Taiwan lawmaker blacklisted by Beijingblacklisted by Beijing launches Taipei mayor bid
Taiwan lawmaker Chiang Wan-an has begun a long-shot campaign to become mayor of Taipei, the island's capital, after building his political profile in the legislature.
The race matters because Taipei is Taiwan's political center and any shift in control can influence the island's domestic direction and its handling of relations with China.
- Taipei has been governed by both major Taiwan parties in recent decades.
- Taiwan's local elections often shape national leadership ambitions.
US-China Indo-Pacific Rivalry
China and Taiwan coast guard vessels have repeatedly faced off near the Pratas Islands, with the latest standoff showing how small maritime incidents around Taiwan can quickly become confrontations.[1][5] The episode adds to wider U.S.-China military tension across the Indo-Pacific, where Beijing is expanding patrols and Washington is reinforcing regional deterrence.[2][3] The rivalry now centers on preventing miscalculation around Taiwan, the South China Sea, and nearby sea lanes.[1][3][5] It also shapes defense planning by Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States as all sides weigh coercion, sovereignty claims, and the risk of escalation.[2][3]
24 May, 07:39 AM
Taiwan and China coast guards face off near Pratas islands1 January
The United States adopts a sharper great-power competition strategy focused on China
