Published since 2019 by the Fair Winds Foundation and Association of Foreign Relations, Taiwan Weekly provides in-depth report and analysis of the major issues facing Taiwan.

For Hitting China's Sore Points？ Why ICEF Became First Case to Be ''Punished'' for Taiwan Independence

For Hitting China's Sore Points？ Why ICEF Became First Case to Be ''Punished'' for Taiwan Independence

On June 21 this year, after mainland China issued an opinion on legally punishing Taiwan independence separatists for secession and incitement of secession, observers anticipated that this would not be taken as a mere declaration but that Beijing  would definitely take follow-up action.

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This Week in Taiwan 0922-0928

This Week in Taiwan 0922-0928

September 22: Led by the United States Department of Commerce, 26 American drone and counter-drone system manufacturers and Pentagon innovation unit officials visited Taiwan, seeking to integrate local manufacturers into the American drone industry chain. Sources indicate that in addition to contract manufacturers, mass production by Taiwanese companies with American branding for sales is also a possibility. The United States has expressed high interest in the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology's "Chien Hsiang" anti-radiation drone system, which targets enemy radars.

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Death Penalty ''Conditionally Constitutional'' But Essentially Abolished

Death Penalty ''Conditionally Constitutional'' But Essentially Abolished

Thirty-seven (37) death row inmates claimed that the death penalty system in the criminal law was unconstitutional and petitioned for a constitutional review. On August 20, the Constitutional Court declared that the death penalty was constitutional, but strictly limited the types of crimes and requirements applicable to it. Although the death penalty still exists on the surface, it can be said to have been “substantially abolished.” How to appease the public opinion of more than 80 percent who are opposed to abolishing death penalty will test the administration of President Lai Ching-te.

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Constitutional Court Ruling on Death Penalty Deceitful Like a Scam

Constitutional Court Ruling on Death Penalty Deceitful Like a Scam

On the first day of  new session in the Legislative Yuan, the Supreme Court declared the death penalty "conditionally constitutional," effectively abolishing it. This ruling reflects the grand justices' populist tendencies, aiming to pursue abolition while gaining political favor. They packaged eight unconstitutional elements as constitutional, akin to the emperor's new clothes. This not only misleads the public but also disrupts the constitutional order.

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U.S. Military Aid and Arms Sales Unreliable, Lai Administration Should Wake Up

U.S. Military Aid and Arms Sales Unreliable, Lai Administration Should Wake Up

Since it severed diplomatic relations with the Republic of China in 1979, the United States in 2023 provided military aid to Taiwan for the first time. However, the equipment sent has been described by American personnel as "discarded junk." Additionally, the delivery of F-16V fighter jets to Taiwan has been delayed again. The repeated mishaps in Anerucab arms sales and military aid to Taiwan not only embarrass the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration, which has long believed in the firmness of American security promises, but also negatively impact Taiwan’s national security and defense strategies. If it weren’t for the Department of Defense publicly acknowledged that it had shipped "unusable and poorly packaged equipment" to Taiwan, the public would still be unaware of the facts. Meanwhile, the security team, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of National Defense in the administration of President Lai Ching-te have remained silent, unwilling to face up to the reality.

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This Week in Taiwan 0915-0921

This Week in Taiwan 0915-0921

September 15: After President Lai Ching-te took the initiative to provoke a territorial dispute between China and Russia, Taiwan has been frequently attacked by pro-Russian hacker groups. The Ministry of Digital Affairs confirmed 45 incidents in a single week, covering government units overseeing as tax, military, and financial securities, as well as private institutions like banks and telecommunication operators. Two-thirds of these attacks successfully caused service disruptions. The main method was distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack, which uses large amounts of Internet traffic to overwhelm target servers, causing them to crash without invading the system to steal or alter data.

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End of "Western-Led Order": Kishore Mahbubani Warns Taiwan Against Pursuing Independence

End of "Western-Led Order": Kishore Mahbubani Warns Taiwan Against Pursuing Independence

The outcome of the presidential election in the United States is bound to reshape geo-political dynamics and U.S.-China relations. Under this context, Taiwan's future has become increasingly critical. In a lecture, senior Singaporean diplomat Kishore Mahbubani cautioned that the "Western-led order" is nearing its end, and Taiwan risks being sacrificed if it pursues independence. He notes that most countries are unlikely to recognize Taiwan as an independent state.

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In Challenging Resolution 2758, Lai Administration Chose Wrong Battlefield

In Challenging Resolution 2758, Lai Administration Chose Wrong Battlefield

The 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly took place in New York on September 10. The administration of President Lai Ching-te has actively campaigned for the international community to understand the content of U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758 correctly, arguing that it does not mention Taiwan, and China has no right to claim that it represents Taiwan. Ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators grasped the momentum and tried to emulate the Australian Senate in pushing for the Legislative Yuan to pass a resolution that the U.N. resolution does not involve Taiwan.

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National Security Crisis Rooted Within National Security Team

National Security Crisis Rooted Within National Security Team

Marking his first hundred days in office with a media interview, President Lai Ching-te touched upon cross-strait issues, citing the Sino-Russian Treaty of Aigun. In doing so, President Lai sarcastically criticized Beijing for not reclaiming its lost territories from Russia but instead asserting sovereignty over Taiwan. This comment sparked controversy within Taiwan and provoked a harsh rebuke from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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This Week in Taiwan 0908-0914

This Week in Taiwan 0908-0914

September 10: The United States House of Representatives passed several anti-China bills, including the "Taiwan Conflict Deterrence Act," which involves measures such as revealing the assets of Chinese leaders and prohibiting them and their families from using the U.S> financial system and freezing their assets if Beijing uses force against Taiwan.

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