Taiwan Coast Guard Expands Fleet – July 21, 2026
Taiwan's coast guard grows its patrol fleet with the delivery of a new vessel and the launch of another, while Chinese maritime gray-zone activities reportedly surged in June. Beijing and Manila trade blame after a fresh confrontation in the South China Sea. And routine tree removals in Taipei spark viral conspiracy theories of a potential Chinese military operation. Plus: - China displays its latest AI technology at its biggest AI conference in Shanghai, promoting what it calls an open-source alternative to the US-led AI model. - Taiwan's stock market posted its largest single-day point gain on record, as technology shares drive a rebound after several days of losses. - A consumer protection group plans to sue the makers of contaminated cooking oil used in school lunches, amid an ongoing food safety scandal.
