This Week in Taiwan 0428-0504
April 27: The People's Liberation Army Air Force and Navy conducted joint combat readiness patrols near Taiwan, with a total of 12 aircraft crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait. At one point, they flew as close as 37 nautical miles northwest of Keelung. It is estimated that the shortest distance to the north coast of Taiwan was only 40 kilometers, which is the closest distance since the Ministry of National Defense began reporting on mainland Chinese military activity.
April 28: After the visit by Kuomintang (KMT) legislators to Beijing, mainland China announced conditional reopening of travel for Fujian residents to Taiwan’s outlying Matsu. The mainland also approved the import of certain agricultural and fishery products from Taiwan which meet quarantine requirements. China called for Taiwan to fully restore direct passenger flights as well. The Mainland Affairs Council and Ministry of Transportation and Communications initially criticized this move as not adhering to the principle of reciprocity but later stated that they would assess the situation based on the actual needs of people on both sides and cross-strait relations.
April 30: The World Health Assembly (WHA) is scheduled to take place in Geneva on May 27. United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific Mark Lambert criticized China's misinterpretation of United Nations General Assembly Resolution No. 2758 as excluding Taiwan from the international system and attempting to link it improperly to the "One China" principle. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also issued a statement strongly encouraging the World Health Organization (WHO) to invite Taiwan as an observer.
In response, mainland China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed strong dissatisfaction, claiming that the statement seriously violates the "one China" principle and the Three Joint Communiqués and urged the United States to stop politicizing Taiwan-related issues during the WHA.
April 30: Both the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS), Executive Yuan, and International Monetary Fund (IMF) have raised their economic growth forecasts for Taiwan this year. The IMF predicts a growth rate of 3.1 percent, while the DGBAS estimates it at 3.57 percent. The DGBAS also revised its first-quarter economic growth estimate to 6.51 percent, marking an 11-quarter high. According to the DGBAS, recovery may be attributed to improving external demand and steady domestic growth, although international uncertainties remain a factor affecting the pace of economic revival.
May 1: Thousands of workers took to the streets on Labor Day, urging President-elect William Lai to fulfill campaign promises and push for labor rights reforms. During his tenure as premier, Lai had previously advocated for amendments to the Labor Standards Act, including changes to overtime pay calculations. These actions sparked strong reactions from workers, and the designate Minister of Labor Ho Pei-shan was formerly deputy secretary-general of the Executive Yuan. Labor groups called on Lai not to act unilaterally and emphasized the need to consult with labor unions, especially regarding reforms to the labor insurance system. Otherwise, they will fight to the end with the government.
May 2: Prosecutors are investigating the controversy related to building density regulations at Living Mall and land rights in the Beitou Shilin Science Park. Chairman Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People's Party, who formerly served as Taipei mayor, has been named as a defendant in a corruption case. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office has instructed the Agency Against Corruption to gather evidence. In response, the TPP stated that Ko consistently advocates for thorough investigations but cautions against politicizing legal proceedings.
May 3: The Legislative Yuan passed an opposition party bill to freeze electricity price increases and requested the government to review its energy policies. However, the Executive Yuan maintained that it would implement the legally determined electricity price adjustments and did not heed the request. Opposition parties once again collaborated to propose amendments to the Electricity Act, stipulating that any changes in electricity prices must be approved by the Legislative Yuan and subject to a vote based on numerical advantage to proceed to the second reading.
March 3: Director Avril Haines of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency warned at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing that it was the first time that the United States had observed joint military exercises between China and Russia specifically related to Taiwan. The Taiwan Strait is an area where China seeks cooperation with Russia. Director Jeffrey Kruse of the Defense Intelligence Agency confirmed that the Pentagon is adjusting force structures and planning in the Indo-Pacific region to address simultaneous operations against both China and Russia.