Taiwan (6do encyclopedia)



Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), is an island nation situated in East Asia. It is bordered by the East China Sea to the north, the Philippine Sea to the east, the Taiwan Strait to the west, and the South China Sea to the south. Taiwan, which has a population of approximately 23.6 million people, comprises the main island of Taiwan and various smaller islands.

History

Taiwan has a rich history that dates back to around 6,000 years ago. It was inhabited by indigenous groups, mostly made up of Austronesian speakers. Taiwan was subsequently settled by various waves of Chinese immigrants, who introduced the Chinese language and culture to the island. In 1895, Taiwan was ceded to Japan following the Sino-Japanese War, and it remained under Japanese rule until the end of World War II.

After World War II, Taiwan came under the control of the ROC, which had retreated to the island after losing the Chinese Civil War to the Communist Party of China. The ROC government, led by Chiang Kai-shek, imposed martial law on Taiwan in 1949 and ruled the island as a one-party state until 1987. During this time, Taiwan underwent rapid economic growth and industrialization, becoming known as one of the Four Asian Tigers.

In recent years, Taiwan has transitioned to a multi-party democracy with a vibrant civil society. The country is recognized by a number of countries as an independent sovereign state, but it is not a member of the United Nations due to pressure from China, which considers Taiwan to be a renegade province. Taiwan has maintained unofficial relations with many countries, including the United States, Japan, and most European Union countries.

Geography and climate

Taiwan is located in a subtropical zone, and its climate is characterized by hot and humid summers and mild winters. The island has a high degree of topographical variation, with mountain ranges running through the center of the island. The highest peak in Taiwan is Yushan, which stands at 3,952 meters (12,966 ft) tall.

Taiwan is prone to natural disasters, including earthquakes and typhoons. The island experiences a number of earthquakes every year, some of which can be quite severe. Taiwan is also affected by typhoons during the summer months, which can cause flooding and landslides.

Culture

Taiwan’s culture is a blend of Chinese, Japanese, and indigenous traditions. The official language is Mandarin Chinese, but Taiwanese Hokkien, Hakka, and indigenous languages are also spoken. Taiwan has a rich cultural heritage that includes traditional arts, such as calligraphy, painting, and music.

Taiwanese cuisine is well-known and loved around the world, with dishes such as beef noodle soup, stinky tofu, and bubble tea. The country is also known for its night markets, which offer a wide variety of street food and entertainment.

Taiwan is famous for its technology industry, with many of the world’s leading electronics manufacturers based on the island. The country is also home to a thriving creative industry, including design, fashion, and music.

Tourism

Taiwan is a popular tourist destination, known for its beautiful scenery, rich culture, and delicious food. Some of the top tourist attractions in Taiwan include Taipei 101, Sun Moon Lake, Taroko Gorge, and Kenting National Park.

Taiwan is also famous for its hot springs, which are believed to have therapeutic properties. The island has a number of hot spring resorts, which offer a relaxing getaway for tourists.

Conclusion

Taiwan is a small island nation with a rich history and culture. Its location in East Asia makes it an important geopolitical player, with close ties to the United States and Japan. Despite its small size, Taiwan has made significant contributions to the world in the areas of technology, culture, and cuisine. With its beautiful scenery and vibrant society, Taiwan is a must-visit destination for any traveler.


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Taiwan kicks off annual Han Kuang war games with eye on latest PLA threats

South China Morning Post

23-05-15 10:01


Taiwan's annual Han Kuang exercises are being held this week, with the aim of testing the ability of Taiwanese military personnel to respond to a range of potential scenarios involving the PLA. The events will include both tabletop drills as well as live-fire exercises slated to be held in July. US personnel are also said to be attending in some capacity - though it remains unclear whether this is limited to observing exercises or participation as well. Cross-strait tensions have been ratcheting up over the last year, with exercises around Taiwan increasing in scale and frequency. China views Taiwan as a breakaway province and regards the country as having no right to official overseas relations with any other country. Meanwhile, the United States has pledged to defend Taiwan's sovereignty but does not recognise it as an independent state.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3220610/latest-pla-threats-focus-taiwan-kicks-annual-han-kuang-war-games-computerised-simulations
PLA reveals US-China military encounter off Hong Kong ahead of 2021 Capitol riot

South China Morning Post

23-05-15 10:00


Recently released findings by Chinese scientists detail how the US destroyed its own floating sonars rather than allowing them to fall into Chinese hands during a naval confrontation with China earlier this year. In addition to 3 US military aircraft launching a submarine hunt, they also deployed sensors close to Dongsha islands (also known as Pratas islands). These islands are currently under Taiwanese control, and any actions that could be perceived as supportive of Taipei's administration of the islands could be seen as highly provocative by Beijing. Additionally, the US spy planes fly unusually low to the water which poses a risk to safety as they are flying close to the ground level. The US has been making a constant effort to target China's submarine forces through the use of sonar buoys and a variety of sensors. Reports from the Chinese scientists indicate that with the reliance on advanced technology, the US poses a severe threat to China's submarines making it much harder for them to operate undetected in the region.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3219808/pla-reveals-us-china-military-encounter-hong-kong-day-january-6-capitol-riot
Beijing’s Silicon Valley event to focus on AI and international cooperation

South China Morning Post

23-05-15 10:00


The Zhongguancun Forum, a state-backed tech event in Beijing, will focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and international cooperation. The six-day conference, to kick off on May 25, will focus on the “frontiers of science and technology development, specifically AI, quantum science and brain-computer interfaces”. The event will “deepen international openness and cooperation” with guests from almost 200 foreign governments and organisations across more than 80 countries and regions expected to attend. The comments echoed an address delivered by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who said that China would take a “more open attitude” and take part in “global innovation networks”.

https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3220609/chinas-zhongguancun-forum-focus-ai-development-and-renewed-international-cooperation-amid-chatgpt
US citizen sentenced to life in prison for espionage - Chinese court

Reuters

23-05-15 08:50


A 78-year-old US citizen and Hong Kong resident has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a court in eastern China for espionage. John Shing-wan Leung was also stripped of his political rights after a brief trial. The court gave no specifics of his alleged offence. Tensions between China and the US are at a high on a number of fronts, from accusations of Chinese spying and human rights abuses, to US efforts to build up military alliances to curb China's ambitions toward Taiwan and in the Pacific.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-citizen-sentenced-life-prison-espionage-chinese-court-2023-05-15/
Watch live as Liz Truss speaks at democracy summit in Copenhagen

The Independent

23-05-15 08:44


Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss is to give a speech at a democracy summit in Copenhagen alongside former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi and exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Truss is then set to visit Taiwan in a show of solidarity against what she calls China's "increasingly aggressive behaviour." She will urge the West to "get real about military and defence cooperation" to prevent conflict in the South China Sea.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/copenhagen-democracy-summit-liz-truss-b2338947.html
G7 host Japan seeks unity on threat from China

Financial Times

23-05-16 01:23


Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s key aim during the annual G7 summit this weekend is to establish a united G7 response to China's military ambitions and "economic coercion," as the country continues to seek closer ties with NATO and imposes sanctions against Moscow as a result of the ongoing war in Ukraine. China’s interventionism has driven Japan to adopt a very cautious approach, revamping its military organisation and increasing security cooperation with nations in Southeast Asia and Europe. However, it is anticipated that the G7 will not agree on any specific new economic tools of security, and crucially, China will not be named in the statement. This widespread caucus approach aims to support countries being bullied by China rather than being completely focused on an offensive strategy. The EU, as well as other G7 members, remain very reluctant to adopt a more antagonistic stance, preferring to improve relations with emerging economies, particularly from Asia, Africa and South America.

https://www.ft.com/content/0998ac9a-58eb-44e2-b362-42cf5a0d468b
Buffett’s Berkshire bet almost $1bn on credit card issuer Capital One

Financial Times

23-05-15 23:19


Investment group, Berkshire Hathaway, led by Warren Buffet, has placed a $954m bet on Capital One, in the first quarter of 2019. However, Berkshire Hathaway has been dumping billions of dollars worth of stocks at the same time. The investment signals Berkshire Hathaway's comfort with the credit card industry and the health of consumers even as several regional banks have been swept up in financial turmoil. Capital One describes itself as the third-largest issuer of Visa and Mastercard credit cards in the US.

https://www.ft.com/content/d0216077-509f-49dd-9538-1547902de414
Russia slams Macron for saying Kremlin is becoming subservient to China

South China Morning Post

23-05-15 22:45


Russian officials have rejected comments by French President Emmanuel Macron claiming that Moscow was becoming subservient to China. Middle East Eye reported that they claimed Western countries must get used to a world underpinned by the Kremlin’s close ties with Beijing. The comments were made after Macron gave an interview to the Parisian daily, l’Opinion, in which he criticised Russia’s isolation caused by its invasion of Ukraine more than 14 months ago.

https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3220665/ukraine-war-russia-slams-emmanuel-macron-saying-kremlin-becoming-subservient-china
With eye on Ukraine, top Chinese general calls for unconventional warfare capabilities

Reuters

23-05-16 04:44


General Wang Haijiang, commander of the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Western Theatre Command, has urged greater integration of artificial intelligence with conventional warfare tactics ahead of any confrontation with the West. He points out that a new genre of hybrid warfare has emerged from the Ukraine conflict, with the intertwining of "political warfare, financial warfare, technological warfare, cyber warfare, and cognitive warfare". To fend off perceived threats from the West, China continues to prepare the country for security challenges despite a slowing economy and COVID-19. Defence spending is set to rise for the eighth straight year in 2023.

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/with-eye-ukraine-top-chinese-general-calls-unconventional-warfare-capabilities-2023-05-16/
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway sells entire stake in TSMC

CNN

23-05-16 04:32


Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has sold its holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) after his worries about Taiwan grew. Buffett had previously expressed concerns about the future of the self-governed democratic island where TSMC is based, amidst geopolitical tensions with China. This followed Berkshire's announcement in February that it had sold 86% of its TSMC shares, having purchased them only months earlier for $4.1bn. TSMC is the world's largest chip manufacturer and one of Taiwan's most valuable listed companies.

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/16/investing/berkshire-hathaway-taiwan-tsmc-stock-exit-hnk-intl/index.html
Putin launches fresh wave of deadly strikes on Kyiv – live

The Independent

23-05-16 04:23


Russian forces have launched another volley of missile attacks on Kyiv, killing three people and injuring others, according to official sources. The wave of rocket and missile assaults targeted the Ukrainian capital as well as the regions surrounding it and came a week after similar attacks garnered worldwide condemnation. The Putin-led regime's actions have triggered air raid alarms, with city-dwellers across the country bracing themselves as Ukraine declares advanced weapon sales across European nations. Meanwhile, China's envoy is preparing to visit both Ukraine and Russia despite slim hopes of brokering a peace agreement between the two countries.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-ukraine-putin-uk-long-range-attack-drones-b2339516.html
US defence pact to strengthen military, police -PNG leader

Reuters

23-05-16 03:57


US President Joe Biden will visit Papua New Guinea on Monday, and the two countries’ leaders will sign two security agreements: one on defence co-operation and another on maritime surveillance. The US is seeking to build greater security ties with Pacific island nations in order to challenge China’s growing influence in the region. Last year, China signed a security agreement with the Solomon Islands. Papua New Guinea is strategically located near key sea routes between the US, Australia and Japan.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us-defence-pact-strengthen-military-police-png-leader-2023-05-16/
China’s chip output records first monthly growth in 16 months

South China Morning Post

23-05-16 09:30


China's chip production has increased for the first time in 16 months, according to government figures. The rise was driven by a 3.8% YoY increase in April to 28.1 billion integrated circuits, while March declined only 3% YoY from last year, compared with the 17% YoY drop in the first two months. The Chinese government has called for local industry to boost domestic chip production in order to reduce dependence on imports, which have declined as the US tightens restrictions on semiconductor technologies and equipment.

https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3220717/tech-war-chinese-chip-output-38-cent-april-first-monthly-growth-16-months
Advocacy or practical? Taiwan evaluating plan for Asia’s first 4-day work week

South China Morning Post

23-05-16 09:00


The Taiwanese government is considering implementing a three-day weekend following a proposal signed by over 5,000 citizens. Four government ministries are assessing the idea and will generate an assessment report by the end of June. Although it would be a first in Asia, Taiwan's export-driven economy, largely made up of producer firms, is expected to oppose the motion to pay workers for an extra day of the week. To produce the goods that drive Taiwan's technology industry around 30% of its US$800bn economy, producers typically operate seven days a week.

https://www.scmp.com/economy/article/3220713/taiwan-evaluating-proposal-asias-first-3-day-weekend-manufacturers-wont-approve
Biden launches Asia trip aimed at taking on China

Washington Post

23-05-16 09:00


President Biden is to travel to Japan, Australia, and Papua New Guinea as part of a vast trip that aims to counter China's growing military, political and economic power. The trip seeks to build support for Ukraine, tackle global inflation, combat climate change and shore up allies in the face of China's aggression. The visit comes amid rising tension between the US and China, which analysts warn could be dangerous. While the president doesn't want a new Cold War with China, he has made it clear that other countries' support is essential in dealing with Beijing's aggressiveness.

Biden’s visit will begin with a summit of the Group of Seven in Hiroshima in Japan. Officials will meet survivors of the 1945 atomic bombing. Biden will also visit Papua New Guinea to address the 18-member Pacific Islands Forum aimed at creating a global alliance against China’s expanding military operations in the South Pacific. He will sign a defence pact to create security infrastructure within Papua New Guinea and facilitate more joint training exercises with the US military. Biden will also push in Australia to counter China’s military expansion in the Indo-Pacific region.

Biden’s visit is in keeping with his administration’s more assertive posture towards the region, including efforts to wrap in smaller countries which had long felt neglected. The president’s trip could be overshadowed by Congress’s concerns about a potentially catastrophic US government default, while Republicans challenging the US’s long-standing foreign policy pillars argue for less US engagement with the world and confrontation with authoritarian states.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/05/16/biden-trip-japan-australia-china/

Hong Kong leader says China’s sentencing of US citizen exposes national security threats

The Toronto Star

23-05-16 08:35


Hong Kong's Chief Executive, John Lee, has used the life imprisonment sentencing of a US citizen in eastern China on spying charges to further justify the semi-autonomous region's need for vigilance against national security risks hidden in society. Lee was appointed to his position after being unanimously voted in by Beijing following draconian new security legislation. His comments follow the arrest of John Shing-Wan Leung whose trial and charge details are unavailable, although it is notable that he had links to pro-Communist Party organisations. The implications of the sentencing are likely to further exacerbate already strained tensions between Beijing and Washington, especially as the US has refrained from commenting on the case, and as President Biden travels to Japan for the G7 summit and to Papua New Guinea, a nation prioritised by the Beijing government for its increased military and economic expansion in the Pacific region.

https://www.thestar.com/news/world/asia/2023/05/16/hong-kong-leader-says-chinas-sentencing-of-us-citizen-exposes-national-security-threats.html
Japan stock index hits 33-year high as investors warm to Tokyo story

Financial Times

23-05-16 08:18


Japan's equities have surged to their highest level in 33 years thanks to renewed interest from foreign investors. Japan's Topix index rose almost 0.6% on Tuesday, nearly marking its highest level since Japan's market bubble burst in 1989, with the Nikkei 225 index rising more than 16% since the start of the year and growing hope of higher governance standards. Investors have put a fresh spotlight on Japan after years of anaemic returns that had seen many fund managers steer clear of their capital markets. Some said Tokyo was now an attractive option for investors who wanted to benefit from Chinese economic recovery without the geopolitical risks. However, Bank of America's latest survey indicates a net 11% of fund managers were underweight on Japan.

https://www.ft.com/content/af96b1e8-59bc-4e01-bf43-863953a51dd2
Beijing LGBT Center shuttered as crackdown grows in China

Associated Press

23-05-16 13:27


The Beijing LGBT Center has become the latest organisation to be closed under a crackdown by the Chinese government. The group's notice of cessation marks a critical blow to advocacy groups that once had been able to be public about their work for LGBTQ+ rights. They focused on low-cost mental health counselling and published lists of of LGBTQ+-friendly health professionals. “In our political, economic and cultural center, to have this type of organization. It was a symbol of the LGBT movement’s presence,” said one anonymous activist.

https://apnews.com/article/china-beijing-lgbt-center-shutdown-a5643c680e1faf5c8a7a7d9bdd627d6f
Column: Lead's balancing act still depends on China's exports

Reuters

23-05-16 13:15


The International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG) has predicted that the global refined lead market will be balanced between supply and demand in 2022, following a significant 141,000 tonne shortfall in 2021. The revised shortage forecast of 20,000 tonnes is significant compared to the 12 million tonne global market. However, the physical market in Europe and the US remains tight and heavily reliant on exports from China. Despite China serving as a net importer for most of 2017–20, it was a net exporter of lead last year, shipping 116,500 tonnes.

https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/leads-balancing-act-still-depends-chinas-exports-2023-05-16/