit that could also see him making stopovers in the United States. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said: “We ...
Paraguay Says Will Defend Ties With Taiwan, Host Its President
Paraguay, Taiwan's only remaining diplomatic ally in South America, vowed Monday to defend its ties with the self-governing democracy claimed by China and announced its president, Lai Ching-te, will visit in August. President Santiago Pena hosted Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-Lung ...