Latest news with #TaiwanAffairsOffice
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ancestral sacrifice held in Chinese Yan Emperor's hometown Suizhou
SUIZHOU, China, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A grand ancestral worship festival in the hometown of Chinese Yan Emperor was held in Suizhou, central China's Hubei Province, on May 23. A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available in this link. This year's festival, highlighted by sophisticated ritual music, seeks to create a national-level sacrificial ceremony rooted in cultural traditions and showcasing the spirit of the times. On the morning of May 23, the Lieshan Ancestral Worship Square was filled with the rumble of drums and the melodious chimes of bells. Worship guests formed neat lines and, guided by the ceremonial procession, the grand ceremony to pay homage to Yan Emperor Shennong began in a solemn atmosphere. The lunar April 26 of each year marks the birthday of Yan Emperor Shennong. This year, Suizhou launched an online co-sacrifice initiative, innovatively using digital technologies such as AI interaction with Yan Emperor and virtual candle-lighting and flower-offering, which allows Chinese descendants at home and abroad to participate in the ceremony in real time and offer blessings online. The festival, organized by the People's Government of Suizhou City, was inaugurated in 2009 and the Suizhou Shennong sacrificial ceremony was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2011. It has become a landmark cultural event demonstrating the long-standing Chinese civilization, a spiritual symbol highlighting the unyielding spirit of the Chinese nation, and a bridge uniting Chinese worldwide. The festival was co-hosted by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, the Association for Yan Huang Culture of China, and the People's Government of Hubei Province. Exchange and cooperation platforms themed around special-purpose vehicles, emergency response, cultural communication and cultural and tourism promotion were also organized during the event, with an aim to boost the introduction of investment projects and promote characteristic products and services to the world. Source: The People's Government of Suizhou City CONTACT: Contact person: Mr. Liu, Tel: 86-10-63074558
Business Upturn
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Upturn
Ancestral sacrifice held in Chinese Yan Emperor's hometown Suizhou
SUIZHOU, China, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A grand ancestral worship festival in the hometown of Chinese Yan Emperor was held in Suizhou, central China's Hubei Province, on May 23. A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available in this link. This year's festival, highlighted by sophisticated ritual music, seeks to create a national-level sacrificial ceremony rooted in cultural traditions and showcasing the spirit of the times. On the morning of May 23, the Lieshan Ancestral Worship Square was filled with the rumble of drums and the melodious chimes of bells. Worship guests formed neat lines and, guided by the ceremonial procession, the grand ceremony to pay homage to Yan Emperor Shennong began in a solemn atmosphere. The lunar April 26 of each year marks the birthday of Yan Emperor Shennong. This year, Suizhou launched an online co-sacrifice initiative, innovatively using digital technologies such as AI interaction with Yan Emperor and virtual candle-lighting and flower-offering, which allows Chinese descendants at home and abroad to participate in the ceremony in real time and offer blessings online. The festival, organized by the People's Government of Suizhou City, was inaugurated in 2009 and the Suizhou Shennong sacrificial ceremony was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2011. It has become a landmark cultural event demonstrating the long-standing Chinese civilization, a spiritual symbol highlighting the unyielding spirit of the Chinese nation, and a bridge uniting Chinese worldwide. The festival was co-hosted by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, the Association for Yan Huang Culture of China, and the People's Government of Hubei Province. Exchange and cooperation platforms themed around special-purpose vehicles, emergency response, cultural communication and cultural and tourism promotion were also organized during the event, with an aim to boost the introduction of investment projects and promote characteristic products and services to the world. Source: The People's Government of Suizhou City Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
Mint
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Taiwan's military plans new drone units in preparation for potential China invasion
Taiwan will commission its first-ever army drone units this year and introduce sea drones to its naval forces, part of its efforts to modernize its arsenal with cutting-edge technology to prepare for a potential Chinese invasion, Defense Minister Wellington Koo said in an interview. The steps fit into a shift from a focus on traditional forces to building up its capabilities intended to make China think twice before attacking. Taiwan's marines have already transformed some tank and artillery battalions into drone squads, according to Koo. 'It would be best if China wakes up every day feeling like 'today's just not the day to invade,' " he said. Taiwan is racing to overhaul its military in preparation for what it sees as a potential invasion by China as soon as 2027. China has intensified its military exercises around the island, including by staging simulated blockades that Koo and other Taiwanese officials say could turn without notice into an actual attack—an event that would trigger a global crisis. Taiwan's leadership this week marked the first year in office of President Lai Ching-te, who delivered an anniversary speech on Tuesday that was most notable for its softer tone toward Beijing. 'Taiwan is a peace-loving country," he said. 'We are willing to replace containment with engagement and confrontation with dialogue." The address was restrained compared with a speech in March when he called China a foreign adversary and warned against Chinese infiltration. Beijing has consistently expressed distaste for Lai, who it sees as a staunch supporter of Taiwan independence, and its response to his speech this week was no different. 'This two-faced approach is nothing new, a waste of effort, and doomed to fail," a spokesman for Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office said. Koo, a former human-rights lawyer, has been at the forefront of a project to transform and strengthen Taiwan's military to prepare for a conflict many see as inevitable, as China continues to press its claim that self-ruled Taiwan is Beijing's territory. He added that support from Japan and the Philippines—which make up part of what is known as the 'first island chain"—is crucial to deterring China, along with assistance from the U.S. 'Such collective deterrence will force China to consider the military difficulty and the high military cost when invading Taiwan," the defense minister said. The army is also adding two more company-sized units to operate U.S.-made Himars rocket systems as they are delivered, aiming to enhance precision-strike capabilities, he said. Taiwan's effort to incorporate drones into its defensive posture, a move inspired by Ukraine's fight against the Russian invasion, has been complicated by China's dominant role in the production of small drones and the parts needed to assemble them. Taiwan's government has sought to promote the development of a domestic drone industry to eliminate any reliance on supply from China. Wellington Koo has been at the forefront of a project to transform and strengthen Taiwan's military. Taiwan's military plans to buy more than 3,200 drones from domestic companies, mostly small reconnaissance drones, in a five-year period. The island produced roughly 10,000 drones last year, with production expected to grow, according to the Taiwanese government-funded Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology in Taipei. Meanwhile, Taiwan is getting help from the U.S. government to bolster its market size and capability. 'The U.S. has indeed provided strong support in this area because it wants us to have local production capabilities," Koo said. 'This could refer to certain technologies…being transferred to us, allowing local private companies to handle production" that doesn't use Chinese components, he added. Potential areas of U.S.-Taiwan collaboration on drones include AI, supply-chain integration and investment, Raymond Greene, the de facto U.S. ambassador to Taipei, said in a recent interview with Taiwan's state-owned Central News Agency. 'The United States and Taiwan are aligned on the importance of Taiwan ensuring its secure supply of similar asymmetric systems," Greene said in March. 'We are working together to accelerate that process, including through expanding Taiwan's ability to produce critical munitions and drones domestically." Building a drone-equipped army also depends on having the personnel to operate them. Taiwan's military has begun using drones in training and operations, often for reconnaissance. The army opened an academy last year to teach soldiers how to operate them. 'The idea is to use technology instead of manpower and rely on firepower rather than traditional forces," Koo said, offering new details about the drone plans. The decision to establish specialized drone units and introduce sea drones to the navy's amphibious forces is the newest development in Taiwan's shift to asymmetric capability. 'When it comes to firepower, we just can't compete with China in terms of quantity. So we have to figure out how to strike in the most effective way possible," said Cathy Fang, a security and defense industry analyst at DSET, the Taiwanese think tank. 'It's a clear indicator of how asymmetric warfare works." Write to Joyu Wang at
Gulf Today
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Taiwan President Lai seeks peace with China, promises to boost defence
Taiwan wants peace and dialogue with China but the government must continue to strengthen the island's defences, President Lai Ching-te said on Tuesday as he completed one year in office. Taiwan is prepared to talk to China as equals but will continue to build up its defences, the island's President Lai Ching-te said on Tuesday as he marked his first year in office. Lai, a staunch defender of Taiwan's sovereignty and detested by Beijing, delivered remarks on the need 'to prepare for war to avoid war' and also bolster the island's economic resilience. After promising to stand up to China and defend democracy at his inauguration, Lai insisted Taiwan was 'willing' to communicate with Beijing if there was 'parity and dignity.' China said on Tuesday it was 'willing to engage in dialogue' with Taiwan but on condition. Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office, also slammed Lai's 'separatist position' that promoted 'economic decoupling' across the Taiwan Strait, according to CCTV. Lai called peace 'priceless' in his speech but added, 'we cannot have illusions' and vowed to continue strengthening defence. Taiwan will 'actively cooperate with international allies, shoulder to shoulder to exert the power of deterrence, to prepare for war to avoid war, and to achieve the goal of peace,' Lai told journalists. China, which claims Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to annex it, has held several rounds of large-scale military drills around the island since Lai took office. Taiwan's coast guard warned on Monday that China may use 'cognitive warfare' to 'disrupt public morale' around Lai's anniversary. Shortly before Lai's remarks, Taiwanese coast guard personnel arrested two Chinese nationals 'attempting to sneak onto' an island in the Taiwan-administered Kinmen archipelago, several kilometres off China's mainland. As Taiwan comes under pressure from Washington to move more factories to US soil and reduce their trade imbalance, Lai said Taiwan would not 'put all our eggs in one basket.' Taiwan would increase its economic resilience by diversifying markets and boosting domestic demand. Lai also announced plans to set up a sovereign wealth fund to 'boost Taiwan's economic momentum,' but did not provide details about its size. The president has seen his first term in the top job engulfed in domestic political turmoil as opposition parties, which control the parliament, seek to stymie his agenda. The main opposition Kuomintang party (KMT) has called Lai a 'dictator' and accused him of pushing Taiwan closer to war with China, while Lai's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) suggests the KMT is a tool of Beijing. On Tuesday, Lai said the government wanted to 'strengthen cooperation among political parties' and that his national security team would start providing 'important' briefings to the opposition. The KMT said the island's challenges 'cannot be solved after holding one briefing', but acknowledged Lai had 'finally tried to take a small step' towards resolving frictions. 'We also hope that President Lai will have more courage and take a big step to stop judicial persecution and political hatred,' KMT said in a statement. Analysts said Lai's remarks were more restrained than in previous speeches, which have drawn criticism from Beijing. 'Lai is dialling down the messaging and keeping Taiwan's head low to avoid getting into anybody's crosshairs amid this geopolitical uncertainty,' Wen-Ti Sung, a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub, said. Lai has seen his approval rating fall to 45.9 percent from 58 percent nearly a year ago, according to a survey by Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation in April. His disapproval rating rose to 45.7 percent -- the highest since he took office -- which the polling group linked to the Lai government's handling of US tariffs on Taiwan and the DPP's unprecedented recall campaign targeting the opposition. DPP supporters are seeking to unseat around 30 KMT lawmakers through a legal process that allows legislators to be removed before the end of their term. Agence France-Presse
France 24
20-05-2025
- Business
- France 24
Taiwan president calls for 'peace' with China but says island must prepare for war
Taiwan wants peace and dialogue with China but the government must continue to strengthen the island's defences, President Lai Ching-te said on Tuesday as he completed one year in office. China has rebuffed Lai's multiple offers for talks. Lai rejects China's sovereignty claims over the democratic and separately governed island, saying only Taiwan's people can decide their future. The government has warned that Beijing could mark the anniversary with military drills but speaking to reporters at the presidential office in central Taipei, Lai offered a message of peace. "I, too, am committed to peace. Because peace is priceless and war has no winners. But when it comes to seeking peace, we cannot have dreams nor illusions," he said. Taiwan will continue to strengthen its defences as preparing for war is the best way to avoid it, Lai added. "I also reiterate here - Taiwan is happy to have exchanges and cooperation with China as long as there is reciprocal dignity. Using exchanges to replace hemming in, dialogue to replace confrontation." Binhua Chen, a spokesperson for Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office responded by slamming Lai's "separatist position" promoting independence, calling it "doomed to fail", state broadcaster CCTV said. China was willing to "engage in dialogue" with Lai, but only on issues "relevant to promoting the reunification of the motherland", Binhua added. China's defence ministry last week said Lai was a "Taiwan Strait crisis maker" who had increased antagonism and confrontation and undermined peace and stability. Lai also faces a challenge from possible US tariffs, currently on pause, and said talks with Washington were continuing "smoothly". The government also plans to establish a sovereign wealth fund to boost the tech-focused economy, he added. "The government will set up a sovereign fund to create a national investment platform, making full use of Taiwan's industrial strengths, led by the government, in collaboration with the strengths of private enterprises," Lai said, without giving details. After finishing his media event, Lai attended the opening ceremony for the ongoing Computex trade show, where Taiwan-born Jensen Huang, the CEO of AI darling Nvidia, is the star attraction. Lai visited the booths of Nvidia suppliers and partners, including Foxconn and Mediatek, chatting with senior executives there. Last month, China held war games code-named "Strait Thunder-2025A" around Taiwan, the "A" at its end suggesting there could be more to come. China called its May 2024 drills just after Lai took office "Joint Sword-2024A", and in October of that year staged "Joint Sword-2024B". In a daily report detailing Chinese military activities, Taiwan's defence ministry said in the past 24 hours it had detected six Chinese planes and 11 vessels near the island.
