Taiwan Weekly is a newsletter released every week by Fair Winds Foundation, Association of Foreign Relations and Taipei Forum that provides coverage and perspectives into the latest developments in Taiwan.
This Week in Taiwan 0628-0706
June 29: Twenty (20) Kuomintang (KMT) legislators occupied the chamber of the Legislative Yuan on the evening of June 28 and sprayed paint on the podium to protest the pork-barrel politics behind President Tsai Ing-wen's nomination of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) heavyweight Chen Chu as president of the Control Yuan. However, 20 hours later, the KMT legislators were removed by majority DPP legislators. The Legislative Yuan is set to confirm Control Yuan personnel appointments on July 17.
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Amid Backlash, Chiang Affirms Contributions of 1992 Consensus
The reform committee of the Kuomintang (KMT) proposed a new cross-strait policy discourse, triggering accusations that the party leadership is downplaying the 1992 Consensus, which in turn have triggered dissatisfaction among senior party figures.
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KMT Must Reclaim Ability to Advocate for the R.O.C.
Under constant assault from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and opposition Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), the Kuomintang (KMT) announced on June 19 reforms on four fronts: organizational reform, youth participation, cross-strait discourse and financial stability.
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President Tsai Rejects but Cannot Escape 1992 Consensus
The new stance on the 1992 Consensus taken by the reform committee of the Kuomintang (KMT) has stirred mixed reactions from former party chairmen.
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This Week in Taiwan 0621-0627
June 21: The solar eclipse was observed in central, southern, and eastern Taiwan as well as Kinmen. The astronomical spectacle was visible for 60 seconds from many locations, awing many spectators. The next solar eclipse in Taiwan will not appear for another 195 years.
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Bolton's New Book Exposes Trump's Attitude on Taiwan, Cross-Strait Power Disparity
As the power struggle between the United States and China escalates and with the U.S. presidential election approaching, former White House National Security Advisor John Bolton’s new book dropped a bombshell by exposing many inside stories about President Donald Trump’s foreign policy-making.
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Taiwan as Trump's Penpoint？ Time to Wake Up
In his soon-to-be published memoir, The Room Where It Happened, former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton mentioned a very interesting analogy of the importance to the United States regarding Taiwan and China. President Donald Trump compared Taiwan to the point of his pen and China to his desk in the Oval Office.
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Cross-Strait Crisis: The Pen Tip, Although Small, Can Be Lethal
A newly published book by the former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton mentions that President Donald Trump analogized Taiwan as a pen tip in contrast to mainland China as an office desk, concluding President Trump’s contempt of Taiwan.
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This Week in Taiwan 0614-0620
June 16: The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) notified that Taiwan is no longer designated as a food-and-mouth disease zone. After 24 years of efforts, Taiwan (including Penghu and Matsu but excluding Kinmen) will be classified as a non-epidemic area for which vaccines would not be necessary. It is expected that fresh pork may be exported in the second half of this year. The first patch will likely target the markets of Singapore, Hong Kong, and Macau.
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To Do Han Justice, Wave of Recalls Spreading Like Wildfire Across Taiwan
After Kaohsiung Mayor Han was recalled on June 6, a wave of recalls is spreading like wild fire from southern to northern Taiwan, with Kaohsiung Councilwoman Huang Jie, who is affiliated with the New Power Party, as the main target.
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