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Taiwan Coast Guard Uses Water Cannon to Repel Chinese Fishing Vessels Near Pratas Islands

Taiwan Coast Guard Uses Water Cannon to Repel Chinese Fishing Vessels Near Pratas Islands

Taiwan's Coast Guard patrol vessel Yunlin recently used a water cannon to drive out two Chinese fishing vessels, Yue Hui Dong Yu 75066 and Jin Sha, detected near the Pratas Islands in the South China Sea. The incident occurred on Thursday when an unidentified vessel was initially detected 15.5 nautical miles northeast of Pratas Island, 5.5 nautical miles inside Taiwan's prohibited waters. Upon investigation, the Yunlin located the two Chinese fishing vessels 27 nautical miles east of the island, eight nautical miles within the restricted zone. While Yue Hui Dong Yu 75066 complied with repeated demands to leave, Jin Sha refused. After three unsuccessful attempts to force Jin Sha to depart, the Yunlin deployed a water cannon for 30 seconds from approximately 200 meters, followed by another 90-second burst at closer range. The Coast Guard stated that these actions were in accordance with standard procedures for non-lethal means. Following the repulsion, at the request of Jin Sha's crew, the Taiwanese side pro...

First new F-16V fighter jets to arrive in Taiwan to bolster defences against China

First new F-16V fighter jets to arrive in Taiwan to bolster defences against China

By Ann Wang TAITUNG, Taiwan, Oct 2 (Reuters) - The first two of a batch of 66 new F-16V fighter jets ordered in 2019 will arrive in Taiwan on Friday after months of delays, helping to strengthen an air force that has to scramble almost daily to shadow China's military.

Former Taiwan president Tsai to visit US next week

Former Taiwan president Tsai to visit US next week

TAIPEI, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Former Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said on Friday that she would visit the United States next week to speak at a Stanford University security conference, her first trip to the country since leaving office in 2024.

Taiwan's first new F-16V fighter jets arrive to bolster defences against China

Taiwan's first new F-16V fighter jets arrive to bolster defences against China

By Ann Wang TAITUNG, Taiwan, Oct 2 (Reuters) - The first two of a batch of 66 new F-16V Block 70 fighter jets ordered in 2019 arrived in Taiwan on Friday after months of delays, helping to strengthen an air force that has to scramble almost daily to shadow China's military.

Taiwan's first two F-16V fighter jets arrive to bolster defences against China

Taiwan's first two F-16V fighter jets arrive to bolster defences against China

By Ann Wang TAITUNG, Taiwan, Oct 2 (Reuters) - The first two of a batch of 66 new F-16V Block 70 fighter jets ordered in 2019 arrived in Taiwan on Friday after months of delays, helping to strengthen an air force that has to scramble almost daily to shadow China's military.

Brazil Emerges as Key Player in Rare Earth Elements Market, Challenging China's Dominance

Brazil Emerges as Key Player in Rare Earth Elements Market, Challenging China's Dominance

Brazil Emerges as Key Player in Rare Earth Elements Market, Challenging China's Dominance

Asian factory activity expands thanks to global AI boom

Asian factory activity expands thanks to global AI boom

By Leika Kihara TOKYO, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Factory activity across Asia expanded in September thanks to the global AI boom, private surveys showed on Thursday, offering some relief to policymakers who are concerned about nagging cost pressures attributable to the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Taiwanese Academic Returns After Eight-Year Detention in China, Highlighting Cross-Strait Legal Issues

Taiwanese Academic Returns After Eight-Year Detention in China, Highlighting Cross-Strait Legal Issues

Taiwanese academic Tsai Chin-shu has returned to Taiwan after being detained in China for nearly eight years. Tsai, who headed the Southern Taiwan Union of Cross-strait Relations Associations and the Kaohsiung Cross-Strait Exchanges Research Association, was arrested in July 2018 on charges of endangering Chinese state security. Despite being sentenced to four years in jail, his return was delayed due to an additional eight-year deprivation of civil rights, a common practice for Taiwanese individuals detained in China. Tsai, who advocated for political unification between Taiwan and China, appeared on Chinese television in October 2020, confessing to engaging in Taiwanese espionage activities. His family had initially kept his detention quiet, but it was later revealed by Shih Chien University professor Chiang Min-chin. This case is part of a broader trend of Taiwanese citizens being detained in China, often for extended periods beyond their formal sentences.

Exclusive-US sees Chinese invasion of Taiwan unlikely next year despite 2027 timeline, sources say

Exclusive-US sees Chinese invasion of Taiwan unlikely next year despite 2027 timeline, sources say

By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali WASHINGTON, Oct 1 (Reuters) - US officials believe a Chinese invasion of Taiwan before 2028 is increasingly unlikely despite Chinese President Xi Jinping's instructions for his military to be ready by 2027 to take the democratically governed island by force, if needed,

Global factory activity boosted by AI spending boom

Global factory activity boosted by AI spending boom

By Leika Kihara and Indradip Ghosh BENGALURU/TOKYO, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Factory activity across Europe and Asia expanded last month as demand, partly boosted by the global AI spending boom, remained strong even as the energy price shock from the Iran war kept inflation elevated, surveys showed on

US tells France and Germany to release diesel stocks or face US export ban, sources say

US tells France and Germany to release diesel stocks or face US export ban, sources say

By Kate Abnett, Jarrett Renshaw and John Irish WASHINGTON/BRUSSELS/PARIS, Oct 1 (Reuters) - The Trump administration has told Germany and France to draw down emergency diesel inventories to help to ease global fuel prices or face a potential US diesel export ban, said three people close to the

Pentagon creates 'Autowarcom' to expand AI and drone capabilities

Pentagon creates 'Autowarcom' to expand AI and drone capabilities

WASHINGTON, Sept 30 (Reuters) - US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday announced the creation of a new military command that would be dedicated to building and providing autonomous and robotic capabilities across the US military.