This Week in Taiwan 1031-1106
November 1: The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that in response to the number of people returning to Taiwan for Chinese New Year, quarantine policies will be relaxed starting December 14. Those entering from non-key high-risk countries may shorten the quarantine period to 10 days in a hotel, followed by four days at home. Returning travelers must test three times before completing the quarantine process.
November 2: The general election for the mayor of Boston was held on November 2. Taiwanese American councilwoman Michelle Wu defeated her also Democratic opponent, Annissa George, to become elected the first mayor who is not a white male in two centuries. Wu is expected to take office in two weeks. Michelle Wu, 36, is daughter to parents from Taiwan. She advocated bold reforms during her tenure as a member of the Boston City Council.
November 2: The leaders' summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) will be held November 12 in New Zealand by video conference. President Tsai Ing-wen announced on November 2 that Morris Chang, founder of the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), will attend as leader's representative and asked Chang to seek support by APEC members for Taiwan's bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). This is the fifth time that Chang will serve as Taiwan's leader representative at APEC.
November 2: Starting from next year, educational mobilization of reserved military men will be held once per year for 14 days. The Ministry of National Defense stated that there will be about 15,000 people, particularly those who have been discharged within eight years, participating in the new system of educational mobilization. According to current plans, shooting training will be increased from 12 to 28 hours, and total shooting rounds per person will increase from 86 to 183 rounds. Combat training will also increase from 12 to 56 hours.
November 4: A delegation representing the "Special Committee on Foreign Interreference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation" of the European Parliament arrived in Taiwan on November 3. This is the first time that the European Parliament has sent an official delegation to Taiwan. President Tsai received the delegation at the Presidential Office Building. She stated that Taiwan and the EU should build a democratic alliance against compound threats and misinformation.
November 5: The United States Department of Defense released a 2021 China Military Power Report on November 3, indicating that the mainland is rapidly promoting military modernization, with a goal of being able to compete with the U.S. military in the Indo-Pacific region by 2027 and forcing Taiwan's leaders to negotiate on terms set by Beijing. The report also removed the "foreign troops stationed in Taiwan" from the conditions for China to use force against Taiwan for the first time. The "red lines" beyond which the mainland may use force against Taiwan was reduced from the original seven to six.
On November 4, the Wall Street Journal published an opinion article authored by Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng, arguing that while Taiwan has less military strength, Taiwan will not capitulate to China.
November 6: Members of the U.S. Congress have successively introduced bills supporting Taiwan. For example, Republican senators proposed a "Taiwan Deterrence Act," which seeks to provide Taiwan with $2 billion in military financing and other assistance for the next decade to strengthen Taiwan's deterrence capabilities against China.
Bipartisan members of both the Senate and House of Representatives also proposed a "U.S.-Taiwan Public Health Protection Act," asking the executive branch to cooperate with Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, in setting up a U.S.-Taiwan Infectious Disease Monitoring Center at the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT). American experts on infectious diseases would be stationed there to monitor the public health situation in the Indo-Pacific region to prevent the next epidemic.