This Week in Taiwan 0724-0730
July 25: The problem of fraud has been complicated by growth in population of Internet users, in addition to people staying at home to shop online or make friends. According to statistics from the Criminal Investigation Bureau, National Police Administration, Ministry of the Interior, the number of fraud cases continued to rise this year, with 13,300 cases occurring in the first half of the year involving a total amount of NT$310 million (about US$10.3 billion).
July 25: The Wanan exercise was held in northern Taiwan. For the first time, Taipei implemented a drill for air defense evacuation. Vehicles parked on the side of the road, and people had to get off and be guided to nearby air defense shelters. The fire department simulated a drill under a missile attack at the Hulin Substation in Xinyi District.
July 26: The Hankuang No. 38 military exercise by the Armed Forces began on July 25 and lasted for five days and four nights. Twenty (20) ships and 15 fighter aircraft participated in the exercise off the coast of Suao on July 26. President Tsai Ing-wen boarded the Keelung on July 26. This is her second warship review since taking office.
July 26: Financial crisis erupted at major jeans manufacturer Roohsing, and its stock was listed as a full-delivery share by the Taiwan Stock Exchange. The major shareholder, the National Development Fund, suffered a loss of about NT$1.1 billion (about US$36.6 million). It decided to join the Securities and Futures Investor Protection Center for the first time in a class action to seek compensation for damages. Opposition Kuomintang (KMT) legislators question that Roohsing had asked for a capital increase three times but was rejected by the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC). But in 2017 after the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) came to power and President Tsai Ing-wen visited the company's Nicaragua plant, the FSC permitted the capital increase.
July 26: The Ill-gotten Party Assets Settlement Committee determined in a meeting that the 61 pieces of land, buildings, and cash of Taiwan's China Youth Corps (CYC) totaling NT$1.39 billion were improperly acquired and should be transferred to the state. In response, the CYC responded that it will file a motion to stop execution, calling upon the court to suspend the administrative sanction.
July 28: The Hsinchu Baseball Stadium was closed due to safety issues two days after its reopening on July 22. Acting Mayor Chen Chang-hsien of Hsinchu help a press conference on July 25, admitting that stadium maintenance and engineering were inadequate due to rushed completion, and the stadium reopened before proper inspection was completed. Chen apologized to fans and athletes.
Lin Chih-chien, who resigned from his post of Hsinchu mayor to run for Taoyuan mayor, has sustained considerable impact on his reputation. One player had to undergo surgery on July 28 for a left shoulder lip injury during a game on July 23, and he will be unable play for about eight months. Although the Taiwan Professional Baseball Players Association put forward 27 suggestions to mitigate stadium defects, the baseball league still permitted the game to proceed, causing player injuries. Tsai Chi-chang, head of Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL), apologized once more.
July 29: President Joe Biden of the United States and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke for more than two hours on the evening of July 28 (Taipei time). This is the fifth contact between the two leaders. According to American officials, Biden reiterated that U.S. policy on Taiwan will remain unchanged, and the United States opposes unilateral changes to the status quo or actions which would undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Xi stated that Chinese public opinion cannot be violated and warned that those who play with fires will be burned. The U.S. should align its words and deeds by the "One China" principle.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) stated on July 29 that the United States briefed Taiwan immediately after the call. MOFA thanked President Biden for repeatedly emphasizing the "rock-solid" relationship between Taiwan and the United States after taking office, the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and firm commitment to Taiwan's security.
July 30: Before her trip to Asia, Speaker Nancy Pelosi of the U.S. House of Representatives stated that she was "very excited." According to the itinerary announced by her office, she will visit Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea. Although the list does not include Taiwan, many speculate that she will still visit. Regarding Pelosi's possible visit to Taiwan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated his hopes that the U.S. and China would wisely handle their differences on Taiwan. Spokesman John Kirby of the National Security Council stated that the U.S. "One China" policy has not changed, and China and the United States have no reason to start a fight.