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How Ties With a Small Pacific Island Country Highlights China’s Reputational Statecraft

By Lukas Fiala & Kenddrick Chan Among the many noteworthy consequences of Taiwan’s recent elections, Nauru’s recognition of the One China Principle is perhaps the most underappreciated one. Having announced the diplomatic switch from Taipei to Beijing shortly after election ...

Taiwan Under Lai Ching-Te Faces Uphill Battle in Advancing Southeast Asia Ties, Diverting From China

Taiwan elected Vice President Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as its next president on January 13th, giving the ruling DPP a historic third win in a row as the self-ruled island continues to engage with neighboring Southeast Asia and beyond to reduce its economic ...

China Uncharacteristically Muted Response to Taiwan President’s Trip to Eswatini

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen arrived in Eswatini on Tuesday for a three-day visit to mark the tiny landlocked country's 55th anniversary of its independence. The visit is symbolically important given that the southern African kingdom is Taiwan's last diplomatic ally on ...

Taiwan’s ‘Look South’ Policy Aims to Reduce Dependency on China

By Felix Brender Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen’s administration launched the New Southbound Policy (NSP, 新南向政策) in late 2016, ostensibly to reduce dependence on China. The NSP is impressive in its scope (trade collaboration, talent exchange, resource sharing, and regional connectivity) and ...

Guatemala Leans Into Its Support for “Republic of Taiwan”

Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei pledged his country’s unconditional support for what he repeatedly called ‘the Republic of Taiwan.’ He is on a trip to Taipei following a visit by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen to Guatemala City in early April. Giammattei repeatedly expressed support for ...

Analysis from Cobus van Staden

BRICS Announces Numerous New Initiatives

The BRICS group wrapped up its two-day leaders’ summit in Rio de Janeiro on Monday. The summit’s final communique is a 16,000-word doorstop that covers numerous issues from economics to education.
The communique avoids any direct mention of the United States, and references to “unilateralism” and other coded criticism are also relatively scarce. Rather, the communique keeps the focus on the BRICS’ vision of the strengthening and reform of the global multilateral system ...

WEEK IN REVIEW: Chinese Surveillance Ship Docks in South Africa’s Durban Harbor

A Chinese surveillance ship, which can track rocket launches, has docked in South Africa’s Durban harbor. The Yuan Wang 5 previously drew security complaints from India when it docked in Sri Lanka. Its stay in South Africa comes barely two months after Pretoria upset Western powers for its 

Taiwan President Heads to Central America to Bolster Ties With Two of the Island’s Last Few Diplomatic Allies

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will embark on a three-nation tour of the Americas that will include a stopover in the United States before heading to Belize and Guatemala, two of Taipei's last remaining diplomatic allies. Tsai's trip comes in the wake of 

Taiwan’s Next Challenge in the Americas: Paraguay

A delegation of lawmakers from Paraguay arrived in Taiwan on Sunday for what will be a critical test for Taipei to hold on to one of its last remaining diplomatic allies.  Last September, President Mario Abdo Benítez said it would cost Taipei ...

eSwatini PM Visits Taiwan, Reaffirms Diplomatic Support

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen welcomed eSwatini Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini during an official visit to Taipei. The prime minister expressed the Kingdom's support for Taiwan's admission to the United Nations and criticized China's efforts to coerce the island through "any ...

The Long Arm of Chinese Law Reaches All the Way to Kenya

The Kenyan government's consent to a Chinese request for the deportation of dozens of alleged cyber and telecom fraud has now bloomed into a full scale diplomatic crisis. Among those forcibly sent to China included dozens of Taiwan nationals, many ...