Venus Upadhayaya
Venus Upadhayaya is a senior journalist and a 2025 MOFA Taiwan Fellow.
Reflections on Witnessing the India–Pakistan Conflict From Taiwan
It’s over a year since the terrorist attack that killed 26 men at point blank range in Kashmir's Pahalgam valley and exactly a year since India conducted “precision strikes” inside Pakistan on May 7, 2025....
WHO Says Hantavirus Outbreak Differs From Early Covid Pandemic, 12 Governments Alerted
A rare case of suspected human-to-human hantavirus transmission aboard a Dutch-flagged cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean has triggered an international health response after three people died and several others were infected, according to the...
Japan’s PM Takaichi Visits Vietnam and Australia, Stresses ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ Amidst Iran Conflict
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited Vietnam from May 1–3 and Australia from May 3–5, launching initiatives, signing agreements, and reinforcing Japan’s vision for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). Takaichi arrived in Hanoi with...
Paraguayan President to Visit Taiwan as Beijing Amps Up Pressure
Santiago Peña, president of Paraguay, is set to visit Taiwan on May 7, just a week before the high-stakes Trump-Xi summit, as tensions over Taiwan and Communist China’s growing global influence continue to rise. The...
Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit, US Seeks Chinese Cooperation on Iran as Beijing Presses Taiwan Issue
President Donald Trump said last week that his upcoming visit to Beijing for a high-profile summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping remains on schedule, even as both sides escalate messaging on their respective geopolitical priorities...
US-China Rivalry Intensifies Inside UN Amid Funding Dispute
The U.S. and United Nations are locked in a diplomatic dispute over Washington’s unpaid dues, after the Trump administration tied future payments to institutional reforms and curbing Chinese influence at the global body. A former...
Iran Conflict Accelerates Asia’s Shift to Electric Vehicles, Data Suggests
The Iran conflict — which has disrupted global fuel supplies and intensified economic pressure — is accelerating Asia’s transition to electric vehicles (EVs), according to recent media reports and industry discussions. The trend was a...
Russia and Myanmar Sign Energy Agreement as Moscow Looks to Overcome Sanctions
Russia and Myanmar (also known as Burma) signed a memorandum of understanding April 18 to strengthen cooperation in the electricity and energy sectors, securing supplies of Russian crude oil and petroleum products for the conflict-torn...
US Begins Refunding $166 Billion in Trump Tariffs After Supreme Court Rules Them Illegal
The United States has begun the process of refunding an estimated $166 billion in tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), after the Supreme Court ruled the measures illegal on Feb. 20....
US Unveils High-tech Manufacturing Zone in Philippines Under Pax Silica to Secure AI Supply Chains
The United States announced plans on April 16 to establish a high-tech manufacturing zone in the Philippines under the Pax Silica initiative, a U.S.-led framework aimed at strengthening AI supply chains and economic security among...
Japan Lifts Arms Export Restrictions in Major Post-WWII Policy Shift
Japan has taken a major step away from its post-World War II pacifist stance by allowing arms exports to more than a dozen countries, marking a significant shift in its long-standing defense policy. The Japanese...
India’s Yuan Payment for Iranian Oil Highlights Pragmatism, BRICS Push for Dollar Alternatives, Experts Say
India’s decision to settle a recent Iranian oil purchase in Chinese yuan reflects a mix of wartime pragmatism and shifting global geoeconomics, as well as the growing role of BRICS currency alternatives, according to observers. ...