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.
Why the Taiwanese Are Still at Ease in Face of Impending Danger
Over the past few years, I have written from time to time to warn of Taiwan's deteriorating security - a view rarely echoed at the time by others - and was sometimes ridiculed as Cassandra.
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This Week in Taiwan 0307-0313
March 7: Mainland Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended a press conference during the Two Sessions political meetings and stressed three points related to Taiwan: There is only one China in the world; the two sides of the Taiwan Strait shall be reunified; and the "one China" principle is the political basis of U.S.-China relations and an insurmountable red line. According to Wang, there is no room for China to compromise or concede on the issue of Taiwan.
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Proposed Algal Reef Referendum Breaks 500,000 Signatures, Vote Set for August
The proposed "Cherish the Algal Reefs" referendum initiated by environmental groups passed the 500,000 signatures mark on March 4 and broke 540,000 on March 6, far exceeding the legal threshold of 290,000.
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The Significance of the Overwhelming Support of Algal Reef Referendum
After three months of disappointing campaigning, the referendum to decide the destiny of the 7,600-year-old algal reefs miraculously exceeded the legal threshold of 290,000 petition signatures in the last week of February and quickly broke through the 500,000 mark on March 4.
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Cross-Strait Observations: Beijing Not in Hurry to Have Dialogue with Taiwan
Right after the administration of President Joe Biden assumed office in the United States, American officials called upon the two sides of the Taiwan Strait to resume dialogue.
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This Week in Taiwan 0228-0306
February 28: In a press release, the Chinese Taipei Swimming Association (CTSA) announced that Wang Kuan-hung, dubbed "Taiwan's butterfly king, participated in 2020 a competition held by the International Swimming League, scoring 1 minute 49 seconds in a 200-meter butterfly stroke race. CTSA received official correspondence from the International Swimming Federation (FINA) confirming that the performance has set the world youth short-track record, a historic first for Taiwan. Wang has received invitation to participate in the 200-meter butterfly stroke race in the Olympic Games.
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China Suspends Import of Taiwanese Pineapples, Council of Agriculture Plans NT$1 Billion Relief Spending
On grounds of quarantine, mainland Chinese authorities announced the suspension of Taiwanese pineapple imports from March 1.
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What After Eating Pineapples in Grief and Indignation？
China's General Administration of Customs recently announced suspending importation of Taiwanese pineapples effective March 1 sent shockwaves across Taiwan.
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No Wonder DPP is Afraid of the Algae Reef Referendum
The campaign to collect enough signed petitions to file a referendum to protect the algal reefs at Datan, Taoyuan, has surprisingly created a new wave of social movement after Chinese New Year and has attracted the attention of high-level officials within the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
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This Week in Taiwan 0222-0228
February 22: A thick haze occurring in the early morning of February 21 on the Yunlin section of Taiwan's Provincial Highway No. 61, also known as West Coast Expressway, contributed to serious collisions involving 21 cars and causing two deaths and eight injuries. Investigation revealed that the highway 308 kilometers long was equipped with only one fog detector, and early warming devices were seriously inadequate. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) convened and finalized a seven-point road safety improvement plan, under which 16 fog detectors would be installed on the West Coast Expressway within one year, consistent with the density on National Highways.
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