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.

U.S. Retreats from First Island Chain, Exposing Taiwan's Cross-Strait Dilemma

U.S. Retreats from First Island Chain, Exposing Taiwan's Cross-Strait Dilemma

The People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) recent military activities was described by national security officials as a "silent exercise," with the Ministry of National Defense noting its impressive naval strength and its positioning between the first and second island chains. However, the true nature of this exercise remains unclear. The concept of the Pacific "island chain" still deeply influences the ruling party.

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DPP Blocks Legislation and Legislative Yuan Chamber, Mirroring South Korean National Assembly

DPP Blocks Legislation and Legislative Yuan Chamber, Mirroring South Korean National Assembly

On December 3, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol unexpectedly declared martial law, deploying troops and police to block the National Assembly. This move, meant to safeguard national security against from North Korea and domestic pro-North Korean elements, sought to prevent lawmakers from carrying out their duties. Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), on the other hand, has mirrored this by locking down its legislature to block legislation backed by the opposition. The development raises concerns that under President Lai Ching-te, Taiwan’s democracy may be slowly unraveling.

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True Threat to National Security: High-Ranking Fools Unaware of Their Own incompetence

True Threat to National Security: High-Ranking Fools Unaware of Their Own incompetence

Ahead of Taiwan's presidential election in January this year, a nationwide alert was issued, warning mainland Chinese missiles passing over Taiwan, using terms like "missile" and "air raid." However, the satellite launch by the mainland was publicly announced in advance, so why issue an alert? The Ministry of National Defense explained that the rocket, originally expected to fly over the Bashi Channel, had shifted north, but our detection shows that it veered north and flew over southern Taiwan. However, the owner of the "Einstein Probe" satellite, the European Space Agency, immediately announced that the satellite had successfully entered orbit and was operational. Despite deviating over 100 kilometers during launch, it was able to return to its original trajectory, a remarkable breakthrough in space technology. As the elections concluded, more news poured in, an such unreasonable explanations were no longer questioned.

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Taiwan's New Strategy: Create Obstruction Then Build Goodwill

Taiwan's New Strategy: Create Obstruction Then Build Goodwill

The Twin Cities Forum between Taipei and Shanghai has faced several setbacks, originally planned for July or August but delayed until December. Despite preparations being in place, mainland Chinese military actions soured cross-strait relations, creating uncertainty around the event. Fortunately, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) eventually gave conditional approval, allowing the 15th Forum to proceed. The MAC employed a strategy of "creating resistance first, then removing it," creating goodwill while shifting political responsibility to the Taipei City Government, and indirectly pressuring the mainland to curb military drills.

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Representative Words “Greed, Infighting, and Deception” Microcosm of DPP Rule

Representative Words “Greed, Infighting, and Deception” Microcosm of DPP Rule

The top three words in the United Daily News' annual poll—"greed," "infighting," and "deception"—highlight the failures of the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) eight years in power. Despite the public’s vote to prevent the DPP from having a monopoly on power, the ruling party has shown disrespect for the legislature and even sought the Constitutional Court's support to undermine opposition parties, blocking legislative oversight measures and misleading the public about the constitutionality of the death penalty. These three words—"greed," "infighting," and "deception"—accurately capture the situation.

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Support for South Korea's Martial Law Backfires: Does the DPP Have Yoon in Its Heart？

Support for South Korea's Martial Law Backfires: Does the DPP Have Yoon in Its Heart？

South Korean President Yoon Seok-youl's sudden announcement of martial law last night shocked the world. Although the Korean parliament overturned it within six hours, a post by Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on the social platform Threads, expressing support for the martial law, was deleted but sparked heated domestic debate. While it's common for individual social media managers to make unauthorized blunders, what’s more surprising is the unexpected support the post received from DPP supporters. The so-called "backlash" might only reflect what many DPP members and supporters truly wish to do—revealing a far more unsettling reality.

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Song Siyao Incident: DPP's Fragile Heart on "Taipei, China"

Song Siyao Incident: DPP's Fragile Heart on "Taipei, China"

Former President Ma Ying-jeou invited mainland Chinese students to Taiwan, and controversy erupted when one student congratulated the “Taipei, China” team for winning a world championship. This led to accusations of "taking advantage of Taiwan" and sparked a strong backlash from Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) figures. The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) expressed regret over the remarks, saying they hurt the feelings of the Taiwanese people. Executive Director Hsiao Hsu-tsen of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, responded by pointing out that “Taipei China” is the term used in mainland China, and that Taiwan’s democratic openness should not be hindered by differences in nomenclature.

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Taiwan's Difficulty Joining the CPTPP Worsens Industry Imbalance

Taiwan's Difficulty Joining the CPTPP Worsens Industry Imbalance

Taiwan's prospects of joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) are slim, and the biggest impact may be the further exacerbation of domestic "imbalanced development." Whether the public is left to "swallow" pork with ractopamine or nuclear food is less of a concern.

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Mainland Chinese Student Delegation Not United Force Campaign: Restore Goodwill in the Taiwan Strait

Mainland Chinese Student Delegation Not United Force Campaign: Restore Goodwill in the Taiwan Strait

A group of 40 mainland Chinese students and teachers, invited by the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, arrived in Taiwan. Before their departure, anonymous officials leaked their names and positions to specific media, claiming that all members were selected by Communist China and included Communist Youth League members, reserve party members, or party members. They even noted that Olympic table tennis champion Ma Long was among Communist Party members. Some pro-DPP scholars labeled the visit as propaganda and unification efforts. This visit, which initially went smoothly compared to last year's, was marred by political maneuvering before departure, which is both regrettable and worrying.

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President Lai's Visit, PLA Exercise, and Is Trump Reliable？

President Lai's Visit, PLA Exercise, and Is Trump Reliable？

President Lai Ching-te's upcoming visit to Pacific allies is stirring concerns, with national security officials hinting through Reuters that China may use Lai’s visit and transit through the United States as a pretext for conducting the "Joint Sword-2024C" military exercises near Taiwan. Officials suggest that China may use these drills to test the limits of the incoming Donald Trump administration's stance.

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