All articles tagged with #lai ching te
Taiwan's cabinet approved a record NT$1.12 trillion ($35.1 billion) defense budget for 2027, totaling about 3.01% of GDP and funded from central and special budgets; the plan, which includes NT$10,000 cash handouts to residents, reflects Lai Ching-te's push to boost military spending toward a 3% GDP target, though it still requires passage by a legislature amid ongoing elections.
A potential direct call between President Trump and Taiwan’s Lai Ching-te is reportedly on hold ahead of a possible fall visit by Xi Jinping, with sources saying Trump may wait to discuss a new arms package; U.S. arms sales to Taiwan have been paused amid ongoing diplomacy and Beijing’s objections to official exchanges.
President Donald Trump said he’s willing to speak directly with Taiwan’s president Lai Ching-te, a potential break with decades of U.S. diplomatic norms. The remarks come as U.S.–China relations grow tense and amid ongoing attention to arms sales to Taiwan. Lai said communication channels with Washington are always open and urged continued U.S. military support, while Beijing has warned that any talks could destabilize the Taiwan Strait and harm relations. A direct call could complicate the unofficial U.S. relationship with Taipei under the One China policy and the Taiwan Relations Act.
Trump says he’ll speak to Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, an unprecedented move that could roil US-China relations; Lai welcomed the idea, stressing commitment to the status quo, while no call has been scheduled. Direct dialogue would echo Trump’s 2016 call to Tsai Ing-wen, which broke decades of diplomacy since the 1979 shift to Beijing; Beijing warns against such talks and has used arms sales and diplomacy as leverage, while Taiwan remains a key US trading partner and semiconductor supplier.
Trump said he will speak with Taiwan’s president Lai Ching-te as he weighs approving a $14 billion arms sale to Taipei, a move that could strain U.S.-China relations and challenge decades of non-official diplomacy with Taipei, after he suggested using the sale as a negotiating chip with Beijing and Lai urged continued arms support.
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te underscored expanded U.S. arms purchases and stronger security ties in response to Trump’s remarks, signaling Taipei’s push for greater defense support from Washington.
Taiwan's opposition parties, KMT and TPP, have initiated a symbolic impeachment campaign against President William Lai and Premier Cho Jung-tai, citing constitutional violations, amidst deepening political polarization and legislative deadlock, though the move is unlikely to succeed in removing them from office.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's planned US stopovers were canceled after the US denied transit approval amid concerns over disrupting US-China trade negotiations and a potential summit between Trump and Xi Jinping, reflecting heightened tensions over Taiwan's diplomatic status and US policy.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te canceled a planned US stopover due to US concerns that the visit could disrupt trade talks with China and a potential summit with Xi Jinping, amid diplomatic tensions and objections from China, with plans possibly rescheduled later this year.
The Trump administration is debating whether to permit Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te's planned stopovers in the US, amid concerns it could impact US-China trade negotiations and a potential summit with President Xi Jinping. The decision reflects the delicate diplomatic balance and ongoing tensions surrounding Taiwan's status, with past US transit requests serving as signals of political stance. Lai's visits are seen as significant but potentially risky moves in the context of US-Taiwan and US-China relations.
Taiwan is holding an unprecedented recall vote that could remove opposition lawmakers and strengthen President Lai Ching-te's power, potentially shifting the legislative balance and escalating tensions with China, which opposes the move and may respond with military exercises and diplomatic pressure.
The U.S. has dismissed China's objections to Taiwan President Lai Ching-te's stopovers in Hawaii and Guam, reaffirming that such transits are routine and consistent with U.S. policy. House Speaker Mike Johnson and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke with Lai, highlighting bipartisan support for Taiwan. Lai's Pacific tour aims to strengthen ties with the U.S. amid Chinese opposition, as Beijing views Taiwan as a renegade province. The U.S. maintains a "One China" policy, acknowledging but not endorsing China's sovereignty claim over Taiwan.
China has issued a warning to the Biden administration following Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's stopover in Hawaii, marking his first visit on US soil. Lai was greeted by Hawaii's governor, Josh Green, during his trip, which he described as a "new era in values-based diplomacy." The visit is part of a state tour to Taiwan's Pacific island allies, prompting China to caution the US on its approach to Taiwan.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te commemorated the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, emphasizing the importance of remembering the event and promoting democracy and freedom in response to authoritarianism. He criticized China's actions and reiterated Taiwan's stance on self-determination, despite Beijing's opposition and recent military actions around Taiwan.
Supporters of Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te are protesting legislative amendments introduced by opposition parties that would limit his authority. The opposition Nationalist Party and Taiwan People’s Party, which hold a legislative majority, passed measures to expand the legislature's investigative powers over the administration. This has led to heated debates and physical altercations among lawmakers, highlighting the challenges President Lai faces in implementing his agenda.