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Tsai Ing-wen

Former Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen speaks during the annual Forum 2000 conference in Prague last month. She will travel to Canada this month for a security forum. Photo: Reuters

Ex-Taiwanese leader’s trip to security summit in Canada raises ire in Beijing

Tsai Ing-wen has been invited to deliver a keynote address at the annual Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia.

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Beijing reminds Canada of ‘one China’ pledge ahead of visit by Tsai

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Beijing could elaborate law for ‘non-peaceful’ Taiwan reunification

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Editorial | Drills that blockaded Taiwan a reminder of Beijing’s red lines

Island’s leader William Lai continues to test Beijing’s patience with inflammatory talk, a situation that serves no one’s interests.

Attendees stand in front of Taiwan national flags on National Day. New President William Lai said in a speech that the People’s Republic of China ‘has no right to represent Taiwan’. Photo: EPA-EFE

Beijing hits out at Lai’s speech arguing mainland lacks authority over island

William Lai says the two sides of the strait should have equal status, comments that Beijing says are meant to worsen cross-strait tensions.

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Taiwan’s Tsai Ing-wen to visit Europe in first overseas trip since stepping down

Details of 8-day visit kept quiet amid security concerns, reports say.

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Taiwan sets war readiness goals at meeting of new defence resilience committee

Whole-of-Society Defence Resilience Committee aims to mobilise around 400,000 people, security official says.

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Taiwanese leader William Lai (in dark suit), pictured with troops at a naval base in Penghu County, has outlined the tasks of a new defence committee for “a more resilient Taiwan”. Photo: EPA-EFE

No 2 Taiwan official visiting US for 2 weeks seeks ‘better understanding’

Speculation about how much Washington trusts island’s new leader looms over tour by Democratic Progressive Party’s secretary general.

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William Lai pushes Taiwan identity to counter Beijing. But how far will he go?

Island’s leader wants to rename local dialect and boost cultural pride, but analysts say he is unlikely to officially declare independence.

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Xiamen forum reveals state of tourism between mainland China and Taiwan

Straits Forum shows up Taiwanese concerns and the limitations of Beijing’s new policy.

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Tourists look at the mainland Chinese city Xiamen, from Taipei-governed Quemoy Island. Photo: AFP

Czechs to open cultural centre in Taiwan, risking Beijing’s ire

Czech official says centre is meant to deepen understanding among Taiwanese of traditional and contemporary Czech culture.

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A view of the city of Taipei, Taiwan. Photo: AFP

Lithuanian president re-elected in vote marked by Russia fears

Gitanas Nauseda elected to a second, five-year term as rival Ingrida Simonyte concedes defeat. Russia’s war in Ukraine dominated the presidential campaign in the Nato member nation of 2.8 million.

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Harder to respond: why Beijing may prefer a blockade to armed conflict on Taiwan

PLA exercise was planned before William Lai’s inauguration and calibrated to ‘signal displeasure, but hopefully not escalate’, says analyst.

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‘Empty talk’: Beijing rebuffs Taiwan leader’s bid to revive tourism, exchanges

Taiwan Affairs Office releases another strongly worded statement following William Lai’s inauguration on Monday.

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Taiwanese leader William Lai delivers a speech during his inauguration ceremony in Taipei on Monday. Photo: AP

Taiwan’s new leader William Lai takes the helm, and a tougher line

Taiwanese leader made no mention of the ‘one China’ consensus in his inauguration speech, but spoke of the island as a ‘nation’, drawing a swift rebuke from Beijing.

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Taiwan’s new leader William Lai (right) and former president Tsai Ing-wen wave during the inauguration ceremony in Taipei on Monday. Photo: AP

The big difference between Taiwan’s William Lai and Tsai Ing-wen on day 1

In his first speech as leader, Lai omits any reference to the 1992 consensus, saying the two sides of the Taiwan Strait ‘are not subordinate to each other’.

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In Taiwan, eyes are on the next president and the ghost of Chiang Kai-shek

In the run-up to William Lai’s inauguration on Monday, reluctance in the military to remove statues of the late leader raises questions about its loyalty.

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Taiwan’s concerns grow and options shrink as Beijing patrols Quemoy waters

Taiwan’s authorities may have limited options in enforcing rules, with tougher action potentially escalating into unintended cross-strait conflict, say analysts.

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A Chinese Coast Guard vessel is pictured in the waters of Quemoy on May 9. That day, Taiwan said dozens of Chinese warplanes and ships had been detected, less than two weeks before the island’s presidential inauguration. Photo: Taiwan Coast Guard/AFP

Taiwan leader is open to Beijing dialogue ‘on equal footing’: envoy

Taipei’s de facto diplomatic envoy to the US under president-elect William Lai Ching-te also says most on the island ‘prefer the status quo’.

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Beijing wields warplanes, trade and travel to pressure Taiwan’s next president

Mainland China sends mixed messages as island’s president-elect William Lai Ching-te prepares to take office, sending PLA planes in closest known fly-by while signalling goodwill through eased tourism and imports.

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As relations with Beijing cool, Israel seeks closer bilateral ties with Taiwan

Israeli cross-party delegation meets representatives of island’s current and incoming governments, visits science park and attends Holocaust Memorial Day event.

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An Israeli cross-party delegation led by chair of the Knesset’s Israel-Taiwan friendship association, Boaz Toporovsky, met government officials and legislators throughout the trip, including President Tsai Ing-wen. Photo: Handout

Incoming Taiwan cabinet to feature fresh faces but security left to old hands

William Lai Ching-te’s ministerial team is expected to show Lai has no desire to alter cross-strait status quo: analysts.

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Analysts say Taiwanese president-elect William Lai is indicating there will be no change and no surprises in his cross-strait, US and foreign policies – at least in his first year in office. Photo: AP

Opinion | Scandals, cross-strait tensions have Taiwan’s Lai starting from behind

A series of high-profile incidents and scandals, plus heightened cross-strait tensions, have piled the pressure on president-elect William Lai and his team before they even take office.

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Taiwan quake: Taipei rebuffs aid offer from mainland China amid deadly disaster

The dead include three hikers and a truck driver killed by falling rocks in Hualien on the east coast of the island.

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Taiwan postpones Quemoy live-fire drills after Beijing warns against ‘rash’ act

Kinmen Defence Command was scheduled to start exercises on Tuesday but postponed citing bad weather.

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Anti-landing barricades are pictured on the beach at Quemoy, with the mainland Chinese city of Xiamen in the background. Photo: Reuters

Taiwan opposition questions President Tsai’s absence from Taiping pier ceremony

Taiwan launched its newly renovated pier on Taiping islet in the disputed South China Sea on Tuesday but Tsai Ing-wen’s absence was noted by the opposition.

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Taiwan spent US$53 million upgrading a pier on Taiping islet in the Spratly Islands to include typhoon-proof facility for the inner pier to accommodate vessels as large as 4,000-tonne military frigates. Photo: Google map

Beijing hits back as Biden team seeks US$100 million to help Taiwan military

Request for 2025 budget is ‘historic investment in Taiwan’s security’, US State Department says, as Pentagon seeks US$500 million in arms support for island.

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Why Taiwan’s new pier on South China Sea islet may have put its leader in a spot

President Tsai Ing-wen is facing calls to lead the opening of renovated pier in assertion of Taiwan’s claims over disputed islet, contested by Beijing, the Philippines and Vietnam.

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Tsai Ing-wen
Tsai Ing-wen is a former Taiwanese leader. She took office on May 20, 2016, after her Democratic Progressive Party won a landslide victory over the Beijing-friendly Kuomintang in the presidential election in January of the same year. She was the first woman elected leader of the self-ruled island.
Born
31 Aug 1956
Industry
Politics
Job Title
Former Taiwanese leader
last updated:
25 October, 2024
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