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Taiwan

Taiwan
Latest news, in-depth features and opinion on Taiwan, covering politics, economy, society and the island's relationship with mainland China.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Photo: AFP
Two Sessions 2026

China’s Wang sees ‘landmark year’ in US relations

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the US and China could shorten their ‘list of problems’, while also promoting Beijing as a source of global stability amid the war in Iran.

US-China relations

Taiwan tensions No 1 in Beijing’s top 10 geopolitical risks of 2026: think tank

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China's military weapons

Why have China’s arms imports plummeted 72% over the past 5 years?

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Two Sessions 2026

Wang Yi warns Japan on Taiwan ‘red line’, dashing hopes of ending diplomatic row

Invoking the legacy of WWII resistance, top diplomat cautions Tokyo against interfering in China’s affairs.

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Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sparked tensions with Beijing in November when she suggested Japan’s military might intervene in the event of a Taiwan conflict. Photo: via Reuters
Two Sessions 2026

Takeaways from Foreign Minister Wang Yi at China’s ‘two sessions’

Top diplomat addresses questions on US ties, the Iran crisis, South China Sea disputes and Beijing’s vision for a multipolar world order.

Huang Kuo-chang

Whose vision for Taiwan’s military will win? Rival defence bills reveal rift

The island’s main political parties clash over whether to prioritise US arms or invest in home-grown weapons and ‘T-Dome’ air shield.

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Two Sessions 2026

China’s last CMC general standing urges more ‘political rectification’ for PLA

Combat readiness and loyalty to Xi Jinping also highlighted in Central Military Commission vice-chairman’s remarks at ‘two sessions’.

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Zhang Shengmin, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, salutes Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
Lunar New Year

Video | Taiwan celebrates Lantern Festival with a bang

Firecrackers erupt as carriers march the Earth God’s sedan chair through Taipei.

Two Sessions 2026

China targets lowest growth range in 35 years as pressures rise

Beijing to prioritise hi-tech over stimulus-driven growth with focus on the people in notable shift, premier’s work report to NPC reveals.

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Two Sessions 2026

China keeps defence budget growth steady as modernisation deadline looms

Beijing plans to set aside 7 per cent more for the military this year, with the total still a fraction of US spending.

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China’s spending on defence will increase by about 7 per cent this year. Photo: Xinhua
US, Israel war on Iran

What does Marco Rubio’s ‘unleash Chiang’ threat against Iran actually mean?

US secretary of state’s invocation of Cold War expression stirs unexpected debate in Taiwan.

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Analysts say US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s use of the phrase “unleash Chiang” should not be interpreted as a signal directed at Taiwan or mainland China. Photo: EPA
Religion

What are Buddhist relics? The bones and teeth with great power for followers

Buddhist relics are seen as living, active sources of blessings imbued with supernatural qualities, but authenticity can be an issue.

Mainland China

No PLA planes over Taiwan in 6 days. Why has Beijing pressed pause?

Analysts say the recent pause may be aimed at creating a conciliatory atmosphere in advance of this month’s leaders’ meeting.

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Two Sessions 2026

Takeaways from Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s government work report

Li raises the curtain on the annual session of the National People’s Congress with a series of targets for the economy.

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Chinese Premier Li Qiang opens the annual session of the National People’s Congress by delivering the government’s work report. Photo: AFP
Japan

Failure to launch: Japan’s Space One aborts Kairos flight after lift-off

The start-up has so far had three failed launches in its attempt to become the first Japanese private entity to put a satellite into orbit.

Space One’s Kairos No 3 rocket lifts off from Space Port Kii in Kushimoto, Wakayama prefecture, on Thursday. Photo: Kyodo
From our archives

On This Day | Ang Lee becomes first Asian person to win directing Oscar in 2006 – SCMP archive

Twenty years ago on March 5, 2006, Lee won the Academy Award for best director for the film Brokeback Mountain.

US-China relations

Khamenei’s fall exposes China’s military AI lag versus US: Beijing adviser

Zheng Yongnian cites precision strikes on Iran and earlier Venezuela raid to warn about risks posed by deep AI integration in US military.

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Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

Review | Girlfriends: Fish Liew and Jennifer Yu reunite for tender lesbian romance

Tracy Choi’s semi-autobiographical, episodic drama gives an intimate portrait of a woman searching for her place at different stages of life.

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Fish Liew (left) and Jennifer Yu in a still from Girlfriends (category: IIB, Cantonese, Mandarin). Directed by Tracy Choi and co-starring Elizabeth Tang.
China society

Opinion | Why a TV hit in China about waging peace resonates so deeply

Swords into Ploughshares can tell us a lot about Beijing’s approach to the crisis in Iran, cross-strait relations and this year’s ‘two sessions’.

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Defence

What’s the one big thing missing from Beijing’s Taiwan deterrence strategy?

The country has military strength and political resolve but more work needs to be done on a third element, an NPC deputy says.

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International Property

Singapore offices cost the most to outfit, Asia-Pacific survey says

Fit-out costs in the city average more than US$2,000 per square metre, topping Tokyo, with Hong Kong in eighth, Knight Frank report says.

Rents have been rising amid falling vacancy rates in Singapore’s central business district. Photo: AFP
Stocks

US investors now own 23% of Taiwan’s equity market amid AI boom

US investors currently hold about 23 per cent of the Taiwan Stock Exchange’s total market capitalisation.

US ownership of equities listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange has steadily grown over the past 10 years. Photo: Shutterstock
US-China relations

US advisory panel warns China is gaining in undersea warfare

Commission urges Pentagon to preserve underwater edge as Beijing expands submarines, unmanned systems and seabed ambitions.

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US-China relations

Will Iran attack derail Trump’s high-stakes China visit to meet Xi Jinping?

China has condemned killing of Iranian leader as a grave violation of sovereignty and called US incitement of regime change ‘unacceptable’.

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US, Israel war on Iran

US strike on Iran fuels Taiwan’s air defence debate and energy supply fears

Analysts say attacks on Iran illustrate Taipei’s need for integrated weapons systems, superior intelligence and electronic warfare.

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The US strikes on Iran underscore the urgency of accelerating Taipei’s plans for a layered air defence network, Taiwanese observers say. Photo: Getty Images
China-Middle East relations

Why the US-Israel war with Iran leaves Asian economies exposed

Mainland China imports vast amounts of oil from the Middle East but India, South Korea and others could fare worse, analysts say.

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Tanker traffic has largely halted on the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman along Iran’s southern coast. The disruption is expected to hit global crude supply. Photo: Reuters
US-China relations

Editorial | China now holds more cards ahead of Xi-Trump meeting

US Supreme Court reversal of Trump’s tariffs leaves China with lower tariffs and US deals with allies in doubt.

China-Japan relations

Opinion | Japan’s rightward shift puts it on a collision course with China

Any attempt by the Takaichi administration to revise the constitution and re-arm the country will ignite fierce opposition from Beijing.

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