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.
President Tsai's Second Term: Backing Medigen Vaccine Most Criticized
While coronavirus (COVID-19) infections continue to surge in Taiwan, May 20 marked President Tsai Ing-wen’s sixth anniversary in office.
Details
A Bleak Anniversary：Failed Epidemic Prevention, Justice, and Infrastructure Program
May 20 marked the sixth anniversary of President Tsai Ing-wen's inauguration, while more than a million people in Taiwan confirmed with the coronavirus (COVID-19); the so-called "New Taiwan Model" of epidemic prevention collapsed, and the people suffering.
Details
Arms Sales Policy Adjustment Prefaces U.S. Coordination of Taiwan's Military
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Regional Security Mira Resnick of the United States held a video conference with members of the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council and the American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan on May 14, explaining that the administration of President Joe Biden has adjusted its arms sales policy to Taiwan, saying that the U.S. will be terminating most arms sales to Taiwan that do not fall under the category of “asymmetric warfare."
Details
This Week in Taiwan 0515-0521
May 15: On Sunday afternoon, the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church reported a bloody shooting causing one death and five injuries. A 52-year-old Taiwanese doctor who stood up to block the gunman was shot to death. The shooter was David Chou, an immigrant who was born in Taiwan. Police called the shooting a politically motivated hate crime, and the suspect could face death penalty.
Details
U.S. State Department Removes "Taiwan Part of China" Reference
On May 5, the United States Department of State made a substantial update to its U.S.-Taiwan relations "fact sheet."
Details
Pendulum Swing on U.S. Revision of "One China" Policy
After the United States Department of State website deleted sensitive statements such as "does not support Taiwan independence" and "acknowledging the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China," Kurt Campbell, director of the White House National Security Council Indo-Pacific Affairs Coordination, and Spokesman Ned Price of the State Department immediately reiterated that their position of "not supporting Taiwan independence" remains unchanged.
Details
President Tsai's Judicial Reform and Justice All Down the Drain
The Constitutional Court upheld the Executive Yuan’s letter notice nullifying local ordinances passed by various local legislatures mandating zero detection of ractopamine additive in imported pork.
Details
This Week in Taiwan 0508-0514
May 9: In 2019, the Control Yuan impeached prosecutor Chen Lung-hsiang who investigated former Legislator Tuan Yi-kang's case about an unfulfilled promise of swallowing a hockey puck. However, the impeachment was rejected by the Civil Service Disciplinary Committee of the Judicial Yuan. In support of Chen, outgoing prosecutor-general Chiang Hui-min criticized "specific individuals" in the Control Yuan for infringing the Constitution and undermining prosecutorial independence, causing a serious chilling effect.
Details
A Small Shell Company Won Big Government Tender
With the sharply surging pandemic situation in Taiwan but an insufficient supply of rapid test kits, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) gave a project approval for 22 companies to import test kits, one of which was Golden Global Biomedicine, Ltd.
Details
Despite Overwhelming Pandemic, DPP Supporters Still Dividing the Spoils
The number of confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases surged past 36,000 a day, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) predicted that the daily caseload would reach 100,000 by May, 11, making people across Taiwan get themselves into a panic.
Details