Torbjørn Færøvik's Blog, page 171

Why China will blockade, not invade, Taiwan

China’s October 14 “Joint Sword 2024B” military exercise, the fourth large exercise near Taiwan in the last two years, reconfirmed Beijing’s vow to use force if necessary to compel Taiwan to join the People’s Republic of China (PRC) against the will of Taiwan’s people. PRC officials and media said the exercise was a reaction to an allegedly provocative Republic of China National Day speech given

US investigates whether TSMC has really cut ties with Huawei

The United States Commerce Department has reportedly started an investigation into whether Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has violated US export rules to make chips for the sanctioned Huawei Technologies. A key focus of the investigation is the Kirin 9000S chips found inside Huawei’s Mate60 smartphones, which were launched in late August 2023 during US Commerce Secretary Gina

Hong Kong plans patriotic events to boost nationalism

Hong Kong’s government wants to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II next year, a sign that the administration of Chief Executive John Lee may further step up efforts to spread patriotic fervor among the city’s seven million residents, commentators said. “Next year is the 80th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression,” Lee told

China builds spy base on disputed island: think tank

China is developing one of the contested Paracel Islands into a major intelligence base in the northern part of the South China Sea, new satellite images analyzed by a British think tank revealed. A new report by Chatham House found that Beijing has been building a massive new radar system on Triton – the westernmost and southernmost island in the Paracel archipelago, less than 250 kilometers (

Trump suggests $10 billion price tag for US troops in South Korea

U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump has reignited the debate over defense cost-sharing with South Korea, saying that if he were in the White House, Seoul would be paying US$10 billion a year to station U.S. Forces Korea, or USFK, in the country. The former U.S. president’s remarks come on the heels of a recently concluded defense deal between the two nations, set to increase South Korea’s

Foreign journalists at ASEAN find Lao restrictions frustrating

Southeast Asian leaders wrapped up this month’s summit in the Lao capital Vientiane by reaffirming their commitment to an “open, inclusive and transparent” ASEAN community. But some of the international media covering the meeting of the 10 member countries complained the vision was far from reality due to tough local reporting restrictions. Authorities would not allow the hundreds of media

EXPLAINED: Who will be the next leader of Macau?

A Chinese born judge who cracked down on the city’s pro-democracy movement has been “elected” leader of the gambling hub of Macau after running unopposed for the role, in a move that many say means the city is now effectively administered by Beijing.Sam Hou Fai, a former president of Macau’s Court of Final Appeal who was born in neighboring Guangdong province and served as a lawyer in the

Taiwan's former President Tsai calls for release of publisher Jimmy Lai

Former Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen is among the world leaders calling for the release of pro-democracy publisher Jimmy Lai from jail in Hong Kong, where he is standing trial on national security charges that are widely viewed as politically motivated.“They should release him,” Tsai told VOA about Jimmy Lai. She made the statement shortly after she delivered a speech at the Forum 2000

China, Myanmar tied for worst internet freedom: Freedom House

China and Myanmar are tied for the worst internet freedom environments in the world, as digital freedoms decline globally for the 14th year in a row, according to a Freedom House report published Wednesday. The global decline was especially concerning considering just how many elections are being held this year, said Kian Vesteinsson, the report’s co-author. Dozens of countries have held, or are

Taiwan condemns Chinese military drills around island as ‘unreasonable provocation’

Taiwan has condemned the latest round of Chinese military drills around the self-governing island as an “unreasonable provocation” after Beijing deployed warships and fighter jets in what it described as a “stern warning” to “separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces.” The Chinese military’s Eastern Theater Command said Monday that the drills, involving joint operations of the army, navy, air