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Taiwan unveils $40B defense spending plan to counter China military threat over next decade
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KAOHSIUNG: Last week, Taiwan President William Lai unveiled a massive $40 billion supplemental defense procurement proposal, casting it as proof that the independently ruled, democratic island is serious about countering escalating military pressure from the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The PRC has not governed Taiwan for even a single day but claims it as its territory.
A State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital that, «We welcome Taiwan’s announcement of a new $40 billion special defense procurement budget. Consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act and more than 45 years of commitment across multiple U.S. Administrations, the United States supports Taiwan’s acquisition of critical defense capabilities, commensurate with the threat it faces.»
The spokesperson also commended Taipei, saying, «We also welcome the Lai administration’s recent commitments to increase defense spending to at least 3% of GDP by 2026 and 5% of GDP by 2030, which demonstrates resolve to strengthen Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities.»
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Taiwan’s President William Lai visits soldiers and air force personnel in Hualien, Taiwan May 28, 2024. (Ann Wang/Reuters)
The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) – the de facto American embassy – responded very positively almost immediately after Lai’s proposal was announced. Courtney Donovan Smith, a political columnist for the Taipei Times, told Fox News Digital that the strong support from AIT, «Amounts to a public American stamp of approval.»
A day after Lai’s announcement, Taiwan Defense Minister Wellington Koo told the media that preliminary talks have already been held with the United States about the kinds of weapons it wants to buy as part of this budget that would run from 2026 to 2033. But Koo said he could not make any details of discussions public until Congress receives a formal notification.
Yet some in Taiwan expressed concern that the language from the administration was somewhat understated, and didn’t come from senior-enough officials.
Those worried about what they perceive as a muted tone from the Trump administration wondered if the timing could be sensitive, coming shortly after President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping agreed to a trade deal, and just days after Xi phoned Trump to reiterate Beijing’s claims over Taiwan, claims the U.S. «acknowledges» but does not accept.
Even so, Taipei-based political risk analyst and Tamkang University assistant professor Ross Feingold told Fox News Digital that U.S. support fundamentally has not shifted and that when it comes to U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan, «If Taiwan is a willing buyer, the Trump administration is likely to be a willing seller.»
A screen grab captured from a video shows the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command launching large-scale joint military exercises around Taiwan with naval vessels and military aircraft in China on May 24, 2024. (Feng Hao / PLA / China Military/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Also causing distress to the fragile egos of China’s communist leaders is Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a conservative who became Japan’s first female prime minister in October. She appeared to break long-standing Japanese strategic ambiguity over Taiwan when, asked on Nov. 7 in parliament whether a Chinese attack on Taiwan would qualify as «a situation threatening Japan’s survival.»
Takaichi didn’t deflect with a «I don’t comment on hypotheticals.» Instead, she said, «If there are battleships and the use of force, no matter how you think about it, it could constitute a survival-threatening situation.»
Under Japan’s 2015 security law, that designation could allow Japanese military action in defense of an ally.
TAIWAN GENERAL WARNS CHINA’S MILITARY DRILLS COULD BE PREPARATION FOR BLOCKADE OR WAR, VOWS TO RESIST
A Taiwanese soldier watches through powerful binoculars the Taiwan Strait along the narrow sea lane that separates China from Taiwan. (Alberto Buzzola/LightRocket via Getty Images)
China predictably lashed out, immediately calling her remarks «egregious.» A Chinese diplomat in Osaka escalated further, reposting coverage on X with a threat-like warning: «The dirty head that sticks itself in must be cut off.»
Kerry K. Gershaneck, a visiting scholar at National Chengchi University and a former U.S. Marine counterintelligence officer, told Fox News Digital that the U.S. needed to clearly denounce China for threats against Japan and the Japanese prime minister. Gershaneck warned that Asian allies remember past U.S. abandonment under what he called the «do not provoke China!» policy of the Obama administration. «Unless high-level Washington officials signal stronger support,» he said, «the Trump 47 administration risks going down in history as Barack Hussein Obama’s third term.»
Feingold noted that while Takaichi’s stance was enthusiastically received in Taiwan, the excitement «was unsustainable and not based on a formal policy decision by Japan to defend Taiwan.»
Following reports that President Trump phoned the Japanese prime minister and requested that she dial down talk about Taiwan, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minoru issued a strong denial, saying Trump did not advise Takaichi to «temper the tone of her comments about Taiwan.»
President Donald Trump, with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, speaks to members of the military aboard the USS George Washington, an aircraft carrier docked at an American naval base, in Yokosuka, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo)
While the geopolitical shifts grabbed headlines, Lai’s real challenge is domestic. Taiwan has a single-chamber legislature, and Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party does not have a majority.
Cheng Li-wun, the new chair of the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT), campaigned against boosting defense spending to 5% of GDP and has repeatedly argued Taiwan is «not an ATM» for «unreasonable» military budgets. The KMT supports renewed engagement with Beijing and acceptance of the «1992 Consensus,» a proposed framework that allows both sides to claim there is «one China» while interpreting the meaning differently. Lai rejects that position entirely, calling it a path toward subordination to China.
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Soldiers pose for group photos with a Taiwan flag after a preparedness enhancement drill simulating the defense against Beijing’s military intrusions, ahead of the Lunar New Year in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, on Jan. 11, 2023. (Daniel Ceng/AP Photo)
Bryce Barros, associate fellow at GLOBSEC and a former U.S. Senate national security advisor, told Fox News Digital that there are serious hurdles. «Opposition leaders have cited cuts to other essential services like healthcare, lack of details on how the budget will be paid for and concerns over more hostilities with China,» he said. But Barros said the head of the de facto American embassy has called for bipartisan support for the bill, and he noted Lai needs only six opposition defections for the vote to pass.
Analysts also stress the proposal is not solely for U.S. weapons. Lai wants major investment in domestic defense manufacturing, including a «dome» anti-missile system, which could help blunt accusations of excessive spending to curry favor with Washington. But the plan still faces a volatile parliament and certain retaliation from China.
taiwan,china,xi jinping,conflicts,national security,spending
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HUD launches civil rights investigation into Boston’s DEI housing policies over alleged racial discrimination
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The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced Thursday an investigation into the city of Boston, Massachusetts, alleging its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) housing practices violate federal anti-discrimination laws.
HUD said it has evidence Boston used federal grant assistance for «race-based preferences,» in violation of the Fair Housing Act and Title VI, describing the initiatives as a «social engineering project.»
«We believe the City of Boston has engaged in a social engineering project that intentionally advances discriminatory housing policies driven by an ideological commitment to DEI rather than merit or need,» HUD Secretary Scott Turner said in a statement. «HUD is committed to protecting every American’s civil rights and will thoroughly investigate the City’s stated goal of ‘integrating racial equity into every layer of city government.’»
Turner added that «this warped mentality will be fully exposed, and Boston will come into full compliance with federal anti-discrimination law.»
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The Department of Housing and Urban Development opened an investigation into Boston’s DEI housing practices, alleging violations of federal Fair Housing Act. (Getty Images; Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
The investigation came after HUD sent a letter to the Mayor’s Office of Housing, alerting city officials that it had «reason to believe» Boston was improperly using its federal grant assistance.
According to HUD, Boston’s Fair Housing Assessment promises to «target homebuyer outreach» at «Black and Latinx families» and charges city departments with collecting racial and ethnic data «to evaluate their work through a racial equity/social justice lens.»
Boston’s Housing Strategy 2025 also states that «at least 65%» of homeownership opportunities through city initiatives should go to BIPOC (Black, indigenous, and people of color) households, according to HUD.
«The policy is clear,» the agency stated. «Financial housing assistance is not just for all low-income persons but instead ‘particularly BIPOC residents.’»
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SUES PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT OVER ALLEGEDLY DISCRIMINATORY POLICIES
Turner said Thursday on X that HUD is «Breaking Up Biden’s Boston BIPOC Bash.»
«Boston pushed discriminatory housing policies in the name of DEI,» he wrote. «This warped mentality will be exposed and Boston will come into full compliance with federal law.»
Turner slammed the Biden administration earlier this week, telling Fox News Digital he blamed the former president’s policies for an illegal immigration and refugee crisis that rattled the housing market.
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The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is investigating whether Boston was using federal grant assistance for «race-based preferences,» in violation of the Fair Housing Act and Title VI. (Lane Turner/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
HUD releases its «Worst Case Housing Needs Report» every two years, which assesses the state of the housing market for low-income Americans and how many lack both affordable and adequate housing.
Turner said there are damning findings in this year’s assessment, which he pinned on former President Joe Biden’s immigration crisis.
«The unchecked illegal immigration and open borders policies allowed by the Biden administration continue to put significant strain on housing, pricing out American families,» Turner said.
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Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner stated on Dec. 11 that Boston «has engaged in a social engineering project that intentionally advances discriminatory housing policies driven by an ideological commitment to DEI rather than merit or need.» (Getty Images)
Fox News Digital reached out to the City of Boston for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Charles Creitz contributed to this report.
housing,politics,boston,dei
INTERNACIONAL
Trump anunció la firma de un acuerdo internacional sobre semiconductores con Japón, Australia, Corea del Sur y Singapur
El presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, anunció este jueves la inminente firma de un acuerdo internacional sobre semiconductores con Japón, Australia, Corea del Sur y Singapur, denominado Iniciativa Pax Silica, con el objetivo de impulsar una política económica robusta centrada en el desarrollo de inteligencia artificial.
Trump, en declaraciones desde el Despacho Oval, subrayó la importancia de la medida: “No hacer esto hubiera sido un gran regalo para muchos países, pero para China en particular”.
Según el Departamento de Estado, la iniciativa busca reunir a los países sede de las empresas tecnológicas más avanzadas para liberar el potencial económico de la IA, aprovechando activos estratégicos comunes como la computación, el silicio, minerales y energía.
La cumbre Pax Silica tendrá lugar este viernes en Washington, con la participación adicional de Países Bajos, Emiratos Árabes Unidos, Canadá y representantes de la Unión Europea.
La cartera, liderada por el secretario de Estado Marco Rubio, explicó que los países “explorarán alianzas multidimensionales para reforzar la seguridad de la cadena de suministro, reducir dependencias coercitivas, proteger puntos críticos y fomentar ecosistemas tecnológicos confiables en áreas como semiconductores, conectividad, fabricación avanzada y energía”.
El pasado lunes, Trump anunció que su administración permitirá a la empresa tecnológica Nvidia exportar sus chips de inteligencia artificial H200 a determinados clientes en China y otros países, bajo condiciones diseñadas para salvaguardar los intereses de seguridad nacional.
Este anuncio, emitido a través de Truth Social, representa un giro respecto a las restricciones que Washington impuso en los últimos años para limitar el acceso de Beijing a semiconductores avanzados esenciales para el desarrollo de sistemas de IA. Trump reveló que el líder chino, Xi Jinping, “respondió positivamente” al ser informado sobre la decisión.
En la misma publicación, el mandatario republicano precisó que “el 25% será pagado a los Estados Unidos de América”, aunque no aclaró si se trata de un impuesto, tarifa u otro mecanismo financiero. Funcionarios estadounidenses consultados por medios locales no respondieron sobre los detalles de esta disposición.
Según Trump, el Departamento de Comercio de Estados Unidos está ultimando los lineamientos que regirán las exportaciones de chips de inteligencia artificial, como parte del proceso para autorizar ventas controladas a clientes en China y otros países y aclaró que este enfoque regulatorio también se aplicará a otras empresas estadounidenses del sector tecnológico, incluyendo AMD e Intel, ambas fabricantes de procesadores clave para sistemas de computación avanzada.
Según un informe publicado el domingo 7 de diciembre por el Institute for Progress, el chip H200 de Nvidia ofrece un desempeño casi seis veces superior al H20, el semiconductor más avanzado que actualmente puede exportarse legalmente a China luego de la reversión de una prohibición previa.
El estudio señala que el acceso al H200 permitiría a laboratorios chinos desarrollar supercomputadoras de inteligencia artificial con capacidades cercanas a las de los centros de referencia en Estados Unidos, aunque con un mayor costo operativo.
A pesar de la flexibilización anunciada respecto al H200, el presidente Donald Trump aclaró que los chips más recientes de Nvidia —la generación Blackwell— continuarán bajo un régimen de bloqueo y no podrán ser exportados a China.
(Con información de EFE)
Business,Domestic Politics,Top Picture,Corporate Events,North America,Government / Politics
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Trump administration offers $5M reward for capture of fugitive Los Choneros gang leader
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The Trump administration is offering a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the leader of Los Choneros, a gang the State Department designated a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) in September.
The State Department’s Narcotics Reward Program announced the reward Thursday for Ecuadorian fugitive Francisco Manuel Bermúdez Cagua, also known as «Churron,» because the gang he belongs to is allegedly responsible for trafficking drugs and guns into the U.S. and carrying out extreme acts of violence.
The 29-year-old was charged with international cocaine distribution conspiracy, international cocaine distribution and using firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, according to a superseding indictment filed in the Eastern District of New York.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York brought the charges, and the superseding indictment was unsealed in June.
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The U.S. is offering a $5 million reward for alleged Los Choneros Lt. Francisco Bermúdez Cagua, who is accused of cocaine trafficking and violent acts. (Department of Justice)
«As alleged, Bermúdez Cagua is a top lieutenant within the leadership of Los Choneros, an extremely violent foreign terrorist organization responsible for pumping drugs into the United States, causing harm to our communities and wreaking havoc in his homeland of Ecuador,» U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. of the Eastern District of New York said.
«The significant reward being offered by the State Department underscores our resolve to bring Los Choneros’ leadership to justice in a U.S. courthouse and eradicate such organizations.»
Alleged co-conspirator José Adolfo Macías Villamar, also known as «Fito,» 46, was extradited to New York in July 2025. The Department of Justice said he is an Ecuadorian citizen who also faces international drug trafficking and firearms charges.
Darío Javier Peñafiel Nieto, also known as «Topo,» 35, is an alleged co-conspirator in the superseding indictment and is in custody in Ecuador.
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Ecuadorian police forces carry out a security operation as part of the fight against extortion gangs in a shantytown in the northeast of Guayaquil, Ecuador, April 4, 2024. (Gerardo Menoscal/AFP via Getty Images)
«We will use every tool in our arsenal to stop the brutal criminals who are trafficking deadly drugs into our country,» Chris Landberg of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs said.
«We are offering a reward of up to $5 million under the Narcotics Rewards Program for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Bermúdez Cagua.»
The indictment alleges that Los Choneros was one of the most violent transnational criminal organizations operating out of Ecuador.
The group’s network moved multi-ton quantities of cocaine from South America, funneling shipments through Central America, Mexico and the U.S., among other locations, the indictment alleges.
MODEL, DJ LINKED TO VIOLENT TREN DE ARAGUA GANG LEADER SANCTIONED BY TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
Soldiers keep watch outside the Zonal 8 prison in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Jan. 11, 2024. (Henry Romero/Reuters)
The alleged co-conspirators are accused of directing and ordering acts of violence to advance the organization’s goals.
The State Department designated Los Choneros as an FTO in September 2025.
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«Bermúdez Cagua is a high-ranking narco-terrorist whose actions have fueled the flow of cocaine into the United States and sown chaos in Ecuador,» U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Terrance Cole said. «The DEA is resolute in its mission to turn up the pressure and bring this dangerous individual to justice.»
The DEA encourages anyone with information about Bermúdez Cagua’s whereabouts to contact the agency at Ecuadortips@dea.gov or +593-988-292-235. All information will be kept confidential.
state department,new york,south america,organized crime,narco terror,justice department,politics
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