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CNA: After Banning Rednote, Taiwan Saw Average Fraudulent Cases Decreased by 73 Percent

Primary Taiwanese news agency Central News Agency (CNA) recently reported that, in December of last year, the Taiwanese Ministry of the Interior announced that the Chinese social media platform Rednote (a.k.a. Xiaohongshu) failed the information security screening and was involved in 1,706 fraud cases in the past two years. The Ministry later issued an order to suspend internet access to the platform in accordance with Article 42 of the Fraud Crime Prevention Act, which stipulates “emergency events for fraud crime prevention”. The order is temporarily set for one year.

According to latest statistics from the Taiwanese Executive Yuan’s Anti-Fraud Command Center, after the implementation of the Rednote suspension, the average monthly number of fraud cases decreased by 73 percent, and financial losses decreased by 51 percent. The Command Center said that, based on its assessment, the fraud risks arising from Rednote will become a source of rapidly increasing fraud cases in the future if left unchecked, and these cases will be completely unprosecuted due to legal barriers between Taiwan and mainland China.

In order to lift the ban, the Taiwanese government requires technical and management improvements, including passing 15 national security and cybersecurity examinations. However, Rednote failed to respond to the official notice within the specified period.

Source: CNA, March 8, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/202603080102.aspx

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend Information/Technology

LTN: Taiwan’s Drone Exports have Seen An Astonishing Surge

Major Taiwanese news network Liberty Times Network (LTN) recently reported that, Taiwan is not known for its arms exports, but it is rapidly emerging as a supplier of drones without Chinese parts. Taiwanese companies are accelerating the development of “non-red supply chain” drones, with exports growing more than 35 times in 2025, reaching approximately 123,000 units.

Taiwan has long been one of the world’s largest arms importers, with most of its weapons originating from the United States. However, while Taiwan is now capable of manufacturing a significant number of its own weapons, it remains highly dependent on US-made equipment.

However, the situation is changing. Taiwan is positioning itself as a supplier of “non-red supply chain” drones – drones without Chinese parts. These drones are targeted to sell in the United States, its allies, and other countries concerned about Chinese espionage and supply chain control. Taiwan’s drone production has increased more than twelvefold from approximately 10,000 units in 2024 to 2025. The Czech Republic is the largest buyer, followed by Poland. Most of these purchases ended up in Ukraine for use in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, providing valuable combat feedback on the drones’ performance. Exports are projected to reach a new high in 2026, with 85,500 units already exported in the first two months of this year.

Taiwan initiated this plan after observing the widespread use of drones in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The initial goal was to equip the Taiwanese military with such drones. Subsequently, Taiwan pledged to establish a drone industry completely free of Chinese parts by the end of 2026 and to reach an annual production capacity of 180,000 drones by 2028. The government also pledged last year to procure more than 200,000 drones for the military by 2033.

The United States and its allies are also accelerating the expansion of drone production. However, most of the drones still rely on Chinese parts. Currently China accounts for 70 percent to 80 percent of global drone production.

Source: LTN, March 14, 2026
https://ec.ltn.com.tw/article/breakingnews/5369841

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military Geo-Strategic Trend

After Six Years, China Resumes Flights and Passenger Trains between Beijing and Pyongyang

Singapore’s primary Chinese language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao recently reported that, according to South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chinese aviation industry sources, Air China’s direct flight between Beijing and Pyongyang (CA121) will resume operation on March 30.

Tickets can now be booked on Air China’s official website and travel platforms such as Ctrip. Air China’s Beijing-Pyongyang route was suspended in January 2020 due to COVID-19 prevention and control measures. Air Koryo of North Korea resumed the Pyongyang-Beijing route in August 2023, operating two flights per week.

In the meantime, China State Railway Group officially announced that international passenger trains will operate in both directions between Beijing/Dandong and Pyongyang, North Korea, four times a week, starting March 12. This marks the resumption of cross-border railway passenger transport between China and North Korea after a six-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, currently Chinese tourists are unable to purchase tickets to Pyongyang as North Korean tourist visas are not yet available.

Source: Lianhe Zaobao, March 14, 2026
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/china/story20260314-8732076

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Over Half of Japanese Believe A Tough Stance Should be Taken on China’s Maritime Behavior

Singapore’s primary Chinese language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao recently reported that, Japan’s Foreign Ministry just released the results of a domestic opinion poll on diplomacy. Regarding the question of whether respondents believed the security environment in East Asia was becoming increasingly severe, 79.3 percent of respondents agreed.

Regarding the aspects that Japan should prioritize in its diplomacy with China, the most popular answer among respondents, at 52.9 percent, was “taking a tough stance against violations of territorial waters.” The survey results reflect the Japanese public’s vigilance regarding the activities of Chinese coast guard vessels around the Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu Islands in Chinese).

This survey was conducted by telephone from February 10 to 18, targeting 1,000 people aged 18 and over throughout Japan.

Source: Lianhe Zaobao, March 8, 2026
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/china/story20260308-8698254

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

LTN: China Banned the Export of Gasoline and Diesel

Major Taiwanese news network Liberty Times Network (LTN) recently reported that, due to the escalation of conflict in the Middle East, the Chinese government has ordered the country’s largest oil refinery to suspend exports of diesel and gasoline.

Officials from China’s National Development and Reform Commission met with oil refinery executives and ordered an immediate halt to refined oil exports. The companies were instructed to stop signing new contracts and negotiate with buyers to cancel shipments. Aviation kerosene and marine fuel oil stored in bonded warehouses, as well as fuel destined for Hong Kong and Macau, were exempt from this restriction.

China has a massive oil refining industry, with most of its production used to meet domestic demand, thus it is not a key source of supply for the Asian market. However, as the Middle East crisis intensifies, Beijing’s preventative restrictive measures reflect the efforts of the entire import-dependent region to prioritize domestic needs. Nearly half of China’s oil imports come from the Gulf region, including almost all of Iran’s oil shipments.

China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), Sinochem Group, and Zhejiang Petrochemical Corporation regularly receive fuel export quotas from the Chinese government. None of these five companies responded to the aforementioned news.

Source: LTN, March 5, 2026
https://ec.ltn.com.tw/article/breakingnews/5360359

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

The Iran war: China Once Again Gives the Impression of “Too Little Action and Too Late Response”

Radio France Internationale (RFI) recently summarized, in Chinese, a commentary by Le Monde, the most widely read paid national daily newspaper in France. The commentary said that China, a supporter of the Iranian regime and the largest buyer of Iranian oil, expressed anger following the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran. However, China once again gives the impression of “acting too little and reacting too late”.

Despite Western sanctions against Iran, China continues to support the Iranian economy by purchasing oil. China also provides Iran with technical support in population surveillance and internet control. China has provided ongoing diplomatic support to Tehran, pushing for its accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS. The Chinese military regularly conducts joint military exercises with Iran and Russia as well.

However, when Iran encounters national security problems, they cannot truly rely on China as a “backer.” China does not see itself as obligated to intervene. China is once again giving the impression of “acting too little and reacting too late,” just as it did in June 2025.

In the meantime, Tehran has not fully heeded Beijing’s advice. China has criticized Tehran’s inefficiency in developing its economy and creating a favorable business environment, and has long criticized Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons. In a sense, Iran is also a burden on China.

Source: RFI, March 3, 2026
https://tinyurl.com/56pmedzc

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

UDN: Panama President Ordered Takeover of Two Ports Operated by CK Hutchison Holdings

United Daily News (UDN), one of the primary Taiwanese news groups, recently reported that Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino has ordered a temporary takeover of two ports operated in Panama by a subsidiary of CK Hutchison Holdings. Last month, the Panamanian Constitutional Court ruled CK Hutchison’s port concession contracts invalid.

Mulino said in a statement that the management and operation of the two ports located in the strategic Panama Canal have now been transferred to the National Maritime Authority in order to “ensure the ports operate continuously, safely and efficiently.” He stated that the takeover applies to movable equipment within the port and “does not mean a loss of ownership.” He indicated that once the cause of the takeover ceases to exist, the government will return the assets, including the cranes, to their rightful owners. Panama will pay appropriate compensation unless the equipment is sold to a new buyer.

CK Hutchison’s subsidiary in Panama stated that the takeover was illegal. CK Hutchison Holdings is a conglomerate founded by Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing. In January, Panama’s Supreme Court revoked CK Hutchison’s port operating concession. The ruling was praised by Washington but drew criticism from Beijing.

Source: UDN, February 24, 2026
https://udn.com/news/story/6809/9341089

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

First time in 30 years, US Imports from Taiwan Surpassed Those from China

Singapore’s primary Chinese language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao recently reported that, the latest import and export data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce showed that U.S. imports from Taiwan in December increased by approximately 144 percent year-over-year, reaching US$24.7 billion; while imports from mainland China decreased by nearly 44 percent year-over-year, falling to US$21.1 billion. This marks the first time in over three decades that U.S. imports from Taiwan have exceeded imports from mainland China.

Looking at the full-year data, the U.S. trade deficit with China decreased by nearly 32 percent to US$202.1 billion last year, the lowest level since 2005. Specifically, U.S. imports from China fell by nearly 30 percent to US$308.4 billion, the lowest since 2010; while exports to China decreased by nearly 26 percent to US$106.3 billion.

In the meantime, the U.S. trade deficit with Taiwan reached US$146.8 billion last year, an increase of 98 percent. Of this, U.S. imports from Taiwan increased by 73 percent to US$201.4 billion, while exports to Taiwan increased by 28 percent to US$54.6 billion.

After nearly 10 months of negotiations, Taiwan and the United States signed a reciprocal trade agreement on February 12. The significant growth in the supply of AI chips and servers is the reason for the surge in Taiwan’s exports to the United States.

Source: Lianhe Zaobao, February 20, 2026
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/china/story20260220-8602991

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend US-China Relations