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.
Disappearance of "Peace" from China's Taiwan-Related Work Conference A Warning Sign
On February 26, two major developments in cross-strait relations took place: mainland China convened its annual Taiwan-related work conference and announced a live-fire drill in waters approximately 40 nautical miles off Taiwan's southern coast. The former made no mention of the word "peace" throughout the proceedings, while the latter was an unannounced military exercise near Taiwan’s territorial boundaries. These two events reflect the ongoing deterioration of cross-strait relations, with no signs of improvement.
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Catering to President Lai, Anti-China Bureaucratism on the Rise
Minister of Education Cheng Ying-yao recently announced plans to prohibit academic exchanges between Taiwanese universities and three mainland institutions—Jinan University, Huaqiao University, and Beijing Chinese Language and Culture College—due to their affiliation with the Chinese Communist Party's United Front Work Department. Additionally, Taiwan will no longer recognize degrees from these universities. While the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration justifies this ban as a countermeasure against United Front influence, a deeper concern emerges: Taiwan’s bureaucracy has become entirely entangled in ideological constraints, exposing a dangerous trend of "anti-China bureaucratism." This, rather than the ban itself, may have more severe consequences.
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Despite Trump in Power, Lai Administration Still Pursuing Biden-Era Policies
In response to the shockwaves caused by the political resurgence of President Donald Trump of the United States, President Lai Ching-te recently convened a high-level national security meeting, launching his "Three Arrows" strategy, which includes increasing defense spending, reforming national security laws, and advancing a global democratic supply chain.
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President Lai Should Not Repeat Zelenskyy's Mistakes
After a four-hour meeting between United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov in Saudi Arabia, four key agreements were reached. During a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, U.S. President Donald Trump discussed the talks, echoing Russia's position that both sides had lost many soldiers and that Russia wanted to end the war quickly.
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New U.S. Stance: Taiwan's Future to Be Decided by People on Both Sides of the Strait
The United States Department of State updated its "U.S.-Taiwan Relations Fact Sheet," drawing attention in Taiwan for its removal of phrases such as "does not support Taiwan independence." However, what has been largely overlooked is the addition of a new statement: "We expect cross-Strait differences to be resolved peacefully, without coercion, in a manner acceptable to the people on both sides of the Strait."
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TSMC Should Not and Cannot Save Intel
The future relationship between the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and Intel has recently become a focal point, with various proposals emerging, including TSMC acquiring shares in Intel or splitting up the company. While TSMC may help the United States alleviate its "chip anxiety," it should not and cannot be responsible for saving Intel.
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President Lai Should Facilitate Cross-Partisan Dialogue, Not Inter-Yuan Coordination
President Lai Ching-te convened a historic first "inter-Yuan coordination" meeting, a significant gesture that proved ultimately futile. While President Lai enjoys ceremonial admiration as the head of state, his efforts to resolve the conflict between the executive and legislative branches over the national budget and political tension from mass recalls have been ineffective. The meeting, filled with ceremonial flair, ultimately served as a symbolic gesture with no real impact, especially with the judiciary and Control Yuan being represented by deputies, exposing the incomplete nature of the Lai administration.
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Legislative Yuan Opens Session: DPP to Focus on Recalls, Undermining Opposition Agenda on People's Livelihood
The new legislative session is fast approaching. The passage of the central government budget for this year paves the way for a so-called “bill-review period.” The Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) has been rolling out priority bills, while Chairman Eric Chu of the Kuomintang (KMT) has emphasized that people's livelihood bills would take precedence. However, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip Legislator Ker Chien-Ming has declared it a "recall session," forcing the KMT to respond with a "counter-recall" strategy, and the TPP has initiated actions to "eliminate green guards." A political confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties seems imminent.
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U.S. Chip Tax Targets TSMC
For Taiwan, as the tariff war initiated by President Donald Trump of the United States becomes unavoidable, the result is not only the inevitable growth of "U.S. Semiconductor Manufacturing Company," but the need to think beyond short-term responses. Long-term strategies are becoming even more important and necessary.
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In-Depth Assessment of Tariffs' Impact on Taiwan's Economy
President Donald Trump of the United States imposed tariffs on Canada, China, and Mexico as expected but later postponed the Canada and Mexico tariffs by a month. Initially, President Trump stated, "Tariffs are not a negotiation tool; they are purely an economic issue. We face significant trade deficits with these three countries." Reviewing U.S.-Taiwan trade records reveals that last year, Taiwan exported $111.37 billion to the United States, enjoying a trade surplus of $64.88 billion. Consequently, the threat of American tariffs is gradually closing in on us.
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