iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by William Yang

Thompson Chau @thomchau.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

Estonia and Taiwan are stuck in a stalemate over plans to open a Taiwanese office in Tallinn, illustrating difficulties in Taipei-Europe ties even as both feel pressure from China & Russia. w/ comments from @matejsimalcik.bsky.social and @williamyang120.bsky.social asia.nikkei.com/politics/int...

asia.nikkei.com

Taiwan's plan to set up mission in Estonia hits wall over name

China's past retaliation against Lithuania for engaging with Taipei haunts Europe

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Reposted by William Yang

Dr. Zsuzsa A. Ferenczy @zsuzsettte.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

Europe’s ability to strategically engage Taiwan & rebalance ties w/China depends on a nuanced grasp of cross-Strait dynamics. A pleasure to host @williamyang120.bsky.social in Brussels at Martens Centre to explore how EU can step up in the region amid growing uncertainty surrounding the US role.

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Reposted by William Yang

Cornelius Dieckmann @codieckmann.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

Donald Trump und Xi Jinping wollen morgen einen Handelsdeal schließen. Für die Taiwaner bedeutet das angespannte Stunden – und Erinnerungen an ein altes Trauma. Analyse auf @spiegel.de (thanks @williamyang120.bsky.social) www.spiegel.de/ausland/usa-...

spiegel.de

(S+) USA-China-Gipfel: Wenn Donald Trump und Xi Jinping reden, wird Taiwan nervös

Donald Trump und sein Erzrivale Xi Jinping wollen einen Handelsdeal schließen. Warum das von Peking bedrohte Taiwan einen Pakt zwischen den Weltmächten fürchtet.

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Reposted by William Yang

Alexander Sjöberg @alexsjoeberg.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

Kinesiske agenter infiltrerer Taiwans militær med penge, kvinder og gambling. Nu kigger Taiwan mod Tel Aviv for at lære at stå imod. Jeg har set nærmere på anbefalingen fra en tidligere admiral: www.berlingske.dk/www.berlings... - vurdering v. @williamyang120.bsky.social

berlingske.dk

Mette Frederiksen græmmes over brutaliteten. Andre lader sig inspirere af Israels knytnæve

Læs mere her.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

As a friend who has recently shared, sometimes the hardest part of a career transition is saying bye to a chapter of your life that has defined who you are professionally. Hopefully, I will gradually learn the art of this challenging yet fascinating profession.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

This is certainly an exciting yet challenging new chapter for me, as I make a transition from journalism to the policy world. I'm still grappling with the change of my professional identity, especially after I thought journalism was what I had set my heart on for the foreseeable future.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

I’ll be based in Taipei and focus on analyzing regional geopolitical dynamics through the lens of conflict prevention and resolution.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

Personal news: Personal news: Following a months-long application process, I'm happy to announce that I'll start a new role as International Crisis Group's Senior Analyst on Northeast Asia on April 21.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

Ngoc Hang, a retailer in Ho Chi Minh City, told VN Express that her revenues had dropped by half after the government announced the inspections and penalties. “Consumers have called for boycotts, and I had to lower prices by 30-50% to liquidate my stocks.”

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

“Almost all children started to boycott [the dolls] because they saw it as a nationalistic issue, thinking that buying Baby Three was unpatriotic,” one vendor told AFP.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

Retailers have slowed or stopped sales. According to data cited by state media from YouNet ECI, an e-commerce data analysis platform, the average price of Baby Three on Shopee and TikTok Shop halved in the first 10 weeks of 2025.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

In response to online outcry, Vietnam’s industry and trade ministry ordered an inspection of toys supposedly displaying the line, warned they were “affecting national security and territorial sovereignty”.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

However a suggestion that a heart-shaped design on one version of the doll looked like the controversial line that China’s government inserts on world maps to make a territorial claim over most the South China Sea sparked online backlash.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

The Baby Three doll is Chinese-made and had reportedly been hugely popular among children and Gen Z in Vietnam earlier this year. Between September, when it first gained popularity, and December the dolls reportedly generated US$1.6m in sales.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

Regional tensions over the South China Sea have tanked the sales of a popular children’s doll in Vietnam after it was put under investigation and accused of being unpatriotic because a design marking appeared to resemble China’s “nine-dash line”. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

theguardian.com

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Calling the increase "limited... reasonable and stable", Wu said the extra cash would be used to develop "combat forces in new fields and with new qualities", and to enhance reconnaissance, joint strike and battlefield support capabilities.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

"The PLA (People's Liberation Army) is a force of action in countering separatism and promoting reunification," said Wu. "You've ridden your steed to the edge of the cliff. If you persist in taking the wrong course, you will meet a dead end," he warned.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

"The more rampant 'Taiwan independence' separatists become, the tighter the noose around their necks and the sharper the sword hanging over their heads will be," military spokesman Wu Qian said, Xinhua news agency reported.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

#China's military said Sunday (Mar 9) it would tighten its "noose" around Taiwan if separatism over the island escalated, warning proponents to step back from the "edge of the cliff" or face a "dead end", state media reported. www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/ch...

channelnewsasia.com

China military vows to tighten 'noose' around Taiwan if separatism escalates

BEIJING: China's military said Sunday (Mar 9) it would tighten its "noose" around Taiwan if separatism over the island escalated, warning proponents to step back from the "edge of the cliff" or face a...

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

In the words of Singapore's defense minister last month, America's image in the region "has changed from liberator to great disruptor to a landlord seeking rent."

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Europe so far has borne the brunt of Trump's highly transactional foreign policy, but China, Taiwan and the rest of the Indo-Pacific are watching closely.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Elbridge Colby, a leading voice on the issue nominated for a top Pentagon role, told senators this week that Taiwan falling to China "would be a disaster for American interests."

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Many top Trump officials have called for the U.S. to draw down its presence in Europe and the Middle East to focus on China's threat to Taiwan, seeing it as far more important than Ukraine.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Under the threat of tariffs, TSMC announced a $100 billion investment in U.S chip production this week — pleasing Trump, but alarming Taiwanese who fear it could make the island more vulnerable.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Unlike Ukraine, Taiwan plays a pivotal role in the global economy, with its crown jewel chip-maker, TSMC, manufacturing more than 90% of the world's most advanced semiconductors.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

And whether it's Russia or China, Trump prefers to negotiate superpower-to-superpower — leaving allies in the cold, even when their sovereignty or security is at stake.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

lines: Forget alliances or idealism. The only thing Trump cares about on the global stage is core U.S. interests.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

For starters, Trump's approach toward Ukraine has dispelled the notion that he would defend Taiwan solely for the sake of shielding a democracy from authoritarian aggression.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

S. presidents have had a long-running policy of "strategic ambiguity" on the question of military intervention to protect Taiwan. But under Trump 2.0, it has become a true mystery.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Next week marks the 20th anniversary of China's Anti-Secession Law, which explicitly authorizes the use of military force if Taiwan declares independence or if peaceful "reunification" becomes impossible.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Beijing has stepped up its saber-rattling toward Taiwan, pledging at the annual National People's Congress this week to "firmly advance the cause of China's reunification" and boost defense spending by 7.2%.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

"I never comment on that," Trump said this week when asked if it was his policy that China will never take Taiwan by force. "I don't want to comment on it because I don't want to ever put myself in that position."

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

S. officials have long been fixated on 2027 as the year Xi Jinping would be ready to move on Taiwan, citing military modernization goals tied to the 100th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

President Trump's dismantling of the U.S.-led global order has injected deep uncertainty — and perhaps fresh opportunity — into #China's timeline for a potential invasion of #Taiwan. www.axios.com/2025/03/08/t...

axios.com

Trump's Taiwan mystery

U.S. officials have long been fixated on 2027 as the year China could be ready to invade Taiwan.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

“Thailand could face retaliation from China that would impact the livelihoods of many Thais,” he said, adding that sending the group to China was the “best option”. Mr Russ did not elaborate on the possible retaliation.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

But the offers from third countries were “unrealistic” as resettling the Uighurs would not shield Thailand from a potential fallout with China, Mr Russ said.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

The United States, Canada and Australia were among countries that had offered to resettle the Uighurs, but Bangkok took no action for fear of upsetting China, Reuters reported on March 5.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Mr Russ Jalichandra, Thailand’s Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, in a statement on March 6, said some countries had offered to resettle the Uighurs, walking back previous comments by Thai officials that no such proposals had been made. He did not name the countries.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Thailand’s government has repeatedly defended the secretive deportation, which came despite calls from United Nations human rights experts who said the Uighurs would be at risk of torture, ill-treatment and “irreparable harm” if returned to China.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Thailand’s deportation of 40 Uighurs to #China last week was in the South-east Asian country’s best interest due to the possibility of retaliation from Beijing if the group was sent elsewhere, a Thai minister said on March 6. www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia...

straitstimes.com

Thailand’s deportation of Uighurs was to avert China ‘retaliation’: Minister

Resettling the Uighurs would not shield Thailand from a potential fallout with China, the minister said. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

“Taiwan needs to show its determination to enhance its defense capabilities, and it needs to put forward some concrete numbers,” he told VOA.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

To address the looming challenges, Chen said the Taiwanese government should demonstrate its willingness to purchase more weapons from the U.S. or lay out plans to deepen defense-related cooperation with Washington.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

…adding that the Taiwanese government will feel a lot of pressure from Washington once Taiwan’s national defense comes back onto Trump’s radar.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

“Taiwan shouldn’t be celebrating because we saw Elbridge Colby echoing Trump’s sentiment during his Senate confirmation hearing that Taiwan needs to spend 10% of its GDP on defense,” said Nachman, …

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Despite this positive effect, Chen and Nachman both say Taiwan still faces pressure from the Trump administration to significantly increase its defense budget.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

The additional investment “helps to assure the Trump administration that Taiwan is serious about doing what it takes to be friends with America,” he told VOA.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Trump has repeatedly claimed that Taiwan has stolen semiconductor technologies from the U.S., Nachman said TSMC’s expansion in Arizona can help reduce potential friction between Taipei and Washington.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

“Even when TSMC completes all its overseas facilities by 2030, more than 80% of its productions will still remain in Taiwan, meaning that its overseas expansion won’t really affect Taiwan that much,” he told VOA by phone.

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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

“Their efforts have achieved the intended goal because there is too much information for people unfamiliar with TSMC’s operations outside of Taiwan to comprehend,” said Chen Fang-yu, a political scientist at Soochow University in Taiwan.

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