President Joe Biden launched a new trade deal with 12 Indo-Pacific nations aimed at strengthening their economies. Biden, speaking at a news conference in Japan, said the pact is designed to raise the economic profile of the U.S. and create a counter to China within Asia. The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework is a broad plan for…

As President Joe Biden continued his six-day trip to Asia, he made headlines when he said the United States military would intervene in the ongoing tensions between China and Taiwan should they escalate. President Biden was asked about the subject during a Monday news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. “We support the ‘One…

Chinese President Xi Jinping has faced pressure to control the spread of COVID-19 and continue to grow the economy as his potential third term nears. He can legally seek out another term in power because the National People’s Congress removed presidential term limits in 2018. Xi’s approach to managing COVID-19 has been one of several policies…

U.S. President Joe Biden’s first stop on his inaugural trip to Asia on Friday was a massive Samsung Electronics plant where semiconductor chips are produced. The trip underscores a message of economic security with an eye on China and Taiwan. “The critical component of how we’ll do that in my view is by working with…

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry announced on Twitter that 18 aircraft from China’s People’s Liberation Army flew into its air defense zone. The ministry said aircraft included six Chinese J-11 fighters, six J-16 fighters and two H-6 bombers. The bombers, accompanied by a Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft, flew to the south of Taiwan through the Bashi Channel. The…

Taiwan’s military released a handbook on civil defense for the first time this week, advising civilians on how to prepare for a potential Chinese invasion. The book includes information on where to find bomb shelters and how to stockpile emergency supplies. China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control…

Taiwan Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng announced the country is studying the tactics Ukraine has used in its fight against Russia’s invasion. Chiu said the defense ministry has set up a working group that includes academics from the National Defense University. The group is following topics such as Russia’s poor military performance and Ukraine’s resistance. Chiu…

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki announced President Joe Biden will participate in a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, Mar. 18. According to the statement, “the two leaders will discuss managing the competition between our two countries as well as Russia’s war against Ukraine and other issues of mutual concern.” “This…

A contingent of up to 2,200 U.S. Marines has begun arriving for a six-month rotation to Australia’s northern city of Darwin, the Marine Corps and Australian Defence Department announced. The contingent is part of an ongoing U.S. initiative in the Indo-Pacific region to prepare for a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan in the coming years. During…

According to a senior Biden administration official who spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity, President Joe Biden is sending five former top defense officials on a trip to Taiwan this week to “demonstrate our continued robust support for Taiwan.” The delegation is expected to arrive in Taiwan Tuesday afternoon and leave Wednesday afternoon.…