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.
...read moreImagine this scene: In the morning, a photo of President Lai Ching-te shaking hands warmly with opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) leaders before a national security briefing is broadcast across all media platforms. In the afternoon, Secretary-General Lin Yu-chang of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) announced the “Three Arrows” for the grand recall campaign, with billboards erected nationwide and recall groups mobilized across the country.
...read moreThe Center for Peace and Security at the Taipei School of Economics and Political Science Foundation held a 2025 Taiwan Strait defense wargame, which concluded yesterday. Facing a simulated mainland Chinese military invasion, former U.S. Pacific Commander Admiral Dennis Blair emphasized that American intervention in a Taiwan Strait war hinges on two key factors: the cause of the conflict and Taiwan’s own will to defend itself. A participant representing Japan noted that while the Self-Defense Forces are unlikely to take the initiative, they could play a supporting role based on the U.S.-Japan alliance.
...read morePresident 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.
...read moreWhen 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.
...read moreOn 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.
...read moreAfter the U.S.-China talks in Geneva concluded, President Donald Trump stated at a White House press conference that the discussions went smoothly, were mutually beneficial, and were "very conducive to unification and peace." The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration seems to have been overly dismissive of this, relying on a rigid "assume the worst of the adversary" mindset—one that excludes many potential variables. It would be better to reassess the event itself and adopt a broader and more flexible approach in analyzing potential threats.
...read moreThe government delegation led by Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun and Minister without Portfolio and Trade Representative Yang Jen-ni concluded its first round of in-person trade talks with the United States in Washington on May 1, which focused on reciprocal tariffs and various economic issues. Coincidentally, immediately after the government announced the start of negotiations, the New Taiwan Dollar (NTD) posted its largest single-day appreciation against the U.S. dollar on May 2 since central bank records began. By May 5, the surge continued, with the NTD soaring 1.872 points (6.21 percent) in just two trading days—an epic rise akin to a runaway train. This raises serious suspicion: Is the government’s so-called unspoken bargaining chip essentially offering NTD appreciation in exchange for the United States lowering reciprocal tariffs?
...read moreThe Kuomintang’s (KMT) massive “Fight Against Dictatorship” rally on April 26 drew significant momentum, but President Lai Ching-te mocked it by saying protesters “should go to Tiananmen Square.” It turns out he had already issued strict orders demanding all 35 recall motions against KMT legislators be passed. At a time when U.S.-China trade tensions are escalating, and U.S. President Donald Trump’s new tariffs threaten to devastate Taiwan’s exports, the Lai administration has shown no interest in an economic response.
...read moreOver the weekend, the Kuomintang (KMT) held a rally titled "Oppose the Green Communists, Fight Dictatorship—Stand Together on Ketagalan Boulevard!" in front of the Presidential Office, attracting a crowd of 250,000. KMT Chairman Eric Chu declared that ever since President Lai Ching-te was elected on May 20 last year, he has been dividing and destroying Taiwan. Chu announced that the Legislative Yuan will initiate a recall motion against Lai Ching-te on May 20, and called on people across Taiwan to use the power of the people to bring Lai down.
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