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Thompson Chau

@thomchau.bsky.social
125 followers 26 following 107 posts

Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club Chair | Nikkei Asia Correspondent | Formerly Myanmar, Thailand | Usual caveats

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Thompson Chau @thomchau.bsky.social · 23h
Taiwan is combining traditional shipbuilding expertise with US software and other technology to make sea drones, as intensifying Chinese pressure raises the stakes for maritime security in the region. @asia.nikkei.com 1/2 asia.nikkei.com/business/aer...
asia.nikkei.com
Taiwan taps US tech for sea drones to fend off China's vast maritime fleet
Tie-ups target nascent industry driven by navy, coast guard procurement plans
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Michael Turton @michaelturton.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Another important report from Asia Nikkei asia.nikkei.com/politics/int... #Taiwan
asia.nikkei.com
Foreign envoys in Taiwan warn rules of game at sea are being challenged
US top diplomat sees 'greater strides' on energy security than many realize
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Thompson Chau @thomchau.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
De facto ambassadors from Britain, the EU and the US - Ruth Bradley-Jones, Lutz Guellner and Raymond Greene - shared the stage to talk about Taiwan’s energy and maritime security as well as FIMI and election interference. 1/2 asia.nikkei.com/politics/int...
asia.nikkei.com
Foreign envoys in Taiwan warn rules of game at sea are being challenged
US top diplomat sees 'greater strides' on energy security than many realize
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Thompson Chau @thomchau.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung has confirmed Nikkei Asia’s reporting on plans to open a second quasi-diplomatic mission in the Philippines, while China reacted with a sharp condemnation. The establishment of a new mission in Cebu is “in progress”, Lin said. asia.nikkei.com/politics/int...
asia.nikkei.com
Taiwan confirms new Philippines office in works, China says move 'doomed'
Initiative pushes back against Beijing's pressure on Taipei's overseas missions
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Thompson Chau @thomchau.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Mini scoop by @asia.nikkei.com about plans for Taiwan to open a second quasi-diplomatic mission in the Philippines has gone viral! According to three Asian and Western officials, the new mission will be set up in the southern province of Cebu. asia.nikkei.com/politics/int...
asia.nikkei.com
Taiwan to open new Philippines mission in diplomatic push, sources say
Office in Cebu planned as Southeast Asia is increasingly split by China pressure
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Nikkei Asia (Official) @asia.nikkei.com · 14/09/2026
Good morning, America. This was our most read story while you were sleeping. Taiwan to open new Philippines mission in diplomatic push, sources say trib.al/9vT4RzD
trib.al
Taiwan to open new Philippines mission in diplomatic push, sources say
Office in Cebu planned as Southeast Asia is increasingly split by China pressure
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Sense Hofstede @sensehofstede.nl · 14/09/2026
Nikkei Asia: Taiwan to open new Philippines mission in diplomatic push, sources say – ‘the new mission will be set up in the southern province of Cebu. Taiwan already operates a “Taipei Economic and Cultural Office” in Manila’ ‘will make up for the loss of one in Papua New Guinea’
asia.nikkei.com
Taiwan to open new Philippines mission in diplomatic push, sources say
Office in Cebu planned as Southeast Asia is increasingly split by China pressure
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Nikkei Asia (Official) @asia.nikkei.com · 08/09/2026
Taiwan aerospace contractor zeroes in on countermeasures to China's drones asia.nikkei.com/business/aerospace-…
asia.nikkei.com
Taiwan aerospace contractor zeroes in on countermeasures to China's drones
AIDC exec stresses need to create dedicated, low-cost shield
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Michael Turton @michaelturton.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Meanwhile, for those in search of intelligent reporting, Asia Nikkei on Taiwan drone firms and their search for drone countermeasures. asia.nikkei.com/business/aer...
asia.nikkei.com
Taiwan aerospace contractor zeroes in on countermeasures to China's drones
AIDC exec stresses need to create dedicated, low-cost shield
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Thompson Chau @thomchau.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
From Taichung: Taiwan’s top aerospace contractor AIDC is expanding its portfolio beyond aircraft manufacturing and into counter-drone systems. Taiwan needs to counter UAS as China is heavily advancing drones, AIDC SVP Alex Tsai told @asia.nikkei.com. 1/3 asia.nikkei.com/business/aer...
asia.nikkei.com
Taiwan aerospace contractor zeroes in on countermeasures to China's drones
AIDC exec stresses need to create dedicated, low-cost shield
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Thompson Chau @thomchau.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Taiwan’s duelling political parties are stepping up the next phase of their battle, focused on how Taiwan should fund and develop its drone industry amid China’s military buildup and the rapid evolution of modern warfare. @asia.nikkei.com asia.nikkei.com/politics/int...
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Brian Hioe @brianhioe.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Interesting to note how the NSC is civilian-led at present, at a time when the Minister of National Defense is also a civilian
asia.nikkei.com
Taiwan's security council quietly steps up as architect of China strategy
Presidential agency steers defense and resilience reforms, conducts key diplomacy
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Sense Hofstede @sensehofstede.nl · 23/08/2026
Nikkei Asia: ‘Officials from major powers in the Group of Seven and Europe increasingly recognize the value of communicating and working with the NSC, Nikkei Asia understands.’
asia.nikkei.com
Taiwan's security council quietly steps up as architect of China strategy
Presidential agency steers defense and resilience reforms, conducts key diplomacy
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Sense Hofstede @sensehofstede.nl · 23/08/2026
Nikkei Asia: Taiwan’s National Security Council quietly steps up as architect of China strategy – ‘key policy architect driving military and civil defense reforms meant to establish asymmetric warfare capabilities and boost “whole of society” resilience. It is also coordinating across ministries’
asia.nikkei.com
Taiwan's security council quietly steps up as architect of China strategy
Presidential agency steers defense and resilience reforms, conducts key diplomacy
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Thompson Chau @thomchau.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Taiwan wraps up an intense stretch of combat drills and civil defence tests. @yehaoqin.bsky.social: “Han Kuang should be judged… more as a stress test of Taiwan’s ability to keep fighting, keep governing and keep society functioning under pressure.” asia.nikkei.com/politics/int...
asia.nikkei.com
Taiwan drills send 'serious' message with more realism, internet throttling
As 10 days of exercises wrap up, observers see progress but warn of hybrid threats
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Thompson Chau @thomchau.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
China’s deployment of coast guard vessels to enforce its territorial claims and rebrand maritime aggression as routine police work presents a fresh challenge for the whole region, Taiwan’s National Security Council SG Joseph Wu warned in a rare exclusive interview. asia.nikkei.com/editor-s-pic...
asia.nikkei.com
Taiwan security chief says China's 'hybrid warfare' tests whole region
Joseph Wu welcomes Tokyo-Manila cooperation as Beijing expands maritime pressure
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Michael Turton @michaelturton.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Important interview from one of the best media orgs covering Taiwan asia.nikkei.com/editor-s-pic...
asia.nikkei.com
Taiwan security chief says China's 'hybrid warfare' tests whole region
Joseph Wu welcomes Tokyo-Manila cooperation as Beijing expands maritime pressure
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Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club (TFCC) @taiwanfcc.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
Last week, the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club hosted NSTC Minister Wu Cheng-wen for a members-only briefing on semiconductors, AI, robotics, satellite communication, international cooperation and Taiwan’s economic transformation. Photos: @mikg.bsky.social
NSTC Minister Wu Cheng-wenThe crowd at the eventNSTC Minister Wu Cheng-wenCrowd at the event
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Thompson Chau @thomchau.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Taiwan’s economy grew 12.92% on the year in the second quarter, the Taiwanese statistics agency said, driven by the AI boom and thriving trade and investment ties with the US. This makes Taiwan a standout performer among advanced economies. @asia.nikkei.com asia.nikkei.com/economy/taiw...
asia.nikkei.com
Taiwan GDP grows nearly 13% in Q2, supercharged by AI and US ties
Lai administration faces challenge of addressing economic imbalances
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Thompson Chau @thomchau.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Taiwan has loosened rules on foreign ownership of satellite operators, potentially opening the door for Elon Musk’s Starlink amid concerns that communications could be cut off by China. With comments from NSTC Minister Wu Cheng-wen and US-Taiwan Business Council asia.nikkei.com/business/tel...
asia.nikkei.com
Taiwan eases rules on foreign telecom satellites, eyes Musk's Starlink
Taipei signals security a key consideration; China lobs rhetorical warning shot
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Thompson Chau @thomchau.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Taiwan’s drive to build its robotics industry will strengthen its AI tech supply chain while easing the strains of an aging society, NSTC Minister Wu Cheng-wen said at a @taiwanfcc.bsky.social briefing, drawing a distinction from China’s military-oriented approach. asia.nikkei.com/business/tec...
asia.nikkei.com
Taiwan to push advanced robotics on distinct path from China: tech czar
Wu Cheng-wen says industry will strengthen AI supply chain, aid aging society
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Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club (TFCC) @taiwanfcc.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Tomorrow afternoon (July 10) the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club will organize a panel discussion with I-Chen Liu of @article19.bsky.social, @matejsimalcik.bsky.social of @ceias-eu.bsky.social and @athenaktong.bsky.social as our panellists
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Thompson Chau @thomchau.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Evolving forms of China’s diplomatic, political, legal and maritime pressure are hitting Taiwan all at once, officials and diplomats warn, constricting Taipei’s strategic options. The challenges are compounded by political chaos at home and US uncertainty. 1/2 asia.nikkei.com/politics/int...
asia.nikkei.com
China's sea patrols and lawfare tighten 'all fronts' squeeze on Taiwan
Observers warn of narrowing strategic space for Lai and Taipei's friends
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Thompson Chau @thomchau.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Interview with Kakuya Iwata, executive director of the Japan UAS Industry Development Association (JUIDA): Iwata said “regulatory and government policies are still far behind and slow to catch up” despite strong momentum in Japan-Taiwan cooperation. asia.nikkei.com/editor-s-pic...
asia.nikkei.com
Drone industry leader urges Japan and Taiwan to get on same regulatory page
Government policies lag behind business links, Japanese association chief says
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Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club (TFCC) @taiwanfcc.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
For more photos and information about our briefing with President Lai, please check the link below 👇
linkedin.com
The Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club co-organized a briefing with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te on Thursday, which was attended by correspondent members from all over the world. This marked the…...
The Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club co-organized a briefing with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te on Thursday, which was attended by correspondent members from all over the world. This marked the ...
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Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club (TFCC) @taiwanfcc.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
The Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club co-organized a briefing with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te on Thursday. This marked the first TFCC briefing with this country’s incumbent head of state in many years. The president’s opening remarks: english.president.gov.tw/News/7169#new
Assembled journalists at the eventPresident Lai Ching-te giving his commentsTFCC president Thompson Chau (left) and President Lai Ching-te (right)Lai greeting journalists at the event
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Thompson Chau @thomchau.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
China’s maritime operations to the east of Taiwan, ostensibly in response to Japan-Philippines sea boundary talks, are raising concerns. In Kaohsiung, Nikkei Asia spoke to Ocean Affairs Council deputy minister Sung Chen-en about Taiwan’s worries and collision risks. asia.nikkei.com/politics/int...
asia.nikkei.com
China's 'law enforcement' in waters east of Taiwan draws pushback
Taipei calls Japan-Philippines talks a 'pretext' as US and Europe rebuke Beijing
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Thompson Chau @thomchau.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Taiwan’s military is holding a five-day combat readiness exercise this week in a shift toward more realistic, less scripted drills amid growing concern over Chinese manoeuvres. asia.nikkei.com/politics/int...
asia.nikkei.com
Taiwan launches five-day 'immediate combat readiness' drill
Exercise aims for more realistic practice of rapid deployment in a crisis
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Thompson Chau @thomchau.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
In a rare briefing with @taiwanfcc.bsky.social, President Lai Ching-te said that #Taiwan’s drive to safeguard its security and democratic way of life, and its refusal to accept CCP rule, should not be seen as a provocation against China or as being a troublemaker. asia.nikkei.com/politics/int...
asia.nikkei.com
Taiwan's refusal to accept China's rule isn't a 'provocation,' Lai says
President hopes for US arms approval 'soon,' says homegrown defense 'equally important'
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Thompson Chau @thomchau.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Taiwan is stepping up efforts to strengthen partnerships with the Philippines and neighbouring nations to push back against China’s maritime pressure, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung at a @taiwanfcc.bsky.social briefing. “China is weaponising almost everything.” asia.nikkei.com/politics/int...
asia.nikkei.com
Taiwan's top diplomat seeks tighter Philippine ties against China coercion
Foreign minister says democracies must not 'turn blind eye' as Beijing steps up pressure at sea
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Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club (TFCC) @taiwanfcc.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
The Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club will organize a conversation with Foreign Minister Lin Chia-Lung and International Cooperation and Development Fund Secretary General Huang Yu-Lin on June 17. Taiwan’s national aid agency TaiwanICDF marks its 30th anniversary this year.
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Thompson Chau @thomchau.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Nascent cooperation between Japan and Taiwan on drones is budding as both face the challenge of reducing China’s dominance and cost advantages. Since 2020, companies, industry groups etc have signed 15 deals, according to thinktank DSET’s analysis. asia.nikkei.com/business/aer...
asia.nikkei.com
Led by industry, Japan and Taiwan plant seeds of drone cooperation
Tokyo and Taipei eager to reduce exposure to China, but have long way to go
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Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club (TFCC) @taiwanfcc.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
The session was moderated by TFCC chair and Nikkei Asia correspondent @thomchau.bsky.social. Photos by @demesdavid.bsky.social
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Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club (TFCC) @taiwanfcc.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
To mark the second anniversary of President Lai taking office, the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club hosted a panel discussion this week. Amb. Roy Lee, political scientist Chen Fang-yu, and TPP legal counsel Ann Lai weighed in on Lai’s performance so far.
The panel in front, audience members at the event behindAnn Lai (left) and Thompson Chau (right)Chen Fang-yu (left) and Roy Lee (right)The panel assembled for a group photo
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Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club (TFCC) @taiwanfcc.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
President Lai Ching-te is approaching the end of his second year in office. On Monday (May 18), the TFCC will organize a panel about the progress and setbacks for Lai and his rivals. We’ll be joined by Amb Roy Lee, TPP’s legal counsel Ann Lai and Chen Fang-yu of US Taiwan Watch
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Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club (TFCC) @taiwanfcc.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
On May 13 the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club will be hosting Kuomintang bigwig Jaw Shau-Kong for a members-only fireside chat. One of the most well-known figures in Taiwan politics and the Chinese-speaking world, Jaw served as a minister, legislator, and TV show host.
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Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club (TFCC) @taiwanfcc.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Ocean Affairs Council Deputy Minister Sung Chen-en also joined the briefing and delivered a presentation. The session was moderated by TFCC Chair and Nikkei Asia correspondent @thomchau.bsky.social Photos by William Chen
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Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club (TFCC) @taiwanfcc.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Earlier this month, the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club hosted Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling for an exclusive briefing. Kuan outlined Taiwan’s maritime security strategy from protecting undersea cables to countering Beijing’s coercion and Coast Guard reforms.
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Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club (TFCC) @taiwanfcc.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
This Wednesday, the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club will be hosting a book talk with Taiwan expert and ex-intelligence officer J. Michael Cole, author of The Taiwan Tinderbox. The session will be moderated by TFCC board director and Domino Theory reporter @imtienyikrislih.bsky.social
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Thompson Chau @thomchau.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
Preview of KMT leader Cheng Li-sun’s visit to China: big shift in power inside Taiwan’s opposition party Cheng is succeeding ex-president Ma Ying-jeou as the most important politician in the KMT’s dealings with Beijing, and is taking over Ma’s legacy. asia.nikkei.com/politics/int...
asia.nikkei.com
Taiwan opposition's Cheng grabs reins of Beijing relations with China tour
Political landmines lurk as KMT-CCP dynamics shift and US watches
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Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club (TFCC) @taiwanfcc.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
As well as whole-of-society resilience, and the question of Chinese spouses seeking political office in Taiwan. The session was moderated by TFCC Chair and Nikkei Asia correspondent @thomchau.bsky.social. Photos by @mikg.bsky.social
Audience member asking a questionView of the room during the eventInterior Minister Liu Shyh-fang (left) and TFCC President Thompson Chau (right)Audience member shaking hands with Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang
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Thompson Chau @thomchau.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Li Chen-hsiu, a now-divorced Chinese spouse from Hunan, is now a TPP legislator. At a TFCC briefing, Taiwan’s interior minister Liu Shyh-fang requested that Li submit proof of relinquishing her PRC citizenship. “Otherwise, our Legislative Yuan shall dismiss her.” asia.nikkei.com/politics/int...
asia.nikkei.com
Taiwan minister calls for removal of China-born opposition lawmaker
Interior Ministry's Liu Shyh-fang stresses 'singular obligation of loyalty' as row consumes politics
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Thompson Chau @thomchau.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun will visit China for a likely meeting with Xi Jinping next month, marking the first such encounter in a decade. The trip was announced at a time when the KMT and the TPP are stalling on President Lai Ching-te’s $40 billion defence budget. asia.nikkei.com/politics/int...
asia.nikkei.com
Taiwan KMT leader Cheng Li-wun to visit China, expected to meet Xi
First such trip in a decade comes as party's lawmakers stall defense budget
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Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club (TFCC) @taiwanfcc.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
The Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club will be hosting Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling for a members-only briefing on April 2. Registration details have been sent to members via email. The briefing will be moderated by TFCC chair and Nikkei Asia correspondent @thomchau.bsky.social
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Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club (TFCC) @taiwanfcc.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
This was the first TFCC briefing by a sitting KMT leader in many years. The event was moderated by TFCC Chair @thomchau.bsky.social. Photos by @mikg.bsky.social.
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Thompson Chau @thomchau.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
A court in Taipei convicted ex-presidential candidate Ko Wen-je of graft, in a verdict that could inflame Taiwan’s ongoing political crisis. Ko, who founded the Taiwan People’s Party, was sentenced to 17 years in jail for bribery and corruption. 1/2 asia.nikkei.com/politics/one...
asia.nikkei.com
Onetime Taiwan presidential hopeful Ko Wen-je convicted of graft
Taiwan People's Party founder expected to appeal 17-year sentence
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Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club (TFCC) @taiwanfcc.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
A packed hall in Taipei yesterday as the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club hosted KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun. Cheng weighed in on defense spending, US and China ties, cross-strait tensions, the 1992 Consensus and a possible meeting with Xi Jinping.
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Thompson Chau @thomchau.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
The US-led military campaign against Iran is stirring questions over the depletion of ammunition and missile stockpiles considered necessary to deter China’s ambitions towards Taiwan, which aims to step up defence procurements from Washington. asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/ir...
asia.nikkei.com
Iran conflict raises worries over US missile stockpiles due for Taiwan
Taipei's anti-Lai forces find political ammunition amid American delivery backlog
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Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club (TFCC) @taiwanfcc.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
It was a full house at the conference hall inside the historic National 228 Memorial Museum in Taipei, with several diplomats, former ministers, officials, and analysts joining the discussion. TFCC Vice Chair @demesdavid.bsky.social moderated the conversation. Photos: @mikg.bsky.social
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Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club (TFCC) @taiwanfcc.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
As the US edition of “Ghost Nation: The Story of Taiwan and Its Struggle for Survival” was launched last month, the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club hosted longtime Taiwan journalist and former TFCC Vice President Chris Horton (@heguisen.bsky.social) for a talk about his new book.
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