Taiwan begins military drills, CHIPS Act to be signed, four state primaries

On Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, Taiwan began its own military drills in response to China’s ongoing drills. President Joe Biden will sign the CHIPS Act in the Rose Garden, and four states — Wisconsin, Minnesota, Vermont and Connecticut — will hold primary elections.

Taiwan to begin military drills – After days of Chinese military drills near Taiwan, the island nation is now conducting its own. Taiwan’s foreign minister said Tuesday China’s drills were meant to rehearse an invasion of Taiwan. The Taiwanese drills are reportedly meant to be a show of readiness to thwart a potential attack.

“We will have relevant preparations to deal with the different modes of the enemy’s aggression,” Taiwanese 8th Army Command spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lou Woei-jye said Tuesday. “Protecting our homeland is the responsibility of our soldiers. No matter what the situation is, we continue to train and accumulate our strength. This is the best way to defend our country.”

Biden to sign CHIPS Act – President Biden will hold a Rose Garden Ceremony Tuesday to sign a bipartisan bill meant to boost high-tech manufacturing. The $280 billion CHIPS and Science Act is part of President Biden’s push to boost U.S. economic competitiveness with China. The bill is meant to make the U.S. less reliant on other countries for semiconductors.

“America invented the semiconductor, but today produces about 10% of the world’s supply—and none of the most advanced chips. Instead, we rely on East Asia for 75% of global production,” the White House said in a fact sheet on the signing. “The CHIPS and Science Act will unlock hundreds of billions more in private sector semiconductor investment across the country, including production essential to national defense and critical sectors.”

Primary Tuesday in four states – Four states will hold their midterm primaries Tuesday. The most highly anticipated race is the GOP primary for Wisconsin governor. Tim Michels, backed by former President Donald Trump, will face off against Rebecca Kleefish, backed by former Vice President Mike Pence.

In other primary races,  Minnesota Republicans are expected to choose Dr. Scott Jensen, a COVID-19 vaccine skeptic endorsed by the state GOP, to face Gov. Tim Walz (D). Vermont — the only state to never have a woman in its congressional delegation — is likely to nominate a woman for the state’s lone House seat. And in Connecticut, Republicans will pick opponents to face two-term Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.