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Taiwan on edge after Pope Francis’s death, closely watching Vatican-China relations
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan – Some in Taiwan are watching with growing unease as the Catholic Church prepares to elect a new leader following the death of Pope Francis. The Holy See is the only European state that maintains diplomatic relations with Taipei, but some fear the growing ties between the Vatican and Beijing could change things.
Taiwan is home to fewer than 300,000 Catholics. By contrast, estimates put the number of Catholics in communist China at anywhere between eight and 12 million, with another 390,000 in Chinese-ruled Hong Kong. Despite these figures, the Holy See continues to recognize Taiwan as the sole «China.»
After Pope Francis’ death, Taiwan’s President William Lai quickly said he planned to attend the funeral. A short time later, however, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that former Vice President and devout Catholic Chen Chien-jen will be Taiwan’s envoy.
POPE FRANCIS EMPHASIZED CATHOLICISM GLOBALLY, REACHED BEYOND US, EUROPE INTO IMPOVERISHED NATIONS
This picture taken on August 10, 2018, shows worshippers lining up to receive holy communion during a Catholic mass in the Holy Spirit Church in Yanshui, about an hour’s drive from the southern city of Tainan. With a cross rising from a red pagoda roof and two lion statues guarding the entrance, a Catholic church in southern Taiwan could easily be mistaken for one of the ubiquitous temples dotting the island. There are more than 1,000 churches across the island, but the Holy Spirit Church is particularly unique. (SAM YEH/AFP via Getty Images)
According to Taipei-based lawyer and political risk analyst Ross Feingold, Taiwan will be disappointed that President Lai will miss this gathering of world leaders. «The precedent exists for Taiwan’s president to attend a pope’s funeral. In 2005, then-President Chen Shui-bian attended John Paul II’s funeral, so,» he claimed, «it’s safe to assume President Lai’s team inquired whether Lai could attend Francis’ funeral, and equally safe to assume the Holy See’s response was a negative one.»
After Pope Francis took office in 2013, the Vatican began to build ties with Beijing. In 2018, it signed a controversial agreement with China on the appointment of bishops. The deal—renewed and extended several times—gives both sides input on bishop selection, an attempt to bridge the divide between China’s state-run Catholic Church and an underground church loyal to Rome. Vatican officials insist the agreement is pastoral, not political. Still, for Taiwan, it is seen as a warning sign.
This picture taken on August 10, 2018, shows a motorcyclist riding past the Holy Spirit Church in Yanshui, about an hour’s drive from the southern city of Tainan. (SAM YEH/AFP via Getty Images)
China, which cut ties with the Holy See in 1951, demands that all countries end diplomatic relations with Taiwan before establishing relations with Beijing. Taiwan’s official allies now number but 12, and the Holy See is its most symbolically significant diplomatic partner.
But Thomas Tu, a Vatican diplomacy expert at Taiwan’s National Chengchi University, told Fox News Digital that fears of an imminent switch are overblown. «This isn’t just about politics—it’s about the global Catholic mission,» Tu said. «The Vatican has survived empires. It’s patient.» Tu cited the Vatican’s relationship with Vietnam as evidence of pragmatic patience. China and Vietnam do not have formal ties, but the Vatican maintains a high-level religious representative there.
FIRST PHOTOS RELEASED OF POPE FRANCIS IN HIS CASKET; FUNERAL SET FOR SATURDAY
People attend a Christmas mass at the Xishiku Catholic Church in Beijing on December 24, 2023. (Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Image)
Pope Francis believed that engagement with China, however imperfect, is preferable to nothing. Francis was the first pope to fly through Chinese airspace and famously sent greetings to President Xi Jinping in 2014. On his visit to Mongolia in 2023, the pontiff also sent a «warm greeting to the noble Chinese people.»
Each overture to Beijing has drawn criticism from within the Church, particularly from outspoken China critics, such as 93-year-old retired Cardinal Joseph Zen of Hong Kong, who was arrested in 2022 after China imposed a National Security Law that criminalized almost every form of dissent in that supposedly autonomous special administrative region. Zen’s passport was recently returned to him by authorities so he could attend the pope’s funeral.
Zen and others view any warming of ties with Beijing as kowtowing to an officially atheist regime.
Pope Francis greets the people of China as he concludes Mass in the Hun Theatre on September 3, 2023, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)
Since 1957, Beijing, via its Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, has kept a tight leash on millions of Chinese Catholics. Pope Francis accepted some compromises with China, but the Vatican wants autonomy in spiritual matters, which may require a miracle to accomplish under China’s one-party dictatorship.
Some observers suggest that Beijing may eventually allow more space for the Vatican, but any formal deal would require the Holy See to sever ties with Taiwan, a non-negotiable prerequisite for China.
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With a new pope being elected in the next month, some in Taiwan are worried about a shift, but few experts believe the next pontiff will make any hasty decisions. «There’s no rush,» said Dr. Chang Ching, a Senior Research Fellow of the ROC Society for Strategic Studies, «The Vatican knows how to wait, and China isn’t willing yet to grant the Chinese Catholic community the same privileges Catholics enjoy in most other nations. This seventy-plus-year rift is just a tiny moment in the long history of the Church and the even longer history of Chinese civilization.»
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House Dem lashes out at ‘racist’ MN fraud probe amid major investigation in his own state
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As House Oversight Democrats denounced a hearing on Minnesota’s sprawling fraud scandal as politically motivated, Rep. Dave Min, D-Calif., took it further — calling the investigation «partisan and racist.»
But back in California, state auditors have repeatedly flagged major programs as «high-risk» for waste and improper payments, raising fresh questions about whether Min is dismissing scrutiny he wouldn’t want aimed at his own state.
During a House Oversight Hearing earlier this month on the fraud issues in Minnesota, Min said, «We have not seen evidence of any type of fraud on the scale we’re talking about» in California. Min added during the hearing that he had concerns about the ongoing fraud in Minnesota, which has included a significant portion of Somali immigrant perpetrators, but said he had issues with the probe because it appeared Trump was only targeting Democrat-led states, and not Republican-led states as well.
MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR JACOB FREY ADMITS FRAUD CRISIS IS REAL, SAYS ‘EVERYBODY COULD HAVE DONE MORE’ TO PREVENT IT
Rep. Dave Min, D-Calif., called a federal oversight hearing looking into widespread fraud in Minnesota «partisan and racist,» leading some critics to call him out for turning a blind eye to widespread fraud in his own state. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
«I have concerns about this hearing as well as recent actions by the Trump administration. It’s hard for me not to look at this hearing in the context in which it’s taking place and not see this as a partisan and racist hearing,» Min complained.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment on these accusations from Min but did not receive a response in time for publication.
«Democrats will do anything to deflect from the fraud that has been allowed to run rampant on their watch, including playing the race card,» House Majority Whip Tom Emmer said. «First, it’s not racist to call out criminal behavior. Second, I wonder what Congressman Min’s constituents have to say about him not taking fraud seriously when California taxpayers are also being robbed blind to the tune of $72 billion.»
Representative Tom Emmer, a Republican from Minnesota, during a television interview at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
A report released by the California State Auditor’s office last month found several state agencies wasted or misused millions, which follows other audits showing many billions being lost to waste, fraud and abuse in the state, according to California GOP gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton.
MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL SPARKS PUSH TO SCRUTINIZE BILLIONS IN BIDEN-ERA ENERGY GRANTS
«It’s totally ridiculous,» Hilton told Fox News Digital of Min’s comments that there is no evidence of California fraud. «We’ve already seen state auditor reports that have characterized tens-of-billions-of-dollars as being improperly spent, starting from the audit of state homelessness spending.»
California GOP gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton clapped back at Congressman Dave Min’s (D-Calif.) claim that there is no evidence to suggest widespread fraud in the state. (John Phillips/Getty Images for TechCrunch)
According to Hilton, there are criminal prosecutions ongoing in California pertaining to homelessness spending by officials.
Meanwhile, seven state agencies in California have been denoted as «high-risk» for fraud, waste and abuse by the State Auditor’s office, while an extra agency was also added to the list of vulnerable programs that is regularly kept.
«Vulnerable Democrat Dave Min is more outraged by an oversight hearing than the billions in fraud hurting Americans in Minnesota and California,» said National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Christian Martinez. «For Min, accountability isn’t a principle, it’s a problem.»
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Fox News Digital reached out to Min for comment, but did not receive a response in time for publication.
minnesota fraud exposed,california,state and local,house of representatives politics,politics,hearings house of representatives politics
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Uruguay anuncia medidas de apoyo para productores rurales tras cinco años de sequías intermitentes
El tambo familiar del productor uruguayo Daniel Suárez sufre sequías, de manera interrumpida, hace cinco años. El déficit hídrico es un asunto que cada tanto vuelve a ser el tema central de sus preocupaciones, como sucedió en las últimas semanas de 2025. La lluvia no llegaba al país y las pasturas destinadas a la alimentación del ganado eran cada vez menos.
Suárez veía cómo los cultivos no lograban desarrollarse y se iban perdiendo, con la consiguiente pérdida económica que eso significaba, según relató este lunes al noticiero Telenoche de Canal 4. Tuvo que utilizar las reservas previstas para el invierno, lo que encarece los costos de producción. La cantidad de leche diaria se redujo un 50%, lo que derivó en una baja de entre el 20% y el 25% de la elaboración de quesos.
Historias como las de Suárez se repiten en el sur de Uruguay, que hasta este fin de semana esperaba con ansias la lluvia. Las precipitaciones llevaron calma a los productores rurales, que sintieron “alivio”, pero en muchos casos no fue suficiente y los reclamos al gobierno para que tomara medidas de apoyo continuaron.
Para este martes, el Ministerio de Ganadería, Agricultura y Pesca (MGAP) convocó una reunión para evaluar la situación provocada por la falta de lluvias. A la salida del encuentro, el ministro de Ganadería, Alfredo Fratti, aseguró que no existen “datos objetivos” que hagan necesario que Uruguay declare la emergencia agropecuaria (el nivel máximo de las decisiones previstas).
Sin embargo, se resolvieron medidas de apoyo para productores agropecuarios de Canelones, Colonia, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Rocha y San José, los departamentos más afectados por el déficit hídrico.
El Ministerio de Ganadería anunció que solicitará al Banco de Previsión Social (BPS) –el organismo previsional de Uruguay– que postergue los vencimientos del pago de los aportes patronales rurales. Con esto, las obligaciones que vencían en enero pasarán a mayo; al tiempo que los vencimientos del quinto mes, se postergan para julio.
De esta manera, explicó el gobierno, se evitan superposiciones de pagos.
“Es un alivio”, dijo Fratti al anunciar esta medida. Y señaló en una rueda de prensa que de continuar con esta situación hídrica, se deberán tomar medidas puntuales para el sector de la granja y para los pequeños ganaderos.
Otra medida anunciada por el gobierno fue la autorización para el pastoreo del ganado en caminos rurales y en rutas nacionales. “Es imprescindible para este momento”, argumentó Fratti.
Un reclamo del sector productivo era poder acceder a alternativas de financiamiento flexibles en este momento. Una de las respuestas a este pedido es que el banco estatal República presentará “nuevas medidas específicas”, según se señala en la información difundida por Presidencia.
Además, el Instituto Nacional de Colonización –otro organismo estatal– abrió una línea de crédito por USD 2.000 dólares –con una tasa de un 5% de interés anual– para pequeños productores familiares que necesiten dinero para el alumbramiento de agua o la compra de forrajes. Así lo informó el presidente de la institución, Alejandro Henry, en una rueda de prensa.
Henry agregó que el organismo trabaja en medidas de apoyo para proyectos de riego en las colonias. “Nos parece que tenemos que apuntar como país a estas medidas para el mediano y largo plazo”, señaló.
● Postergación del vencimiento de enero del aporte patronal rural al BPS
● Autorización del pastoreo en rutas nacionales y caminos rurales
● Apoyo técnico y divulgación de buenas prácticas para productores ganaderos por parte del Instituto Plan Agropecuario y del programa Procría
● Facilidades en los créditos e inversiones en agua para productores colonos por parte del Instituto Nacional de Colonización
● Facilidades créditos de República Microfinanzas
● Habilitación de una línea específica del Banco República para enfrentar consecuencias del déficit hídrico
● Concretar coordinaciones interinstitucionales para el suministro de agua para consumo humano y producción familiar, con OSE e intendencias.
corresponsal: Desde Montevideo
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Iran pushes for fast trials and executions of suspects detained in protests despite Trump’s warning: report
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Despite President Donald Trump’s warnings, Iran’s chief justice called for fast trials and executions of suspects detained in the ongoing anti-government demonstrations, a report said Wednesday.
The remarks from Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei come as the death toll in the protests has risen to at least 2,571, the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said. Other reports say the death toll is more than 3,000, with the real number likely to be even higher.
«If we want to do a job, we should do it now. If we want to do something, we have to do it quickly,» Mohseni-Ejei said in a video shared by Iranian state television, according to The Associated Press. «If it becomes late, two months, three months later, it doesn’t have the same effect. If we want to do something, we have to do that fast.»
Trump warned Iran about executions in an interview with CBS News that aired on Tuesday.
SOME US MILITARY PERSONNEL TOLD TO LEAVE MIDDLE EAST BASES, US OFFICIAL CONFIRMS
President Donald Trump, left, and Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, the chief justice of Iran, right. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images; Mohammadali Najib/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
«We will take very strong action,» Trump said. «If they do such a thing, we will take very strong action.»
«We don’t want to see what’s happening in Iran happen. And you know, if they want to have protests, that’s one thing, when they start killing thousands of people, and now you’re telling me about hanging — we’ll see how that works out for them. It’s not going to work out good,» the president added.
IRANIAN REGIME TARGETING STARLINK USERS IN BID TO SQUASH LEAKING PROTEST FOOTAGE
Iranians attend an anti-government protest in Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 9, 2026. (UGC via AP)
Trump also vowed on Tuesday that those responsible for killing anti-regime demonstrators will «pay a big price.»
«Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING — TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!» Trump wrote on Truth Social. «Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price.»
People gather on Jan. 8, 2026, in Tehran, Iran. (Anonymous/Getty Images)
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«I have canceled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY,» he added.
Fox News’ Anders Hagstrom and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
iran,donald trump,conflicts,middle east,world protests,politics,world
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