This Week in Taiwan 0110-0117
January 13: The United States National Security Council released the classified "U.S. Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific." The document clearly indicates: "defending the first island-chain nations, including Taiwan." The strategic framework also mentions defending Taiwan against Chinese invasion and enabling Taiwan to develop an effective asymmetric defense strategy and capabilities, as well as strengthening and accelerating the rise of India to help it become a vital partner in combating China.
January 14: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was originally scheduled to visit Europe on January 13, but due to rejection by officials from Luxembourg and the European Union, the State Department canceled all foreign visit trips on the grounds of ensuring a smooth transition of power. The proposed visit to Taiwan by Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft was also canceled as a result.
Ambassador Craft participated in a video conference with President Tsai Ing-wen. During the virtual meeting, President Tsai stated Taiwan's desire to participate in the United Nations and related meetings and activities. Craft responded with regret that due to interference by China, Taiwan is unable to share its progress in technology and public health in the international arena like the United Nations and the World Health Assembly.
January 14: With the advent of digitization, the 34-year-old well-known political news magazine, the Journalist, announced the end of its print publication after the final issue on February 4. The Journalist is the second major news magazine in Taiwan, after Next Magazine, to transform from a print publication to Internet media.
January 15: Last year, it was exposed that Ting Yun-kung, former spokesman of the Office of the President, was involved in a sex scandal from 2014 and 2017 when he served as director-general of the Information Bureau of the Kaohsiung City Government. Upon investigation, Control Yuan members Chi Hui-jung and Wang Mei-yu concluded that Ting's behavior constitutes sexual harassment and hurt the credibility of government and image of public officials. The Control Yuan voted 11-0 to impeach Ting, and the case will be transferred to the Disciplinary Court for review.
January 16: Professor Graham Allison of Harvard University, who is an important advisor to incoming President Joe Biden, stated in an interview by TVBS that "One Country, Two Systems" has come to an end. Biden understands that there is only one China; an independent country of Taiwan does not exist; and the United States will not recognize Taiwan's independence. Biden's challenge is to devise a new strategy in dealing with the Taiwan Strait and improve trilateral relations.
January 17: A hospital in Taiwan saw an outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on January 12. A doctor (case 838) contracted the virus through taking care of seriously infected patients and infected his girlfriend caregiver (case 839). This is the first incidence in Taiwan of a doctor confirmed with the coronavirus. The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) launched the largest testing since the pandemic, testing some 2,500 individuals, including 2,200 from the hospital plus outsource employees, as part of a general screening. On January 16, another caregiver (case 852) was confirmed with the coronavirus. She previously worked alongside case 838 at a care station for an hour. On January 17, another doctor (case 856) was confirmed with the coronavirus. He had contact with case 838 on January 10. The CECC identified this as a group transmission within the hospital, closed its wards, and mandated that all its medical staff quarantine at home.
Update: As of January 21, the virus outbreak at the hospital in Taoyuan continues to expand. There are currently ten people tested positive for the coronavirus.