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.
Trump Diagnosed with Coronavirus: Do Taiwanese Still Rely on "Temperament" to Combat the Pandemic？
The closely watched United States presidential election certainly delivered an unexpected October Surprise—not a crisis in the Taiwan Strait but an outbreak in the White House.
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President Tsai's Countermeasure for October Surprise
A new phrase "October Surprise" was created last month when people were speculating whether there would be an armed conflict between mainland China and Taiwan.
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This Week in Taiwan 0927-1003
September 28: A Taiwanese fishing boat named "Hsin Ling Po No. 236" from Yilan was collided by a Japanese official vessel on the afternoon of September 27 at 12 nautical miles west of the Diaoyutai Islands, resulting in damage. The Coast Guard Administration, Ocean Affairs Council, sent a ROCS Kee Lung to escort the Taiwanese fishing boat back. Fishermen demanded that the government take a harder stance. Premier Su Tseng-tsang demanded an explanation by Japan, while Japanese media reported that the Taiwanese vessel illegally entered waters within 12 nautical miles.
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Official Diplomatic Relations with U.S.？ Foreign Minister: Not For Now
As the election campaigns in the United States as well as U.S.-China diplomatic confrontation and military rivalry continue to intensify, there have been calls for establishing diplomatic relations between the United States and Taiwan.
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Pro-U.S., Anti-China Policy May Not Convince Popular Opinion
The administration of President Tsai Ing-wen adopted its pro-United States, anti-China policy, straining the relations across the Taiwan Straits.
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The United States and Cross-Strait Military Balance
As a new crisis in the Taiwan Strait looms larger every day, many people in Taiwan continue to bask in the fond memories of 1996 when two U.S. carrier groups came to its rescue.
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Taiwan Signs Contract with COVAX to Procure Coronavirus Vaccines But Refuses Vaccines from China
As the coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads all over the world, the people of Taiwan are eagerly anticipating vaccines.
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This Week in Taiwan 0920-0926
September 22: On September 21, the Taipei District Prosecutor's Office concluded its investigation of the bribery case concerning various legislators. It determined that the principal of Pacific Distribution Investment Company, Lee Heng-lung, in order to seize business control of the SOGO department stores, bribed legislators and legislative aides with NT$37.7 million (about US$1.3 million) over nine years. Among them, Legislator Su Chen-ching used his uncle Su Jia-chyuan's political rank within the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration to demand NT$25.8 million (about US$886,000), the most, in bribes.
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Saber-Rattling China Harasses Taiwan to Protest Visit by Top U.S. Diplomat
Under Secretary of State Keith Krach of the United States arrived in Taiwan on the evening of the September 17.
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A Gunpowder Magazine of U.S.-China Rivalry
The lifting of the ban on U.S. pork and beef import two months ago was thought to have the resumption of U.S-Taiwan economic talk in return.
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