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 0110-0117
January 13: The United States National Security Council released the classified "U.S. Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific." The document clearly indicates: "defending the first island-chain nations, including Taiwan." The strategic framework also mentions defending Taiwan against Chinese invasion and enabling Taiwan to develop an effective asymmetric defense strategy and capabilities, as well as strengthening and accelerating the rise of India to help it become a vital partner in combating China.
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While World Condemns Storming of U.S. Capitol, Taiwan's Government Stays Silent
The United States Capitol was stormed by supporters of President Donald Trump on January 6 in an attempt to block the certification of the results of the 2020 presidential election, an event which shocked the world.
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DPP Double Standards Trampled Democracy Twice
Recently, supporters of President Donald Trump broke into the United States Capitol, killing five, of which four were private persons and one was a police officer.
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Double Standard Politicians Transferring Bad Karma unto Themselves
Taiwan's Sunflower Movement, Hong Kong's Umbrella Movement, and America’s recent protests storing the Capitol: The power of karma is really quick to transfer with the turn of history!
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This Week in Taiwan 0103-0109
January 5: Taiwan is approaching water shortage. The Council of Agriculture (COA) announced that it would suspend irrigation for nearly 28,000 hectares (about 69,190 acres) of land in the first phase. Accounting for earlier suspension of farm irrigation in Chiayi, Tainan, Taichung, Hsinchu, and Miaoli, the total suspended irrigation land area is more than 74,000 hectares (about 182,858 acres), more than 24 percent of the total irrigation area and the largest total area in two decades. The COA assessed that compensation for suspending irrigation due to the present drought, which persisted from the second phase last year to the first phase this year, will exceed NT$7 billion (about US$250 million).
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Amid New Biden Administration, Continued Tensions, President Tsai Calls for Cross-Strait Dialogue in New Year Address
The tensions in the Taiwan Strait continued and the United States is about to see a transfer of power, new changes may emerge in the cross-strait relations.
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Taiwan and China Exchange Empty Words, On Two Parallel Paths
At the beginning of the new year, the leaders of both sides of the Taiwan Strait each mentioned their hopes for future cross-strait relations.
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How Can Taiwan Engage in Meaningful Dialogue Across the Strait
Because of the ravaging coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the global economy has seen a rare depression in a century, and the competition between the United States and China has promoted the transformation of the international order; some people have called year 2020 as the first year of an "Asian Century".
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This Week in Taiwan 1227-0102
December 28: President Donald Trump of the United States signed on December 27 appropriations legislation worth $2.3 trillion. The legislation package included the Taiwan Assurance Act of 2020, which calls for the normalization of arms sales to Taiwan, support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations, and review of Department of State guidelines for engaging with Taiwan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed welcome and gratitude.
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Ractopamine Pork: DPP Wins Legislative Battle, KMT to Challenge By Recall and Referendum
Four months after President Tsai Ing-wen's sudden announcement to ease import restrictions on U.S. pork containing ractopamine and beef from cattle over 30 months old, the Legislative Yuan passed all 9 executive orders to allow such imports on Christmas Eve with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) majority in the Parliament.
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