Taiwan

Taiwan is an island nation facing increasing geopolitical pressure from China, which claims it as a renegade province. This tension is newsworthy due to its potential for military conflict and its impact on global economies. Recent events highlight this, including PLA Navy actions near Taiwan, US defense strategy omissions raising concerns on the island, and Xi Jinping's military purge potentially affecting China's Taiwan ambitions. The diplomatic row also impacts tourism, as seen in the drop of Chinese visitors to Japan due to warnings related to Taiwan. Despite these challenges, Taiwan remains a significant economic player, contributing to Apple's revenue growth in the Greater China region. A technical issue also forced a Hong Kong-bound flight to return to Kaohsiung. Japan and South Korea are upgrading their defense pact to counter China and North Korea, further highlighting the regional security concerns surrounding Taiwan.