Taiwan

The plan to empty in six days its islands closest to Taiwan

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Two news in recent months have ended up becoming a revealing announcement. The first occurred at the end of January, when many of the Sakishima Islands (the closest to Taiwan) began a series of a series of any weekend Evacuation drills. Shortly after, Japan made a historical decision: deploy long -range missiles In some of these islands. How much? Enough to get to China. Now, in the face of doubts to a war conflict, it has officialized a plan. Evacuate mission. Japan has presented for the first time A formal plan To evacuate more than 100,000 civilians, including residents and tourists, of the remote islands near Taiwan, specifically Sakishima archipelagolocated at the southwest end of the country. The plan occurs in a context of growing military tension In the Taiwan Strait, where the threat of a possible Chinese invasion has generated concern in Tokyo and the international community. To be exact, the measure includes the evacuation of Approximately 110,000 residents and 10,000 tourists through the mobilization of ships and airplanes to eight prefectures of Western and Southwestern Japan, with the goal of completing the operation in a Maximum period of six days. The evacuees would be initially transferred to the island of Kyushu and from there distributed to different destinations that are already being prepared with temporary accommodations. Military and drill preparations. As we said at the beginning, the drills have been carried out In the last datesbut without great explanations about the main reason. Now, and as part of the reinforcement of security and logistics preparation, the Japanese government has announced that as of April next year it will carry out Evacuation exercises In the Sakishima Islands, which are part of the Okinawa Prefecture, a key region that houses almost 50,000 American soldiers and that has historically been considered strategic for the defense of Japan. In addition, and as we count a few days ago, the installation of units of Surface-Aire missiles on the island of Yonagunilocated only 100 km from Taiwan, and the construction of provisional underground shelters, equipped with food and supplies for at least two weeks. These measures seek to improve defense capacity in the event of an eventual attack and ensure the protection of local populations. Increasing tensions. Although the evacuation plan does not explicitly mention Taiwan, it is evident that the growing possibility that the self -governor island (claimed by China as part of its territory) becomes the epicenter of a military conflict has been the trigger for the initiative. China ha Increased military pressure About Taiwan in recent years and has not ruled out the use of force to Force “reunification”. The precedent of the Russian invasion to Ukraine and the hardening positions Geopolitics, especially after Donald Trump’s return to the presidency of the United States, has increased the fear that the Taiwan Strait becomes the next great focus of conflict in Asia. United States and the weakness of the alliance. Possibly, the key reason that has led to Japan to missile implantation long range and to formalize an evacuation plan is uncertainty with the United States. In fact, the evacuation plan has been widely Extended in Taiwanwhere it has generated worrying interpretations about the reliability of regional alliances. Many Taiwanese and local analysts see the Japanese initiative as a sign that Tokyo does not trust In which Washington, under the policy of “America First” of Trump, maintains your commitment to defense against a conflict in the Strait. To this we must add the Recent statements from Trumpquestioning the reciprocity of the United States-Japan Security Treaty and highlighting that Tokyo It is not obliged To defend the United States in case of aggression, which has accentuated these concerns. A culture broth that has led to the perception that Japan is preparing “discreetly” to ensure its withdrawal of vulnerable areas without depending on US intervention. Reinforce regional defense. As we also said, Japan, in addition to the evacuation and militarization of the Sakishima Islands, has intensified its defensive strategy through the planned deployment of long -range missiles In Kyushu, expanding its ability to respond to threats from the Asian continent. Simultaneously, the Senkaku Islandsdisputed with China and administered by Japan, continue to be a friction point that could further complicate security in the region. The Japanese government has made it clear that all these measures are part of a comprehensive strategy Based on the forecast of “imminent armed attacks”, as Yoshimasa Hayashi, chief secretary of the Cabinet said. Vulnerability in the islands. The population of the most exposed islands shares government concern. In this regard, The Guardian told That Gen Nakatani, Minister of Defense, recently recognized the “strong sense of crisis” that is perceived among the inhabitants of these islands, who have historically witnessed the territorial disputes and military maneuvers in the region. The proximity of Yonaguni and other islands of the archipelago to the Strait of Taiwan, as well as the growing presence of China in the surrounding waters, make the feeling of threat constant. Therefore, the combination of planned evacuationstrengthening shelters, Armament deployment And cooperation with Washington, despite tensions, has a fairly clear objective: reinforce Japan’s resilience to a possible military escalation. Image | US Pacific Fleet In Xataka | Japan has made a historical decision in the face of the uncertainty of the US: to display missiles that reach North Korea and China In Xataka | The Japan islands closest to Taiwan have begun to evacuate the area. They have been preparing for the worst for two years

TSMC always said that making chips in the US was more expensive than doing it in Taiwan. His Arizona plant denies it

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Morris Chang is not infallible. No one is. This veteran Taiwanese engineer formed in the US is One of the most respected experts in the global semiconductor industry. After all, he founded TSMC at a historic moment, 1987, in which Taiwan occupied a very discreet position in the integrated circuit production market. His cunning is undeniable. After all, objectively has made very successful decisions at the head of TSMC. However, their forecasts are not always accurate. And is that on several occasions He has pointed out publicly That the production costs of their plants located outside of Taiwan will double in the future, which will have a direct impact on the price of the chips. This increase is a consequence of the increase in the price of energy, of the cost derived from workers’ salaries and the impact that inflation is having on the price of essential raw materials. Processing a wafer in Arizona costs TSMC less than 10% more than doing it in Taiwan In mid -April 2024 CC Wei, the executive who at that time held the reins of TSMC, clarified Morris Chang’s statements anticipating that the increase in costs derived from the manufacture of integrated avant -garde circuits in the plants that the company has outside of Taiwan would be assumed by both TSMC and its customers: “If my client wants to manufacture in a specific area (outside of Taiwan) then definitely TSMC and the client himself will have to share the increase in costs (…) We are already discussing it with our customers.” The performance of a lithographic node is crucial because it reflects its valid chip production capacity Chang and Wei’s statements have caused many analysts in the integrated circuit industry to follow the steps that this company has in Phoenix (Arizona) very closely. This avant -garde chips factory We were surprised in October 2024 When Rick Cassidy, the president of the TSMC American division, confirmed that its initial production performance had surpassed that of the comparable factories that TSMC has in Taiwan. The performance of a lithographic node is crucial because it reflects its valid chip production capacity, so that a high performance has a very beneficial impact on the competitiveness of semiconductor manufacturers. What was not yet clear was if the cost derived from the production of these semiconductors was perceptibly higher than that of comparable chips manufactured in Taiwan. Now an interesting report of Techinsightsthe respected Canadian analysis company that revealed that Huawei and SMIC had managed to produce Integrated 7 Nm circuitsshed light on this matter. According to G. Dan Hutcheson, Techinsight’s analyst signed by the article, producing a 300 mm wafer on his new Arizona plant costs TSMC less than 10% more than manufacturing that same wafer in one of its Taiwan facilities. It is explained by something that we should not overlook: the cost derived from labor represents less than 2% of the total cost. Salaries are much higher in the US than in Taiwan, yes, but Chips factories are highly automated. And equip them with the lithography machines that require essentially costs the same in the US and Taiwan. There is no doubt about one thing: they are good news for American customers of TSMC, among which are Apple, Nvidia, AMD or Broadcom. Image | TSMC More information | Techinsights In Xataka | TSMC is willing to take control of Intel chips factories. What you don’t want is to do it alone

Yonaguni’s Japanese island was known for its beauty and Bad Bunny. Now it is a military strength because of Taiwan

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It is possible that until recently the vast majority of the population did not know what it was Yonaguni. In 2021, the picturesque Japanese island appeared in the “map” of millions of people when the artist Bad Bunny dedicated him A song (Singing it in Spanish and Japanese, in addition). However, the enclave, very much, will possibly be more famous over the months. Is found in the center of a war Between the United States and China, and has in front of Taiwan. Paradise in the conflict. Yonaguni, the westernmost island in Japan, is usually remembered as an idyllic corner of Crystalline waters and almost empty routes between cane fields. However, its strategic location only 110 km from the Taiwanese coast has placed it in the center of the growing tension between China and Taiwantransforming his image of tourist paradise into an expanding military enclave. The Japanese government has announced the Base extension From the self -defense forces (SDF), as well as works to extend the airport, build a port for large boats and create underground evacuation shelters. These developments have left their only 1,500 inhabitants trapped between the growing militarization and the latent threat of a regional conflict. A military bastion. As AP explained In a recent report, while some residents and local authorities such as Fumie Kano dreamed of promoting commercial links with Taiwan through direct sea routes, but the plan was set aside In favor of militarizationwhich offered government subsidies and security promises. Since 2016, the island houses a unit of 160 members coastal surveillanceequipped with radars, to which electronic war units and potential deployments of long -range missiles. Today, the military and their families already They represent 20% of the populationa constantly increased figure that begins to reconfigure the economy and social structure of the island. Division before the threat. The possibility of a Taiwan Yūjian emergency caused by a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan, worries residents, who fear that the island will become a military objective or refugee receiver. Not everyone, of course. The Guardian told A few weeks ago cases such as that of the Shoko Komine restaurant, where they do not believe that the conflict is imminent, although they are afraid of its immediate impact on tourism, the main economic engine of the island. The militarization, in the opinion of its owner, has displaced the efforts to promote Yonaguni As a tourist destination. Even those who voted in favor of the base in 2015, when it was approved by little margin, seem to express their concern today at the possible missile installation, which would make the island blank in case of hostilities. Yonaguni Geopolitics in the Pacific. The reorientation of the Japanese defense policy, which for decades focused on the Soviet threat in the north, has displaced its focus to the south and the growing pressure of China. We tell it A few weeks ago, Yonaguni is part of the Nansei Islands chain, whose strategic importance It has been redoubled In a context in which the United States It demands from Japan a more active role in your own defense. Under that framework, the American ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, recently visited the island in a symbolic sample of American support. In addition, other nearby islands, such as Miyako and Ishigaki, already house missile units (and comes A broader package), increasing the Pressure on Okinawa Prefecturewhich welcomes most American troops in Japan. Defense or provocation. The people are divided. For example, the mayor of Yonaguni, Kenichi Itakazu, support military expansionconsidering it essential to protect the island and access part of the record of 43 billion yen (276,000 million dollars) in defense expense planned for 2028. He argues that, given the experience with Hong Kong, Xi Jinping’s peaceful promises cannot be trusted. However, critical voices such as councilor Chiyoki Tasato warn that the deployment of troops and missiles does not deter, but that attracts danger. Tasato considers inevitable that Japan will be involved if a war in the Taiwan Strait due to the United States Security Treaty, which imposes bilateral military responsibilities. The 2015 law Approved under the mandate of Shinzō Abe authorizes Japan to exercise collective self -defense in case an ally is attacked, which reinforces that vision. An island in transformation. Yonaguni, like many remote regions of Japan, faces a complicated depopulation process. Of the 12,000 inhabitants he had in 1947, today There are hardly 1,500 civiliansmostly older people. A figure that contrasts with 160 SDF troops and its 90 relatives, whose presence begins to transform the social structure. According to calculations of the Tetsu Inomata residentby 2026 the military “base population” will exceed 40% of the total number of inhabitants. Although soldiers have tried to integrate, for example, participating in schools, shops and cultural activities, many islanders feel that a military enclave is being configured that could eventually displace the civilian population. Historical and strategic memory. Some inhabitants, such as local politician Mizuho Chidacome in the Evacuation drills that we have counted before an undercover preparation for an armed conflict. Others, like Tasato, advocate Strengthen the links economic and cultural with Taiwan, a country with which Yonaguni shared business relations at the time of the Ryukyu kingdom. Despite the geographical proximity, there are currently no direct routes between the two regions, although maritime crosses are foreseen soon. This vision contrasts with the perception that the island has been alibuated by external interests, particularly those of Washington, with Tokyo’s complicity. The weight of the story. The past also plays an important role in the perception of the premises. The memories of the Okinawa battlewhere about 200,000 people died during World War II, still resonate among residents. Many fear that, as then, the islands of southern Japan are sacrificed In the name of national security. Today Central Okinawa house more than half Of the 50,000 American soldiers deployed in Japan, and the new bases in Yonaguni and neighboring islands such as Miyako and Ishigaki expand that geostrategic burden on a historically marginalized region … Read more

China has launched the largest military deployment of 2025 against Taiwan. Taiwan has just responded with the same currency

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A few days ago the news in Taiwan was not around the island, it was somewhat further. A series of images next to a video showed that, in an unidentified coast, China had displayed artificial platforms that they remembered too much to Mulberry ports with those who the allies invaded Normandy. The island has been found in the last 24 hours with a Chinese military army in the surroundings, and this time they have decided to replicate. A phrase as a trigger. China held on Monday The greatest military exercise On a large scale so far this year, and he faced Taiwan mobilizing 59 aircraft and drones, along with nine vessels, in a clear sample of force in response to the recent comments of President Taiwanés, Lai Ching-Te, who He described Beijing as a “foreign hostile force” and promised to strengthen national security against its infiltration attempts. The unusual in this case is that Taiwan has responded To the exhibition deploying aerial and maritime patrols, in addition to defensive missile systems, while its Minister of Defense, Wellington Koo, accused China of being the “disturbing of peace and stability” in the region. Increase tension. Last Thursday, Lai hardened his speech After a national security meeting, accusing China of seeking Taiwan’s annexation through influence tactics. In response, he announced stricter measures to regulate trade, travel and residence of Chinese citizens on the island. Beijing, who considers Lai and his party, the DPP, as separatists, reacted with virulence: the spokesman of the Taiwan Affairs Office of China, Chen Binhua, He described it of “destroyer of peace in the Strait” and accused him of pushing the island “towards a scenario of war and conflict.” Since the inauguration of Lai last May, China has intensified its military pressure. We have been counting it: in December, it deployed more than 90 ships from the Navy and the Coast Guard in an operation that Taiwan described as Its greatest maritime mobilization In recent history. The growing military activity China reinforces that fear that Beijing is preparing a direct confrontation scenario. The Described bridges A few days ago it is a “spicy” more to tension. The “Gray Zone”. The truth is that all these military activities of the Popular Liberation Army (EPL) of China around Taiwan is what experts describe as a “Gray Zone” strategythat is, coercion tactics that do not reach the direct armed conflict but that wears out the defensive capacity of the adversary. So that? This campaign would seek to increase the Psychological pressure On Taiwan, force their Armed Forces to operate in a constant state of alert and weaken the perception of security on the island. The United States position. Irremediably, the situation leads to Washington. Donald Trump’s return to the US presidency has added A layer of uncertainty To the equation. In the middle of the commercial war with China, Trump seeks increase your investment In defense. In addition, its administration has expressed discomfort for the impact of the island on the American semiconductor industry, threatening new tariffs to strengthen local production. No doubt, contradictory signals from Washington have generated restlessness in Taiwan. While the island’s government has expressed Your willingness to collaborate With Trump in the construction of a “democratic supply chain”, key companies such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) have promised investments up to 100,000 million of dollars in the United States to relieve tensions. Attempts of calm (and commitment). Amid all this uncertainty, the director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), Raymond Greene, tried to reassure Taipei. In a statement Posted on FacebookHe said that the Secretary of State of the United States, Marco Rubio, has reiterated his commitment to Taiwan, ensuring that Trump seeks world peace and strengthening deterrence in the Indo-Pacific to avoid conflicts. Greene emphasized that Washington cannot guarantee security of the region alone and needs allies like Taiwan to reinforce its defensive capacity. He also stressed that a conflict in the Taiwan Strait would have devastating economic consequences, with an impact greater than 10% of global GDP, “more serious than World War II,” he said. Be that as it may, the current increase in Chinese military activity and the surprise Taiwanese response mark a new critical point in the already tense relationship between both parties. With a most unpredictable Trump, the future of American support to the island is still uncertain. Meanwhile, Beijing continues to press with demonstrations of strength and rhetorical threats, in a context where any calculation error could serve as a fuse to trigger a conflict of unpredictable proportions. Image | 總統府 In Xataka | China has a plan with six options if things “twist” with Taiwan. World War II advocates all In Xataka | Taiwan lives an unprecedented situation in three decades: there is an army of 53 planes and 90 Chinese ships in front of the island

First it was a cut underwater cable. 24 hours later Taiwan has found a China Army in front of the island

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24 hours after the Taiwan authorities have stopped a ship manned by Chinese citizens under the suspicion of having cut a new cable Communications submarine, the island has encountered a surprising scene in front of its coasts: China has deployed an army and initiated real fire exercises. The tension intensifies. As explained by the island’s government, China carried out “shooting training” exercises In the waters near the southwest coast of Taiwan, in a maneuver that Taipei has described as “provocative and dangerous.” The exercises seem to be framed in a series of Chinese military maneuvers that, at least in the last three years, have included large -scale war drills. The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense reported that, shortly before 9 am, detected 32 Chinese military planes performing a joint exercise of preparation for combat along with 14 warships in the Taiwan Strait. The operation was carried out without prior notice and in an area Only 74 kilometers from the coastwhich represents a violation of international standards and a danger to navigation security and commercial flights in the region. Taiwan’s response. The Taiwanese government He condemned the maneuvers and displayed his own strength to monitor the situation. The cities of Kaohsiung and Pingtung, located in southwest Taiwan, host important naval and aerial bases, in addition to the largest port on the island, a key node in international maritime trade. According to Taipei, the recent Chinese military activity, including the one carried out in front of the coast of Australiashow that China is the biggest threat for the stability of the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region. For its part, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs avoided making direct comments on Taiwan’s complaints and just affirmed that the maneuvers were part of a scheduled shooting training. China reinforces its reunification speech. While the Chinese armed forces carried out these exercises, Wang Huning, the fourth leader in the hierarchy of the Communist Party, reiterated the official Beijing position on The “reunification” with Taiwan. During a meeting on issues related to the island, Wang stressed The need for China “Maintain the initiative and control over relations through the Taiwan Strait” and “advance without hesitation in the cause of the reunification of the homeland.” What did the neighbor say? Taiwan’s government responded by rejecting Beijing’s sovereignty statements and reaffirmed that only the Taiwanese people You can decide your future. To all this we must remember that President Lai Ching-Te, whom China considers a “separatist”, has reiterated his commitment to the defense of Taiwanese democracy. A day after cable cut. It We count yesterday. Frictions between Taiwan and China have not limited themselves to the military field. 24 hours before Chinese “simulation”, both parties exchanged accusations in relation to the Damage to an underwater cable of communications off the southwest coast of Taiwan. The Taiwanese authorities arrested a freighter with Chinese crew, the Hong Tai 58, registered in Togo, on suspicion of being involved in the incident. China, meanwhile, accused Taiwan of Manipulate the situation and launch accusations without conclusive evidence. Not just that. Taiwan has revealed in the last hours that the Hong Tai 58 was already part of A list of 52 boats Linked to China that the island’s security agencies consider a potential threat to telecommunications infrastructure. Looking back, it is the fifth case around failures/cuts/Sabotage of submarine cables registered in the region so far this year. So much so, that the Taiwan government has established a parallel with similar incidents occurred in the Baltic Sea After the Russian invasion of Ukraine. What seems clear is that the situation in the area, far from appeasing, has climbed the confrontation in a few days. China continues reinforcing its military presence In the region, while Taiwan and its allies, particularly the United States, observe with concern the increase in these maneuvers and the hardening of the forced reunification discourse. The combination of military pressure, sabotage of critical infrastructure and that growing belligerent rhetoric by Beijing points to an intimidation and wear strategy, one that raises the risk of an open conflict in the Taiwan Strait. Image | Naval Surface In Xataka | Taiwan lives an unprecedented situation in three decades: there is an army of 53 planes and 90 Chinese ships in front of the island In Xataka | Taiwan has just stopped a ship after cutting an underwater cable. The problem is that there are only Chinese citizens inside

Problems between US and Taiwan governments begin. And the chips industry is at the center of everything

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The government led by Donald Trump is determined to do everything necessary for the US to recover leadership in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. At the moment In Asia they are manufactured 90% of memory chips, 75% of microprocessors and 80% of silicon wafers. However, the most outstanding country in this continent in this sector is Taiwan, with a production of 90% of high integration chips and 41% of microprocessors. The US administration is already taking the necessary measures to promote US companies to buy integrated circuits manufactured in the US. The tariffs you are approving They largely pursue this objective, and, despite the alignment in the geopolitical field that support the US and Taiwan, the manufacturers of Taiwanese chips are not at all safe from the tariffs. In fact, Donald Trump made a statement at the end of January which he exposes his intentions with total: “In the very close future we will impose tariffs on foreign production of computer chips, semiconductors and pharmaceutical products to return the manufacture of these essential goods to the US (…) went to Taiwan; now we want them to return. We do not want to give them billions of dollars in the ridiculous driver program. They already have billions of dollars. incentive will be that they do not want to pay a tax of 25, 50, or even 100%”, The current US president declared. The Taiwan government is putting limits to TSMC The express mention to Taiwan that the US president has made is a very clear allusion to TSMC. On this Asian island there are other semiconductor manufacturers, such as UMC, but its relevance in the chip market is much lower than that of the company currently leading CC Wei. TSMC dominates the integrated circuit market with A quota of approximately 60%so your leadership in the chip manufacturing industry is indisputable. Anyway, the step forward that the US administration is not going to take TSMC by surprise. This company has been outlining its strategy for more than four years to extend its semiconductor manufacturing infrastructure Beyond Taiwan’s borders. And he is doing it for two reasons. On the one hand it is an effective way to protect your business if at any time it is triggered A war conflict between China and Taiwanand their plants on the island were useless. TSMC is preparing an offer to control the integrated circuit manufacturing plants of Intel But, in addition, TSMC is significantly developing its infrastructure in the US. His plan is that their new Arizona factories not only serve to protect their business from a possible conflict between China and Taiwan; They also protect it from US tariffs. This is not all. Although there has not yet an official confirmation of this information, according to The Wall Street Journal TSMC is preparing an offer to Control manufacturing plants Intel integrated circuits. It prosper or not, at the current situation this strategic decision makes sense. And it has it because it would allow TSMC to definitely consolidate its semiconductor manufacturing infrastructure in the US, as well as be present in countries where it now does not have production plants. However, The Taiwan government does not see this possibility with good eyes. Its economy depends deeply on its chip industry in general, and TSMC in particular, so the US ambition to recover its leadership in this sector directly enters into conflict directly with Taiwan’s survival as it is currently. Kuo Jyh-Huei, Taiwan Economy Minister, has warned TSMC in a resounding way: “No one can shake the foundations of the Taiwan semiconductor industry. We must have confidence in TSMC, and the government will fully support the ‘sacred mountain’ that protects the country (…) so that TSMC expands its global presence and establishes a joint company in any location, definitely needs the government’s permission.” It is evident that the possibility that TSMC acquires such a solid production infrastructure outside Taiwan is detrimental to weight That has this island in the sector that feeds it. Right now we cannot assume that TSMC will control Intel plants, but we can be safe: 2025 will be a very exciting year in regard to the development of the integrated circuit industry. More information | Reuters In Xataka | What’s behind the chips megafabrica that TSMC and Samsung plan to build in Arab Emirates

Taiwan has just stopped a ship after cutting an underwater cable. The problem is that there are only Chinese citizens inside

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That the submarine cables, whether communications or energy, have become a first level actor in the geopolitics of the planet, is out of any doubt. The cases of cuts and Sabotajes that have occurred in recent months, together with The huge investments They are taking place among companies with AI in the equation, attest to it. However, if the cable cut occurs in a high voltage place such as Taiwan, the incident acquires another channel. The suspicion of sabotage. It is not the first time in the enclave, like We have counted beforebut it has happened again. The authorities of Taiwan have stopped a ship of load under the suspicion of having cut a communications cable Submarine that connects the main island with the Penghu archipelago, located about 30 kilometers west. Although the investigation is still ongoing, the event adds to a series of similar incidents that have generated restlessness on possible tactics of maritime sabotage by China and Russia. The problem: the ship is manned by Chinese citizens. The arrest. A Taiwanese coach detected That the vessel, a freighter in poor condition with multiple names and Chinese financing, was in the area when the cable rupture occurred. According to Ou Yu-FEI, spokesman for the Coast Guard, it was The only ship present In the area at that time, which reinforces the hypothesis of its involvement. In addition, they say that the ship could have used a false registration number and changed its name suddenly, a common pattern in covert activities. Context of a “possible.” As has told the New York Timesthe incident occurred around Tuesday at 3:24 am, shortly after a Taiwanese patrol ordered the freighter to leave the area because they were too close to the submarine cables with the anchor thrown. This detail has led the authorities to consider the possibility that the ship took advantage of its exit to perform a deliberate act of sabotage. Crucial cables. The cutting of submarine communications cables is always a serious accident, but in the case of Taiwan a little more. The reason? It depends on Great measure of these cables for its connectivity with its peripheral islands and with the rest of the world. While they can be damaged by natural causes such as earthquakes or aging of the material, the most common reason is the drag of ships of ships or fishing nets. In fact and as we remembered, recent patterns have led some analysts to speculate that China and Russia could be resorting to deliberate sabotage as a form of harassment in the sea. A trend. A summary of the growing number of similar cases could be made in recent times. In 2023a cable between Taiwan and the Matsu Islands was cut, affecting communications for weeks. TO beginnings of 2025a digital cable that connects Taiwan with South Korea, Japan, China and the United States suffered damage, indicated that a Chinese ship could have dragged its anchor over it. In November 2024two fiber optic cables in the Baltic Sea were cut, and the investigations pointed to a Chinese/Russian flag freighter. In response to this trend, the Taiwan government has intensified surveillance of its underwater infrastructure and has prepared a list of More than 50 suspicious shipsmany of them registered with convenience flags (such as the togolesa, used by the detainee ship). The answer. A few hours ago, China has accused Taiwan of politically manipulate the recent incident of the submarine cable. According to Beijing, the Taiwanese government has exaggerated the situation without conclusive evidence, with the aim of feeding tensions and obtaining political revenue. Zhu Fenglian, spokesman for the Chinese Government’s Taiwan Affairs Office, minimized the same, stating that damage to submarine cables They are common maritime accidents that occur more than a hundred times a year worldwide. In addition, he accused the Democratic Progressive Party (PPD), which governs Taiwan, to use the event to manipulate public opinion without their claims having real support. For its part, the Taiwanese government has rejected Beijing’s claims, insisting that there are clear indications of possible sabotage, especially since the ship with Chinese links was present in the area when it occurred. Geopolitical implications. If Taiwan’s suspicions are confirmed about intentional damage, the fact could climb the tensions between the island and China. As We have been countingBeijin considers Taiwan as part of its territory and has increased pressure on the island in recent years through military incursionseconomic pressure and cyber attacks. We will have to wait, since the case has been sent to prosecutors to deeper investigation. Meanwhile, the island continues reinforcing your measures security to avoid new interruptions in their underwater communications. In a context in which the control of digital networks and critical infrastructure has become a hybrid war tool, these incidents reinforce the perception that the “neighbor” could be exploring forms of indirect destabilization without reaching an open conflict . Image | 總統府Taiwan Coast Guard In Xataka | Taiwan does not want more problems with China or with its submarine cables. So you have activated an unpublished security plan In Xataka | Goal already has the tool to lead the AI ​​era: an underwater cable that will take more than one return to the earth

The Japan islands closest to Taiwan have begun to evacuate the area. They have been preparing for the worst for two years

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For decades, Ishigaki It was a back of peace where the greatest concern of its inhabitants was to protect their climate crops and pests. However, for a while to this part The growing tension between China and Taiwan (and United States)has turned the small Japanese island, located only 300 km from Taiwan, into a potential conflict point. Like Ishigaki, to rest of Sakishima Islandsfrom Okinawa’s prefecture, the same thing happens to them, and they are preparing for the worst. The case of Ishigaki. A few years ago, the island has already “armed.” The installation of anti -mushroom missiles and anti -aircraft in the enclavepart of an ambitious military modernization plan in Japan, sought to strengthen the defense of the country, but it could also make Ishigaki a target in case of a confrontation in the region. Farmers like Tetsuhiro Kinjowhose greenhouse is now in the line of fire, They related to New York Times if they can continue living in peace or if the paradise that they have built will disappear under the crossfire of the powers. Of the economic opportunity to the military threat. Japan has long been to see China as an opportunity for economic growth To consider it a direct threat to your safety. For years, the relationship between the two countries It was marked by territorial disputescommercial tensions and the memory of World War II, but always with a political position that avoided confrontations. However, the hardening of Beijing’s control over Hong Kong and Xinjiang, their growing dominance in global supply chains and their aggressive movements in the Eastern China Sea They have generated a change in Japanese perception. The Taiwan inclusion in Japan’s White Bile for the first time reflected Tokyo’s growing concern on the future of the island and its impact on regional stability. The dilemma In the background, the Possibility of a conflict in Taiwan It generates a strategic dilemma for Japan. Some analysts fear that a war in the region not only will bring direct clashes, but serve as pretext for China to try to seize the disputed senkaku isletswhich manages Japan but Beijing claims as his. This concern has given a new impulse to the political sectors that seek to review the Pacifist Constitution of Japan, a historically controversial issue, although increasingly backed in the current context. Not just that. The passage of time does not seem to appease tension Between Taiwan and China, but quite the oppositeso Japan has decided to prepare its closest islands to an eventual geopolitical conflict of major words. Evacuation plans. Before the growing possibility of that crisis In Taiwan, The Japanese government has been designing evacuation plans since 2023 For approximately 120,000 residents of the Sakishima Islands chain, in Okinawa prefecture. The strategy seeks Move the population to the Kyushu region and Yamaguchi prefecturealthough it faces serious logistics challenges, from the availability of transport to the preparation of adequate infrastructure to receive the evacuees. Planning has accelerated as China shows a more aggressive position In the Eastern China Sea and the South China Sea, increasing concerns about a possible invasion of Taiwan and its repercussions in Japan. Logistic challenges No doubt, the Japanese government has identified multiple obstacles for mass evacuation in case of conflict. The plans include The authorization of airports and ports in Fukuoka and Kagoshima as a key exit pointsalthough the estimated time to complete the evacuation of the entire population would be at least six days, a figure that experts consider optimistic and difficult to meet in an emergency scenario. In addition, the lack of adequate infrastructure in local ports and airports, such as the need for clues of at least 3,000 meters and greater depth in the docks to receive large ships, has been pointed out as a critical problem. Maybe for all this, Maritime transport is contemplated as an essential alternativeespecially for those who cannot fly for medical reasons (plus: adverse weather conditions could complicate their viability). In parallel, A plan has begun to improve the capacity of shelters on the mainlandincluding the construction of underground facilities to provide temporary refuge for approximately two weeks in case of attack with ballistic missiles. Drills and tests. As we said, since 2023, the Nation has carried out simulation exercises to evaluate the viability of evacuation and improve coordination between local and national authorities. In March 2024 and This same week of 2025 exercises have been carried out of mapping under the Civil Protection Law, recreating an imminent attack scenario with part of the population participating in the drill. In addition, at the end of 2024 the authorities tested A model case in which 1,000 residents of Tarama Island were evacuated to refuge facilities in the prefecture of Kumamoto. Tests, in short, that have allowed identifying failures in coordination and the availability of resources, which has led to the review of the protocols. In this regard, one of the most urgent problems is the supply of food and supplies for a displaced population of that magnitude, a challenge that will require exceptional logistics to guarantee the efficient distribution of resources. Security evacuating. One of the biggest risks identified in these plans is The vulnerability of evacuation transport to possible attacks. In this regard, a government official has warned that The airplanes and ships that move to the civilian population could become military objectiveswhich would make an essential significant reinforcement of Japan’s air and naval defense. In addition, this has revived The debate on the strengthening of the country’s defensive capabilitiesparticularly in a context where Japan has increased its defense budget and has reinforced its military cooperation with the United States and other allies. An uncertain scenario. Thus, the growing approach to Japan in mass evacuations planning reflects a change in their security perception, going from a deterrence to deterrence to a most active preparation against possible military contingencies. While tensions in the Taiwan Strait continue to climb, the nation is in a career against time to ensure that its population is … Read more

Taiwan does not want more problems with China or with its submarine cables. So you have activated an unpublished security plan

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Earlier this year and after what happened with an underwater cable that affected the only remaining link with the Matsu Islandsincident that occurred just a week after Another cable that connected the island was damagedTaiwan made an unprecedented decision. A call Washington ended with A two -year agreement so that the United States Army would disembark on the island and train the Taiwanese Navy. Actually, this is just part of the plan. Protect cables as priority. Submarine cable infrastructure is the pillar of the global connectivity of most nations, But a little more for an island like Taiwana territory that depends almost in its entirety of these systems to guarantee the communication of its citizens, companies and government institutions. To get an idea, any severe interruption in these links could not only leave the population incommunicado, affecting access to essential services such as mobile applications and digital platforms, but it would also have A critical impact on economic and government operations. The problem is that the fragility of these systems has been evidenced with the growing incident frequency In the cables that connect the enclave with its peripheral islands and with the world, which has raised concerns about the safety and resilience of this key infrastructure. Alarming frequency of failures. Globally, The more than 450 existing underwater cable systems They experience damage in a range of 0.1 to 0.2 incidents (by cable) per year, which is equivalent to 50 and 100 annual failures worldwide. However, the situation in Taiwan is exceptionally critical. The cables that connect Matsu’s peripheral islands with the main island They suffer an average of 5.1 annual interruptions, which represents a frequency up to 50 times higher than the global average. This data underlines the level of vulnerability of communications and the urgent need to implement protection measures. As we count, on January 22, The two submarine cables that connect Matsu with Taiwan were disconnectedwhich left the island is isolated digitally. According to the Taiwan Digital Affairs Ministry (Fashion), the cause was a “natural deterioration.” And it was not an isolated case: just a few weeks before, on January 3, a communications cable north of the main island, operated by Chunghwa Telecom, It was also cut, allegedly by a ship manned by Chinese citizens. The boat in question, Shunxing 39, was registered in Cameroon and Tanzania, which complicates the direct attribution of the attack. Strategies to strengthen security. The result of the situation has been to activate An unprecedented plan, measures to reinforce the safety of their submarine cables. For example, telecommunications operators have deployed maritime patrols with the aim of warning of fishing vessels approaching sensitive areas. Likewise, the Taiwan Coast Guard has intensified surveillance through monitoring systems to trace boats in critical areas. There are more. To improve redundancy in communications, fashion has implemented A subsidies program to encourage the construction of new stations International cable landing and the installation of backup systems. In addition, Taiwan has opted for the diversification of his communication systems through satellites. In this sense, the government has signed Agreements with the European company SES for the deployment of medium orbit satellites (MEO) and with Oneweb for the incorporation of low orbit satellites (Leo). All measures that seek to guarantee the continuity of government and military communications in case of an emergency. Legal challenges to protect cables. One of the main obstacles in the protection of submarine cables is the complexity of international legislation around these infrastructure. According to international maritime laws, if damage occurs within the territorial waters of a country, this may exercise jurisdiction on the incident. The problem? That, if the affectation happens in an exclusive economic zone or in international waters, The responsibility falls to the country where the suspicious boat is registered. This legal framework generates significant barriers for the investigation and persecution of those responsible for deliberate sabotages. From there The problem in the Baltic with The “Ghost Ships”. In response to these challenges, Taiwan has taken legislative measures to penalize intentional attacks against their submarine cables. The sanctions include prison sentences between one and seven years, in addition to fines that can reach 10 million Taiwanese dollars (approximately 300,000 US dollars). And the United States. It We have recently. Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense has announced A two -year agreement with the United States to train the Taiwanese Navy In a context where the island’s Parliament is prepared to vote possible cuts in the budget for military training abroad. The agreement, valued at approximately 50 million Taiwanese dollars (1.5 million US dollars), stipulates that US Navy personnel will be sent to Taiwan to carry out a specialized naval training program. The training sessions, in principle, will be held at the headquarters of the Navy and the Marines of Taiwan, located in the Zuoying district, near the city of Kaohsiung, in the south of the country. It is, therefore, The first time in history that the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense publicly recognizes the presence of US military coaches. Regional Resilience. The numerous cases in recent months They have shown it. The protection of submarine cables, and more in Taiwan, is not only a national problem, but a matter of regional security. Any interruption in these infrastructure can affect their neighboring countries, which reinforces the need to establish strategic alliances for damage prevention and repair. In this regard, Taiwan aims to work closely with its partners in Asia To strengthen cable repair capabilities, improve logistics and develop advanced monitoring technologies. In fact, a few weeks ago researchers from the University of Lisui in China They registered a patent for an anchor device designed to cut underwater cables efficiently. There is no evidence of its use in real attacks, but the simple existence of these technologies suggests that the risks to telecommunications could be intensified in the near future. Image | 總統府 In Xataka | 2025 has started with another cut cable cut. The problem is where and the suspect: in Taiwan and China In Xataka … Read more

It will impose tariffs from 25 to 100% to the chips manufactured in Taiwan

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Donald Trump is fulfilling his word. During the electoral campaign he promised that he would make the decisions that were necessary to reinforce the business of US companies within the US. And he also assured that he would sanction tariffs all those countries that threaten the interests of the nation that leads since January 20. As soon as he has been in the government for a week, and he is doing both. “In the very close future we will impose tariffs on foreign production of computer chips, semiconductors and pharmaceutical products to return the manufacture of these essential goods to the US (…) went to Taiwan; now we want them to return. We do not want to give them Millions of dollars in the ridiculous Biden program. 100%”, Donald Trump declared yesterday during a conference that was held in Florida (USA). This measure of the Donald Trump’s government has not taken TSMC offset The express mention to Taiwan that the US president has made a few hours ago is a very clear allusion to TSMC. On this Asian island there are other semiconductor manufacturers, such as UMC, but its relevance in the chip market is much lower than that of the company currently leading CC Wei. TSMC dominates the integrated circuit market with A quota of approximately 60%so your leadership in the chip manufacturing industry is indisputable. TSMC has been leaching its strategy for more than four years to extend its semiconductor manufacturing infrastructure beyond Taiwan’s borders Anyway, the passing step that the US administration is going to give will not take TSMC by surprise. This company has been outlining its strategy for more than four years to extend your manufacturing infrastructure of semiconductors beyond the borders of Taiwan. And he is doing it for two reasons. On the one hand it is an effective way to protect your business if at any time it is triggered A war conflict between China and Taiwanand their plants on the island were useless. But, in addition, TSMC is significantly developing its infrastructure in the US. His plan is that their new Arizona factories not only serve to protect their business from a possible conflict between China and Taiwan; They also protect it from the foreseeable US tariffs. The first of these plants is already producing integrated circuits in the N4 lithographic node, which belongs to the Finfet family of 5 Nm. In fact, he is about to deliver Apple’s first chips games. The second Arizona factory will be operational in 2028 and will produce circuits integrated in N3 (3 Nm) and N2 (2 Nm) nodes. And finally, the third factory will not be listed at all until the end of this decade and will produce chips in the N2 (2 nm) node. So far the most advanced TSMC integration technologies were only available In its Taiwan plantsbut, as we have just seen, Soon they will also be in the US. And in this way it will solve two problems of a stroke: it will be fought from the tariffs that the Trump government will approve and will reinforce its production infrastructure beyond its country of origin. One last note: in addition to the US, TSMC is building New plants in Japan and Europe. Image | TSMC More information | C-Span In Xataka | Intel’s plan in front of an unattainable TSMC: beat Samsung and consolidate as the second largest chips manufacturer

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