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.

Semiconductor Industry Wants to Build its Own Nuclear Power Plants, Hopes Government Will Change Non-Nuclear Stance

Semiconductor Industry Wants to Build its Own Nuclear Power Plants, Hopes Government Will Change Non-Nuclear Stance

President-elect William Lai visited the Hsinchu Science Park on March 19 for a closed-door meeting with semiconductor industry representatives, marking the first stop of his post-election five major industries' dialogue.

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Debunking President Tsai's "King's New Clothes":Semiconductor's Self-Built Nuclear Power is Difficult

Debunking President Tsai's "King's New Clothes":Semiconductor's Self-Built Nuclear Power is Difficult

Chairman Frank Huang of the Power Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (PSMC) recently proposed that semiconductor manufacturers build their own nuclear power plants.

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Should President Tsai Visit Taiping Island?

Should President Tsai Visit Taiping Island?

Amid the volatile situation in the South China Sea, concerns have emerged as a new pier on Taiping Island (Itu Aba), costing NT$1.7 billion (about US$53 million), is set for inauguration.

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This Week in Taiwan 0317-0323

This Week in Taiwan 0317-0323

March 19: The Coast Guard Administration is set to hold a completion ceremony for its pier improvement project at Taiping Island (Itu Aba) in the South China Sea. The Kuomintang (KMT) urged President Tsai Ing-wen to follow the example of former presidents Chen Shui-bian and Ma Ying-jeou by visiting Taiping Island before leaving office to assert sovereignty. The Foreign Affairs and National Committee of the Legislative Yuan plans to visit the island on May 16 to inspect the living facilities and combat readiness of military personnel there.

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President Tsai's Goodwill Eight Years Late:Forgot Lai Again

President Tsai's Goodwill Eight Years Late:Forgot Lai Again

After nearly eight years in office, President Tsai Ing-wen finally met with Chairman Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) two months before stepping down and arranged to meet with Chairman Eric Chu of the Kuomintang (KMT), hoping for unity across party lines to advance the nation.

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Afraid to the Point of Using China as Shield, DPP No Longer Anxious About Absentee Voting

Afraid to the Point of Using China as Shield, DPP No Longer Anxious About Absentee Voting

In April 2002, during an interpellation at the Legislative Yuan, then Premier You Si-kun committed to setting up an absentee voting system as long as the Central Election Commission (CEC) can overcome the technical issues.

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Suffocating Freedom of Speech:The Government's Descent into Malevolence

Suffocating Freedom of Speech:The Government's Descent into Malevolence

Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng has simplified the definition of "local collaborator" in cognitive warfare to anyone whose speech is unfavorable to Taiwan but beneficial to mainland China.

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This Week in Taiwan 0310-0316

This Week in Taiwan 0310-0316

March 10: The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) concluded with a "political resolution" passed. In the section related to Taiwan, it reaffirms the commitment to jointly promote the progress of peaceful reunification of the motherland. This effectively sets the tone for mainland China's Two Sessions (i.e. the National People's Congress and CPPCC) regarding Taiwan, and it is the first time since 2018 that a political resolution explicitly mentions "peaceful reunification."

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Taiwan Strait on Brink of War, Defense Minister Admits Trouble Sleeping

Taiwan Strait on Brink of War, Defense Minister Admits Trouble Sleeping

The Kinmen incident has led to a rising spiral of hostilities between Taiwan and China and precipitated a turbulent situation across the Taiwan Strait.

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Contradicting Cross-Strait Assessments:Tsai Administration Creates Unease

Contradicting Cross-Strait Assessments:Tsai Administration Creates Unease

Amidst the breakdown of cross-strait negotiations over the Kinmen-Xiamen maritime dispute, Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng conveyed two crucial messages during interpellation at the Legislative Yuan.

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