  China and Taiwan

China has been conducting military exercises encircling the island of Taiwan since Thursday. The country has reported dozens of violations of its air defence zone. Yesterday China threatened bloodshed and today a Chinese military spokesman said they were testing the China's ability to seize power over the self-governed island. The press takes a critical view of the latest developments.

Taiwan will hold parliamentary and presidential elections on Saturday, amid growing pressure from China. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) with Vice President Lai Ching-te as its candidate is ahead in the polls, but its lead is shrinking. The largest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), advocates a more conciliatory approach towards Beijing. The Taiwan People's Party (TPP) seeks a middle course.

Lai Ching-te of the incumbent pro-sovereignty Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has won the presidential elections in Taiwan, and is expected to continue the China-critical course of his predecessor Tsai Ing-wen. However his party fell short of an absolute majority in parliament and needs the support of the opposition parties, which are calling for a more conciliatory stance towards Beijing. Europe's press takes a look at what Lai's victory portends.

Officially, China's military exercises around Taiwan officially ended on 11 April, but according to the Taiwanese Ministry of Defence China is continuing drills with 9 ships and 26 aircraft. The People's Republic still considers Taiwan, which has been independent for 70 years, to be part of its territory. Could a blockade or even an invasion be the next step? Europe's press is divided.

Emmanuel Macron's statements on the China-Taiwan conflict continue to cause controversy. After his visit to Beijing with Ursula von der Leyen, Macron told the business paper Les Echos that Europe should not behave like a "follower" of the US on the issue of Taiwan. Commentators discuss Macron's calls for Europe to seek greater strategic autonomy, which he repeated in China.

China has perceived Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan as a provocation and reacted with aggressive military exercises around the island. The Chinese navy has not only encroached on Taiwan's twelve-mile zone, but it has also fired missiles at waters claimed by Japan. Europe's press is divided on the dangers these developments pose.

Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the US House of Representatives, began her trip to Asia on Sunday. She left open the question of whether she will visit Taiwan - as initially announced - as well as Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan. China's President Xi Jinping has warned against such a visit and ordered military manoeuvres off the island. Europe's press sees various dangers looming.

Since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, fears that China could follow in Moscow's footsteps and launch its long-threatened conquest of Taiwan have been rife. During a state visit to Japan yesterday, US President Joe Biden said that the US would support the island militarily in such a scenario. Beijing reacted indignantly. Commentators take stock of the exchange.

Chinese head of state Xi Jinping on Sunday called on Taiwan to join the People's Republic, a call Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen firmly rejected. Last week China sent fighter jets into the Taiwanese air defence zone several times. Now the Pentagon has admitted that US instructors are secretly training Taiwan's army. Commentators take very different views of the escalation.