Taiwan

Donald Trump said arms sales to Taiwan would be discussed during his upcoming meeting with Xi Jinping. The remarks have prompted Taipei to monitor developments closely with Washington.

1 Mwezi wa tano, 2026 Imeripotiwa na AI

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi described Taiwan as “the biggest risk factor in China-US relations” during a Thursday phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Wang stressed that the Taiwan issue concerns China's core interests and urged the US to honour its commitments. Both sides emphasised safeguarding stability ahead of an expected Trump-Xi summit in May.

Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) chair Cheng Li-wun will arrive in Shanghai on April 7 for a six-day trip to mainland China, traveling by train to Nanjing to pay respects at Sun Yat-sen's mausoleum. A KMT press statement issued on Tuesday night described Sun Yat-sen as the founder of the Republic of China—Taiwan's formal name—and a symbol of the shared past between Taiwan and the mainland. Cheng stated that the party has an inescapable historical mission to promote peaceful cross-strait dialogue.

19 Mwezi wa tatu, 2026 Imeripotiwa na AI

Beijing has accused Taiwan leader William Lai of glorifying Japanese colonial rule after a speech comparing early Kuomintang rule unfavourably to Japanese colonial times. The People's Liberation Army stepped up aircraft sorties around the island.

China announced on Thursday a 7% increase in defense spending for 2026, the lowest rate in five years but still exceeding economic growth targets amid rising regional tensions. The move supports military modernization by 2035, with references to Taiwan. Premier Li Qiang highlighted improvements in combat readiness.

4 Mwezi wa tatu, 2026 Imeripotiwa na AI

Australia defeated Taiwan 3-0 in the opening game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at Tokyo Dome. Home runs by Robbie Perkins and Travis Bazzana powered the win. The match drew over 40,000 fans, mostly cheering for Taiwan.