Published since 2019 by the Fair Winds Foundation and Association of Foreign Relations, Taiwan Weekly provides in-depth report and analysis of the major issues facing Taiwan.

Partisan Tensions and Internal Dissatisfaction: President Lai in Difficult Position

Partisan Tensions and Internal Dissatisfaction: President Lai in Difficult Position

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has faced repeated setbacks in the Legislative Yuan, with party whip Legislator Ker Chien-Ming calling for anti-democratic measures such as dissolving the Legislative Yuan, disbanding the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), and initiating recalls against Speaker Han Kuo-Yu and other KMT lawmakers. This has fueled calls for large-scale retaliatory recalls. Meanwhile, the Executive Yuan has shown no signs of compromise, resorting to hardline tactics such as reconsideration motions and constitutional interpretations to delay proceedings. Under these circumstances, politics is set to stall, devolving into a chaotic battle sure to squander public funds and erode public trust. In face of an impending political dark age, does President Lai have no strategy to prevent a head-on collision?

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Constitutional Court Should Not Rule During Vacancy

Constitutional Court Should Not Rule During Vacancy

The Executive Yuan has submitted a reconsideration request to the Legislative Yuan regarding amendments to the Constitutional Court Procedure Act. During this transitional period when the Constitutional Court's operations are in limbo, two politically sensitive cases have emerged and may be resolved through constitutional interpretation.

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Protest Against Unfair Judiciary: 150,000 Show Support

Protest Against Unfair Judiciary: 150,000 Show Support

Supporters of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) took to the streets in protest on Judicial Day, voicing their grievances on behalf of former Chairman Ko Wen-je. However, this was only one of their demands. The broader message conveyed by the event was the public's deep mistrust of the judiciary system and their significant protest against the administration of President Lai Ching-te.

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Ko Detained Again: KMT and DPP Seek to Attract Ko Supporters, Need Stronger Narratives

Ko Detained Again: KMT and DPP Seek to Attract Ko Supporters, Need Stronger Narratives

Ko Wen-je, former chairman of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), and three others have been charged with corruption. On the evening of January 2, the Taipei District Court held its third detention hearing. The prosecution argued that Ko's influence was not diminished by resigning as party chairman, and with his secretary Hsu Tzu-yu, nicknamed "Orange," still at large, the risk of collusion remains. The court ruled late at night to detain Ko and three others. While he can appeal the detention ruling, Ko is likely to face repeated challenges in the future. After being released on bail, Ko resigned as party chairman, acknowledging his inability to lead the TPP effectively under the weight of ongoing legal battles. The future of his one-man party and the direction of its supporters, so-called "little grass,” are now in question, with both the Kuomintang (KMT) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) vying for their support.

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President Lai's Calculation Behind "Greater Democracy"

President Lai's Calculation Behind "Greater Democracy"

As 2024 closed, the Legislative Yuan passed amendments to the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures, Public Officials Election and Recall Act, and Constitutional Court Procedure Act. At the time, President Lai Ching-te called for "greater democracy" to address political differences, sparking widespread discussion. During his New Year’s Day address, President Lai reiterated that the people have the rights to election, recall, initiative, and referendum, permitting the aggregation of greater democratic power and embodying the essence of popular sovereignty. On January 2, the Executive Yuan promptly proposed a reconsideration of the Constitutional Court Procedure Act.

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Arbitrarily Dismissing Mainland Spouse from Elected Office: What Else Won't the Lai Administration Do？

Arbitrarily Dismissing Mainland Spouse from Elected Office: What Else Won't the Lai Administration Do？

The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) dismissed Shi Xueyan, a mainland Chinese spouse who served as member in the Nantou County Council, on the grounds of failing to renounce her original nationality under the Nationality Act. Although Shi was a substitute appointee and has since left office, she was undeniably an elected official. The MOI’s reliance on a highly contentious administrative order to disregard public opinion demonstrates an extreme abuse of authority and poses significant constitutional risks for the future.

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Prosecution Also Suffered While Destroying Ko's Character

Prosecution Also Suffered While Destroying Ko's Character

After four months of intense investigation, the 100,000-word indictment by the  Taipei District Prosecutors Office details facts underlying charges against Chairman Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) and seeks a heavy sentence of 28.5 years. While the gravity of the requested sentence did not shock the public, the indictment not only ruined Ko’s character but also made the prosecution suffer.

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Rejecting Justice Appointment, Self-Denying DPP Undermines Presidential Authority

Rejecting Justice Appointment, Self-Denying DPP Undermines Presidential Authority

Faced with the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party’s (TPP) majority in the Legislative Yuan, President Lai Ching-te's nominations of seven grand justices, including candidates for president and vice president of the Judicial Yuan, were all rejected. While this outcome was expected, what was surprising was that the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) failed to support Liu Ching-yi, the nominated constitutional court justice. Although the surface reason was the professor’s strong anti-death penalty stance and her past criticisms of the DPP, deeper political maneuvers were likely at play. The DPP feared Liu, if confirmed, would be uncontrollable, thus leading to the unprecedented situation of the ruling party caucus in the Legislative Yuan opposing the president’s nominee.

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Let Taiwan Recuperate by Respecting Democratic Outcome

Let Taiwan Recuperate by Respecting Democratic Outcome

After intense debate, the Legislative Yuan passed the amendments to the Public Officials Election and Recall Act, Constitutional Court Procedure Act, and Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures on December 20. President Lai Ching-te strongly criticized the bills, claiming they were passed without sufficient discussion, disregarding public opinion and violating democratic principles.

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China Uses Twin Cities Forum to Throw ''Shanghai Tourists'' Soft Ball: How Should Lai Administration Respond？

China Uses Twin Cities Forum to Throw ''Shanghai Tourists'' Soft Ball: How Should Lai Administration Respond？

Thankfully, the administration of President Lai Ching-te did not block the Twin City Forum, otherwise, Taiwan’s tourism industry might have missed this good news: Shanghai plans to actively promote group tours to Taiwan. This move by mainland China is clearly a goodwill gesture aimed at Taiwan, and how the Lai administration handles this will be a critical test of its cross-strait policy.

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