Happy 20th anniversary to Kavalan whisky, distilled in Yilan County, Taiwan! 🥃 linktr.ee/kavalanwhisky

what a shocking turn of events who could’ve seen this coming

An appropriate statement from Canberra on Beijing's military exercises directed at Taiwan.

"The irony is stark.. Beijing is internationalizing the Taiwan issue further — and transforming Japan from a cautious stakeholder into a more determined deterrent actor... By trying to tame Japan, Beijing is compelling Tokyo to prepare more seriously." www.taipeitimes.com/News/editori...

A good example of how "lefties" are totally down for imperialism and war, if the PRC is doing it. The US isn't trying to pry Taiwan from China, because China doesn't own it. Rather, the Taiwanese don't want to be annexed to the PRC, and nations around them are supporting them.

The claim that a Chinese seizure of Taiwan would have “little effect” depends on treating international politics as static and authoritarian ambition as self-limiting. History gives us no reason to believe either assumption.

"Defense planners are no longer talking about hypothetical scenarios. We are working from timelines that could require mobilizing 50,000 reserve sailors in 30 days." - Lt. Cmdr. Elliot Rothrock, on American planning for a war with China over Taiwan From Naval News

Nvidia has chosen Taipei for its overseas headquarters. "Money talks, and it is clear from the flow of capital that tech titans see Taiwan as safe, efficient and irreplaceable ..." www.taipeitimes.com/News/editori...

Journalist: Have the exercises stopped fishermen from going out to sea? Fisherman in Keelung, northern Taiwan: No, the weather is bad.

Beijing called the deployment of forces a “stern warning” following the U.S. sending a $11 billion arms package to Taiwan.

Philippines challenges Chinese vessel off northern province amid Taiwan tensions reut.rs/4ji0hM9

People who do not live in Taiwan or do not follow this stuff for a living probably don't realize how crazy aggressive PRC rhetoric on Taiwan has become, particularly during military drills. It's one of a few indicators I'm watching with concern.

💯 everything Jamelle Bouie says here. But not just for domestic politics, but also foreign policy. We need to stop negotiating against ourselves and formally recognize Taiwan. China will not escalate to WW3.

@michaelturton.bsky.social gets into the details of how the ongoing budget and revenue fight hurts Taiwan. Well worth reading to understand the real issues at stake. It's not just defense spending--although that is very important. www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/ar...

since Taiwan's back in international news again, reminder that the popular refrain of Chinese nationalists is 留島不留人 (keep the island, not the people) China's intent is genocide and settler colonialism. they are no different from Israel and Russia. never forget that

Today Taiwan faces record-setting military drills from the PRC. But, people in Taiwan will remain largely cool and unphased. Most won't even notice the threats. Why? In my new book, I write extensively about why some types of PRC threats mobilize civil society and others do not:

If you saw the new Sword and Fairy remake and want to learn more about Chinese & Taiwanese RPGs, I wrote an overview of their history & stand-out games back in 2021: felipepepe.medium.com/before-gensh... And the thread below has recommendations of games available in English you can start with :)

Japan's def spending is up 9.4% fr 2025 & is the 4th year of Japan’s 5-year plan to double arms spending to 2% of GDP. It'll soon become world's 3rd largest defence spender. All to counter China; if China takes Taiwan, it's a security risk for Japan. www.euronews.com/business/202...

Sasha Chhabra with powerful rebuttal of a repellent op-ed on immigration that recently appeared in the same pages: 'These migrants work in the factories that power Taiwan’s economy, care for elderly Taiwanese, and fish or farm the food that feeds the country. ' english.cw.com.tw/article/arti...

China has made the deliberate and unprovoked choice to proceed with these fucking drills at the vicinity of Taiwan's national waters and is now complaining about Taiwan's Navy reaction. Am I getting this right?

130 PLA aircraft, 14 PLAN vessels and 8 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 90 out of 130 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern ADIZ.

I've been busy and scaled back my social media posting dramatically in the last 6 weeks, including nothing on my personal pages. It was relaxing, but probably not a good idea. Here is a long thread of my recent columns: www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/ar...

@michaelturton.bsky.social People like this are more dangerous than overt PRC defenders because they launder coercion into “reasonable realism.”

One underappreciated aspect of Taiwan's National Health Care system is that its databases are available to researchers after being anonymized. Here is a study using that systems data to explore link between COVID and pregnancy diabetes (none found). onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

"Russian energy: #Taiwan 's hidden risk in a #China conflict?" - #Russia www.dw.com/en/russian-e...

Taiwan has highest share of female legislators in Asia More than 40% of legislative seats in Taiwan were held by women last year, the highest proportion in Asia, the government said in its latest report on gender equality.

China’s decision to bring serious firepower to bear for military drills in the waters off Taiwan this week has deep roots — both in the past several weeks and the past several decades.

Chinese drills include Taiwan territorial waters this time focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait...

Last night I watched an excellent movie from Taiwan (Left-Handed Girl, available on Netflix) and it reminded me of something I’m learning as a beginning fiction writer: great storytelling always *raises the stakes*

Q: China is doing naval exercises to encircle Taiwan TRUMP: I have a great relationship with President Xi and I don't believe he's gonna be doing it Q: Does it worry you? TRUMP: No. Nothing worries me.

Taiwan has responded with "Rapid Response Exercises"; military placed on high alert.

China launches live-fire drills around Taiwan simulating blockade of major ports. Chinese military stages drills around Taiwan to warn 'external forces' - NPR www.npr.org/2025/12/29/g...

Taiwan's aviation authority says more than 100,000 air travelers will be affected by China military drills.

China says what happens with Taiwan is none of Japan’s business. The reality is that an invasion of Taiwan would have immense stakes for Japan. These maps show why.

"In clarifying what geography has long dictated, Takaichi made explicit what Beijing hoped to keep ambiguous: Japan cannot remain a bystander in a Taiwan contingency." www.taipeitimes.com/News/editori...

On this day 114 years ago - 29 December 1911 -, the Bogd Khaan declared the independence of Mongolia in Urga (now Ulaanbaatar). 3 days before the proclamation of the Republic of China, it was the first new state to emerge from the collapsing Daicing 大清 Empire. /

Yep. But they won't.

China has carried out live-fire drills less than 50 kilometers off Taiwan’s coast, as its foreign ministry warned that any attempt to block what it called China’s “reunification” with Taiwan would not succeed.

Official speeches are designed for messaging. They reflect what China wants others to believe, not necessarily inner strategic aims.

Beijing to impose sea, air restrictions for 10 hours starting at 00:00 GMT on Tuesday in five zones around Taiwan.

Taiwan’s belligerent neighbor is once again making saber rattling, contradicting their own assertion of a “peaceful rise.” 🙃 “Justice Mission 2025” drill on Monday

Why have I suddenly felt the urge to speak of this matter again? I'm worried— （worse) the “announcement” is a strategic signal / information-ops move: a “leak,” “study,” or “intent to explore,” designed to communicate resolve or deter adversaries — without actual capability behind it.

Chinese military announces major military exercise involving live-fire drills in waters and airspace around Taiwan on December 30 from 8 am to 6 pm.

A different view of KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun, who says Putin is not a dictator but President William Lai is. www.taipeitimes.com/News/editori...

China's military to conduct live fire exercises around Taiwan on Tuesday reut.rs/3Nj8rro

By burning it or by having gangsters bury it in deep drill sites in Changhua or in abandoned fish ponds which are then concreted over and have structures erected on top of them.

KMT denies tension after TPP’s Huang Kuo-chang joins New Taipei mayor race – Focus Taiwan: ‘To date, the TPP appears to have held off on naming mayoral or county magistrate candidates in municipalities where the KMT has an incumbent seeking reelection, or has already announced a nominee.’