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.
End of "Western-Led Order": Kishore Mahbubani Warns Taiwan Against Pursuing Independence
The outcome of the presidential election in the United States is bound to reshape geo-political dynamics and U.S.-China relations. Under this context, Taiwan's future has become increasingly critical. In a lecture, senior Singaporean diplomat Kishore Mahbubani cautioned that the "Western-led order" is nearing its end, and Taiwan risks being sacrificed if it pursues independence. He notes that most countries are unlikely to recognize Taiwan as an independent state.
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In Challenging Resolution 2758, Lai Administration Chose Wrong Battlefield
The 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly took place in New York on September 10. The administration of President Lai Ching-te has actively campaigned for the international community to understand the content of U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758 correctly, arguing that it does not mention Taiwan, and China has no right to claim that it represents Taiwan. Ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators grasped the momentum and tried to emulate the Australian Senate in pushing for the Legislative Yuan to pass a resolution that the U.N. resolution does not involve Taiwan.
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National Security Crisis Rooted Within National Security Team
Marking his first hundred days in office with a media interview, President Lai Ching-te touched upon cross-strait issues, citing the Sino-Russian Treaty of Aigun. In doing so, President Lai sarcastically criticized Beijing for not reclaiming its lost territories from Russia but instead asserting sovereignty over Taiwan. This comment sparked controversy within Taiwan and provoked a harsh rebuke from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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This Week in Taiwan 0908-0914
September 10: The United States House of Representatives passed several anti-China bills, including the "Taiwan Conflict Deterrence Act," which involves measures such as revealing the assets of Chinese leaders and prohibiting them and their families from using the U.S> financial system and freezing their assets if Beijing uses force against Taiwan.
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TPP Avoids Acting Chairman Issue: Trust in Ko or Attachment to Idol？
Chairman Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), implicated in the Living Mall case, is currently detained and barred from meeting visitors by the Taipei District Court. The party held an expanded meeting on September 6 to discuss the party's future and decided not to select an acting chairman at this time. Regardless of how the case develops, Ko's credibility has been severely impacted by such issues as political donations and the five major cases during his tenure as Taipei mayor. The TPP continues to avoid the issue of succession: Is it because the party trusts Ko or because it cannot do without him?
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Does President Lai Know This is a Scandal in a Democracy？
Recently, the Central Committee of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) posted on Facebook for the Taipei District Prosecutors Office to rebut public suspicion about abuse of prosecutorial power, but this action invited more speculation that the DPP is giving orders to the judiciary, and the DPP subsequently removed the post. On the other hand, President Lai Ching-te appointed Yao Li-ming, who served as chair of Lai’s presidential campaign, to be vice president and grand justice of the Judicial Yuan, which is an utter disregard of judicial independence. Will President Lai withdraw this appointment? This decision will not be as easy as removing a Facebook post.
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Central Bank Surrenders Its Independence
The Central Bank's succumbing to politicians has led to the sacrifice of its independence. Perhaps future generations will mark September 2 as the "anniversary of the death of the Central Bank's Independence." Under the behind-the-scenes guidance of President Lai Ching-te and Premier Cho Jung-tai, and with the vegetative Governor Yang Chin-long, the Central Bank fully accepted the intervention and directives of politicians regarding the Central Bank and its financial management. This has resulted in a complete collapse of the professionalism and independence of the financial supervision of the Central Bank.
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This Week in Taiwan 0901-0907
September 1: During his campaign, President Lai Ching-te expressed a desire to have dinner with Chinese President Xi Jinping. However, in a recent television interview, when asked if he had considered meeting Xi, Lai stated that he hasn't thought about it. He emphasized that Taiwan cannot accept the "1992 Consensus" based on the "One China" principle. He also countered the "Lai skeptic" narrative, stating that Taiwan and the United States have excellent communication channels.
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TPP Chairman Ko Arrested on Allegedly Taking Bribes
During his term as Taipei mayor, Chairman Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) was involved in the Living Mall project controversy. On August 31, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office filed a complaint with the court, requesting to detain Mr. Ko, on suspicion of Mr. Ko violating his duties by accepting bribes, intending to profit, and manipulating evidence. The detention of the chairman of the third largest political party has severely affected the current political structure of the DPP’s opposition, which supposedly cooperates to check and balance the DPP. The TPP has framed this as a “political hunt,” seeking to unify its supporters and prevent them from disintegrating.
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With TPP Fragmented, How Can KMT Attract Disillusioned Voters？
The Taiwan People's Party (TPP) is facing the biggest crisis since its founding ten years ago. On August 30, Chairman Ko Wen-je was subjected to a search and questioning by the prosecutors due to the Living Mall project case. This comes after the scandals related to irregularities in his previous campaign financial reporting, delivering another heavy blow to the party. Many supporters who had hoped for the TPP as an alternative to the Kuomintang (KMT) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) now find themselves disillusioned, with both parties reaching out to these disenchanted voters. Meanwhile, President and DPP Chairman Lai Ching-te has successfully reclaimed the support of young voters through recent anti-corruption actions from prominent figures within and outside his party, many of whom were originally inclined towards the green camp. In contrast, what is the KMT offering to attract these voters to vote for them? Those are not only challenges for the KMT and TPP separately but also is also having a negative impact on the opposition’s role in fulfilling checks and balances.
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