Three scenarios for Taiwan + Convincing tech gadgets + Profile: Holger Klein from ZF

With the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, the future of Taiwan has suddenly come into the focus of international strategists. Relations between Washington and Taipei are governed by the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979. Back then, the US was strong and keen to bring democracy to the world; China, on the other hand, was only at the dawning of a reform era that resulted in an almost unimaginable economic boom and rise in power.

Now, Washington is retreating from world politics, while Beijing is making increasingly brash moves. And so international observers are wondering whether the US, after Afghanistan, might drop Taiwan as an ally next? Does Beijing see a historic opportunity to finally reunite the motherland? In light of the current developments in the Hindu Kush, our authors take a look at Taiwan’s uncertain future. Three possible scenarios now present themselves – and not all of them are desirable.

Have you ever bought EirPods, aPhone or headphones from Semsung? Probably not. That’s because until now, only a small group of tech enthusiasts bought cheap electronic goods from China, most of which were little more than cheap knock-offs. It was always a gamble – what will be in the package and will the products even work? Sometimes you got lucky and you suddenly owned an inexpensive tech gadget.

Felix Lee shows how Chinese tech gadgets have long since emancipated themselves from their expensive original products – thanks to quality, fair prices and Aldi and Lidl. For example, Dreame’s T30 cordless vacuum cleaner has long since outperformed its competitor Dyson. As a result, more and more Germans consumers are buying products from Ecovac, Xiaomi and Dreame.

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Michael Radunski