Donald Trump’s nominee for Pentagon policy advisor suggests Taiwan should spend 10% of its GDP on defense instead of the current 2.5%. In an address to Congress, the U.S. president also pushed for the repeal of Joe Biden's CHIPS Act, which provides over US$52 billion for American semiconductor manufacturing, even after Taiwan's TSMC announced a further US$100 billion investment in the U.S. And Beijing presents plans to increase defense spending by over 7% at the annual “Two Sessions” meeting of China’s parliament, which is likely to have implications for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Plus:
-Canada, China and Mexico plan their response to Donald Trump's imposition of new tariff measures.
-Despite the opening of a new offshore 640-megawatt wind farm, the wind power industry in Taiwan remains in the doldrums.
-Thailand reportedly deported dozens of detained Uyghurs back to China, ignoring U.S. and Canadian offers of asylum to avoid angering Beijing.
