Latest news with #Taiwan-related
Korea Herald
14-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Expert notes need for S. Korea to persuade China not to create conflict in Taiwan Strait
A security expert in the United States underscored the need Tuesday for Seoul to make diplomatic efforts to persuade China not to cause conflict in the Taiwan Strait, noting that it would be increasingly difficult for South Korea to avoid getting involved in a potential Taiwan contingency. Ellen Kim, director of academic programs at the Washington-based Korea Economic Institute of America, made the remarks, calling attention to the potential role of the 28,500-strong US Forces Koreain a contingency, which could draw South Korea into a potential Taiwan-related conflict. "My personal view is that increasingly, it's going to be very difficult for South Korea to be trying to avoid contingency," she said during a press meeting. "South Korea should try to make diplomatic efforts to avoid the war happening, and try to make a diplomatic persuasion toward China not to create conflict in the Taiwan Strait, which is sending a clear signal that having conflict is bad for China," she added. She predicted that although Seoul does not want to get entangled in the Taiwan issue, it could be drawn into a contingency should USFK forces be mobilized in the event of a crisis. "South Korea does have USFK troops, and that really becomes a major factor for China because if USFK forces come in support of Taiwan, that becomes a threat to China," she said. "If China considers that US forces are going to be attacking China, then South Korea will automatically join the conflict," she added. Kim highlighted the need for South Korea to think through how to respond to Taiwan Strait issues as they are no longer "local" ones. South Korea has been reluctant to openly discuss any role in the event of Taiwan Strait contingencies as it seeks to avoid tension with China, a key trading partner for Asia's fourth largest economy. But in recent years, it has taken on a clearer position, as it stated support for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait in public documents. Meanwhile, Scott Snyder, the president and CEO at the KEI, cast ongoing trade talks between Seoul and Washington as an effort to "reconfigure" the bilateral trade relationship, while anticipating that the allies will also discuss how to "reconfigure" the defense and security relationship. He stressed that the reconfiguration process will not necessarily be in the form of "unilateral demands or requests" from the US side. "Because both sides bring something to the table in the defense security relationship and there are a lot of different ways to approach a reconfiguration of that approach," Snyder said. Snyder also pointed out a policy shift under the second Trump administration. "Basically, we've moved from offering carrots in the form of subsidies to threatening sticks in the form of tariffs," he said, drawing comparison with a policy approach of the former Biden administration. "I think that's what the South Korean companies are having to grapple with." South Korea and the US have been in talks over tariff- and non-tariff measures, investment cooperation, economic security and currency policy, as Seoul has been striving to avoid or minimize the impact of new levies rolled out by US President Donald Trump's administration. On the same day, the KEI released a survey that found more than half of Americans think South Korean firms' investments in the US are good for the US economy -- an indication of their relatively positive view on economic ties with the Asian country. Responding to a question over whether South Korean businesses' investments are good for the US economy, 55.62 percent of the respondents said, "Yes." The percentages for Japanese and German companies came to 64.33 percent and 62.64 percent, respectively, while the figure for Chinese companies stood at 38.99 percent. Regarding a question about whether South Korean firms' investments in new US high-tech manufacturing plants are good for the US economy, 57.23 percent said, "Yes." For this question, the percentages for Japanese and German companies were tallied at 68.8 percent and 66.43 percent, while the figure for Chinese companies was 46.38 percent. The survey was conducted on a sample of 1,500 people across 10 states, including Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and New York, from Dec. 17 through Jan. 2. It had an overall margin of error of plus or minus 8.21 percentage points. (Yonhap)
The Sun
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
US mission in Taipei says Trump's 'unification' comment was about US-China trade
TAIPEI: U.S. President Donald Trump's comment on 'unification' was about the U.S.-China trade relationship and U.S. policy towards Taiwan has not changed, the de facto embassy on the island said on Tuesday, after the wording caused unease in Taipei. China claims democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to 'reunify' with the island, by force if necessary. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future. Washington and Beijing on Monday agreed to slash steep tariffs for at least 90 days, pausing their trade war, a move Trump praised when speaking to reporters at the White House. 'They've agreed to open China, fully open China, and I think it's going to be fantastic for China, I think it's going to be fantastic for us, and I think it's going to be great for unification and peace,' he said, without mentioning Taiwan. In a statement, the American Institute in Taiwan, which operates as a de facto embassy in the absence of formal diplomatic ties, said Trump was speaking about U.S.-China trade. 'It's clear President Trump was speaking in the context of the U.S.-China trade relationship,' a spokesperson said. 'U.S. policy on Taiwan remains the same, and the U.S. approach to Taiwan has remained consistent across decades and administrations.' Taiwan's presidential office, in a separate statement, noted the U.S. comment that Trump was referring to trade talks with China and not Taiwan. 'The U.S. commitment to Taiwan remains strong and unchanged,' spokesperson Karen Kuo said, adding that Taiwan's understanding was that the U.S.-China trade talks did not touch on Taiwan-related issues. Trump's remarks created concern in some government and diplomatic circles in Taiwan on whether U.S. policy towards the island had changed, seven sources told Reuters. 'Is he going to change the status quo, accepting the annexation of Taiwan?' one of the sources said, a senior official who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter. The U.S. government only officially recognises the government in Beijing, and does not take a position on Taiwan's sovereignty, only acknowledging China's position on the subject under Washington's long-standing 'one China policy'. Washington is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, and has repeatedly expressed condemnation of stepped up Chinese military activities, including the latest round of war games in April.
The Sun
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Trump's ‘unification' comment raises Taiwan concerns
TAIPEI: U.S. President Donald Trump's comment on 'unification' was about the U.S.-China trade relationship and U.S. policy towards Taiwan has not changed, the de facto embassy on the island said on Tuesday, after the wording caused unease in Taipei. China claims democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to 'reunify' with the island, by force if necessary. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future. Washington and Beijing on Monday agreed to slash steep tariffs for at least 90 days, pausing their trade war, a move Trump praised when speaking to reporters at the White House. 'They've agreed to open China, fully open China, and I think it's going to be fantastic for China, I think it's going to be fantastic for us, and I think it's going to be great for unification and peace,' he said, without mentioning Taiwan. In a statement, the American Institute in Taiwan, which operates as a de facto embassy in the absence of formal diplomatic ties, said Trump was speaking about U.S.-China trade. 'It's clear President Trump was speaking in the context of the U.S.-China trade relationship,' a spokesperson said. 'U.S. policy on Taiwan remains the same, and the U.S. approach to Taiwan has remained consistent across decades and administrations.' Taiwan's presidential office, in a separate statement, noted the U.S. comment that Trump was referring to trade talks with China and not Taiwan. 'The U.S. commitment to Taiwan remains strong and unchanged,' spokesperson Karen Kuo said, adding that Taiwan's understanding was that the U.S.-China trade talks did not touch on Taiwan-related issues. Trump's remarks created concern in some government and diplomatic circles in Taiwan on whether U.S. policy towards the island had changed, seven sources told Reuters. 'Is he going to change the status quo, accepting the annexation of Taiwan?' one of the sources said, a senior official who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter. The U.S. government only officially recognises the government in Beijing, and does not take a position on Taiwan's sovereignty, only acknowledging China's position on the subject under Washington's long-standing 'one China policy'. Washington is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, and has repeatedly expressed condemnation of stepped up Chinese military activities, including the latest round of war games in April.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US mission in Taipei says Trump's 'unification' comment was about US-China trade
TAIPEI (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's comment on "unification" was about the U.S.-China trade relationship and U.S. policy towards Taiwan has not changed, the de facto embassy on the island said on Tuesday, after the wording caused unease in Taipei. China claims democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to "reunify" with the island, by force if necessary. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future. Washington and Beijing on Monday agreed to slash steep tariffs for at least 90 days, pausing their trade war, a move Trump praised when speaking to reporters at the White House. "They've agreed to open China, fully open China, and I think it's going to be fantastic for China, I think it's going to be fantastic for us, and I think it's going to be great for unification and peace," he said, without mentioning Taiwan. In a statement, the American Institute in Taiwan, which operates as a de facto embassy in the absence of formal diplomatic ties, said Trump was speaking about U.S.-China trade. "It's clear President Trump was speaking in the context of the U.S.-China trade relationship," a spokesperson said. "U.S. policy on Taiwan remains the same, and the U.S. approach to Taiwan has remained consistent across decades and administrations." Taiwan's presidential office, in a separate statement, noted the U.S. comment that Trump was referring to trade talks with China and not Taiwan. "The U.S. commitment to Taiwan remains strong and unchanged," spokesperson Karen Kuo said, adding that Taiwan's understanding was that the U.S.-China trade talks did not touch on Taiwan-related issues. Trump's remarks created concern in some government and diplomatic circles in Taiwan on whether U.S. policy towards the island had changed, seven sources told Reuters. "Is he going to change the status quo, accepting the annexation of Taiwan?" one of the sources said, a senior official who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter. The U.S. government only officially recognises the government in Beijing, and does not take a position on Taiwan's sovereignty, only acknowledging China's position on the subject under Washington's long-standing "one China policy". Washington is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, and has repeatedly expressed condemnation of stepped up Chinese military activities, including the latest round of war games in April.
Indian Express
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Opinion China is turning the heat on Taiwan
Since the inception of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leader Lai Ching-te's presidency in Taiwan, China's policy signalling vis-à-vis the island has become much harsher and more aggressive. China's stance on Taiwan has taken a more urgent and assertive turn in recent months. The unveiling of the new Shuiqiao amphibious vessels at Zhanjiang port in Guangdong, coupled with heightened activity and aggressive posturing by the PLA's Eastern Theater Command — including the recent Strait Thunder 2025A exercises — signals a sharpened focus on readiness and control. At the same time, internal probes into top military figures such as Central Military Commission (CMC) Vice-Chairman He Weidong, former Political Work Department head Miao Hua, and Eastern Theater Commander Lin Xiangyang have effectively dismantled what was known as the 'Taiwan-Fujian' faction within China's military leadership. Adding to the sense of impending conflict, some outlets, citing unnamed intelligence sources, have suggested that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan could occur within six months — further fueling anxiety and speculation. Further, Beijing's critique of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te and his party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), has intensified, with official rhetoric often referring to him as a 'Thoroughly Dangerous Instigator' or 'Absolute Danger Maker', and calling out the DPP for spreading 'green terror.' This points to a significant lack of political will to resolve tensions through open lines of communication. In this regard, three politico-military developments from the last few months demand attention to understand the messaging from China on Taiwan. China has recently published a revised Cadre Reader on the Taiwan Issue of China (2024 Edition), compiled by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. Launched at the National Library in Haidian, Beijing (the hub for China's armed forces) on March 18, the Cadre Reader is aimed at implementing the Central Committee's decisions and arrangements on Taiwan-related work, unifying ideological understanding, and strengthening publicity and education on Taiwan policies. At the launch event for the Reader, Song Tao, Director of both the Taiwan Affairs Offices of the Party and the government, stated that cadres involved in Taiwan-related work should deeply understand the historical context of the Taiwan issue in a bid to strengthen their 'sense of responsibility and mission,' and 'improve their competence and capabilities in handling Taiwan-related affairs.' In this light, the instruction to political cadres of the CPC on understanding the vitality of reunification with Taiwan, has become firmer. Further, as Beijing marked the 20th anniversary of the adoption and enactment of the 2005 Anti-Secession Law on March 14, China's top legislator, Zhao Leji, spelled similar (but not unusual) rhetoric on curbing Taiwan's 'independence' and getting rid of 'external interference.' Here, it is important to note that Article 8 of the Law stipulates: 'In the event that the 'Taiwan independence' secessionist forces should act under any name or by any means to cause the fact of Taiwan's secession from China, or that major incidents entailing Taiwan's secession from China should occur, or that possibilities for a peaceful reunification should be completely exhausted, the state shall employ non-peaceful means and other necessary measures to protect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.' In this light, it is quite interesting that a People's Daily commentary from April 2, authored by a 'Zhong Yiping' (a pen-name for a CPC member and reunification activist writing for the mouthpiece), refers to the Anti-Secession Law as a 'looming sword.' If mobilised, Zhong argued, it will lead Lai to 'dig his own grave.' These are strong words, in that in the recent past, the provisions of the Law regarding the use of non-peaceful means have rarely been used to incite fear and deterrence. At the Taiwan Affairs Work Conference that took place in February 2025, too, the phrase 'peaceful reunification' was newly missing from the government work report, even as CPPCC Chairman Wang Huning emphasised 'advancing the cause and trajectory of reunification.' To that, Chen Binhua had clarified that China will 'strive for peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity' as long as Taiwan separatists do not 'provoke, coerce, or challenge the bottom line and cross red lines.' To further involve the public in its Taiwan strategy, the Party and State Council's Taiwan Affairs Offices recently launched a new grassroots mechanism: A special platform where citizens can report individuals accused of persecuting pro-China Taiwanese. Introduced on March 26, this reporting column reportedly received 323 submissions within its first nine hours, according to Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua. The early targets of these reports span a wide spectrum — from government officials and legislators like Liu Shih-fang, Shen Boyang, Wu Sih-yao, and Huang Chieh, to prosecutors, activists, and internet personalities including Black Bear Academy's Tsao Hsing-cheng and prominent influencers Wen Ziyu and Chen Boyuan. Even a politically outspoken dentist, Shih Shuhua, was named, underscoring the wide net cast by this campaign. The decision to publicise citizen complaints against Taiwanese politicians and influencers appears to serve a dual purpose: Rallying domestic sentiment against perceived mistreatment of pro-China voices in Taiwan, and portraying Beijing's tough stance as rooted in public will rather than solely directed by the party-state. This strategy aligns with the enforcement of a legal directive issued in June 2024 — The Opinion on Lawfully Punishing Stubborn 'Taiwan Independence' Separatists — which was jointly released by China's top judicial and security bodies. The document outlines a strict legal framework for punishing separatist activity, with penalties ranging from multi-year prison terms and loss of political rights to life imprisonment or even capital punishment in the most severe cases. Finally, and most importantly, China's large-scale military drills and advancements in the PLA Eastern Theatre Command's defence systems, have continued to ring alarm bells for Taiwan. The most recent of the drills that kicked off in August 2022 has been the 'Strait Thunder-2025A', conducted on April 1/ 2, 2025. We know from the 'Joint Sword' Exercises of 2024 that if there is an 'A', there will also be a 'B', and potentially also a 'C', for the Strait Thunder series. What is different about these exercises is also that they were much more comprehensive, widespread, and involved different components — Carrier Battle Group exercises and PLA Rocket Force demonstrations — along with a relatively usual spike in joint sea- and air-related sorties, including beyond the median line of the Taiwan Strait and into the island's Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). The PLARF testing involved testing of its 'cross-Straits killing machines'— multiple modular long-range rocket artillery systems — to carry out live-fire ammunition exercises. These were likely the PHL-16/ PCL-191 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRSs) that have a range of about 300 km, and can easily target sites in the Strait and on Taiwan proper. It is widely reported that the schematics of the target the barrage of 16 missiles was launched at, resemble an LNG storage facility in Kaohsiung's Yong'an District. As much as 40 per cent of Taiwan's electricity grid is powered by LNG — making such energy facilities and key port areas like Kaohsiung province strategically vital targets for the PLA. The assessment of these drills can be combined with more static developments such as the sudden building of commercial Shuiqiao ships in Guangdong province, whose main characteristic are the tusk-like 'Bailey Bridge' extensions that can deploy forces for an amphibious campaign. Analysts have likened these to the artificial floating Mulberry Harbours created by the British to support their D-Day operations against France in 1944. A preliminary assessment suggests the Strait Thunder 2025A set of drills was not as gigantic as the Joint Sword 2024B exercises. While a few targeted simulations were undertaken to demonstrate resource control and choking, the focus was not on testing the 'actual combat capabilities' of troops (as was the case with the latter, which included establishing strike positions, conducting land and naval live-fire exercises, and conducting joint assaults). Nonetheless, the routine of the drills demonstrates that China continues to take the threshold of conflict higher, and its brinkmanship has created a new, dangerous normal in the Strait that makes peace seem elusive.
