Day: January 22, 2026

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te is defending the new US-Taiwan trade deal after it received criticism from opposition parties. The US agreed to lower its tariffs on Taiwanese goods to 15%, and Taiwan committed up to US$500 billion for US-based chip manufacturing.

Taiwan has announced that its US tariff rate has been reduced from 20 percent to 15 percent, matching Japan, South Korea and the EU, as part of a sweeping trade and investment framework with Washington. The deal includes large-scale Taiwanese investment in the US semiconductor, AI and energy industries, along with government-backed credit guarantees and new industrial parks. Supporters argue the agreement strengthens economic integration and resilience, but critics warn it could hollow out Taiwan’s chip industry and weaken its so-called “Silicon Shield” that theoretically deters Chinese aggression. How does Taiwan’s model differ from Japan’s and South Korea’s? And what lessons should Taiwan take from the rise and sudden fall of Japan’s DRAM chip industry in late 20th century? In this episode, we discuss the US–Taiwan trade deal, comparisons with Japan and South Korea, historical lessons from past chip wars, and what the agreement means for Taiwan’s security and future position in global supply chains.

If you’re on China’s internet, you might hear the myth: “China’s drones have already beaten America’s MQ-9 Reaper, not only in performance but also at half the price!” However, the real world has slapped this myth hard. Just two days ago, in response to China’s increasing pressure in the East China Sea, Japan did not fall for the “cheap and good” Chinese drones. Instead, they doubled their budget and increased their purchase of American-made MQ-9Bs. It’s not just Japan—India, the UK, and Canada are all lining up to buy America’s “Reaper.” The most embarrassing part is that even China’s “limitless” ally, Russia, chose to buy Iranian motorcycle engines instead of China’s so-called “high-end drones” when they needed drones the most. This is the reality of the global arms market: American drones are bought for combat, while China’s drones are bought for PowerPoint presentations.

President Donald Trump addressed the World Economic Forum in Switzerland on Wednesday, including the U.S.–China AI race and his plans for Greenland, which he says are driven by perceived threats from China and Russia: “We probably won’t get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force, where we would be, frankly, unstoppable. But I won’t do that.”China has imported enough soybeans from the United States to meet what the United States required Beijing to fulfill—and it involved two Chinese state-run companies.Are Chinese electric cars safe? Reports claim two EVs from well-known Chinese brand Xiaomi exploded in a single day. What was the cause?China says its economy grew 5 percent last year amid weak consumer demand and a housing market slump. Experts are casting doubt on the figure.China’s latest death toll is sparking questions. Why is last year’s death toll even higher than during the COVID-19 pandemic, when funeral homes were overwhelmed?00:00 Intro02:47 Trump Says He Will Not Use Force to Take Greenland05:06 China Reaches U.S. Soybean Target Set in Trade Truce06:12 Xiaomi Electric Cars Catch Fire; Two Cases in One Day07:39 Chinese-Made Cars Boom in Mexico Despite 50% Tariffs08:52 Expert Casts Doubt on China’s 5% GDP Growth in 202510:51 China’s 2025 Death Toll Surpasses COVID-19 Pandemic12:50 EU Could Follow U.S. in Banning Chinese Telecom Tech14:50 China Plays Major Role in Sustaining Iran’s Economy16:30 China-Backed Hack Hits U.S. Congressional Email Systems

TaiwanPlus gets defense expert Yuster Yu’s reaction to a New York Times article pointing out huge numbers of Chinese civilian fishing vessels seeming to act in coordination.

Taiwan’s foreign minister Lin Chia-lung said his government was in discussion with the US to open a new representative office in Phoenix, Arizona. The city is a major tech hub and Taiwanese chip giant TSMC employs hundreds of workers there.

Besides the record US$11 billion US arms package for Taiwan, another four packages are said to be in the pipeline. What does this mean for US-Taiwan relations and for cross-strait tensions

Did the US use up all its potential for surprise in Venezuela? Can the US even pull off another Caracas? Have Iran and China already prepared for this in the last two weeks? Joining us is former Marine Intelligence Officer Grant Newsham.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick joins ‘Mornings with Maria’ to outline the Trump administration’s push toward a $1 trillion semiconductor investment aimed at strengthening national security and bringing chip manufacturing back to the U.S.

China is quietly preparing for a post-Xi future—but not by naming a single heir. This program analyzes insider reports of five potential successors, factional deadlock within the CCP, and why multiple “crown princes” signal instability, not strength. From reformist elders to Xi loyalists and a possible compromise candidate, this is a deep dive into China’s succession dilemma—and why no successor can fix a rigid, failing system.