East Asia

President Joe Biden says U.S. forces would defend Taiwan if China tries to invade the self-ruled island claimed by Beijing as part of its territory, adding to displays of official American support for the island democracy.

China has expressed its outrage after Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb landed in Taiwan on Sunday to hold talks with the leadership of the self-ruled island amid increasing tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

China says it will try to protect its grain harvest from record-setting drought by using chemicals to generate rain, while factories in the southwest waited Sunday to see whether they would be shut down for another week due to shortages of water to generate hydropower.

Taipei announced that it was not true that Chinese forces had approached the islands, reports Reuters.
China, which claims Taiwan as its territory, conducted military exercises around the island earlier this month following a visit to Taipei by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

China is upping the ante against Taiwan amid another US congressional delegation visit to the self-governed island.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared victory over the coronavirus in his country, world agencies reported, citing official media.

Kim "solemnly declared victory in the highly extraordinary anti-epidemic campaign to eradicate the new coronavirus," the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

This was stated today by the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang Wenbin.
"The measures we have taken are a response to the visit to Taiwan by U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi. China's response is justified and legitimate and serves as a warning to instigators and a lesson to Taiwanese separatists," Wang said.

Taiwan's democracy is a "treasure" that must be protected, French MEP Rafael Glucksmann was quoted as saying by AFP.

Glucksman, who heads a European Parliament delegation in Taipei, assured that support for the island will continue, amid growing tensions with China.

U.S. President Joe Biden said on Oct. 5 that he has spoken to Chinese President Xi Jinping about Taiwan and they agreed to abide by the Taiwan agreement, as tensions have ratcheted up between Taipei and Beijing.

The launch, its third round of weapons firings this month, came only three days after North Korea repeated its offer for conditional talks with South Korea