Lai Ching-te

10 Ways the U.S. Can Strengthen Deterrence in the Taiwan Strait

New Law Would Help Taiwan’s Communications Sector Work Around Chinese Cable Slicing

Taiwan is increasingly looking abroad to strengthen its domestic communications resilience. On July 21, Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan unanimously passed a bill that eases restrictions on foreign firms...

A smoking gun in the Solomons proves information shaping by China

Xi Jinping has stated, “The crumbling of a regime always starts in the realm of ideas. Changing the way people think is a long-term process. Once the front lines of human thought have been broken through, other defensive lines also become harder to defend.”

Taiwan Debates Spending To Close Drone Development Gap

Taiwan is looking to enhance its investment on domestic drones. On June 22, the legislative caucus of Taiwan’s governing party, the Democratic Progressive Party, urged the island’s major opposition...

The Taiwanese and U.S. Militaries Can’t Really Fight Together

A joint campaign to defend the island would struggle to operate effectively.

U.S.-China Summit Underlines Stalemate Between Washington and Beijing

The United States and China remain stuck in a stalemate, but Beijing isn’t likely to be disappointed. President Trump and Chinese paramount leader Xi Jinping convened in Beijing on May 14 to 15 to...

Taiwan is a ‘model ally,’ not trade bait

Trading the island’s security for rhetoric from Beijing would be a strategic blunder of historic proportions.

Taiwan Authorizes New Defense Spending To Counter Chinese Coercion

Taiwan will ramp up arms purchases following the approval of new defense spending. On May 8, Taiwan’s legislature passed a $25 billion supplement to the island’s annual defense budget, ending months...

In Major Reversal, Taiwan Seeks To Rewire Its Energy Strategy by Restarting its Nuclear Plants

The Taiwanese government is reversing course on permanently closing its nuclear reactors. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has presented a plan to restart two of the island’s shuttered nuclear reactors...

Taiwan Strengthens Energy Resilience With Planned Purchases of American LNG

In the run-up to Lunar New Year, Taiwan is looking to keep the lights burning brightly. The Taiwanese Ministry of Energy pledged on February 5 to increase its purchases of liquefied natural gas (LNG)...

Taiwanese President Proposes New Investment in Island’s Defense Amidst Rising Regional Tensions

In response to Beijing’s belligerence, Taiwan is planning to invest in its own security. On November 26, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te announced a proposed special budget of $40 billion to strengthen...

‘Valuable Model’: Taiwan’s President Lauds Israel’s Air Defenses After Announcing Iron Dome Style System

Taiwanese President Says Country Can Learn From Israel: Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te praised Israel’s military defenses as a model for his country while speaking to an American...

Combatting PRC Illegal, Coercive, Aggressive, and Deceptive Behavior in the Indo-Pacific

10 Takeaways From Simulated Attacks on Taiwan’s Energy Sector

China seeks not just to intimidate Taiwan, but to methodically erode its sovereignty — using coercive tools short of war to compel submission without firing a shot. FDD experts facilitated a two-day...

Signaling Displeasure With Washington, China Conducts Military Exercises Around Taiwan

China’s psychological warfare on Taiwan is intensifying. Following its largest military exercises around Taiwan in three decades last December, Beijing has launched a new series of military drills. On...

China Conducts Major Military Exercises Around Taiwan 

In its largest military exercise in nearly three decades, China demonstrated its growing capacity to blockade Taiwan and project power throughout the First Island Chain of Pacific archipelagos that run...

Chinese President Xi Jinping Lays Out “Red Lines” in Final Meeting with Biden

Chinese President Xi Jinping presented four “red lines” that the U.S. should not breach during future negotiations between Beijing and Washington in his final meeting with outgoing US President Joe...

China’s Military Drills Around Taiwan Elicit Only Token U.S. Response

China launched large-scale military drills around Taiwan this week acting on the pretext that Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te made offensive remarks in a major speech. These latest drills reflect Beijing’s...

Beijing Mounts Record-Breaking Warship Deployments Around Taiwan as Island’s Presidential Election Approaches 

China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) deployed a record number of warships near Taiwan this month, surpassing a previous high established after former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s travelled...