A message from Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen to the newly-crowned drag race winner Nymphia Wind 妮妃雅瘋: “Taiwan thanks you for living fearlessly.”

'The Chinese Embassy in Manila on Thursday said it supports the Philippines’ efforts in addressing issues related to offshore gaming operations.'

( #China and #Philippines can still find things to cooperate on notwithstanding tensions in South China Sea)

pna.gov.ph/articles/12229…

High expectations for the newly announced Minister of Labor of Taiwan, 何佩珊 Ho Pei-shan, who has a background in social activism (agricultural, democratic & labour reforms). Glad to see a new Minister of Labor, responsible for a portfolio in need of true reforms.

#China Warns #US After Missile Launcher Reaches 'China's Doorstep'

China expressed 'grave concern' on Thursday at the deployment of a U.S. missile system to the edge of the South China Sea, potentially putting Chinese territory within striking range.

The U.S. Army this month

PLA Daily reminds us that PRC physically asserted its sovereignty over James Shoal for the first time only on May 12, 1984, with the Type-051 destroyer Nanchang - dubbed 'First Anchor at James Shoal'. So what's happening before 1984? 81.cn/syjdt/16301717…

Byron Wan Unfortunately it has been the PRC official narrative for 20 years… … So Xi is literate at all😂😂
fujian.gov.cn/zwgk/ztzl/sxzy…

news.sina.cn/sa/2006-03-23/…

#Taiwan Strait stability is crucial for building a free & open #IndoPacific , which serves the interests of all nations that uphold the rules-based order. #Taiwan 🇹🇼 remains committed to working with the #G7 & other like-minded partners to advance these ideals for the common good.

Not much happening here, just Taoyuan’s so-called mayor celebrating the 120th anniversary of the school that he credits as being established in the ‘ROC Year Negative Seven’ (民國前7年).

Did you all know that Jesus was also born in the year ROC Negative 1911??

Lai expresses support for gender equality education, respect for different sexual identities—a good sign when Lai has sometimes been seen as more conservative socially than Tsai

cna.com.tw/news/aipl/2024…

Washington is opening an investigation into China's shipbuilding practices, adding ships to the long list of sectors that form the crux of US-China rivalry - in my latest for Foreign Policy I unpack Beijing's ships strategy and what it means for the West
foreignpolicy.com/2024/04/19/chi…

Sober piece on Japan’s China Reckoning from an insider. An inevitable outcome of a sovereign nation facing severe external challenges from a determined party. Would quibble with this remark ‘[🇯🇵🇨🇳 have been] historical rivals since the 1890s’. Arguably much longer.

This thread—about the current assault on academic freedom and its historical precedent relevance to China studies— is spot on. Everyone, esp those in China studies currently unaware or unsure of their feelings about current crises on campus, should read it

Cambodia lied to the world, surprise surprise. Chinese navy ships are already operating out of Ream Naval Base.
rfa.org/english/news/c…

It's time for China/Taiwan Watch to deal realistically with what the SCMP is up to. Having some respectable journalists on staff is a very useful way to dupe external audiences. A publication should be measured as trustworthy on the basis of its propaganda, not its journalism.

I’m at one of those tourist restaurants near Sun Moon Lake remembering the years when visiting many parts of Taiwan like this b was almost impossible as they were crammed with ambling packs of Chinese tour groups.

Enjoy it while it lasts…

And one more because I couldn’t just share 4 :)

From first post into second:
Black Throated Tit, Mikado Pheasant, Taiwan Yuhina, White Whiskered Laughingthrush, Collared Bush Robin, White Tailed Robin.

Taiwanese President-elect Lai Ching-te will be looking to build on predecessor Tsai Ing-wen's policies after his inauguration in May, including deeper engagement with Southeast Asia that she leaves as part of her legacy. Latest Nikkei Asia

asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Inter…

Lev Nachman Los Angeles Review of Books This new mini-wave of work about Taiwan that centers Taiwanese voices includes Clarissa Wei's cookbook 'Made in Taiwan', which opens with an essay on Taiwanese history written in consultation w/James Lin jamestwotree.bsky.social + Vanessa Hope 葛靜文's documentary 'Invisible Nation' 4/ variety.com/2024/film/asia…

Taiwan’s defense ministry releases its daily report on Chinese military activity early when there’s a spike—

21 PLA aircraft detected, with 17 entering Taiwan’s air defense zone, is the largest pre-release this year, & quite a few violations in a ~3 hour window.

Lev Nachman Los Angeles Review of Books One of the strengths of Nachman & Sullivan's book is to clearly lay out how Taiwanese identity & self-determination developed through democratization - & why the PRC remains closed off to this fundamental, empirical insight about a territory & people it claims through violence 3/