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.

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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Minister Kuo's Plan to Move Factories to the U.S. Won't Escape Tariff War

Minister Kuo's Plan to Move Factories to the U.S. Won't Escape Tariff War

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has made bold statements, pledging to impose a 10 percent tariff on China and 25 percent on Canada and Mexico once in office, leaving many stunned. Taiwan already has a $47.7 billion trade surplus with the United States through September this year, making it difficult to avoid high tariffs. However, the economic strategy proposed by Minister of Economic Affairs JW Kuo in response to Taiwan’s trade challenges raises concerns.

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President Lai's Approval Rating Plummets with a ＂Death Cross＂： Expert Reveals Five Critical Factors﹐Trouble from Within

President Lai's Approval Rating Plummets with a ＂Death Cross＂： Expert Reveals Five Critical Factors﹐Trouble from Within

President Lai Ching-te's approval rating has sharply dropped, with a "death cross" between supporters and opponents. A recent poll by the Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation (TPOF) revealed that President Lai's approval has significantly fallen, with approval and disapproval rates now nearly equal. TPOF Chairman You Ying-lung identified five major reasons behind this decline, citing internal issues as a key factor.

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Avoiding Transit through the Continental U.S.: Option Palatable to U.S., China, and Taiwan

Avoiding Transit through the Continental U.S.: Option Palatable to U.S., China, and Taiwan

President William Lai, scheduled to visit Taiwan’s Pacific allies on November 30, may transit through either Hawaii or Guam. This transit option, amid the intricate international situations, appears to offer an acceptable way out to the United States, China, and Taiwan.

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Government Takes Lead with ＂Spoiled Bosses＂： Workplace MeToo Movement Anger Spreads

Government Takes Lead with ＂Spoiled Bosses＂： Workplace MeToo Movement Anger Spreads

The death of a public servant at the Ministry of Labor (MOL) has shattered the facade of “Happy Taiwan,” exposing deeply ingrained “workplace bullying.” On November 20, a note reading, “I am a public servant; I just want to live well,” was placed at the Ministry’s entrance. Despite apologies from President Lai Ching-te and Premier Cho Jung-tai, as well as the verbal resignation of Minister of Labor Ho Pei-shan, public outrage continued to surge. A "well-intentioned" investigation report from the Ministry of Labor, coupled with a lawyer’s statement from Hsieh Yi-jung, head of the northern Taiwan regional branch of the Workforce Development Agency, MOL, only exacerbated the situation, pouring fuel on an already raging fire.

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