Tuesday, April 01, 2025

US ranking protection of Taiwan on same level as home territory, analyst...

Apr 1, 2025 #China #Taiwan #UnitedStates

China on Tuesday sent its army, navy, air and rocket forces to surround Taiwan for large-scale drills Beijing said were aimed at practicing for "precision strikes" and a blockade of the self-ruled island.

FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney speaks to Stéphane Corcuff from the Lyon Institute of Political Studies.

He says that the US is ranking the protection of Taiwan and its position in the Pacific on the same level as its home territory

. #China #Taiwan #UnitedStates

SCMP

Beijing moves drills closer to Taiwan, scientist’s AI plea to China: SCMP daily highlights

Screenshot from a video titled Subdue Demons and Vanquish Evils that was released by the PLA Eastern Theatre Command on Tuesday to coincide with the military exercises near Taiwan.

Photo: Eastern Theatre Command

“This is a stern warning and a strong deterrent to the separatist forces of Taiwan independence, and is a legitimate and necessary action to defend national sovereignty and safeguard national unity,” spokesman Colonel Shi Yi said.

From the latest PLA drills around Taiwan to China and New Zealand’s historic ocean dives, here’s a round-up from today’s China coverage

Published: 9:39pm, 1 Apr 2025

Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.

1. Beijing moves drills closer to Taiwan, with Shandong carrier in ‘response zone’

The People’s Liberation Army launched joint exercises around Taiwan on Tuesday, marking Beijing’s latest warning to the island’s “separatist forces”.

2. China, New Zealand lead historic dives in southern abyss, Australia complains

China and New Zealand have led the world’s first crewed expedition to the depths of the remote Puysegur Trench, which cleaves through the floor of the south Tasman Sea, in a milestone mission hailed as a triumph of oceanic exploration.

3. ‘Giving machines a heart’: China urged to dig deeper in AI development

Visitors look at a humanoid robot during the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum in Beijing on Thursday. Photo: EPA-EFE

China should address the risks of “chaotic investment” in artificial intelligence and seek breakthroughs at the theoretical and philosophical level, rather than following Western paths to developing the technology, according to a leading Chinese AI scientist.

4. US sanctions Hong Kong police chief, 5 others, for ‘freedoms’ abuse

The US imposed sanctions on Hong Kong’s departing police chief and five other officials on Monday, saying they had undermined the semi-autonomous city’s “protected rights and freedoms”, and warned of additional visa restrictions for Chinese officials blocking “reciprocal access” to Tibet.

5. Stay humble? China ranks itself 10th in new global innovation league table

China has rapidly increased investment into research and development over the past decade, helping the country rise up the global innovation league table. Photo: Xinhua

China may be making waves in a slew of emerging industries – from robotics to electric cars – but an official Chinese research body has placed the country only 10th in its latest global innovation league table.

6. Taiwan has become a flashpoint for Beijing and Tokyo. Here’s why

Under the gaze of global media earlier this month, Beijing’s top diplomat Wang Yi warned Tokyo not to interfere in affairs related to Taiwan, saying that doing so would “invite trouble”. His remarks – made at a press briefing on the sidelines of the annual National People’s Congress – reflect how important the Taiwan issue is to Beijing in its bilateral ties.

7. South China Sea: poor diplomacy and deep mistrust may spark crisis, expert warns

A combination of poor diplomacy and deep mistrust among South China Sea claimant states could escalate tensions into a “crisis”, an expert has warned while urging more measures to protect “aggrieved” countries.

China Launches Drills Near Taiwan, Targets Lai