China Sets Low GDP Growth Target – March 5, 2026
China's Premier Li Qiang has set a low GDP growth target of 4.5-5% for the year at the opening of the annual meeting of the National People's Congress, also calling for a crackdown on Taiwan "separatist" forces. A former Kuomintang legislator discusses undersea cable security and how other countries, notably the US are viewing the domestic tussle over Taiwan's special defense budget. Plus, hundreds of Taiwanese travelers are finally home after a nearly week of trying to leave the Middle East. Also: - After a 0-3 defeat to Australia in the opening game of the World Baseball Classic, Team Taiwan has no margin for error as it prepares to face off against a Japan team featuring superstar Shohei Ohtani on Friday. - Japanese startup Space One fails in its third attempt to become the country's domestic satellite launch provider after its Kairos rocket blew up shortly after liftoff. It was carrying a satellite from the Taiwan Space Agency. - German businesses like Siemens and Mercedez-Benz are upbeat about Taiwan's economic outlook but not so keen on US tariffs and energy supply concerns brought on by war in the Middle East.
