Deadly Assault in Taipei Metro
Richard Saunders, Taipei A man armed with a knife and smoke bombs carried out a violent attack in Taipei, Taiwan, killing three individuals and injuring nine more, according to local media reports from Friday. During the evening rush hour, the suspect threw smoke bombs from an exit of a metro station and randomly stabbed bystanders….
Japan’s Taiwan Brinkmanship Revives Okinawa Independence Debate
Richard Sanders, Phnom Penh—Recently Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has signaled that Tokyo may deploy military forces if China attacks Taiwan, a declaration that has reignited debate over Okinawa’s contested history and the unresolved sovereignty of the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands. Historical Roots of the Ryukyu Question The Ryukyu Kingdom, which ruled Okinawa until Japan’s annexation in…
Taiwan Civil Defense Debate Intensifies
Richard Sanders As geopolitical tensions rise in East Asia, Taiwan is taking a closer look at Ukraine’s wartime resilience, prompting a national debate over whether the island should adopt a more decentralized, militia‑style defense model. Analysts say the comparison is instructive—but not straightforward. Ukraine’s experience since Russia’s full‑scale invasion in 2022 has become a global…
TSMC Investment Could Exceed $200 Billion, Says US Secretary of Commerce Lutnick
Richard Saunders In a recent CNBC interview, US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick suggested that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) might increase its investment in the United States to over $200 billion, potentially creating 30,000 new jobs in the process. Lutnick’s comments came in the context of his criticism of the CHIPS Act, where he…
Shift in U.S. National Security Strategy Highlights Economic Rivalry with China, Emphasizes Taiwan
Richard Sanders In a recent unveiling of the National Security Strategy (NSS) by the Trump administration, analysts spotlighted a notable shift in rhetoric concerning China, especially in relation to Taiwan. Unlike the Biden administration’s strong assertions regarding China as “America’s most consequential geopolitical challenge,” the new NSS takes a more subdued approach, focusing significantly on…
US approves sale of F-16 technology to Pakistan – media
Martin Haffner, Associate Editor The US has approved the sale of technology and support for Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jets, the Pakistani website Dawn reported on Wednesday. The proposed sale aims to modernize Pakistan’s F-16 fleet and address operational safety concerns, the report said, citing a December 8 letter from the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency…
Trump Unveils New National Security Strategy: A Shift Towards Collaboration with China and Power Dynamics in Europe
Martin Haffner. Associate Editor The White House has released President Donald Trump’s updated national security strategy, a comprehensive 33-page document that reinforces the “America First” doctrine while realigning U.S. foreign policy. This new strategy emphasizes redefining military presence in the Western Hemisphere, alongside a notably aggressive stance towards Europe. At its core, the strategy advocates…
Taiwan has announced plans to block access to the popular Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote.
by Martin Haffner Associate Editor Taiwan has announced plans to block access to the popular Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote, for a duration of one year due to concerns over online shopping scams. The island’s Criminal Investigation Bureau revealed on Thursday that it has identified over 1,700 fraud cases linked to…
Trump Signs Taiwan Bill Into Law
Richard Sanders, Taipei US President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act, requiring the State Department to review and update guidelines for official US-Taiwan interactions at least once every five years. Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung welcomed the move, calling it “a major step forward in US-Taiwan relations.” The Presidential Office said…
China’s Military Modernization Efforts Threatened by Escalating Corruption Crisis
Richard Sanders, Taipei China’s ambitious initiative to enhance its high-tech military capabilities faces significant challenges due to a growing corruption crisis, which raises concerns about the nation’s true military strength. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) recently reported that major state-owned defense companies in China experienced the steepest decline among the world’s top arms…
