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.
The Central Bank has long demanded that the financial sector maintain a strong sense of risk awareness. Yet now, it finds itself heavily exposed to U.S. Treasury bond risk—making this the moment to self-examine and adjust its asset allocation.
DetailsThe ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is facing a string of espionage scandals, with confirmed infiltration reaching the Office of the President, Legislative Yuan, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs—even national security officials have a Chinese Communist spy in the midst. While mainland China's infiltration of Taiwan's national security core warrants alarm, what’s more disturbing is the DPP's response: either sleeping soundly through the crisis or diverting attention by indiscriminately accusing others and painting the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) as traitors to fuel the recall campaign.
DetailsAs steep tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump draws international attention, Taiwan is simultaneously witnessing another political drama—a wave of recall campaigns. Despite waning public enthusiasm, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) remains steadfast, pushing what was once framed as a movement of “civic autonomy” increasingly off the tracks of democracy and the rule of law.
DetailsPresident Lai Ching-te has announced plans to begin negotiations with the United States for "zero tariffs" and to form a "Team Taiwan for Investing in America." With over fifty countries lining up to negotiate with the United States, the White House has confirmed that Taiwan has initiated contact. Some legislators from the ruling party have even suggested sending former President Tsai Ing-wen or Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim to lead the negotiations. As the stock market crashes, order cancelations, factory closures, unpaid leave, and layoffs loom, if our delegation sits at the table, will they genuinely protect core national interests?
DetailsAt a recent Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Central Standing Committee meeting, President Lai Ching-te, who doubles as the party chairman, invited Wu Chieh-min, a research fellow at Academia Sinica's Institute of Sociology, to present a report on solutions to the U.S. tariff war. President Lai strongly endorsed Wu's proposed trend of "breaking away from China and joining the Global North," viewing it as a positive direction and declaring that Taiwan would leverage this strategy to establish a "Global Taiwan."
DetailsThe immigration directive of President Lai Ching-te's administration has sparked widespread panic among the 140,000 mainland Chinese spouses and their Taiwan-born children, threatening their very status in Taiwan. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration's new policy requiring "supplementary proof of loss of original household registration" explicitly targets this group, driving many into bureaucratic dead-ends. This move exposes the hypocrisy and selective justice of Taiwan's democracy, turning the so-called "witch hunt" against mainland spouses into a full-blown political purge.
DetailsRecently, President Donald Trump of the United States announced the imposition of "reciprocal tariffs" on various countries, with Taiwan listed among the "worst offenders," facing a 32 percent tariff. Compared to Japan's 24 percent, South Korea's 26 percent, and Singapore's 10 percent, Taiwan's burden is significantly heavier, second only to China's 34 percent. This drastic increase in costs for Taiwanese exports to the United States severely undermines the competitiveness of Taiwan's industries.
DetailsLegislator Ker Chien-ming, whip of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus of the Legislative Yuan, repeatedly declared that those who do not support the mass recall movement are all Communist spies. Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers facing recall efforts are frequently labeled as “pro-communist traitors.” Now, with a series of espionage scandals erupting within the DPP itself, it turns out that the so-called “spies” were from their own ranks. Not only has the myth of “counter China to protect Taiwan” crumbled, but some of these spies were even actively involved in the recall campaigns—further undermining the legitimacy of these movements. Otherwise, wouldn’t supporting the recall mean colluding with communist agents?
DetailsThe English idiom "The Elephant in the Room" refers to an obvious problem or truth that everyone deliberately avoids discussing. It symbolizes collective silence, where people, even fully aware of an issue, choose to ignore it because it is too sensitive or troublesome to address.
DetailsPresident Lai has officially labeled mainland China a “hostile foreign force,” and anti-China sentiment within Taiwan is intensifying. A primary school principal is under investigation by the Department of Education, Taoyuan City Government, for saying “I love you, China” on TikTok. A police officer in Zhongli District, Taoyuan, received a demerit for calling himself “Chinese” on the same platform. These two landmark cases have become watershed moments for free speech in Taiwan. Since when did identifying oneself as ”Chinese” become a crime in Taiwan? Could anything be more absurd?
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