Gary Sands
@yangguizi.bsky.social
Taiwan-based Senior Analyst (China, Taiwan) at Wikistrat. Former US diplomat. Op-eds: Forbes, National Interest, Newsweek, SCMP. Lived in China 2006-2012, Vietnam 2013-2018.
Raytheon was awarded a nearly US$700 million contract to produce National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) fire units destined for Taiwan, expected to be completed by Feb. 28, 2031. (too late?) www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/...
US awards US$700m NASAMS contract to bolster Taiwan’s air defense - Taipei Times
Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan
www.taipeitimes.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Raytheon was awarded a nearly US$700 million contract to produce National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) fire units destined for Taiwan, expected to be completed by Feb. 28, 2031. (too late?) www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/...
With detailed analysis, satellite imagery can be turned into "a range of intelligence to safeguard the nation," Wu said. focustaiwan.tw/sci-tech/202...
Sharper eyes: Taiwan Formosat-8 to improve disaster relief, security - Focus Taiwan
Facing the need for more precise information to counter the frequent natural disasters and security risks it faces, Taiwan is turning to a new satellite constellation to deliver faster, clearer images...
focustaiwan.tw
November 18, 2025 at 12:41 PM
With detailed analysis, satellite imagery can be turned into "a range of intelligence to safeguard the nation," Wu said. focustaiwan.tw/sci-tech/202...
A more valuable question would be “if under attack and bombs are falling, would you do your part — using your skills, talents and abilities — to best serve in the defense of your community and your nation?” www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/ar...
Donovan’s Deep Dives: Taiwanese will unite and fight in war - Taipei Times
Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan
www.taipeitimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:34 AM
A more valuable question would be “if under attack and bombs are falling, would you do your part — using your skills, talents and abilities — to best serve in the defense of your community and your nation?” www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/ar...
Taiwanese can show their support by travelling to Japan www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/...
China travel advisory good for other visitors: bloggers - Taipei Times
Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan
www.taipeitimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Taiwanese can show their support by travelling to Japan www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/...
It Happens in Every Country (7) I've Lived In japantoday.com/category/fea...
Why do some foreigners in Japan hate each other?
Moving to Japan is full of challenges, discoveries and (mostly) positive culture shocks. Yet for many foreigners, one of the biggest shocks isn’t how different Japan feels from home or learning Japanese, but how badly many foreigners treat each other. That said, why do foreigners in Japan hate each other? If you’ve ever…
japantoday.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:23 AM
It Happens in Every Country (7) I've Lived In japantoday.com/category/fea...
"they [Japanese] don’t even distinguish between residents and tourists. (I can't count how many times Taiwanese have mistaken me for a tourist, saying "Welcome to Taiwan!")
November 17, 2025 at 8:21 AM
"they [Japanese] don’t even distinguish between residents and tourists. (I can't count how many times Taiwanese have mistaken me for a tourist, saying "Welcome to Taiwan!")
The government in Tokyo lodged a protest and its top spokesperson, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, urged China to take “appropriate measures,” Japan’s Kyodo news agency reported. (does Tokyo really care about the loss of Chinese tourists?) www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/a...
November 16, 2025 at 12:48 PM
The government in Tokyo lodged a protest and its top spokesperson, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, urged China to take “appropriate measures,” Japan’s Kyodo news agency reported. (does Tokyo really care about the loss of Chinese tourists?) www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/a...
As Taiwan demonstrated, Chinese tourists can be replaced by tourists from other nations... apnews.com/article/chin...
Japan protests China's travel advisory over Taiwan remarks
Japan has raised objections after China advised its citizens to avoid visiting Japan. The move comes amid tensions over remarks by Japan's new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, regarding Taiwan.
apnews.com
November 16, 2025 at 12:22 AM
As Taiwan demonstrated, Chinese tourists can be replaced by tourists from other nations... apnews.com/article/chin...
"Absent an apology from the Chinese government, Xue should be declared persona non grata and returned to China. His is not the behavior of a diplomat." (I would add, absent a timely apology) www.japantimes.co.jp/editorials/2...
Chinese diplomat crosses the line
The depiction of the duly elected leader of Japan as “a stupid politician” is rude; the call for violence is unacceptable.
www.japantimes.co.jp
November 15, 2025 at 1:56 PM
"Absent an apology from the Chinese government, Xue should be declared persona non grata and returned to China. His is not the behavior of a diplomat." (I would add, absent a timely apology) www.japantimes.co.jp/editorials/2...
Own Goal? According to the TVBS poll conducted on behalf of the KMT, 57 percent of respondents supported increasing the national defense budget, while 35 percent opposed it. www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/...
Poll shows most people back defense spending - Taipei Times
Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan
www.taipeitimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Own Goal? According to the TVBS poll conducted on behalf of the KMT, 57 percent of respondents supported increasing the national defense budget, while 35 percent opposed it. www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/...
Close to 1 in 4 visitors to Japan are Chinese, so Beijing's travel warning should go a long way to helping Japan's overtourism concerns. japantoday.com/category/nat...?
China urges citizens to avoid visiting Japan over PM's Taiwan remarks
The Chinese government urged its citizens on Friday to avoid visiting Japan as recent remarks by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Japan's potential involvement in a Taiwan contingency grow into a wider diplomatic row. China's Foreign Ministry said provocative comments by Japan's leader have caused "the atmosphere surrounding people-to-people exchanges…
japantoday.com
November 15, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Close to 1 in 4 visitors to Japan are Chinese, so Beijing's travel warning should go a long way to helping Japan's overtourism concerns. japantoday.com/category/nat...?
The Quanzhou Public Security Bureau said police are offering a reward of up to 25,000 yuan (US$3,523) for information that could contribute to their investigation or apprehension. (not much of a bounty) www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/...
China issues bounties for influencers - Taipei Times
Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan
www.taipeitimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:26 PM
The Quanzhou Public Security Bureau said police are offering a reward of up to 25,000 yuan (US$3,523) for information that could contribute to their investigation or apprehension. (not much of a bounty) www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/...
fighter jet spare and repair parts www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/...
US approves potential US$330m arms sale to Taiwan, first under Trump - Taipei Times
Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan
www.taipeitimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:09 PM
fighter jet spare and repair parts www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/...
Er, No: If Taipei would simply accept that there is only one China, even with different interpretations -- a notion known as the 1992 Consensus -- tensions would cease, new Kuomintang leader Cheng Li-wun told Nikkei Asia in an exclusive interview. asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/po...
Taiwan defense buildup can't ensure security: New KMT boss Cheng Li-wun
'Unification goddess' pans Trump-driven spending, blames Lai for China tensions
asia.nikkei.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Er, No: If Taipei would simply accept that there is only one China, even with different interpretations -- a notion known as the 1992 Consensus -- tensions would cease, new Kuomintang leader Cheng Li-wun told Nikkei Asia in an exclusive interview. asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/po...
“If the point that China is trying to make with these satellite pictures is that it owns everything it took pictures of, then that’s just plain immature,” Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wang Ting-yu (王定宇) told local media. www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/...
FEATURE: Beijing sharpens its language on Taiwan - Taipei Times
Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan
www.taipeitimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:59 AM
“If the point that China is trying to make with these satellite pictures is that it owns everything it took pictures of, then that’s just plain immature,” Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wang Ting-yu (王定宇) told local media. www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/...
"The world's best gelato? It's made by a Taiwanese artisan." focustaiwan.tw/culture/2025...
Taiwanese artisan wins 'world's best gelato' title in Italy - Focus Taiwan
Taiwanese gelato maker Sylvia Chao (趙韻嵐) from Changhua County, central Taiwan, has won first prize at the Sherbeth International Artisan Gelato Festival in Italy, organizers announced on Facebook Tues...
focustaiwan.tw
November 12, 2025 at 12:14 PM
"The world's best gelato? It's made by a Taiwanese artisan." focustaiwan.tw/culture/2025...
The affidavit also said Tellis had met Chinese government officials on multiple occasions over the past several years. asia.nikkei.com/politics/int...
US-India and security expert Ashley Tellis arrested over secret documents
Affidavit says expert printed classified documents at government buildings
asia.nikkei.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:40 AM
The affidavit also said Tellis had met Chinese government officials on multiple occasions over the past several years. asia.nikkei.com/politics/int...
Taiwan's Yasukuni Moment? "If Cheng Li-wun continues to claim to be a leader of a Republic of China political party but participates in events honoring a Communist spy, it is tantamount to endorsing the CCP's narrative and becoming part of its fifth column." focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait...
MAC condemns KMT chair for attending controversial White Terror memorial - Focus Taiwan
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has criticized opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairperson Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) for attending a controversial White Terror memorial that included Wu Shi (吳石), a late high-...
focustaiwan.tw
November 10, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Taiwan's Yasukuni Moment? "If Cheng Li-wun continues to claim to be a leader of a Republic of China political party but participates in events honoring a Communist spy, it is tantamount to endorsing the CCP's narrative and becoming part of its fifth column." focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait...
This year, Japan claimed the world title with a grand total of 75.76 kilograms of trash collected and 7,210 points. Germany (75.56 kg and 6,213.5 points) earned second place, and Morocco (79.89 kg and 6,070.3 points) followed in third. www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2025/11...
Cleanliness gets competitive at Tokyo’s Spogomi world cup
On Oct. 29, teams from 33 countries scoured Tokyo’s streets for discarded wrappers, crushed cans and cigarette butts.
www.japantimes.co.jp
November 10, 2025 at 1:14 AM
This year, Japan claimed the world title with a grand total of 75.76 kilograms of trash collected and 7,210 points. Germany (75.56 kg and 6,213.5 points) earned second place, and Morocco (79.89 kg and 6,070.3 points) followed in third. www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2025/11...
The key item in the MoD’s budget request document was the announcement of Japan’s Synchronized, Hybrid, Integrated and Enhanced Littoral Defense (SHIELD), a multilayered littoral defense system utilizing unmanned systems across multiple domains. breakingdefense.com/2025/08/japa...
Japan's $60B defense budget request seeks funding for coastal defense network, more F-35s - Breaking Defense
The Japanese budget request for the coming fiscal year also includes several systems from the US, including KC-46 tankers.
breakingdefense.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:48 AM
The key item in the MoD’s budget request document was the announcement of Japan’s Synchronized, Hybrid, Integrated and Enhanced Littoral Defense (SHIELD), a multilayered littoral defense system utilizing unmanned systems across multiple domains. breakingdefense.com/2025/08/japa...
A long way to go, but bankers will love the beaches...
asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/as...
asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/as...
Vietnam pushes ahead with its International Financial Center dream
Dual-hub project aims to lure foreign capital, fuel double-digit growth
asia.nikkei.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:14 AM
A long way to go, but bankers will love the beaches...
asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/as...
asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/as...
I pray for economic renewal for Nepal. Unfortunately, everyone I spoke to there last week was pessimistic about a "new" government ("meet the new boss, the same as the old boss"). asia.nikkei.com/opinion/nepa...
Nepal's Gen Z uprising is a catalyst for real economic renewal
The goverment should eliminate corruption and invest in the digital native generation
asia.nikkei.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:56 AM
I pray for economic renewal for Nepal. Unfortunately, everyone I spoke to there last week was pessimistic about a "new" government ("meet the new boss, the same as the old boss"). asia.nikkei.com/opinion/nepa...
Washington’s inconsistency toward backing Ukraine and its softness toward Russia have created fears that the US would choose a similar approach for dealing with Taiwan (and the South China Sea) and China. www.taipeitimes.com/News/editori...
Trump’s pivot from Asia - Taipei Times
Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan
www.taipeitimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Washington’s inconsistency toward backing Ukraine and its softness toward Russia have created fears that the US would choose a similar approach for dealing with Taiwan (and the South China Sea) and China. www.taipeitimes.com/News/editori...
The man told them he did not mind the police being called, adding that he would “at most be fined,” (while if a Taiwanese did the same in China, while calling for independence, what do you think would happen?) www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/...
Chinese man waves flag, hands out flyers in Kinmen - Taipei Times
Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan
www.taipeitimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 12:17 PM
The man told them he did not mind the police being called, adding that he would “at most be fined,” (while if a Taiwanese did the same in China, while calling for independence, what do you think would happen?) www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/...
"If warships are used and other armed actions are involved, I believe this could constitute a survival- threatening situation." www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/a...
’Taiwan contingency’ could prompt Japanese armed reaction: Japan PM - Taipei Times
Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan
www.taipeitimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 11:54 AM
"If warships are used and other armed actions are involved, I believe this could constitute a survival- threatening situation." www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/a...