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 0220-0226
February 20: The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics closed, ending the 17-day event. Host country China ranked third in the medal table with nine gold medals, four silver, and two bronze, behind Norway and Germany. The United States ranked fourth with eight gold medals. However, the Chinese Taipei Olympic delegation representing Taiwan was unable to win any medal.
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Effect of the Ukraine Crisis on Taiwan
With the Russian army gathered on the Ukrainian border, many western countries are urgently mediating in order to prevent the war that is about to break out.
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Analysis of the Linkage Between Taiwan and Ukraine
The tense confrontation along the border of Ukraine and Russia in like manner has impact on the development of political situation in Taipei.
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Is Taiwan a Gold-Plated Democracy？
Taiwan's democracy index has been rising in international rankings.
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This Week in Taiwan 0213-0219
February 13: A group of People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft were said to have intruded upon Taiwan's "air space" near the Pratas Island on February 12. However, despite the broadcast expelling the mainland Chinese jets announcing otherwise, the Air Force Command stated on February 13 that PLA aircraft did not actually enter Pratas Island air space. The content of the broadcast was only an early expulsion warning.
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Public Worry Grows as Taiwan Lifts Restrictions on Fukushima Food Imports
The government announced on February 8 Taiwan would lift the ban on food from five counties and cities around Fukushima, Japan.
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Three Reservations About Lifting Ban on Nuclear-Contaminated Food Imports from Fukushima
The Executive Yuan announced suddenly the lifting of ban on food products from five Japanese prefectures affected by the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, taking effect on February 21.
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To Unify Taiwan Wisely, No Need to Enact a Law
Zhang Nianchi, a renowned mainland Chinese scholar on Taiwan affairs and former director of the Shanghai Institute of East Asian Studies, recently wrote that the mainland urgently needs to enact a “Unification Act” now, covering measures of peaceful unification and forceful unification, because acting by the law could not only coerce the other side but also stabilize its own side, and using law as a weapon could be very powerful.
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In-Depth Implications of the China-Russia Joint Statement
Under American diplomatic boycott, President Vladimir Putin of Russia attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics and held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
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This Week in Taiwan 0206-0213
February 8: The Pentagon announced on February 7 that the United States Department of State has approved the sale of equipment and services worth $100 million to Taiwan to help maintain and improve the Patriot missile system, strengthen Taiwan’s air defense system and surveillance capabilities, and deter regional threats. This is the second arms sales to Taiwan since President Joe Biden took office. The procedure of notifying Congress will take place, and the arms sale is expected to take effect in a month.
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