After the U.S. Strikes Iran, Taiwan Should Be Even More Vigilant About Avoiding War
The recent order by President Donald Trump of the United States to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities marks a historic departure from a long-standing red line—the U.S. had refrained from attacking Iranian territory since 1979. The operation sends a clear message: Washington is willing to use force decisively when necessary. Yet to interpret this as a pivot from isolationism to an interventionist foreign policy—and as a security boon for Taiwan—may be dangerously simplistic.
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Who is Responsible for Witch-Hunt Atmosphere in Taiwan?
Once a source of calm and human warmth, Taiwan's streets are increasingly permeated by suspicion and hostility. In a recent incident, a self-identified "pro-Taiwanese" fitness coach was accosted on the Metro while watching a video, with a stranger demanding, "Are you Chinese?" In another, a former special forces officer was taking a selfie in a public park when Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Claire Guo publicly accused him of being "sneaky," uploading his photo online and filing a police report. These episodes are not isolated; they point to a disturbing trend of everyday interactions being poisoned by mistrust and paranoia.
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President Lai's "Impurities" Remarks Like Purge Threat, Sends Chills
President Lai Ching-te recently delivered the second installment of his "Ten Speeches on Unity" at a Hakka Youth Association event in Taoyuan. Yet, the focus of his speech—eliminating "impurities" through elections and recall votes—has sparked widespread alarm. For the head of state in a democratic nation to refer to dissenting voices as "impurities" stands in sharp contrast to the message of "unity," and strikes a particularly jarring chord.
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Xi's New Statement on Taiwan Draws Red Line for U.S.-China Relations
President Donald Trump of the United States had repeatedly extended invitations, and Chinese President Xi Jinping finally took the call. The key lies in this sentence from Xinhua News Agency’s official press release: “Avoid letting a minimal number of ‘Taiwan independence’ separatists drag China and the United States into a dangerous situation of confrontation.” This marks a rare instance of Beijing airing its grievances on the Taiwan issue to a foreign power. While Mr. Trump did not respond directly, both sides are about to enter substantive trade negotiations and have agreed to promote mutual leadership visits. With that, the Taiwan issue has formally entered the U.S.-China negotiation table—something the government must not ignore.
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Two Lessons South Korean Election Teaches Taiwan
Lee Jae-myung of South Korea’s Democratic Party won the presidential election with 49.42 percent of the vote, defeating Kim Moon-soo of the ruling People Power Party, who received 41.15 percent. He assumed office immediately. On the surface, it seemed like voters were shifting from the conservatives to the liberals; in reality, it was a collective backlash against former President Yoon Suk-yeol. Mr. Yoon’s chaotic imposition of martial law led to months of governmental disorder and economic downturn. Even Acting President Han Duck-soo and his designated successor, Choi Sang-mok, were impeached one after another, leaving Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho to assume both roles. In this leaderless state, South Korea struggled to cope with U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff war, fueling public discontent.
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DPP Manipulates "Transitional Justice," Provokes Public Backlash
The Ministry of the Interior’s plan to rename all “Zhongzheng roads” (which refer to the late President Chiang Kai-shek) has met strong resistance from local governments, citing it as wasteful and burdensome. More than 70 percent of the public also do not support the initiative. Unexpectedly, Minister Liu Shih-fang invoked the “Act on Promoting Transitional Justice,” insisting that removing authoritarian symbols is the government’s duty and must be implemented. Her stance reveals three major blind spots. First, she seems to regard the transitional justice act as an unlimited buffet pass for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Second, she is blind to public opinion. Third, while the administration of President Lai Ching-te has already begun emulating authoritarian rule, she still dares to speak of transitional justice.
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Huang Backs Nuclear Power in Taiwan, Criticized by DPP Supporters as Pro-China
When NVIDIA chief executive Jensen Huang said that “Taiwan should invest in nuclear power,” it set off a firestorm. Online criticism and smearing erupted. For someone as seasoned as Huang to appear unaware of a certain sensitive “local sentiment” in Taiwan made him seem like a political novice.
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U.S.-Taiwan Tariff Negotiations Yet to Be Settled, NT Dollar Still Appreciated Significantly
Without surprise, the New Taiwan dollar broke into the NT$29 per U.S. dollar territory on May 26. Unlike the aggressive rally seen in early May that made currency markets a nationwide focus and even triggered a rush to exchange foreign currency, this time the appreciation felt like a "smooth entry"—with low trading volume, no desperate intervention by the central bank, and minimal public attention, as if everyone had long accepted this outcome. Behind it lies not only a weakening U.S. dollar globally, but also Taiwan's awkward position as it strives to engage in trade talks with the United States.
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Chu Looks Forward to Passing the Baton: Who Will Take Over the KMT Leadership？
In a media interview, Chairman Eric Chu of the Kuomintang (KMT) stated that the schedule for the party chair election will remain unchanged, with the announcement in July, the election in September, and the handover in October. “I sincerely hope for a smooth transition,” he said. Chu also noted that the four outstanding mayors of directly governed municipalities within the party are exceptional talents and key figures in future leadership contests.
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President Lai Promotes Sovereign Wealth Fund to "Make America Great Again"
On the first anniversary of his inauguration, President Lai Ching-te suddenly announced plans to establish a Taiwanese sovereign wealth fund—a national-level investment platform. While the idea of a sovereign wealth fund has circulated in Taiwan for years, President Lai’s directive now gives it a tangible start. However, the motivations and considerations behind his move are thought-provoking.
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