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.

Tortoise and Hare Race Between Lai and Hou

Tortoise and Hare Race Between Lai and Hou

Recently, leading presidential contenders have begun to emerge. According to polls, Vice President William Lai and incumbent Mayor Hou Yu-ih of New Taipei are the most popular candidates for their political parties, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Kuomintang (KMT), respectively. Mr. Lai is presently running for the DPP chairmanship with hopes to secure the party’s presidential nomination.

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This Week in Taiwan 0101-0108

This Week in Taiwan 0101-0108

January 3: Due to disputes over year-end bonuses and salary adjustments, Evergreen Airline Services personnel initiated a strike, and the unrest has spread. It is speculated that personnel of Taoyuan International Airport Services, a subsidiary of China Airlines, may also join in protest and refuse to work over Chinese New Year and the February 28 holidays, affecting transportation over Lunar New Year.

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Conscription Extended to 1 Year, President Tsai: Prepare for War to Avoid War

Conscription Extended to 1 Year, President Tsai: Prepare for War to Avoid War

President Tsai Ing-wen held a high-level national security meeting and decided to extend the compulsory military service to one year.

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Horrible Truth Behind the Extension of Military Service

Horrible Truth Behind the Extension of Military Service

Recently, the government formally announced that the compulsory military service will be extended from four months to one year, effective January 1, 2024.

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DPP Cross-Strait Narrative："Maintain Peace" to Replace "Resist China" to Protect Taiwan

DPP Cross-Strait Narrative："Maintain Peace" to Replace "Resist China" to Protect Taiwan

After the crippling losses in the recent local elections in November, the cross-strait policy narrative of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), "resist China to protect Taiwan," became one of the items for review.

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This Week in Taiwan 1225-0103

This Week in Taiwan 1225-0103

December 27: The National Development Council (NDC) released business indicator figures for November. Due to the cooling global economy, the comprehensive score plummeted by six points from the previous month down to 12 points, the lowest score in 13 years. The index light signal changed from a yellow and blue light to a blue light representing contraction, a first in nearly four years. The NDC described the current state of the economic downturn as "cold outside" (referring to international markets) and "warm inside" (domestic demand) and expects the business climate to improve in the second quarter of 2023.

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Vaccine Procurement Controversy：Terry Gou Denounces Officials as Rotten Wood and Brute Beasts

Vaccine Procurement Controversy：Terry Gou Denounces Officials as Rotten Wood and Brute Beasts

Terry Gou, the founder of Hon Hai Precision Industry Company (Foxconn), has been in the spotlight recently for crossing sords with Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan over the government's role in the delayed procurement of BioNTech vaccines.

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Rotten Wood and Brute Beasts：Tsai Administration Shockingly Resembles Late Han Dynasty

Rotten Wood and Brute Beasts：Tsai Administration Shockingly Resembles Late Han Dynasty

Terry Gou, founder of Foxconn, has called for procuring the next-generation BioNTech vaccine, but Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan sarcastically compared Gou to a "BioNTech salesperson."

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President Tsai Turns Blind Eye to Underworld

President Tsai Turns Blind Eye to Underworld

The speaker election at the Tainan City Council has been widely reported to pose serious threats to the personal safety of various councilors due to involvement with organized crime syndicates. Councilors affiliated with the Kuomintang (KMT) collectively issued "statements of non-suicide" pressing for protection by the prosecutors.

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This Week in Taiwan 1218-1227

This Week in Taiwan 1218-1227

December 18: In the postponed Chiayi mayoral election, the Kuomintang's (KMT) incumbent Huang Min-hui won nearly 60,000 votes, about 63.6 percent of the votes, winning a big victory over Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) challenger Lee Chun-yi. Huang was successfully re-elected and set a record of being elected mayor four times. 

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