This Week in Taiwan 0314-0320
March 16: The so-called 2-Plus-2 Talks between foreign and defense ministers of Japan and the United States were held in Tokyo. In a joint press conference after the meeting, Minister of Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi of Japan stated that both sides confirmed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The United States and Japan issued a joint statement criticizing China by name for taking actions inconsistent with the existing international order and which have posed multiple challenges to the U.S.-Japan alliance and the international community.
March 17: Taiwan and Palau simultaneously announced the opening of a Taiwan-Palau tourism bubble, a first in the Asia-Pacific region. The first group will depart April 1 by China Airlines, and there will be two flights per week, capped at 220 travelers per week. The quarantine measures will be greatly simplified: Taiwanese travelers are required to test at the airport before departure, and a negative test result will be required for departure. Entry into Palau is exempt from inspection. President Surangel Whipps Jr. of Palau is expected to visit Taiwan on March 28 and return to Palau on April 1.
March 17: How long can the Armed Forces last in the event of cross-strait military conflict? Responding to interpellation at the Legislative Yuan, Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng said not to ask how many days or how long the Armed Forces can last but to ask how long Communist China is able to fight. Chiu stated that however long China fights, the Armed Forces shall withstand until the end.
March 18: Minister Chiu Tai-san of the Mainland Affairs Council stated that for the purpose of promoting cross-strait economic activities, mainland Chinese may from now on apply to enter Taiwan to perform business obligations or internal personnel transfer within multinational corporations.
March 19: A well-known Japanese sushi chain launched a promotion where on March 17 and 18, those with the same sound or Chinese characters as "salmon" (guiyu) in their names may eat for free, limited to six per table. The promotion has triggered a frenzy of name changes by mostly young males and college students. Statistics indicate that at least 332 people changed their names, including 10 who changed their names to "salmon." The news has been hotly discussed on the Internet.
March 20: The Central Epidemic Command Center announced that the first batch of AstraZeneca vaccines will be given to front-line medical personnel beginning March 22. Premier Su Tseng-chang and Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung will take the lead to be inoculated. Taiwan recently surpassed a thousand confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19), reaching 1,005.
March 20: A mountain forest fire in Alishan, Chiayi County, continued to spread for nearly 48 hours. A land and air joint operation has endeavored to put out the fire, but the fire is not yet completely extinguished. The fire occurs during the cherry blossom holiday season at the Alisan forest recreational area. Some travelers have canceled their hotel reservations. Only 1,700 have entered the area by noon.