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.

Disturbing Truth about Taiwan's Wealth Gap

Disturbing Truth about Taiwan's Wealth Gap

The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), often dubbed Taiwan’s “sacred mountain,” has created many miracles, making Taiwan an indispensable part of the global semiconductor supply chain and Taiwan's pride.

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The Week in Taiwan 1112-1118

The Week in Taiwan 1112-1118

November 13: The IBM Kaohsiung Software Technology Integration Service Center opened, which is IBM's first software service center and information security monitoring center in Taiwan. In line with the Kaohsiung City Government's "Asia New Bay Area 2.0" plan, investment is expected to reach several billion New Taiwan dollars and will bring 1,000 job opportunities over five years.

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Can Taiwan Survive Solely Relying on TSMC?Unofficial War Game Points Out Taiwan's Achilles' Heel

Can Taiwan Survive Solely Relying on TSMC?Unofficial War Game Points Out Taiwan's Achilles' Heel

A recent tabletop exercise war game titled "2023TTX Regional Security Push" has brought together 135 experts from various fields (including 40 from foreign countries) and covered a wide range of political, diplomatic, economic, energy, industrial, medical, and social aspects.

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Hsiao to Be Announced Running Mate:Challenges Facing Lai's National Security Team

Hsiao to Be Announced Running Mate:Challenges Facing Lai's National Security Team

It is widely reported in Taipei's political circles that Ambassador Bi-khim Hsiao, representative to the United States, made a secret trip to Taiwan at the end of October.

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Examination of Taiwan's GDP per Capita Ranking 12th in the World

Examination of Taiwan's GDP per Capita Ranking 12th in the World

There is a huge disparity between Taiwan's purchasing power parity (PPP) indices and exchange rates.

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This Week in Taiwan 1105-1111

This Week in Taiwan 1105-1111

November 5: At a symposium held by the R.O.C. Constitutional Law Society, Wu Yu-shan, academician of the Academia Sinica, stated that there may be a minority president who does not have absolute majority support; the political party to which he belongs will also not have a majority in the parliament and will insist on forming a minority government. Such a "double minority" will affect the legitimacy of the government. Former Grand Justice Su Yeong-chin opined that having a "double minority" is a false democracy and will produce a responsibility crisis. Scholars suggested that when he nominates the cabinet, the new president should propose a vote of confidence to the parliament.

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KMT-TPP Alliance Reaches Stalemate!Ko Keeps Party List Open, Prepares for Elimination Battle

KMT-TPP Alliance Reaches Stalemate!Ko Keeps Party List Open, Prepares for Elimination Battle

With the 2024 presidential and legislative elections approaching, a discreet meeting held on October 31 among three prominent figures in Taiwanese politics, namely Chairman Eric Chu of the Kuomintang (KMT), KMT presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih, and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je, lasted a lengthy 53 minutes but yielded no consensus.

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Lai Ching-te's False Pretense of Respecting New Immigrants

Lai Ching-te's False Pretense of Respecting New Immigrants

The Taiwan People's Party (TPP) is reportedly contemplating nominating Xu Chunying, a mainland Chinese spouse, on its party list for legislators-at-large.

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Lai Energy Policy, Fraught with Problems, Must be Rectified

Lai Energy Policy, Fraught with Problems, Must be Rectified

In October last year, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate William Lai announced his energy policy platform which has three key points: First, accelerate the development of "forward-looking energy" such as geothermal energy, biomass energy, ocean energy, and hydrogen energy.

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This Week in Taiwan 1029-1104

This Week in Taiwan 1029-1104

October 30: The Taiwan People's Party (TPP) intends to include Hsu Chun-ying, a mainland Chinese spouse, in its legislative election party list, triggering attacks from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). DPP presidential candidate William Lai criticized Hsu's potential entry into the Legislative Yuan, fearing a national security crisis. Premier Chen Chien-jen also responded that personnel should be considered with national security as the highest standard. Chairman Ko Wen-je of the TPP questioned why cannot people with Republic of China (Taiwan) national identity cards run for political office.

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