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.
Lai Enters Center Stage Amid Public Discontent
The results of the 2024 general election have been announced.
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This Week in Taiwan 0107-0113
January 7: Dissatisfied with the latest arms sales to Taiwan announced by the United States on December 15 last year, mainland China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced sanctions on five American military industry companies. China criticized the United States for seriously undermining its sovereignty and security interests, as well as peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. China expressed strong dissatisfaction and lodged solemn representations.
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Lai Questions R.O.C. Constitution, Highlighting His Problematic Pro-Independence Stance
The presidential debate on December 30 featured a question from media representatives about whether the candidates acknowledged the Constitution of the Republic of China.
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Lai Insults Both Constitution and Nation, Even Defines President Tsai's Course As Taiwan Independence
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential William Lai's recent remarks relating treating the Republic of China (Constitution) as a "sacred mountain" to bringing about a disaster have stirred up a political storm, creating a crisis in the electoral landscape.
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China's Economic Reform Course Crucial for Future Cross-Strait Relations
Mainland China's investigation into Taiwan’s trade barriers was publicized in advance at the end of 2023, and then it announced the termination of preferential tariffs on 12 products including propylene in the early harvest list of the cross-strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), which directly impacted Taiwan’s petrochemical industry and once again drew attention to the future of cross-strait economic and trade relations.
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This Week in Taiwan 1230-0106
December 30: During the presidential debate, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate William Lai was asked by a media representative if he agreed with the Republic of China Constitution. Mr. Lai replied, "Will treating the R.O.C. as a sacred mountain for cross-strait relations promote peace or actually bring disaster to Taiwan?" After the meeting, Mr. Lai claimed that he misspoke and said the "R.O.C." as opposed to the "R.O.C. Constitution."
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Mayday Not Chou Tzu-yu
Two weeks before the election, Reuters reported that the Taiwanese band Mayday had received "political pressure" from mainland China to publicly express support for "One China."
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Contradicting Bonnie Glaser and Others：DPP Provokes War
"Vote for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and the youth go to the battlefield" is no longer an election rhetoric, nor is it a smear against the DPP; rather, it accurately reflects the DPP's stance on cross-strait issues.
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Will the San Francisco Vision Make China Hesitant to Take Action Against Taiwan？
As Taiwan's 2024 election day draws near, the security situation of the Taiwan Strait after the election has become another focus of international attention.
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This Week in Taiwan 1224-1230
December 25: Kuomintang (KMT) legislators accused Cho Jung-tai, campaign supervisor of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate William Lai, of creating a chat group to ask managers of publicly-owned banks to back DPP campaign activities. Critics question the DPP's use of public banks to support its election campaign. Cho responded that the members joined the group voluntarily; the group is not involved with fundraising and is definitely not a form of DPP-friendly corruption.
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