China-Taiwan news: Top Taiwan official found dead as China accused of attack simulation
Official had assumed charge to lead various missile production projects that sought to nearly double output
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A top Taiwanese defence ministry official was found dead on Saturday as the self-governing territory accused China of carrying out a “simulated attack” with the country’s warships and planes conducting missions in the Taiwan Strait.
Ou Yang Li-hsing, the deputy head of the Taiwan defence ministry’s research and development unit, died from a heart attack on Saturday in his hotel room, reported state media.
The room had no signs of ‘intrusion’ and his family had a history of heart disease, said the official Central News Agency.
Meanwhile, the defence ministry tweeted on Saturday that multiple Chinese craft conducted missions in the Taiwan Strait, with some crossing the median line which is an unofficial buffer separating the two sides in what it sees as a “possible simulated attack.”
The developments come as Beijing continues its military offensive as it fired multiple ballistic missiles in the direction of Taiwan, four of which flew directly over the capital city Taipei.
US secretary of state Antony Blinken slammed China’s military exercises, saying there was no justification for Beijing’s “extreme disproportionate and escalatory” response.
The statement came as Ms Pelosi reasserted America’s support for Taiwan, saying that China will not be able to isolate the island by preventing US officials from travelling there.
Asean slams progress on Myanmar peace plan at talks overshadowed by Taiwan
Southeast Asia’s regional bloc Asean is “deeply disappointed” by the limited progress made by Myanmar’s military rulers in implementing a peace agreement to end the conflict in the country, a communique issued by its foreign ministers said.
The communique was issued today and comes as Asean chair Cambodia hosts a broader international gathering, including counterparts from the United States, China, Russia, Japan, Britain and Australia.
The gathering has been overshadowed by tensions over developments around Taiwan following US House speaker Nancy Pelosi’s solidarity trip to self-ruled the island this week, which has infuriated Beijing.
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov walked out of a plenary meeting today when their Japanese counterpart spoke, a person in the room said.
Mr Wang had cancelled a meeting with Japan’s Yoshimasa Hayashi in Cambodia yesterday, with China citing displeasure over a G7 statement urging it to resolve tension over Taiwan peacefully.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations had warned of the risk of miscalculations in the Taiwan Strait and “serious confrontation” among major powers, though today’s communique did not mention Taiwan.
The communique did, however, bring up Myanmar’s crisis since last year’s coup and recommended that an Asean summit in November assess progress by the junta in implementing the peace plan “to guide the decision on the next steps”.
“We extensively discussed the recent developments in Myanmar and expressed our concerns over the prolonged political crisis ... including the execution of four opposition activists,” the communique said.
China’s military exercise disrupt key shipping lanes
China’s military exercises in the waters around Taiwan have prompted some ships to navigate around the Taiwan Strait and give the island a wide berth, disrupting key trading routes for cargo and commodities sailing around the world, analysts said.
Angered by US House speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, China yesterday began four days of military drills around the disputed island, including firing live missiles and deploying fighter jets.
Although Taiwan’s ports are operating as normal, some cargo ships and oil tankers are re-routing around the island to avoid confrontation with the Chinese military, adding around half a day to voyages, analysts and ship owners said.
It is a reminder of the severe impact a conflict over Taiwan could have on global trade given the 180km wide (110-mile) Taiwan Strait and a shipping lane to the island’s east are major routes for ships transporting goods from East Asia to the US and Europe.
“Some ships have already taken precautions and are proceeding east of the island instead of through the Taiwan Strait,” said Niels Rasmussen, chief analyst at shipowner association Bimco.
Oil tanker owners raise security alerts as airlines cancel flights to Taipei
Amid escalating tension in the Taiwan Strait, large oil tanker owners have since raised security alert levels and are diverting vessels, said Anoop Singh, head of tanker research at Braemar, a shipping risk manager.
Shipping insurance groups have also posted alerts to members, urging caution in navigating around Taiwan.
Though tankers and container vessels were still docking normally in Taiwan, analysts warned even minor delays for ships were a concern when global trade is still recovering from the impact of pandemic lockdowns.
“As ships are utilized for by-passing the tensions and not for expediting trade it’s a move in the wrong direction - meaning more hardship for supply chains,” said Peter Sand, chief analyst at ocean freight platform Xeneta.
Meanwhile, airlines have also cancelled flights to Taipei and rerouted others to avoid nearby airspace that has been closed to civilian traffic during the Chinese military exercises.
“Though China’s action has yet to significantly disrupt ocean freight operations, a prolonged version certainly could,” said Zvi Schreiber, CEO at Freightos shipping index.
“Regional conflict could force vessels to take alternative routes, adding transit time, disrupting schedules and causing further delays and costs.”
Pelosi criticises China over the abuse of Uighurs muslims: ‘It’s been labelled a genocide’
US House speaker Nancy Pelosi ruffled some more feathers today as she slammed China for its human rights record over the abuse of Uighur muslims.
“The fact is, I have said it again and again, if we do not speak out for human rights in China because of commercial interests, we lose all moral authority to speak out about human rights any place in the world,” she said.
“China has some contradictions - some progress in terms of lifting people up, some horrible things happening in terms of the Uyghurs. In fact, it’s been labelled a genocide.”
The delegation member House Foreign Affairs Committee chair Gregory Meeks was even blunt. “They surely don’t want us to continue to talk about what’s happening in Xinjiang (with) the Uighurs,” he said.
“We’re going to speak up and speak out for human rights, human dignity, and democratic process. That’s what this trip was all about.”
US House speaker praises Taiwan, as she pledges US’ solidarity
US House speaker Nancy Pelosi praised Taiwan, pledged US solidarity and said her trip through Asia, which led to unprecedented military drills by an angry China, was never about changing the regional status quo.
“We have said from the start that our representation here is not about changing the status quo in Taiwan or the region,” she told a news conference after meeting with Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida.
“The Chinese government is not pleased that our friendship with Taiwan is a strong one,” she added.
“It is bipartisan in the House and in the Senate, overwhelming support for peace and the status quo in Taiwan.”
Ms Pelosi also lauded Taiwan’s democracy, economic successes and - in a veiled dig at China - its human rights record, noting support by Taiwan, the first Asian government to allow same-sex marriage, for LGBTQ rights.
Taiwan slams ‘evil neighbour’ China after missiles fly over island
Taiwan condemned its “evil neighbour” today after China fired multiple missiles into its surrounding waters, as many as four of which flew over the island’s capital Taipei in an unprecedented escalation during live-fire exercises.
China launched its largest ever military drills in the seas and skies around Taiwan on Thursday, a day after US House speaker Nancy Pelosi enraged Beijing by making a solidarity trip to the self-ruled island that China claims as its own.
Later, Taiwan’s defence ministry said the missiles were high in the atmosphere and constituted no threat. It did not give details of their flight paths, citing intelligence concerns.
US-Taiwan collusion will put Taipei ‘towards the abyss of disaster’ says China
Claiming that China’s relationship with Taiwan is an internal matter, the Chinese defence ministry spokesperson said “the US-Taiwan collusion and provocation will only push Taiwan towards the abyss of disaster, bringing catastrophe to Taiwan compatriots”.
China’s vice minister Deng Li said Beijing would “prevent the country from splitting with the strongest determination, using all means and at any cost.”
“Pelosi‘s visit to Taiwan is a blatant political manipulation and a blatant and serious violation of China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Deng said. “In response to the US-Taiwan collusion and provocation, China’s counterattack is only natural.”
Responding to the Chinese drills, president Tsai Ing-wen said Taiwan would not provoke conflicts but would firmly defend its sovereignty and national security.
China’s military makes dozens of crossing of Taiwan median line – reports
About 10 Chinese navy ships and 20 military aircraft briefly crossed the Taiwan Strait median line on Friday morning, a Taiwan source briefed on the matter told Reuters.
Around 10 Chinese navy ships crossed the median line and remained in the area on Friday morning, and about 20 Chinese military aircraft briefly crossed the median line, said the person, who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Earlier, Taiwan’s defence ministry said the island’s military has dispatched aircraft and ships and deployed land-based missile systems to monitor the situation there, as China conducts large-scale military drills in zones surrounding Taiwan.
No justification for China’s ‘extreme disproportionate and escalatory’ response, says Blinken
US Secretary of State slammed China’s military exercises saying there is no justification for Beijing’s “extreme disproportionate and escalatory” response to Nancy Pelosi’s visit.
He said that China’s military exercises aimed at Taiwan including missiles fired into Japan’s exclusive economic zone represent a “significant escalation.”
“China has chosen to overreact and use Speaker Pelosi‘s visit as a pretext to increase provocative military activity in and around the Taiwan Strait,” Mr Blinken said at a news conference in the Cambodian capital.
He also said the US stands in “strong solidarity” with Japan following the “dangerous actions China has taken.”
China cannot stop US officials from visiting Taiwan, says Pelosi as she wraps up Asia trip
China will not isolate Taiwan by preventing US officials from travelling there, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said today in Tokyo as she wrapped up her Asia tour highlighted by a visit to Taipei that infuriated China.
The Chinese have tried to isolate Taiwan, Ms Pelosi said, including most recently by preventing the self-governing island from joining the World Health Organization.
They may try to keep Taiwan from visiting or participating in other places, but they will not isolate Taiwan by preventing us to travel there
Ms Pelosi called the contention “ridiculous” and said that her trip to Taiwan was not intended to change the status quo for the island but to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait.
“Our friendship with Taiwan is a strong one. It is bipartisan in the House and in the Senate, overwhelming support for peace and the status quo in Taiwan,” she said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments