This Week in Taiwan 1230-0106
December 30: During the presidential debate, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate William Lai was asked by a media representative if he agreed with the Republic of China Constitution. Mr. Lai replied, "Will treating the R.O.C. as a sacred mountain for cross-strait relations promote peace or actually bring disaster to Taiwan?" After the meeting, Mr. Lai claimed that he misspoke and said the "R.O.C." as opposed to the "R.O.C. Constitution."
January 2: The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) will continue its global expansion in 2024. There is speculation that the company will make significant breakthroughs in setting up plants in Taiwan and Japan. In terms of overseas construction, the company will establish 3-nanometer advanced process plants in Japan, likely in Osaka. Taiwan's advanced packaging will be located in the Chiayi Science Park, and the facility will expand the CoWoS process capabilities. TSMC stated that it will continue to evaluate suitable land for construction and will not rule out any possibilities.
January 2: In order to promote cross-strait integration, mainland China is encouraging Taiwanese people to settle in Fujian Province and has specially issued 10 new measures for entering and exiting the mainland. After the New Year, the first Resident Permit for Taiwanese people was issued. However, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council reminded that applying for a resident identity card in the Mainland Area violates the Act Governing Cross-Strait Relations and will result in the loss of the individual's identity as a resident in the Taiwan Area, cancelation of household registration, and associated rights in Taiwan.
January 3: A Kuomintang (KMT) legislator candidate recently released a recording of a Medigen board member stating that the government expects the lowest price of each vaccine to be NT$700 (about US$22), and the part exceeding NT$700 will be "distributed" to the company's Board of Directors. The board member stated this case was "bound to pass," and the government will "give the green light all the way." Medigen was accused of using false information to secure government tender and claim national subsidies, and the government's procurement of Medigen coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines has been accused of unjustly enriching the company. According to Medigen, the allegations seriously damage the company's reputation; it has filed a formal lawsuit.
January 3: The presidential election is approaching, and the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) reported to the Executive Yuan that the Ministry needs to strengthen its investigation of five major emerging modes of election interference by foreign forces. The MOJ listed new immigrants as the first and indicated that foreign forces would engage in election crimes through new immigrant organizations in Taiwan. Many officials present expressed disagreement with the practice of labeling new immigrants.
January 3: The Ministry of Environment (MOENV) publicly released its carbon fee calculation formula for the first time, adding an additional 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent exemption quota. Environmental groups questioned that after this adjustment, the annual reduction in carbon taxes would reach NT$3.8 billion (about US$122 million), and the new formula might reduce the intensity of carbon reduction. The MOENV explained that the new deduction is meant to eliminate unfair competition within the industry and account for administrative and management considerations.
January 5: The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS), Executive Yuan, announced the annual consumer price index (CPI) growth for 2023 as 2.50 percent, the second highest in 15 years, second only to 2.95 percent in 2022, and higher than the DGBAS's predicted value of 2.46 percent at the end of last year. The prices of 17 important consumer goods rose by 4.8 percent over the year, and the cost of eating out rose by 4.28 percent over the year, both of which were also the second highest in 15 years.
January 5: The Council on Foreign Relations released its annual "Preventive Priorities Survey" report, listing eight scenarios as first-level risks, including China increasing pressure on Taiwan in the military and economic fields, triggering a serious Taiwan Strait crisis involving the United States and multiple countries in the region. According to the report, the situation is particularly dangerous before and after Taiwan's presidential election. The probability of it occurring is moderate but may seriously impact U.S. interests.