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 0326-0401
March 27: Former President Ma Ying-jeou mentioned the "Republic of China" in his public remarks after paying respects to Dr. Sun Yat-sen at the Mausoleum in Nanjing, stressing that the R.O.C. is now in its 112th year. In his meeting with Xin Changxing, Communist Party secretary of Jinagsu Province, Mr. Ma also mentioned events during his "presidency" in Taiwan. In a discussion with students at Hunan University, Mr. Ma stated that both Taiwan and the mainland are parts of the R.O.C. His repeated emphasis of the R.O.C. is unprecedented for Taiwan politicians who have visited the mainland. Mr. Ma is the first former head of state of the R.O.C. to set foot on the Chinese mainland in 74 years since the two sides of the Taiwan Strait became separately ruled in 1949.
Details
On Visits to Mainland and U.S., Ma and Tsai Compete Articulating the R.O.C.
Former President Ma Ying-jeou will visit mainland China next week to pay respect to his ancestors during the Qingming Festival and to conduct youth exchanges between the two sides.
Details
Ma's Mainland Visit Not Aimed at Tsai's U.S. Visit, Beijing Intends to Ease Cross-Strait Tensions
Former President Ma Ying-jeou is scheduled to visit mainland China to pay respects to his ancestors in late March.
Details
A Former Diplomat's Perspective：How Terrible is Severing Diplomatic Ties？
Since the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) came to power in 2016, the number of countries with which Taiwan has diplomatic relations has dropped from 21 to 13–a record low in history.
Details
This Week in Taiwan 0319-0325
March 20: Former President Ma Ying-jeou will go to mainland China to pay respects to his ancestors from May 27 to April 7. Executive Director Hsiao Hsu-tsen of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation stated that while there is currently no plan to meet with relevant officials from Beijing, Mr. Ma as the guest will respect the convenience and arrangements by the host. Hsiao also indicated that Mr. Ma is the former president of the Republic of China wherever he goes. However, based upon the understanding that both sides of the Taiwan Strait do not recognize each other's sovereignty but do not deny each other's governing authority, the mainland will continue the precedent of the 2015 meeting between Mr. Ma and Xi Jinping and refer to the former president as "Mister."
Details
Morris Chang Pointed Out U.S. Considers Taiwan a Dangerous Place：Warning to Lai？
Morris Chang, founder of the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), had a conversation with Chris Miller, author of Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology.
Details
"Anti-War" Statement by Four Scholars Lambasted by DPP Supporters：Undermining of Free Speech？
Recently, four scholars, including professors Feng Chien-san and Kuo Li-hsin from National Chengchi University; professor Fu Ta-wei from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University; and research fellow Lu Chien-yi from Academia Sinica, issued an "anti-war" statement advocating "peace, anti-arms trade, environmental protection, and autonomy," which was later harshly attacked by supporters and lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Details
One Step Closer Towards Eliminating Nuclear Power：Can Taiwan Survive Four Major Challenges？
This week, unit 2 of the Kuosheng Nuclear Power Plant (Second Nuclear Power Plant) was officially shut down and decommissioned.
Details
This Week in Taiwan 0312-0318
March 13: After operating for 40 years, the second (Kuosheng) nuclear power plant has been officially shut down and disconnected. Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua stated that small-scale units for the Tongxiao power plant in Miaoli and the No. 8 unit at the Datan Power Plant in Guanyin District, Taoyuan, will be added. This, paired with solar photovoltaics, night-time pumped-storage hydroelectricity, and conventional hydraulic power, power supply will be sufficient. However, scholars have questioned that the No. 8 unit at Datan has yet to be tested, and the incorporation of pumped-storage hydroelectricity shows there may be a power supply crisis at any time in the future.
Details
Leaking Secrets and Surrendering to Enemy：Why Did the Kinmen-Matsu Frontline Collapse？
It is shocking that a soldier originally stationed on the Erdan Islet in Kinmen was found to have deserted, and soldiers in Matsu wrote messages on the beach sand demanding meat for a lack of fresh meat in their meals.
Details