Latest news with #Taipei
The Guardian
12 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Total recall? Campaigners employ quirk of Taiwan's political system to turn on ‘pro-China' candidates
On a steamy night deep in one of Taipei's most conservative suburbs, a group of elderly neighbours are yelling at each other next to a garbage truck. They have just been handed a leaflet by a university student calling on them to recall – expel – their sitting legislator. There are hundreds of these campaigners across Taiwan, targeting members of the Kuomintang (KMT) opposition who they accuse of being too pro-China. But this neighbourhood is deeply loyal to the party, and the campaigners are not welcome. A woman shouts angrily: 'Throw that leaflet away! … We are against the recall!' The group of activists are pushing to overturn the balance of power in Taiwan's government, just 18 months after the national election. They are using an extraordinary mechanism that allows civilians to vacate individual seats midterm, in a way it has never been used before. The campaign's success has taken everyone by surprise. More than 30 of Taiwan's 113 legislators are facing recall – the highest number in Taiwan's history. All of them come from the opposition KMT party. The campaign has set off a political storm across Taiwan, with arrests, assaults, and accusations of authoritarianism and collaboration, fuelling the island's already deep political divisions. The first 24 recall votes will take place on Saturday, and another seven in August, at a cost equivalent to about £40m. If just six are expelled the party will lose its majority in parliament to the ruling Democratic Progressive party (DPP). Both sides say they are fighting for Taiwan's democracy. In the 2024 election Lai Ching-te and the DPP won the presidency but not the legislature, where the KMT and smaller Taiwan People's party hold the majority. The two have spent much of the past year blocking bills and stalling constitutional court appointments, sparking brawls indside the legislature and mass protests outside, from where the recall movement was born. The campaigners calling for the KMT recall are a collection of civic groups who have won the backing of the ruling DPP. What started as a protest against opposition obstructionism has become about the existential threat of China, where the ruling Communist party (CCP) plans to annex Taiwan. Campaigners claim the targeted legislators are too close to China and are undermining Taiwan's national security, pointing to those who have visited Beijing and met with senior officials, and a raft of proposed China-related bills that they say will weaken Taiwan's defences. 'Certainly a good number of these legislators have stated on the record their support for pro-Beijing policy, or at the least strong anti-DPP policy,' says Lev Nachman, a political science professor at National Taiwan University. 'There's a difference between anti-DPP and pro-Beijing, but from the recallers' perspective these have become synonymous.' The KMT denies the accusations against its MPs. The party officially opposes annexation by the CCP but argues the way to preserve peace is through friendlier ties with Beijing. Fu Kun-chi, a controversial senior KMT legislator up for recall, told Nikkei Asia it was in the spirit of 'fostering mutual understanding' that he went to Beijing and met with Wang Huning, Xi Jinping's chief adviser overseeing Taiwan relations. Critics said Fu was 'selling out Taiwan'. The KMT and its supporters see the recalls as a grab for power by people who can't accept the legitimate election results. They are misusing Taiwan's democratic processes to 'suppress opposition voices', a senior KMT official told a recent background briefing. The recall mechanism is a drawn-out process that first requires two rounds of signature collections in an electorate: 1% of voting residents and then a separate 10%. Once approved by electoral officials a date is set for the recall vote. At least 25% of voters must turn out, and a majority must agree to vacate the seat. If successful, a byelection with new candidates is held within three months, and the recalled legislator is banned from running again for seven years. Thousands of campaigners have swarmed street corners, transit stations, and the designated garbage collection points where residents bring their trash to trucks each night – first chasing signatures and now lobbying for votes. The campaign battle between the two sides has been hostile, scandal-filled, and very public. Retaliatory petitions against DPP seats by the KMT failed spectacularly. None were approved, and dozens of officials were arrested on accusations of faking signatures and using the names of dead residents to fill petitions. In April the KMT party chief, Eric Chu, called Lai a 'dictator' who is 'more communist than the communists, more fascist than the fascists'. A KMT spokesman told the Guardian Chu's comments were 'a sharp critique of what he sees as the DPP's growing authoritarian tendencies'. In June Lai drew criticism of his own after he appeared to refer to opposition forces as 'impurities' that needed to be 'driven out', in one of a planned 10 speeches designed to 'unify the nation'. The Presidential office said the comments were taken out of context and his speech was 'about using democracy to temper the power of national unity'. That same month Robert Tsao, a tech tycoon supporting the recall campaign, told Nikkei Asia that he wanted to 'burn' down the entire KMT party, which he called a 'Trojan horse' for Beijing. On the ground, campaign workers have been doxed and assaulted in the streets – those working in Dazhi wore body cameras and were accompanied by a well-built volunteer as their security guard. The cities and towns are plastered with billboards, while trucks loaded with LCD screens drive laps of the streets blaring accusations of treason and collaboration. Tens of thousands of people have protested for and against the recall around Taiwan. 'These people were elected, and you're wasting resources to try and turn them out,' said Patrick at a pro-opposition rally. 'We need to keep the country running smoothly instead of constantly wasting money.' In Dazhi, resident Sarah Li says pro-China legislators have to go. She says they are blinded by favourable treatment from Beijing and supporters – like most of her neighbours – are ignoring the current climate to stay loyal to their party. 'They don't care about people's lives,' she says of the legislators. 'They just want power, political power.' It's illegal to discuss polling this close to the vote, but observers, like Taiwan-based political commentator Courtney Donovan Smith, say that people in support of the recall are far more likely to actually go and vote. 'There's more people against these recalls, but they're not all that motivated,' he says. Beijing is likely watching the chaos with some glee. Fomenting social division is a key part of its strategy, and right now local politics is doing the CCP's job. Much of the saga has made its way into CCP propaganda seeking to undermine Taiwan's government with state media reporting the campaign as 'extremist' activity to 'remove opposition voices'. At a press briefing on Friday, Taiwan's vice-president, Hsiao Bi-Khim, said the recalls were a constitutional civic right just like elections, and a sign of Taiwan's 'robust' democracy. 'I think it's pretty obvious that China has been very proactive in trying to utilise hybrid means of disrupting our social cohesion: disinformation, infiltration, United Front tactics, et cetera. And that is why we also feel strongly that we need to step up to better defend and protect our society, and at the same time build greater unity,' she said. Asked about international concerns over the fighting, she said it was a challenge, but: 'Is there any democracy that doesn't have deep political divisions?' No analyst or politician the Guardian spoke to for this story dared to predict an outcome. Nachman says he has never seen Taiwan more divided. 'That wound needs to be addressed, regardless of who wins in the end.' Additional research by Jason Tzu Kuan Lu and Lillian Yang
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
GIGABYTE Announces its AI PCs - GIGABYTE AERO X16 and GIGABYTE GAMING A16 Now Officially Available
TAIPEI, July 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the successful debut of the AORUS MASTER 18 and 16, GIGABYTE, the world's leading computer brand, now announces the availability of the GIGABYTE AERO X16 and GAMING A16, expanding its 2025 AI PC lineup. Built to meet the needs of gamers, hybrid users, and creators, both models combine next-gen NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 50 Series Laptop GPUs with GIGABYTE's exclusive GiMATE AI Agent for intelligent system control, AI-enhanced workflows, and immersive experiences. Both laptops feature up to NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5070 Laptop GPUs, powered by the Blackwell architecture and NVIDIA DLSS 4 for AI-accelerated performance. The AERO X16 supports up to 85W Max Graphics Power, while the GAMING A16 reaches up to 80W. Integrated GiMATE AI Agent enables intuitive "Press & Speak" voice control, smart tuning, and privacy features. Built on an AI-ready platform with NVIDIA NIM, users can create personal AI agents and streamline workflows. With up to 14 hours of battery life, PD 3.0 fast charging, and Dolby Atmos® audio, both laptops support modern AI-driven lifestyles. The GIGABYTE AERO X16, a Copilot+ PC, is tailored for multi-scenario users who focus on digital creating and AI designing on the go. Weighing just 1.9kg and measuring 16.75mm thin, it comes in Space Gray or Lunar White, featuring an iridescent NIL design with a refined sandblasted finish that reflects modern craftsmanship and minimalist aesthetics. The 16" WQXGA display boasts a 92% screen-to-body ratio with a 4-sided slim bezel design and is both Pantone® Validated and TÜV Rheinland® certified. AI tools like Cocreator and Generative Fill enhance productivity, while WINDFORCE Infinity cooling with 12V dual fans, 3D VortX, and 0dB ambient mode ensures performance in silence. The GIGABYTE GAMING A16 suits casual gamers and students. Its 2.2kg weight and 180° lay-flat hinge make it ideal for collaboration and on-the-go use. The 16" WQXGA panel supports a 165Hz refresh rate for fluid visuals. With MUX Switch support, smart WINDFORCE cooling featuring surround vents and an Icy Touch zone. The Golden Curvature keyboard on both models with enlarged keycaps and 1.7mm travel distance, the AERO X16 & GAMING A16 balance comfort with sustained performance. With AERO X16 and GAMING A16 joining the previously launched AORUS MASTER 18 and 16, GIGABYTE completes its 2025 AI PC portfolio. All models are now available through retailers. Shop now: AERO X16, GAMING A16 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE GIGABYTE Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
France 24
a day ago
- Politics
- France 24
Bangladesh plane crash kills at least 27, including 25 children
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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Chip giant TSMC is the newest member of the $1 trillion market-cap club
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company has vaulted to a trillion-dollar valuation. The chipmaker shot to $1 trillion for the first time last week in trading in Taipei. It reported strong Q2 earnings as AI demand and capex remain high. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company is the newest member of an elite club The company's Taiwanese shares surged to a record high on Friday, touching a $1 trillion valuation for the first time, while its US-traded American Depository Receipts were worth about $1.2 trillion. The stock is up almost 50% since hitting a low in April. The latest surge comes after strong second-quarter earnings. Much of TSMC's growth has been fueled by its lucrative niche market. As the primary AI chip supplier to top tech companies, including Apple, Nvidia, and Qualcomm, it has benefited from the robust demand that has transformed the market over the past few years. TSMC's leaders are optimistic that this growth will continue as the company enters the second half of the fiscal year, after stating that they aren't concerned about rising competition. "Our business in the second quarter was supported by continued robust AI and HPC-related demand" said CFO and VP of product Wendell Huang. "Moving into third quarter 2025, we expect our business to be supported by strong demand for our leading-edge process technologies." The company reported year-over-year revenue increase of 38% last quarter. It also showed a 12% revenue increase and 10% net income jump from Q1. The jump to a $1 trillion valuation comes after Nvidia, one of TSMC's top customers, made market history as the first company to reach a $4 trillion valuation earlier this month. Read the original article on Business Insider Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
TSMC Breaks $1 Trillion: The Asian Chip Giant Investors Can't Afford to Ignore
TSMC (NYSE:TSM) just made historyagain. After a blistering 50% rally since April, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. closed last week with a market cap above $1 trillion for the first time ever in Taipei. That makes it the first Asian company to reach the milestone since PetroChina's brief stint in 2007. The surge comes on the back of soaring AI chip demand from key customers like Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), and a bullish forecast that suggests the rally might not be done yet. TSMC now expects full-year revenue to climb around 30%, hinting that it could be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the tightening global race for AI manufacturing capacity. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Signs with NVDA. Goldman Sachs analysts came away from TSMC's earnings with a strong read: AI demand remains robust, and price hikes could be on the table as early as 2026. They noted the company's tone on advanced nodes has turned even more optimistic. That's in line with what TSMC's recent results are showingstronger-than-expected momentum in its high-end chip segment, right as global hyperscalers are scrambling to secure supply. Foreign investors are also increasingly turning to TSMC's ADRs, now valued around $1.2 trillion, as a more convenient way to gain exposure without the regulatory hoops of Taipei-listed shares. JPMorgan weighed in too, pointing out that solid AI capex and rising wafer prices could help cushion any currency headwinds from a stronger Taiwan dollarpotentially adding resilience to TSMC's gross margins. In short, while the AI arms race is heating up, TSMC is quietly cementing its lead. Investors may be betting that it's no longer just a key supplierit could be becoming a platform stock for the next phase of global tech growth. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
