Taiwan Watching China's Latest Drills – April 20, 2026
Taiwan’s defense ministry says it's closely monitoring Chinese drills in the East China Sea. Meanwhile, more than 17,000 troops from the United States, the Philippines, Japan and other nations are taking part in the 19-day Balikatan 41 exercise in the Philippines starting Monday. Taiwanese representatives from the tourism and agriculture sectors are calling on Taipei and Beijing to resume talks and ease trade restrictions. And the Middle East conflict is disrupting Asia’s plastic packaging industry while boosting demand for eco-friendly alternatives like paper. Plus: - President Lai Ching-te is set to begin a six-day visit to Eswatini, Taiwan’s sole diplomatic ally in Africa, on Wednesday, with Somaliland expressing support for the trip. - Among the 460,000 followers at this year’s Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage, people with disabilities say traveling by wheelchair was safe despite limited accessible restrooms. - With scam cases surging in Taiwan, many who fall victim to fraud face lasting losses but some are rebuilding their lives and helping others by sharing their stories.
