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.

Double Face of Democracy

Double Face of Democracy

Clinical psychiatrist Su Wei-shuo, who followed closely the issue of pork containing ractopamine, published a comment claiming that ractopamine pork is poisonous.

Details
Please Excuse the Tough Mayor

Please Excuse the Tough Mayor

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen recently received the Director Brent Christensen of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and directly expressed the municipal government's opposition to importing pork containing ractopamine.

Details
This Week in Taiwan 1213-1219

This Week in Taiwan 1213-1219

December 14: Recently, the Internet circulated that President Tsai Ing-wen held a ministerial-level meeting and consumed Michelin restaurant bento boxes valued at NT$6,980 (about US$246) apiece. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) refuted this as false information, and after Premier Su Tseng-chang ordered strict enforcement, the police arrested individuals based on the Social Order Maintenance Act. Five courts in Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung, New Taipei, and Taoyuan found that the speech did not constitute violation of law and ruled that the seven Internet users not be fined. 

Details
In Taiwan, Government Celebrates Human Rights Day While People Protest

In Taiwan, Government Celebrates Human Rights Day While People Protest

December 10 marked the international Human Rights Day.

Details
Human Rights Day: Has Taiwan "Upgraded" Human Rights Protections or Violations?

Human Rights Day: Has Taiwan "Upgraded" Human Rights Protections or Violations?

December 10 is Human Rights Day. President Tsai Ing-wen attended an activity organized by the National Human Rights Commission, Control Yuan, with the body’s president Chen Chu.

Details
Stay Alert on the U.S.-China-Taiwan Relations Next Year

Stay Alert on the U.S.-China-Taiwan Relations Next Year

The big data of the traditional Chinese calendar seems to have borne out the legend that the year of Gengzi, every sixty years, has always proven to be eventful.

Details
This Week in Taiwan 1206-1212

This Week in Taiwan 1206-1212

December 7: The Central Bank has announced the strictest housing credit controls in a decade. From now on, companies are limited to a loan limit of 60 percent and individuals 60 percent beginning with the third housing mortgage. Furthermore, mortgages for purchasing land and residual units of real estate developers will be capped at 50 percent. The policies hope to release available housing to the market from developers, reduce hoarding, increase supply, and guide the rationalization of housing prices. 

Details
70 Pork Import Firms Sign Petition Not to Import Ractopamine Pork

70 Pork Import Firms Sign Petition Not to Import Ractopamine Pork

Taiwan will begin importing American pork containing ractopamine next year.

Details
After Ractopamine Pork, Radioactive Food Also Coming to Taiwan

After Ractopamine Pork, Radioactive Food Also Coming to Taiwan

While the controversy of lifting import restrictions on pork containing ractopamine has not been resolved, the timing to lift the ban on food from Japan's Fukushima has become the focal point recently.

Details
Honorable to Block TV, Ban Children's Book, and Inspect Water Meters?

Honorable to Block TV, Ban Children's Book, and Inspect Water Meters?

A picture book for children, Waiting for Dad to Come Home, depicting a child who misses his father, a doctor saving people and cannot return home during the pandemic, was banned in Taiwan.

Details