Taiwan's cabinet will propose a 16 percent increase in defense spending for 2027, exceeding NT$1 trillion (US$31-34 billion) for the first time, in response to increased military pressure from China and calls from Washington to strengthen its defense capabilities.
Typhoon Dolphin hit Japan's Okinawa region, injuring six people and cutting power to over 50,000 buildings, while Taiwan rejected China's attempt to impose shipping controls in the Taiwan Strait during the storm, calling Beijing's authority claim 'ridiculous.'
Google Cloud has launched its Security Operations platform in Taiwan, offering AI-powered autonomous security defense while allowing Taiwanese organizations to keep sensitive data locally. The expansion includes sovereign AI capabilities that enable enterprises to access advanced Gemini models within private data centers.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te actively participated in the annual Han Kuang military exercises, including a late-night evacuation drill in an armored personnel carrier to escape a simulated 'decapitation strike' and coastal strike drills aboard a missile boat with drone deployments. The 10-day exercises focus on preparedness against potential Chinese military assault and civilian resilience.
Taiwan began its largest annual military exercises on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, introducing more realistic battlefield scenarios including first-time internet access restrictions to test commanders' ability to respond flexibly to a potential Chinese invasion.
Taiwanese authorities conducted raids at 64 locations and questioned 114 people in a probe targeting 17 Chinese-funded companies suspected of illegally poaching chip and high-tech workers. The investigation, spanning six jurisdictions over three weeks, reflects Taiwan's concerns about protecting its critical technology sector.
Live-fire military exercises conducted by China in the Taiwan Strait near Fujian province on July 23–24, 2026, followed high-level U.S.-China talks in Manila between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Maritime authorities issued navigation warnings for the drill areas.
Taiwan's National Security Bureau is tracking an unprecedented deployment of over 110 Chinese naval and coast guard vessels along the First Island Chain, marking what officials describe as an "upward trend" in Chinese military activity during peak exercise season. China has also launched new coast guard patrols east of Taiwan, prompting Taipei to deploy its own vessels in response.
Taiwanese government agencies raided offices of Super Micro Computer Inc. and its local affiliates as part of an expanding investigation into alleged smuggling of Nvidia AI chips to China through the company's servers, marking Taiwan's first public crackdown on AI chip diversion.
The United Kingdom, France and Germany issued a rare joint statement expressing concern over Chinese military actions in waters east of Taiwan, marking an unusual coordinated European response to tensions in the Taiwan Strait region.
China has significantly reduced shipments of rare earth minerals to Japan, with May exports of materials used in powerful magnets dropping to negligible levels. The supply squeeze is pressuring Japanese companies and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government to seek diplomatic resolution with Beijing over tensions related to Taiwan.
Taiwan's coast guard pledged to expel Chinese vessels after China completed a multi-day maritime patrol off Taiwan's eastern shores, marking the first time Beijing has questioned foreign commercial ships in the area and asserted jurisdiction over these waters.
Taiwan's coast guard asserted its maritime sovereignty cannot be violated after China concluded coast guard patrols east of the island, with Taiwan alleging Chinese harassment of merchant vessels in its territorial waters.
China is constructing a structure at the disputed Scarborough Shoal near the Philippines, prompting Manila to demand its removal while Beijing banned the Philippine defense chief from entry. The U.S. has deployed naval assets to monitor the situation as Chinese vessels also entered waters near Taiwan-controlled Itu Aba island.
China sent Coast Guard vessels on law enforcement patrols in waters east of Taiwan as a show of displeasure after Japan and the Philippines agreed to hold maritime boundary delimitation talks in the region.
Taiwan appealed to President Trump to stay the course on weapons sales following his Friday comments delaying approval of a $14 billion arms sale. US Trade Representative later said Trump is 'considering' how to approach the deal.
President Donald Trump landed in Beijing on May 13, 2026, for his first visit to China and the first U.S. presidential trip to the country in nearly a decade. The summit with President Xi Jinping, originally scheduled for March but delayed due to the Iran war, will address tensions over Taiwan, trade disputes, and efforts to persuade China to help bring Iran back to negotiations.
US President Donald Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing next week to discuss trade, Taiwan, technology, and the ongoing Iran war. China views the unresolved Middle East conflict as potentially strengthening its negotiating position.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has forced policymakers to reassess the vulnerability of the Strait of Malacca; the world's busiest shipping lane, carrying 22% of global maritime trade and 23.2 million barrels of oil daily, surpassing even Hormuz. The crisis has crystallized fears about what a conflict in the South China Sea or Taiwan Strait could mean for the 900km waterway that carries 75% of China's seaborne crude imports and connects East Asia to the Middle East and Europe.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te was forced to cancel his visit to eSwatini, Taiwan's last African diplomatic partner, after Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar abruptly revoked overflight permissions. Taiwan accused Beijing of pressuring the African nations.
Kuomintang chairwoman Cheng Li-wun traveled to Shanghai on what she called a 'journey of peace,' with expectations she will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. The visit aims to promote cross-strait dialogue amid regional tensions.
