Latest news with #YimouLee
The Star
3 days ago
- Climate
- The Star
Thousands evacuated, businesses closed in southern Taiwan as torrential rain continues
TAIPEI (Reuters) -Torrential rains lashed southern Taiwan for a second day on Tuesday forcing some 3,000 people to evacuate and businesses and schools to close, as authorities warned of "intense" rainfall of up to 90 centimetres (35.4 inches) in the coming days. Flooding triggered by a depression has submerged streets and buildings in several towns and villages across southern Taiwan this week. Nine people have been injured and 88 rescued from inundated buildings and cars so far, according to official data. The Central Weather Administration forecast up to 0.9 metres of rainfall in mountainous areas of the south over the coming days and warned that "intense" rainfall could trigger more flooding and landslides. Taiwan is still recovering from Typhoon Danas, which struck the island's densely-populated west coast with record winds and brought widespread damage to its electricity grid and some houses. In the southern city of Tainan, dozens of people were evacuated from houses damaged by Danas, while Taiwan TV footage showed residents in Chiayi County wading through waterlogged roads, pushing scooters, and navigating around inundated buildings. (Reporting by Yimou Lee; Editing by Kate Mayberry)
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
China rallies for opposition as Taiwan gears up for mass parliamentary recall
China rallies for opposition as Taiwan gears up for mass parliamentary recall By Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard TAIPEI (Reuters) -As Taiwan gears up for a recall vote that could reshape its parliament, opposition lawmakers being challenged at the ballot box are getting two unusual supporters: Chinese officials and state media outlets rallying to their cause. While President Lai Ching-te won the election last year, his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lost its legislative majority. The opposition has flexed its muscles since then to pass laws the government has opposed and impose budget cuts, complicating efforts to boost defence spending in particular. The political drama has been happening against a backdrop of China ramping up its own military and diplomatic pressure campaign against Taiwan to assert territorial claims Lai and his government resolutely reject. Lai has offered talks with Beijing many times, but been rebuffed. Civic groups formally started the recall campaign earlier this year, and on Saturday voters will decide on the fate of 24 lawmakers from Taiwan's largest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), around one-fifth of all lawmakers. The recall groups say theirs is an "anti-communist" movement, accusing the KMT of selling out Taiwan by sending lawmakers to China, not supporting defence spending, and bringing chaos to parliament. The KMT rejects those accusations, denouncing Lai's "dictatorship" and "green terror" - the DPP's party colour. China has not sat quietly on the sidelines, to the KMT's unease, ever wary of being "painted red" by its opponents. In June, two senior Chinese officials overseeing Taiwan policy denounced the recalls as a "political scheme" of Lai's. Lai is "engaging in dictatorship under the guise of democracy" and "using every means possible to suppress the opposition," China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian told a news briefing in June. Taiwanese tycoon Robert Tsao, one of the most prominent recall campaigners, said such comments would only support their cause. "It shows they (the KMT) are together with the communist party. It helps us," he told reporters at a campaign event on Monday. 'OUR BUSINESS' The KMT says it neither asked for nor wants China's support, can't control what China says, and that it is not pro-Beijing. "We feel the same way as all the people of Taiwan - this is our business. It is the two parties, the DPP and the KMT, fighting for public support, for public recognition. It has nothing to do with the mainland," party spokesperson Crystal Yang told Reuters. Chinese state media outlets and their affiliated social media accounts published some 425 articles or videos describing the recall campaign as "dictatorship" or "green terror" in the first half of 2025, according to Taiwan research organisation IORG, which analyses Chinese state media. In an April commentary, China's ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily said Lai was "presumptuously abusing the recall system to crack down on the opposition party, attempting to establish a 'green dictatorship.'" Pointing to the similarity between China and the KMT's arguments against the recalls, Wu Szu-yao, secretary general of the DPP's legislative caucus, said Beijing is "offering ammunition" to the KMT to sway voters. "China is really concerned that the mass recall will be successful and win the support of Taiwan's public," she said. China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to a request for comment. The KMT says its China engagement is vital given Beijing's refusal to talk to Lai, who it says is a "separatist", and to advocate for Taiwan's interests, such as promoting agricultural exports. "This is an unfair criticism," Tony Lin, chair of the KMT's Culture and Communication Committee, said, referring to the accusations they are pro-Beijing. "What we have always stressed is that we are pro-communication." The KMT hopes people will turn out to also express their dissatisfaction with Lai, whom they say is incompetent and has stoked tensions with China. "The DPP uses its overwhelming propaganda network to bring up a sense of fear (about China) in Taiwan society," said Huang Kwei-bo, a professor of diplomacy at Taipei's National Chengchi University and a former KMT deputy secretary general. Solve the daily Crossword
RNZ News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Taiwan launches biggest war drills with simulated attacks against military command
By Yimou Lee , Reuters Taiwanese reservists participate in pre-combat training on the first day of the annual Han Kuang military exercise in Miaoli on July 9, 2025. Photo: AFP / I-HWA CHENG Taiwan launched its largest ever military drills on Wednesday, starting with simulated attacks on its command systems and infrastructure ahead of a Chinese invasion, senior defence officials said. The early stages of the annual Han Kuang exercises will focus on testing how Taiwan's military can decentralise command in the event of a crippling communications attack. Over the next 10 days, the drills will expand to assess Taiwan's combat readiness against a full-scale attempt to seize the island. "We are learning from the situation in Ukraine in recent years and realistically thinking about what Taiwan might face ... in real combat," said one senior defence official, highlighting the need to protect command and communication systems. "Commanders have to think what issues their troops might face and they need to pass them down to their subordinates," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the operation. Cyber attacks and misinformation campaigns are seen by Taiwan as high-intensity "grey zone" actions that are likely to precede a broader Chinese assault. The annual Han Kuang exercises will this year mobilise the largest number of reservists, some 22,000, and for the first time feature new High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, made by Lockheed Martin, along with Taiwan-developed Sky Sword surface-to-air missiles. Some 300 reserve troops were seen moving into classrooms of a junior high school in the city of Taoyuan emptied for summer holidays, receiving instruction in mortars and rifles. China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own and has intensified military pressure around the island over the last five years, including a string of war games and daily patrols. Beijing has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control, and any attack on Taiwan could ignite a broader regional war. Taiwanese defence officials said they believed that the Chinese military would be closely monitoring the drills. By 6am, Taiwan had detected 31 Chinese aircraft sorties and seven naval ships, the defence ministry said in a statement. Some 24 of the aircraft crossed the median line, the unofficial barrier between the two sides. China's Ministry of Commerce added eight Taiwan firms to its export control list, banning exports of dual-use products, the state news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday. The list includes the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC). As they evolve, the drills will feature 24-hour army, naval and air operations to defend Taiwan's coasts. Civil defence elements will also be tested, including the creation of emergency supply stations as well as the use of Taiwan's recently-expanded air-raid shelters. Asked about the drills and Taiwan's use of US-supplied HIMARS, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in Beijing on Wednesday that "our opposition to US-Taiwan military ties is consistent and very firm". Taiwan's "attempt to seek independence through force or relying on foreign (actors) will never succeed," Mao said. China's defence ministry said on Tuesday that Taiwan's Han Kuang military exercises were "nothing but a bluff". "No matter what weapons are used, Taiwan can't resist the People's Liberation Army's sharp sword against independence," ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin was quoted as saying by state broadcaster CCTV. The Taiwanese senior defence official said they wanted to show the international community that Taiwan was determined to defend itself. Regional military attaches and analysts say the drills are being closely watched, both for China's response and to gauge improvements in Taiwanese resilience. Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te and his government strongly object to China's sovereignty claims, saying it is up to the island's people to decide their future. - Reuters
Japan Today
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Taiwan launches annual war games with simulated attacks against military command
By Yimou Lee Taiwan launches its largest ever military drills on Wednesday, starting with simulated attacks on its command systems and infrastructure ahead of a Chinese invasion, senior defense officials said. The early stages of the annual Han Kuang exercises will focus on testing how Taiwan's military can decentralize command in the event of a crippling communications attack. Over the next 10 days, the drills will expand to assess Taiwan's combat readiness against a full-scale attempt to seize the island. "We are learning from the situation in Ukraine in recent years and realistically thinking about what Taiwan might face ... in real combat," said one senior defense official, highlighting the need to protect command and communication systems. "Commanders have to think what issues their troops might face and they need to pass them down to their subordinates," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the operation. Cyber attacks and misinformation campaigns are seen by Taiwan as high-intensity "grey zone" actions that are likely to precede a broader Chinese assault. The annual Han Kuang exercises will this year mobilize the largest number of reservists, some 22,000, and for the first time feature New High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, made by Lockheed Martin, along with Taiwan-developed Sky Sword surface-to-air missiles. Some 300 reserve troops were seen moving into classrooms of a junior high school in the city of Taoyuan emptied for summer holidays, receiving instruction in mortars and rifles. China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own and has intensified military pressure around the island over the last five years, including a string of war games and daily patrols. Beijing has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control, and any attack on Taiwan could ignite a broader regional war. Taiwanese defense officials said they believed that the Chinese military would be closely monitoring the drills. By 6 a.m. Taiwan had detected 31 Chinese aircraft sorties and seven naval ships, the defense ministry said in a statement. Some 24 of the aircraft crossed the median line, the unofficial barrier between the two sides. China's Ministry of Commerce added eight Taiwan firms to its export control list, banning exports of dual use products, the state news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday. The list includes the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC). As they evolve, the drills will feature 24-hour operations army, naval and air operations to defend Taiwan coasts. Civil defense elements will also be tested, including the creation of emergency supply stations as well as the use of Taiwan's recently-expanded air-raid shelters. China's defense ministry said on Tuesday that Taiwan's Han Kuang military exercises were "nothing but a bluff". "No matter what weapons are used, Taiwan can't resist the People's Liberation Army's sharp sword against independence," ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin was quoted as saying by state broadcaster CCTV. The Taiwanese senior defense official said they wanted to show China that they faced an unpredictable foe and that any invasion scenario was growing more complex, while showing the international community that Taiwan was determined to defend itself. Regional military attaches and analysts say the drills are being closely watched, both for China's response and to gauge improvements in Taiwanese resilience. Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te and his government strongly object to China's sovereignty claims, saying it is up to the island's people to decide their future. © Thomson Reuters 2025.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Taking lessons from Ukraine, Taiwan eyes sea drones to counter China
By Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard WUSHI, Taiwan (Reuters) -Just off the small Taiwan fishing port of Wushi on its Pacific coast, a Taiwanese company is testing what could eventually be a powerful but unglamorous new weapon in the island's military arsenal - sea drones. Used to great effect by Ukraine in the Black Sea against Russia, Taiwan is learning lessons on how it could use sea drones as an effective and low-cost way to fend off any possible Chinese invasion. These drones are uncrewed, remotely controlled small vessels that are packed with explosives and can be guided toward ships or potentially even attack targets in the air. Pushed by the United States, Taiwan has been working to transform its armed forces to be able to wage "asymmetric warfare", using mobile, smaller and often cheaper weapons which still pack a targeted punch, like sea drones. "Uncrewed boats or vehicles have played a very significant role in the Ukraine war," Chen Kuan-ting, a lawmaker for Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) who sits on parliament's foreign affairs and defence committee, told Reuters. "Uncrewed vehicles, whether they are boats or underwater vehicles, can effectively deter China because Taiwan is not the attacking side, we are the defending side," he said. Taiwan's defence ministry's research and development arm, the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, has termed the sea drone plan the "Swift and Sudden" project, which so far has a modest budget of around T$800 million ($26.77 million). Defence Minister Wellington Koo said on Wednesday sea drones would be included in an additional spending package to be unveiled later this year. Details of that special budget have yet to be announced. William Chen, chairman of the Thunder Tiger company, told Reuters last week on a boat off Wushi while viewing a test of their SeaShark 800 sea drone, which can carry 1,200 kg (2,600 lbs) of explosives and travel up to 500 km (310 miles), that these new weapons present an element of surprise for China. "We can create uncertainty. We can fill the Taiwan Strait with danger and risks. No one knows where these dangers could surface," Chen added. SEA DRONE SHOW Next week, Thunder Tiger will be among 12 Taiwanese and foreign companies joining an exhibition just down the coast from Wushi arranged by the defence ministry to showcase unmanned surface vehicles that may end up being added to Taiwan's arsenal. Other companies taking part, according to the ministry, include Taiwan navy contractor Lungteh Shipbuilding and U.S. military shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries. "Drones is a top priority for both the United States and Taiwan. Obviously the conflict in Ukraine is focusing minds on what the next generation of warfare will look like," said Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council, who is leading a U.S. defence industry delegation to Taiwan this week, including drone makers. China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has ramped up its military pressure over the past five years, including staging half a dozen rounds of war games. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Taiwan has been studying how Ukraine has deployed drones to successfully offset Russia's advantage on the battlefield and has enlisted commercial drone companies, including Thunder Tiger, to help. Ukraine has deployed sea drones not only to attack ships in Russia's Black Sea fleet, but also to shoot down aircraft. Taiwan's navy is dwarfed by that of China with its aircraft carriers and ballistic missile submarines, though the country lacks recent combat experience. China's last successful large-scale amphibious assault was in 1950 when it seized Hainan island at the tail end of the Chinese civil war, with troops ferried across on junks. Peter Chen, a drone expert and executive director of Taiwan security think tank TTRDA, said Taiwan can undoubtedly make world-class sea drones. "But when it comes to the application, how to turn them into top-notch weapons, it is not the responsibility of private companies. The views of government and the military on how to properly integrate the weapons into the battle strategy, that needs more thinking," he said.
