A record number of foreign students are choosing to study Mandarin in Taiwan, breaking pre-pandemic records. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Woon Wei Jong looks at the appeal of Taiwan as a Mandarin-learning hub and the impact on its international standing.
Cross-strait relations
Politics
US academic Zhu Zhiqun observes that the ambiguity and grey areas created through tacit understanding among Beijing, Taipei and Washington have long helped sustain the Taiwan Strait peace and prosperity. Once these grey areas fall apart, the fragile stability in the Taiwan Strait could be broken, leading to crises.
Politics
Commentator Qi Dongtao gives his take on so-called radical Taiwan independence in Taiwan and popular support for armed reunification in mainland China, and how such forms of "patriotic nationalism" are making it difficult for both sides of the Taiwan Strait to come to an understanding.
Politics
The waters around Kinmen have long been coveted by fishermen from both sides of the Taiwan Strait for the priceless yellow croakers. However, the recent capsizing of a mainland Chinese fishing boat has sparked a fresh round of tension, with the mainland public dissatisfied with the Taiwan authorities’ fishing restrictions against mainland fishermen. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Woon Wei Jong speaks with the local fishermen in Kinmen to find out more.
Politics
Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong looks at the recent incident of a mainland Chinese fishing boat capsizing off Kinmen after a chase with Taiwanese coast guard, leading to the death of two fishermen. Is mainland China using the crisis to create a new baseline to Beijing’s advantage?
Politics
Commentator Gu Erde looks into a recent survey on China experts from the US and Taiwan, which reveals, among other things, that the Taiwan experts perceive a lower military threat from China than the US experts, but a higher proportion of the US experts is confident that the US would intervene militarily to defend Taiwan in a conflict.
Politics
The recent diplomatic shift of Nauru from Taiwan to mainland China has brought focus to United Nations Resolution 2758, whereby China is accused of manipulating the interpretation of the resolution to fit its needs. Lianhe Zaobao associate foreign news editor Sim Tze Wei takes a look at the different interpretations of the resolution and its impact on Taiwan’s international standing.