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Taiwan watches Trump-Xi meeting for signs China will test US resolve
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KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan: President Donald Trump’s meetings with communist China’s supreme leader Xi Jinping in Beijing will be keenly watched here in Taiwan, from the presidential office to military command centers and semiconductor company boardrooms. The key question many are asking is whether Trump negotiates with China from a position of strength, or leaves Taiwan exposed?
The de facto independent nation of 23 million people has spent decades living under threat from the Chinese Communist Party, which claims Taiwan as its territory despite never having ruled it for even a day.
Observers here warn that Xi may try to offer Trump a deal: cooperation on tariffs, fentanyl, U.S. business access, or global flashpoints like Iran and Ukraine in exchange for Trump accepting a larger Chinese role in Taiwan’s future.
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The PLA Navy and the PLA Army conduct a cross-day, all-factor live-fire red-blue confrontation drill in Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, China, on Aug. 24, 2022. (CFOTO/Future Publishing/Getty Images)
Taiwan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Wu recently told Bloomberg News, «What we are the most afraid is to put Taiwan on the menu of the talk between Xi Jinping and President Trump.»
Huang Kwei-bo, a professor in National Chengchi University’s Department of Diplomacy, told Fox News Digital that Taiwan shouldn’t assume nothing will change. «Taiwan shouldn’t rule out the possibility that the United States and mainland China could reach an understanding behind the scenes, agreeing to reduce arms sales to Taiwan, or become less active in helping us meaningfully participate in international space,» he said.
In comments on Monday, President Trump acknowledged China’s dislike of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, and said the topic would be «one of the many things I’ll be talking about.»
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China launched rockets near Taiwan during live-fire drills as the People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command surrounded the island with warships and aircraft amid rising tensions. (PLA Eastern Theater Command/Reuters)
Over the past week, more than 50 communist Chinese aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line or entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone.
Those numbers are not a dramatic new escalation. In Taiwan, they are increasingly seen as part of a new normal: a sustained pressure campaign that falls short of war but keeps Taiwan’s military on alert. China also intentionally damages the undersea cables that connect Taiwan to the internet, hacks into Taiwan’s computer systems daily, and floods social media with content that praises the communist party.
FILE: In this undated file photo released by the Taiwan Ministry of Defense, a Chinese PLA J-16 fighter jet flies in an undisclosed location (Taiwan Ministry of Defense via AP)
Taiwan’s semiconductor industry is a major concern for Washington. The island is home to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., or TSMC, the dominant producer of the world’s most advanced semiconductors. Those chips are used in smartphones, cars, artificial intelligence systems and U.S. defense technology. Any conflict or blockade that cuts Taiwan off from global markets would ripple through American factories, consumers, technology companies and military planning.
However, as the leaders of the two nations most closely intertwined with Taiwan’s future meet, there is no outward sense of panic here.
President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping prepare for a key summit in May. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Getty Images)
«Most people here are not obsessed with China every day,» Audrey Chiang, who runs a tourist souvenir shop in Kaohsiung, told Fox News Digital. Chiang has a son who is just a few years away from serving one year as a military conscript, a 2024 response to China’s invasion threats. «We go to work. We worry about the next big test at our kids’ school. We complain about traffic. But everyone knows things can change very quickly.»
Taiwan’s legislature on May 8 passed a near US$25 billion supplemental defense spending bill, meant in part to signal to Washington that Taipei isn’t simply depending on America to protect itself. But the package was smaller than the almost US$40 billion requested by Taiwan President Lai Ching-te’s administration.
Taipei-based American political analyst, Ross Darrell Feingold, told Fox News Digital that many in Taiwan assume that the U.S., and possibly Japan, will come to the island’s defense in the event of a war. «Going back to the Cold War when the U.S. had a treaty obligation to defend Taiwan, and even after the treaty was abrogated, the consistent assumption is that the U.S. president will send in the military to save Taiwan. More recently, there is a growing assumption Japan will do so as well. But Taiwan still must do what is necessary to prove to its partners that Taiwan’s own people will be on the front line,» he said.
The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company fabrication plant in Phoenix, Arizona, on March 3, 2025. TSMC plans to invest an additional $100 billion in U.S. plants to increase chip production and support President Donald Trump’s goal of boosting domestic manufacturing. (Rebecca Noble/Bloomberg)
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Taiwan’s main political parties have major differences in their approaches to China, but broadly support U.S. arms purchases and agree that Beijing is a threat to democratic Taiwan.
Chinese officials insist Taiwan’s status is an «internal affair.» Taiwan’s elected government rejects that, and so do most Taiwanese, who see Taiwan’s future as something only they should decide.
National Pingtung University Associate Professor Paul Lee is among those who think Xi Jinping is going to push the U.S. president hard on Taiwan. Speaking by phone, he told Fox News Digital that «Xi Jinping almost certainly wants one clear change from the U.S., he’ll want Trump to say the United States ‘opposes Taiwan independence’ rather than the language it uses now that is closer to ‘does not support Taiwan independence.’ To be frank, I don’t think President Trump sees Taiwan as that important – except as the producer of the world’s most advanced semiconductors, and as a source of some revenue from weapons sales.» Lee notes that the difference between «doesn’t support» and «opposes» may not seem like much for Trump, but for Xi, it would be viewed as a major victory.»
A procession of Taiwanese armed military vehicles patrols outside Songshan Airport in Taipei on Oct. 14, 2024, following China’s announcement of the Joint Sword-2024B military exercise encircling Taiwan. (Daniel Ceng/Anadolu)
For Taiwan’s ruling party, and anyone in Taiwan who supports moves by Lai and his predecessor to establish at home and abroad that Taiwan is not part of China, such a change in language would come as a blow as it implies that the U.S. does not agree with the people of Taiwan having the right to self-determination on their future, Lee explained, and he said Xi Jinping wouldn’t be satisfied with Trump simply saying a few sentences.
«Trump has roughly three years left on his second term, and Xi will want to ensure the ‘oppose independence’ language translates into a new framework with new rules such as not letting Taiwan President Lai transit through the U.S., as one example. Xi knows U.S. presidents come and go, so the goal is to create a tacit agreement that Taiwan is in the Chinese sphere of influence, he said.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping has instructed the Chinese Communist Party to assert influence for the country globally through a «United Front» strategy. He reviews troops during his inspection of the People’s Liberation Army garrison in the Macao Special Administrative Region on Dec. 20, 2024. (Li Gang/Xinhua via Getty Images)
Lee said China has been patiently waiting for an opportune moment, and the war in Iran, tariffs and other issues facing President Trump is presenting exactly that.
Lee said Taiwan’s government and academic community will closely scrutinize the official translations of what the two sides «agree» on. «Put simply,» Lee said, «if Xi Jinping agrees to help make things easier for Trump, Xi will not be satisfied with cryptically worded official press releases. He will want to see the beginning of a new U.S.-China framework for dealing with Taiwan.»
donald trump, xi jinping, national security, taiwan, war with iran, china
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‘He hated women’: Explosive abuse, new Nazi tattoo allegations from exes rock Platner’s campaign
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Some of Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner’s ex-girlfriends spoke out in a damning report Thursday, which chronicled new allegations of rape fantasies, heavy drinking and violent episodes.
Platner continues to be under fire for a chest tattoo called the Totenkopf, used by Nazi death camp guards, alleged sexting of younger women and publicly finding humor in a Taliban attack that nearly killed former Pennsylvania lieutenant gubernatorial candidate Teddy Daniels.
One of his ex-girlfriends, Lyndsey Fifield, told the New York Times the two met in 2013 when he was a George Washington University student and she was with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce with a growing presence in conservative circles.
Fifield recounted how Platner would poke fun at his chest tattoo of a Totenkopf — an emblem used by Nazi death camp guards.
Fifield told the paper that Platner explained he and other members of his military unit chose it because of parallels between them and the Schutzstaffel — in that «they were a death unit… killers,» which appears to contradict his narrative that he did not know the tattoo was associated with the Nazi emblem.
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She also recalled how the oyster farmer and veteran would sharpen an ax while watching television and ruminate about raping home invaders.
«He said this a lot: If anybody ever broke in here, I would rape them,» but not in a sexual or «gay» way, Fifield said, adding that Platner stated he would want to instead impose dominance over them through penetration and that he believed rape was about power.
She also described a public encounter where Platner purportedly pulled her out of a taxi by her wrist during an altercation.
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Platner, who has acknowledged his battle with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from his time in the military, told Fox News Digital that he has «been open about what was a very dark period of my life where I struggled with undiagnosed PTSD.»
«Throughout this campaign, I’ve been open about what was a very dark period of my life where I struggled with undiagnosed PTSD, too often self-medicated with alcohol, and was a far from perfect boyfriend,» Platner said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
«I take responsibility for all of that, and wish I had been better. Any characterization beyond that is false, and I believe, politically motivated,» he added. «I’m not proud of who I was then, but I am proud of the work I’ve done since, and the movement we are building in Maine.»
Fifield recounted another incident when Platner reportedly pushed her into a bedroom and held the door shut. She later was able to leave after falling asleep and waking after some time had passed.
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Besides the rape visualizations, Platner would «fantasize about killing people he deemed a threat,» according to the Times’ conversation with Fifield – who declined to comment for purposes of this article.
Fifield added that in addition to the ax which he had from prior work bushwacking on the Appalachian Trail, Platner kept an AR-15 in his Capitol Hill home. The firearm type is currently prohibited in the District of Columbia, but that law is under legal challenge from the Trump Justice Department.
Of Fifield’s allegations, Platner’s campaign pointed to her conservative-leaning politics and called her a «lifelong GOP operative who’s dedicated her career to electing Republicans.»
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In turn, Fifield, who previously worked at the Heritage Foundation and briefly worked on Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign, among other conservative jobs, said she is not affiliated with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine; the five-term incumbent Platner is challenging.
Senate candidate Graham Platner is under fire, but it was his wife Amy Gertner coming out with a controversial five-minute social media post by the campaign to denounce the ‘attacks’ while she did not deny the allegations of infidelity in a new marriage. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Another woman, Jenny Racicot, is a fellow Maine Democrat who was in an «off-and-on» relationship with Platner between 2019 and 2021, according to the Times.
She told the paper some of Platner’s controversial Reddit posts hardened her view that he has issues with women.
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«I recognized a version of him that I had experiences with,» she said.
Another Maine Democrat who he dated declined to have her name published by the Times and said Platner would at times drink heavily, and that her role in the relationship seemed like «collateral damage to the world that is his.»
The Republican National Committee said the report appears to be nothing new in the cadence of scandals facing the Democratic challenger.
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Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner has centered his campaign on progressive economic policies, including higher taxes on billionaires and expanded tax relief for working-class Americans. (Sophie Park/Getty Images)
«Every day brings another deeply disturbing revelation about Graham Platner,» spokeswoman Delanie Bomar said.
«If he’s willing to do this to his own girlfriend, imagine what he’s willing to do in a position of political power. Maine voters deserve to know why Democrats are willing to excuse this deranged behavior,» said Bomar.
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«If Chuck Schumer and national Democrats don’t distance themselves from Platner, they’ll be forced to answer for his behavior every day from now until Election Day,» she continued.
Fox News Digital also reached out to Collins, Gov. Janet Mills, Senate Republicans’ campaign arm, Senate Democrats’ campaign arm, and Maine House Speaker Ryan Fecteau, D-Old Orchard Beach; the legislature’s top Democrat, for comment.
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El inesperado regreso de los pantalones bombachos lidera la moda primavera-verano 2026 en el hemisferio norte, pero detrás de esta tendencia hay una historia profunda de reivindicación femenina y transformación cultural.
Los pantalones bombachos, originarios del Oriente, se han convertido en un símbolo feminista desde su llegada a Europa hasta su resurgimiento actual.
A lo largo de los siglos, esta prenda ha representado apropiación cultural, poder femenino y cambio social, factores que explican su vigencia más allá de la moda, según destaca Vogue.
La fascinación europea por las culturas orientales se intensificó desde el siglo XVII, convirtiendo al imperio otomano en fuente de inspiración. En la corte de Versalles, la marquesa de Pompadour adoptó el “traje a la turca”, apareciendo en retratos con turbante y pantalones bombachos como símbolo de autonomía.
Otras figuras francesas, como la condesa de Vergennes y la bailarina Rosalie Duthé, también siguieron esta tendencia. En Inglaterra, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu describió a su hermana desde Estambul: “La primera parte de mi vestido consiste en unos bombachos muy amplios que llegan hasta los zapatos, y cubren las piernas con mayor modestia que tus enaguas”.
El auge del orientalismo, alimentado por obras literarias como “Las mil y una noches” y las “Cartas persas” de Montesquieu, introdujo una nueva visión de la feminidad en la moda y el arte. Los pantalones bombachos adquirieron entonces un papel relevante en la cultura europea, cruzando fronteras y resignificando su simbolismo.
En el siglo XIX, los pantalones bombachos se asociaron estrechamente con la lucha por los derechos de la mujer. Amelia Bloomer, editora de The Lily, popularizó en Estados Unidos esta prenda, luego llamada “bloomers”, e insistió en su vínculo con el activismo femenino y la comodidad.
Al adoptar el “nuevo vestido” inspirado en Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Bloomer narró: “En cuanto se supo que llevaba el nuevo vestido, recibí cientos de cartas de mujeres de todo el país preguntando por él y pidiendo patrones, lo que demostraba lo dispuestas y ansiosas que estaban por deshacerse de las polleras largas y pesadas”, relató al medio citado.
Las burlas y la crítica fueron constantes, pero activistas y universitarias mantuvieron los bombachos en el vestuario cotidiano. Bloomer compartió: “Me resultaba cómodo, ligero, fácil y práctico. Se adaptaba a las necesidades de mi ajetreada vida […] así que no permití que las burlas o la censura me afectaran”.
Con la expansión del deporte femenino, los bombachos se popularizaron en actividades como golf, tenis y ciclismo. La bicicleta tuvo un impacto especial, facilitando el uso de esta prenda y simbolizando la libertad femenina.
Vogue ya recomendaba en 1895: “Los pantalones o bombachos deben ser del mismo material que la falda. La característica más importante de la falda para montar en bicicleta es su escasa amplitud […] así se consigue una silueta menos aparatosa”.
Un informe citado por el medio citado afirmaba que la prenda “ha contribuido más a la emancipación de nuestro sexo que cualquier conferencia, artículo periodístico o libro denso”.
En el siglo XX, la influencia orientalista resurgió en la moda. El diseñador Paul Poiret llevó los bombachos a la alta costura, inspirado por los Ballets Rusos tras su llegada a París en 1909.
Aparecieron nombres como jupe-culotte (“pantalón-falda”), robe-pantalon (“vestido-pantalón”) o “pantalones harem” (pantalones bombachos), denominación occidentalizada que permanece hasta hoy.
En los años 60 y 70, la diseñadora Thea Porter la incluyó en las colecciones bohemias, fusionando referencias de Oriente Medio y moda europea.
A mediados de las siguientes décadas, Yves Saint Laurent consolidó los bombachos como prenda icónica. Durante los años 70 y 1980, permanecieron en las pasarelas, en versiones maximalistas de estampados y texturas.
La diversidad de versiones actuales —incluyendo opciones como capri y shorts— demuestra su adaptabilidad y permanencia. El regreso de los bombachos no solo señala una tendencia, sino que resume siglos de lucha, transformación y autoafirmación femenina.
La historia de los pantalones bombachos ilustra cómo una prenda puede desafiar convenciones y abrir posibilidades para nuevas formas de autonomía. En cada época, vestir bombachos ha sido reivindicar evolución y libertad, como recuerda Vogue.
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