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Polls
Survey on President Ma
Ying-jeou’s Performance on His Third Anniversary in Office and the Approval
Rating of the Cabinet (GVSRC,
May 24, 2011) 33.9% of the respondents were satisfied with President Ma’s
performance, but 54.3% were not. Meanwhile, 33.8% were content with the cabinet members’
performance while 44.9% not.
Survey: A Month After Wu
Cabinet Took Office
(TVBS
Public Opinion
Poll Center,
Oct. 9, 2009) 32% of the respondents were satisfied with President Ma’s
performance while 48% were satisfied with Premier Wu’s.
Survey on New Cabinet,
Verdict on Former President Chen Shui-bian’s Cases, and President Ma
Ying-jeou’s Approval Rating (GVSRC,
Sep. 23, 2009) President Ma Ying-jeou’s approval
rating is 28.3 percent and disapproval rating is 59.6 percent this month.
Survey on Wu Cabinet Installed
(TVBS
Public Opinion
Poll Center,
Sep. 11, 2009) A survey on people’s opinion about the recent cabinet reshuffle. More polls are
available: United Daily, China Times, Apple Daily.
Survey on Cabinet Reshuffle
(TVBS Public Opinion
Poll Center,
Sep. 7, 2009) A survey on a potential cabinet reshuffle, conducted by the TVBS Public
Opinion Poll
Center.
Public Opinions on President
Ma Ying-jeou’s and His Cabinet’s Abilities to Deal with Disasters Following
Typhoon Morakot’s Lash at Taiwan (GVSRC, Aug. 24, 2009) 78.2 percent of Taiwanese say the Ma
administration has failed to handle the typhoon disaster well; meanwhile,
President Ma Ying-jeou’s approval rating this month
is 22.9 percent.
Survey on Taiwan Relations
Act, Arms Procurement, Participation in WHA, and President Ma’s Approval
Rating (GVSRC, Apr. 24, 2009) 48.3% of Taiwanese say the government
should procure more weapons to gain more ground with China; meanwhile, 32.8%
of Taiwanese approve of President Ma’s performance.
US Questions WHO’s Name for
Taiwan
(Taipei Times, May 18, 2012) The US Department of
State has expressed concern about the WHO’s
apparent lack of transparency in deciding Taiwan’s designation in the world
health body.
Ma Vows to Resolve Beef
Issue
(Taipei Times, May 16, 2012) President Ma Ying-jeou promised to resolve the issue surrounding US beef imports
and expressed hope that Taiwan-US trade talks under the Trade and Investment
Framework Agreement platform would resume soon.
Cross-Strait Thaw Boost
Taiwan-US Relations: MOFA
(Taipei Times, May 12, 2012) Relations between Taiwan and the US have strengthened over the past
few years because of a thaw in cross-strait tension, a Ministry of Foreign
Affairs official said.
Premier Reappointed As
Cabinet Set for Reshuffle
(CNA, May 12, 2012) President Ma Ying-jeou has approved the resignation of Premier Sean Chen's
Cabinet and reappointed him as premier as expected, Presidential Office
spokesman Fan Chiang Tai-chi said.
Former Close Aide to Obama
to Attend Ma’s Inauguration
(CNA, May 11, 2012) Former White House Chief of
Staff William Daley will visit Taiwan
for President Ma Ying-jeou's inauguration ceremony
on May 20, the Washington Headquarters of the American Institute in Taiwan
announced.
Government Welcomes
Appointment of Marut
(Taipei Times, May
9, 2012) The government welcomed the appointment of Christopher Marut as the successor to American Institute of Taiwan
Director William Stanton.
AIT Calls for Ractopamine
Residue Limits
(China Post, May 8, 2012) The AIT urged local
authorities to “move forward” by establishing maximum residue levels for ractopamine after a Cabinet bill to allow controlled
levels of the feed additive in U.S. beef products was voted down in a
legislative committee earlier the same day.
Academics Highlight Threats
to Media Freedom
(Taipei Times, May 4, 2012) Academics and
journalists expressed concern about the threats to Taiwanese media of an
increasing concentration of ownership and Chinese influence.
Singapore Envoy Emphasizes Trade
(China Post, Apr. 25, 2012) Taiwan's new representative to Singapore
said that speeding up bilateral trade agreement talks between the two
countries will be a top priority after he arrives in the city-state next
month.
KMT Agrees Ma Should Report
to Legislative Yuan
(Taipei
Times, Apr. 21, 2012) In a move that could establish a constitutional
precedent, the KMT conditionally agreed to an opposition-led proposal that
President Ma Ying-jeou should present a national
report to the legislature.
Human Rights Report Sparks
Media Concern
(China
Post, Apr. 21, 2012) Media professionals and academics said they were concerned
about elements of Taiwan's first human rights report based on U.N.
conventions, which was released earlier in the day.
Aid Donations Not Checkbook
Diplomacy: Ma
(CNA, Apr. 14, 2012) President Ma Ying-jeou said that Taiwan’s recent donation of US$3 million
in aid to help the Gambia cope with a food crisis is a humanitarian action
that should not be considered a waste of money.
Taiwan President Makes
Surprise India Transit
(AFP, Apr. 8, 2012) Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou made a surprise stopover in Mumbai on his way to Africa
in what officials said was a sign of improving ties with India despite a lack
of diplomatic recognition.
US Beef Imports Necessary
for Continuation of TIFA Talks: Ma
(China Post, Apr. 7, 2012) The importation of
U.S. beef is inevitable for the resumption of trade talks and restarting
trade negotiations with the United States is crucial to breaking through the
economic isolation Taiwan faces, President Ma Ying-jeou
said.
Taiwan Has Not Given List of
Proposed Envoys to Washington: Official (China Post, Apr. 7, 2012) Taiwan
has not proposed a list of possible candidates to take over as the country's
top envoy position to the United States,
Jason Yuan, Taiwan's
incumbent representative to Washington,
said.
Taiwanese President Cutting
Short Africa Trip
(AP, Apr. 6, 2012) Taiwan's
president is cutting short his upcoming trip to Africa
that aims to cement ties with the island's allies.
Academics Call for Ma to
Refocus His Foreign Policy
(Taipei Times,
Mar. 25, 2012) Academics urged President Ma Ying-jeou
to prioritize cooperation with opposition parties on foreign affairs in his
second term, to better manage the challenges facing Taiwan.
US Beef Is Stumbling Block
for TIFA: Ma
(China
Post, Mar. 22, 2012) To prevent Taiwan
from being economically marginalized, the government will need to resume
trade agreement talks with the U.S.
soon, President Ma Ying-jeou said, pointing out
that solving the U.S.
beef import issue is key to resuming dialogue.
DPP’s Officials Line Up
against Ractopamine
(Taipei
Times, Mar. 13, 2012) DPP reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy on ractopamine with a statement and an amendment proposing
that local governments be given more power to regulate food safety.
AIT Stresses Taiwan’s
‘Undoubted’ Importance to US
(CNA, Mar. 12, 2012) William Stanton, director of
the Taipei office of the American Institute in Taiwan, said recently that
despite a bilateral dispute over beef, Taiwan remains a country whose
importance to the United States is “undoubted.”
NSB Should Work with Other
Countries: Chief
(CNA, Mar. 11, 2012) Taiwan's intelligence
networks must seek to work with neighboring countries on common interests, a
goal that could be achieved through an information-sharing mechanism and a
process that could help the country maximize its strategic value, the head of
the NSB said.
DPP Made Vows Over
Ractopamine in ’07: AIT
(China Post, Mar. 10, 2012) Taiwan's promise to resolve the beef dispute
with the United States
was not made by the incumbent KMT administration but was raised during the
previous DPP government, the AIT said.
US Denies Bullying Taiwan on
Beef Imports
(CNA, Mar. 9, 2012) “This kind of issue will be a
stumbling block not only with the U.S. but with winning free trade
agreements with other countries. So it's in Taiwan's
own interest to open up its markets more,” according to Stanton.
Former Vice Economic
Minister to Be Next Envoy to Singapore: MOFA (China Post,
Mar. 9, 2012) The incumbent Taiwan
representative to Switzerland Fadah Hsieh, a former
vice economic minister, will become the country's new envoy to Singapore,
the foreign minister announced.
Taiwanese Protest US Beef
Import Plan
(AP, Mar. 8, 2012) Thousands of Taiwanese farmers
staged a raucous protest against a government plan to allow the import of
U.S. beef containing a growth drug, challenging the island's president to
"say no" to Washington.
AIT Official Welcomes
Conditional Easing of Leanness-Enhancer Ban (China Post, Mar. 7, 2012) The AIT welcomed the Cabinet's
decision to push for conditionally easing a ban on beef imports containing
residue of the leanness-enhancing drug ractopamine.
Lifting Beef Ban Prompts
No-confidence Vote Threat
(Taipei
Times, Mar. 7, 2012) Lashing out at an overnight government decision to
conditionally lift a ban on ractopamine, opposition
lawmakers threatened to put the Cabinet to a vote of no-confidence.
Beef Crucial to US-Taiwan
Trade Talks: MOEA Minister
(CNA, Mar. 7, 2012) Minister of Economic Affairs
Shih Yen-shiang said that if the U.S. beef issue is not resolved in the short
term, talks on a bilateral trade agreement between Taiwan
and the United States will
be further stalled and Taiwan's
global competitiveness will be compromised.
Ma Holds 2nd Security
Council Meeting Over Import of US Beef
(China
Post, Mar. 5, 2012) President Ma Ying-jeou held the
second National Security Council meeting over the U.S. beef import, after three
meetings of experts conducted by Council of Agriculture.
US Security Team to Arrive
for Visa Waiver Inspection: AIT
(China Post, Mar. 3, 2012) The de facto United States
embassy in Taiwan confirmed that a team from the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security is scheduled to arrive in Taipei next week to conduct a working
level review of Taiwan's visa-waiver application.
Good Ties with US, Japan,
China Key Policy Goal: Ma
(CNA, Mar. 3, 2012) President Ma Ying-jeou said that maintaining friendly relations with the United States, Japan
and China is one of Taiwan's
major foreign policy goals.
US Trade Undersecretary
Postpones Visit
(Taipei Times, Mar. 2, 2012) The AIT announced
that a visit to Taipei by US Undersecretary of
Commerce for International Trade Francisco Sanchez had been postponed, amid
an ongoing controversy over the import of US beef containing ractopamine.
Taiwan Denies Suspension of Military
Exchange with Singapore
(CNA, Feb. 27, 2012) The defense ministry said
that Taiwan maintains stable ties with Singapore, denying a local report that
bilateral military exchanges have been suspended by Singapore.
No Promises to US on Beef: Ma
(Taipei Times,
Feb. 26, 2012) President Ma Ying-jeou reiterated
the government’s open stance on the US
beef imports issue and insisted that his administration had not made any promises
to the US.
Premier Exhorts Foreign
Ministry to Invite US Officials
(CNA, Feb. 24, 2012) Saying that strengthening
Taipei-Washington relations is a pivotal task of the foreign ministry,
Premier Chen added that the ministry should also seek to bolster military
cooperation between the US and Taiwan, lessen bilateral engagement
restrictions, and update a privileges and immunities agreement between the
two countries.
Top US Commerce Official to
Visit Taipei
(Taipei Times,
Feb. 23, 2012) US Department of Commerce Undersecretary of Commerce for
International Trade Francisco Sanchez is scheduled to visit Taipei from March 4 to March 6, the AIT
said.
Singapore Representative
Replaced Due to Improper Conduct: Reports (China Post,
Feb. 21, 2012) A Chinese-language United Evening News report stated that
Vanessa Shih was replaced because the Singaporean government has voiced its
dissatisfaction concerning “improper conduct” during her tenure.
KMT Members Oppose Lifting
Ractopamine Ban
(China
Post, Feb. 20, 2012) Not only have legislators of opposition parties voiced
opposition against the government lifting the ban on the import of beef with
residue of lean-meat enhancing substances, legislators of the ruling
Kuomintang have also raised their voices on the topic.
Ex-VP Lu, 5 DPP Counties,
Cities Dig in Heels Over Ractopamine Beef Row (China Post, Feb. 8, 2012) Ex-Vice President Annette Lu urged the
public to boycott U.S.
beef, while leaders of five pan-green counties and cities claimed a united
front against ractopamine.
Gov’t to Mull Ractopamine
Approval: Chen
(China
Post, Feb. 7, 2012) Ractopamine is one of few types
among the 22 known leanness-promoting feed additives that may be considered
for approval in Taiwan but the government will not set preconditions for
lifting the ban on U.S. beef containing the chemical, new Premier Sean Chen
said.
Cabinet Sets Hitlist of
Issues for 2012
(China
Post, Feb. 5, 2012) Premier-designate Sean Chen reiterated that the
government has not taken any stance concerning the controversies over U.S.
beef imports and taxation reform.
Taiwan to Be Included in
U.S. Visa Waiver Plan in Months: KMT Envoy (CNA, Feb. 5, 2012) Washington
has made it clear that the visa waiver decision was not linked to Taiwan’s imports of beef from the United States.
However, the U.S. beef
import issue is linked to trade talks between Taiwan
and the U.S.
Administration Denies Making
Promises to US on Beef
(Taipei Times, Feb. 4, 2012) The Presidential
Office dismissed allegations that President Ma Ying-jeou
had promised Washington he would handle the US
beef issue after his re-election, and insisted that there was no timetable in
dealing with the issue.
Solution to Beef Row to
Boost US Relations: Ma
(China Post, Feb. 2, 2012) President Ma Ying-jeou said yesterday said his government will adopt a “new
approach” to handling a dispute over U.S. beef imports.
MOEA Trying to Resolve US
Beef Row: Officials
(CNA, Feb. 1, 2012) Mindful of the importance of
the “beef issue” to Uncle Sam, the MOEA is trying aggressively to resolve the
dispute between Taipei and Washington
over U.S. beef exports to Taiwan.
AIT Head Restates Neutral
Poll Stance, Hints Beef Action May Help TIFA (China Post, Jan. 31, 2012) Washington reportedly suspended
scheduled TIFA talks with Taiwan after the latter decided to remove some
American beef products that were found to contain the locally banned animal
feed additive ractopamine.
New Cabinet’s Makeup Taking Shape
(Taipei Times, Jan. 31, 2012) President Ma Ying-jeou’s new administration came into shape with the near
confirmation of a number of appointments and confirmation that
premier-designate Sean Chen would preside over a handover ceremony on Monday.
AIT Chairman to Press for
Beef Breakthrough
(Taipei
Times, Jan. 29, 2012) Sources close to Burghardt
said the beef issue would “most likely” top his agenda, while Ma was expected
to concentrate on the possible future sale of F-16C/D aircraft and US help in acquiring
diesel-electric submarines.
Taiwan’s New Premier Named
(CNA, Jan. 27, 2012) President Ma Ying-jeou has decided to appoint incumbent Deputy Premier Sean
Chen as Taiwan's
new premier.
Free Trade Area to be Set Up
in South Taiwan
(AFP, Jan. 26, 2012) Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou said a free trade area would be set up soon in the
south, as the government begins moves to joining a trans-Pacific free trade
alliance.
Fastest-Aging Society Greets
Ma’s Second Term in Taiwan
(Bloomberg, Jan. 16, 2012) Ma Ying-jeou’ssecond term as president of Taiwan may be one of the island’s
last opportunities to address the consequences of something unmentioned on
the campaign trail: the world’s fastest-aging society.
Taiwan to Become ‘Aged’
Society in 6 Years: Minister
(CNA, Dec. 24, 2011) Taiwan will likely become an
“aged” society by 2017, when senior citizens are expected to constitute 14
percent of the country's population.
Taiwan Put on U.S. Visa
Waiver Program List of Candidates
(CNA, Dec. 22, 2011) Taiwan
has been put on the United
States' Visa Waiver Program (VWP)
candidate list, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) announced.
Singapore Allegedly Snubs Taiwan
(China
Post, Dec. 18, 2011) “Improper conduct” on the part of Taiwanese personnel
stationed in Singapore is to
blame for a brewing storm in the relations between Taiwan and the island state, the
Chinese-language United Evening News said.
US Lauds ROC’s IAEA Contributions:
Official
(China
Post, Dec. 14, 2011) The United States supports Taiwan's participation in the
International Atomic Energy Agency to contribute to nuclear safety and
security issues globally, visiting U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman said.
Taiwan Nears US Visa
Agreement
(Taipei Times, Dec. 10, 2011) Taiwan will soon
become a candidate country to be given visa waiver privileges by the US as
most of the necessary procedures have been completed, Taiwanese
Representative to the US Jason Yuan said.
Highest US Official to Visit
Taiwan in a Decade Announced
(Taipei Times, Dec. 8, 2011) US Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman will arrive on a three-day visit to Taipei on Monday, the highest-ranking US government official to visit Taiwan
since 2000, the AIT said.
Envoy to Meet St Lucian
Prime Minister: Ministry
(Taipei Times,
Dec. 7, 2011) Taiwan’s
envoy to Saint Lucia will
meet the Caribbean country’s new prime
minister within the next two days to solidify bilateral ties, the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs said.
US Wants Taiwan to Join in
Aid Cooperation
(Taipei Times, Dec. 3, 2011) The US would like to
engage in expanded and more effective cooperation with Taiwan in delivering
humanitarian assistance, eliminating hunger and child malnutrition, and
investing in healthcare to reduce infectious diseases.
Taiwan, United States Talk
Counter-Piracy Cooperation
(CNA, Dec. 3, 2011) The U.S. delegation, composed
of members of the U.S. Department of State and Department of Defense, was led
by Donna Hopkins, coordinator of the Counter Piracy and Maritime Security in
the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs.
Taiwan to Welcome
High-ranking Obama Official on Thursday
(Taipei Times, Nov. 29, 2011) US Agency for
International Development (USAID) administrator Rajiv Shah will visit Taipei,
the highest-ranking US government official from US President Barack Obama’s
administration to visit Taiwan, the AIT said.
Ma Aims for TIFA Eligibility
in Next Term
(China
Post, Nov. 23, 2011) President Ma Ying-jeou vowed
yesterday to establish a U.S.-Taiwan trade network that matches Taiwan's links with mainland China.
Military Denies Plan to
Deploy Fleet off Somalia
(Taipei Times, Nov. 22, 2011) A senior military
official denied a media report that the navy would dispatch a fleet to
protect Taiwan’s long-line fishing boats off the coast of Somalia by the end
of this month, but said the navy was capable and had prepared for such a
mission.
Gov’t Donates US$380 Mil. In
Int’l Development Aid
(CNA, Nov. 11, 2011) Taiwan contributed US$380 million
in official development assistance (ODA) in 2010, accounting for 0.1 percent
of the country's gross national income for the year, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs
official said.
US Senator Urges Speedy
Visa-waiver Deal Passage
(CNA, Nov. 4, 2011) U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman
has asked the Obama administration to speed up the process of granting
visa-waiver treatment for Taiwan
passport holders, TECRO in Washington
said.
Taiwan Has High Hopes for
APEC Food Emergency Initiative
(The Nation, Nov. 3, 2011) Taiwan hope that all
members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum will agree to a
proposal to create an Apec Food Emergency Response
Mechanism to ensure food security for countries affected by natural
disasters.
Minister Eyes Trans-Pacific
Partnership Trade Bloc
(Taipei Times, Oct. 28, 2011) Progress made in
enhancing Taiwan’s
bilateral ties with Singapore
and New Zealand
in the form of economic cooperation agreements would help the country secure
a seat in the emerging Trans-Pacific Partnership trade bloc, Minister of
Foreign Affairs Timothy Yang said.
S. Korean Official Urges
Greater Trade Expansion
(CNA, Oct. 27, 2011) Taiwan
and South Korea should
strengthen their cooperation in the fields of tourism and aviation, aside
from other forms of trade expansion, a South Korean diplomat said in Taipei.
Taiwan, New Zealand to
Assess Trade Options: Economic Affairs Chief (CNA, Oct. 26, 2011) Minister of Economic Affairs Shih Yen-shiang announced that Taiwan
and New Zealand
will start a feasibility assessment for a bilateral economic cooperation
agreement.
Outgoing Taiwan Pollster
Claims Results of ’12 Election Surveys Ruffled Feathers (AP, Oct. 18, 2011) The imbroglio over last week's closure of the
company's 5 1/2-year-old polling center reflects the challenges local
pollsters face in building credibility and publishing accurate polls in
Taiwan.
Taiwan Academies Open in 3
US Cities
(CNA, Oct. 16, 2011) The first Taiwan Academies —
a brainchild of President Ma Ying-jeou aimed at
spreading Chinese culture with unique Taiwanese characteristics throughout
the world — were opened in the U.S. cities of New York, Houston and Los
Angeles.
China Urged to End Vetoes of
Bids to Join UN Bodies
(CNA, Oct. 7, 2011) Premier Wu Den-yih said that China
should not veto Taiwan's
bids for membership of the International Civil Aviation Organization and the
World Health Organization as both organizations concern the fundamental human
rights of safety and health.
UN Observer Status Not Top
of Agenda: MOFA
(China
Post, Sep. 30, 2011) Applying for observer status at the United Nations is
not currently on Taiwan's
top agenda, Foreign Minister Timothy Yang said.
Beef Issue Pivotal to TIFA
Talks: US Official
(CNA, Sep. 16, 2011) A visiting high-ranking U.S.
official said that Taiwan's ban on the importation of specific American beef
products is a challenging issue that needs to be addressed before talks can
resume over the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement between the two
sides.
Taiwan Host Visit of
Highest-level US Envoy in Five Years
(VOA, Sep. 14, 2011) U.S. Assistant Commerce
Secretary Suresh Kumar is visiting Taiwan this week to promote
American exports on an island where people have money to spend.
Cables Show US’ Role in
WHO-China MOU
(Taipei Times, Sep. 12, 2011) Several leaked
cables from the AIT show that the US made “considerable effort” in
negotiations leading to a secret MOU signed between China and the WHO in
2005, in which Taiwan was referred to as “Taiwan, China,” and repeatedly
urged Taiwan not to make the text public.
Leaked Cables Cast Doubt on
President’s WHA Claims
(Taipei Times,
Sep. 8, 2011) The cables released by WikiLeaks
suggest Beijing’s heavy involvement in the
matter, with its insistence that Taiwan’s
international participation be based on the “one China” principle.
WikiLeaks: Taiwan Proposed
Joining UNFCCC As ‘Entity’
(Taipei
Times, Sep. 7, 2011) The AIT said the “emissions entity” strategy could work
for Taiwan in the context of international environmental organizations
outside the UN system.
UN Told to Drop ‘Taiwan Is
Part of China’: Cable
(Taipei
Times, Sep. 6, 2011) A number of Western governments, with the US in the
lead, protested to the UN in 2007 to force the global body and its
secretary-general to stop using the reference “Taiwan is a part of China,” a
cable recently released by WikiLeaks shows.
‘Secret’ Cable Details US
Talks
(Taipei
Times, Sep. 4, 2011) A cable classified as “secret” and just released by the
whistle-blowing site WikiLeaks throws new light on
the extensive security-related talks held regularly between the US and
Taiwan.
Taiwan Falls Behind in
Competition to Attract Global Talent
(Taipei
Times, Sep. 2, 2011) Taiwan is falling behind other countries in acquiring
global professionals, despite instituting an open policy for the past three
years, President Ma Ying-jeou said.
Taiwan Economy Sees Strong
Growth, Losing Momentum
(AFP, Aug. 19, 2011) Taiwan's economy grew a
better-than-expected 5.02 percent in the second quarter of 2011 due to strong
exports and domestic spending, but it is losing momentum, the government
said.
Gov’t Invites Minister-Level
US Officials to Visit in 2012
(China Post, Aug. 10, 2011) The central
government is actively inviting minister-level United States officials to
visit the country by yearend, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.
U.S. Rating Downgrade to
Have Little Impact on Taiwan: Official
(CNA, Aug. 7, 2011) Standard & Poor's
downgrade of the United States'
credit rating will have only a slight affect on Taiwan's economy, government
officials said.
‘Taiwan Academies’ to Open
First in US
(Taipei
Times, Aug. 5, 2011) Taiwan is set to open institutes in New York, Los
Angeles and Houston in the US in October as part of a project initiated by
President Ma Ying-jeou to establish “Taiwan
Academies” worldwide to promote “Taiwanese culture with Chinese
characteristics,” an official said.
Ma Distances Taiwan from
China on Tiaoyutais Dispute
(CNA, Jul. 23, 2011) President Ma Ying-jeou has ruled out the possibility of Taiwan aligning with China in dealing with issues related with the
disputed Tiaoyu
Islands.
Gov’t Sign Letter of Intent
with Philippines in Economic Meetings
(China Post, Jul. 17, 2011) Economics Minister
Shih Yen-hsiang said that Taipei
is looking to sign a formal economic cooperation agreement or free trade
agreement with Manila,
but that may take time.
AIT Urges Scientific Fix to
Beef Drug Issue
(China Post, Jul. 14, 2011) AIT urged the
government to use scientific data to make its decision regarding whether to
implement a maximum residue limit for ractopamine
and to not allow political considerations to influence its decision-making
process.
Exports to Emerging Markets
Grow: TAITRA
(China Post, Jul. 14, 2011) Taiwan exports to emerging markets during the
first half of 2011 rose 27.7 percent year-on-year, significantly higher than
the 10 percent increase for exports to China during the same period.
Philippines
Keeps China Policy, Wants to Mend Ties
(CNA, Jul. 9, 2011)Edwin Lacierda, spokesman for Malacanang Palace,
said the purpose of forming a study group to review “one China” policy was to find ways of improving
ties with Taiwan.
US Ambassador Delivers APEC
Invite to President
(Taipei Times, Jul. 6, 2011) On a visit to Taiwan, US Senior Official for APEC Ambassador
Kurt Tong extended an invitation to President Ma Ying-jeou
to attend the 19th APEC Leaders’ Meeting hosted by the US in Honolulu,
Hawaii, on Nov. 12 and Nov. 13.
Former President Indicted on
an Embezzlement Charge
(AP,
Jun. 30, 2011) Former President Lee Teng-hui was
indicted Thursday on an embezzlement charge.
Ex-AIT Chair Warns on
Political System
(Taipei
Times, Jun. 26, 2011) Former AIT chairman Richard Bush expressed concern
about whether Taiwan’s democratic system, which he said is “polarized” and
“divided,” could withstand Beijing’s efforts to bring about unification.
‘No Surprise’ Approach
Outlined: WikiLeaks
(Taipei
Times, Jun. 19, 2011) Taiwan would not ask for a certain kind of transit just
to show that the US would grant it; Taiwan would not ask for certain weapons
systems just to show the US would sell them; and Taiwan would not insist on
certain names just for domestic political considerations.
AmCham Warns of
Over-reliance on Trade with China
(Taipei Times, Jun. 9, 2011) Taiwan
should adopt a balanced development strategy and avoid overly relying on a
single market to drive its export-oriented economy on the world stage, the
American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Taipei said.
Taiwan Could Punish
Philippines Over ‘One China’ Ruling
(China Post,
Jun. 1, 2011) The diplomatic row between Taiwan and the Philippines could
resurface after a recent Manila court ruling that claimed the country's
decision to deport 14 Taiwanese suspects to China as “proper” and based on its“One China policy.”
Why Taiwan’s Freedom of Action Continues to Erode By Robert Sutter (PacNet #30, Pacific Forum, CSIS, May 26, 2011) Those many
observers in Taiwan and abroad who believe Taiwan has preserved its freedom
of action amid a vaguely defined “status quo” are mistaken.
Taiwan Jumps to 27th in
Global Peace Index Ranking
(CNA,
May 26, 2011) Taiwan
is ranked 27th in the 2011 Global Peace Index (GPI) released Wednesday, up
eight notches from last year.
Health and Foreign
Ministries Defend Protest Made at WHA
(China
Post, May 24, 2011) Taiwan's health minister and deputy foreign minister
defended the protest the country filed in the World Health Assembly in
response to criticism from the opposition party that blasted the protest as
being too weak.
Global Participation to Be
Expanded ‘Within a Year’
(Taipei
Times, May 24, 2011) Taiwan could achieve “meaningful participation” in the
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and International Civil Aviation
Organization within a year, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Shen Lyn-shun said.
Jobless Rate Drops to
31-month Low
(China Post,
May 24, 2011) Taiwan's unemployment rate stood at 4.29 percent in April, a
31-month low, announced the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and
Statistics.
No UN Agency Can Determine
Taiwan’s Status: US Secretary
(CNA, May 18, 2011) U.S. Secretary of Health and
Human Resources Kathleen Sebelius said that no
organization of the United Nations has a right to unilaterally determine
Taiwan's status.
Ma Turns to EU for Help in
WHO Furor
(Taipei Times, May
18, 2011) President Ma Ying-jeou said that the WHO
should not have two sets of standards, and he requested the help of the
European Parliament to demand the use of “Chinese Taipei” as the name for Taiwan.
2009 Watershed Year for
Taiwan’s Participation in WHA: Official
(CNA, May 17, 2011) Government Information
Minister Philip Yang called 2009 "the watershed year" of Taiwan's
participation in the WHA as he listed six differences that year.
Neighbors Shun Paraguay
Event Over Taiwan: Report
(CNA, May 16, 2011) Five Latin American leaders
have decided to stay away from Paraguay's
independence's day celebration due to Taiwan's
participation to avoid upsetting China, Taiwanese media said.
Outrage Over WHO Memo Kicks
off Taiwan Presidential Race
(Christian Science Monitor, May 12, 2011) An
internal WHO note calling Taiwan part of China generated a splashy protest
from Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, who called it
‘belittlement’ of the island’s ever sensitive political status.
‘Chinese Taipei’ at WHA a
Goodwill Gesture from China: Mainland Official (China Post, May 12, 2011) A spokesperson of China’s Taiwan
Affairs Office said that the WHO reference to Taiwan as a province of China
in an “internal document” was a unilateral action by the WHO, and that both
sides of the Taiwan Strait can sit down to talk about how to safeguard the
peaceful development of bilateral ties.
WikiLeaks: China Rejects
Panama’s Wish for Ties
(AP, May 12, 2011) A U.S. cable released by WikiLeaks says Panama
wanted to switch its diplomatic recognition of Taipei
to Beijing after President Ricardo Martinelli took power in 2009, but China rejected the offer in order not to
undermine its improving Taiwan
ties.
Ma Slams WHO, China on Name
(Taipei Times, May 11, 2011) Ma describe the health
body’s treatment of the nation as ‘unfair and unreasonable’ and urged China
to refrain from hurting Taiwanese feelings.
WHO Memo Sparks Outrage in Taiwan
(Taipei Times, May. 10, 2011) Saying that the
memorandum was a reflection of the legal system and political facts of the
UN, Government Information Office Minister Philip Yang called on the public
to understand international realities.
Freedom House Ranks
Taiwanese Press Freedom at 47th in the World (China Post, May 3, 2011) Freedom House released its annual press
freedom report yesterday. Taiwan's
press freedom in 2010 was ranked 47th among all nations, slipping three spots
compared to 2009.
Report Highlights Problem of
Brain Drain
(CNA, Apr. 20, 2011) Fearing that a brain drain
could jeopardize national security, President Ma Ying-jeou
reportedly ordered the National Security Council in October last year to
assemble an expert panel to study the “talent deficit” crisis.
Beef Issues Are Affecting
TIFA Talks: US Official
(CNA, Apr. 13, 2011) The lingering beef dispute
was why Taiwan has been
unable to hold a new round of high-level trade talks with the United States and why it has lost
congressional support for the negotiations, according to a U.S. official.
Income Disparity Continues
to Increase: Data
(Taipei Times, Apr. 13, 2011) Income disparity
reached new highs in 2009, with the top 10 percent of wage earners making 28
times the salary of the lowest 10 percent— a trend that is accelerating.
Tourist Arrivals Hit Record
High for First Two Months
(CNA, Apr. 4, 2011) China provided, by far, the
largest source of tourists, with Chinese citizens making 220,000 visits,
accounting for 25.4 percent of the total visitors and 11.7 percent
annual increase.
Former US Deputy Secretary
of State to Visit Taiwan
(CNA, Mar. 25, 2011) Former US deputy secretary
of state Richard Armitage will lead a delegation of
think tank academics on a visit to Taiwan later this month, the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Taiwan-US Nuclear Facility
Agreement Covers Broad Scope
(Taipei Times,
Mar. 19, 2011) Taiwan and
the US
have recently signed an arrangement to enhance bilateral cooperation on the
regulation of the safety and environmental impacts of nuclear facilities in
several areas, including sharing information and training safety personnel.
Ma Patches Up Spat with Philippines
(Taipei Times, Mar. 15, 2011) President Ma Ying-jeou expressed his gratitude for the effort Manila has made to settle a row over the deportation of
a group of Taiwanese fraud suspects from the Philippines
to China
early last month.
Philippine Envoy Arrives for
2nd Fence-mending Visit
(CNA, Mar. 14, 2011) Philippine emissary Manuel Roxas II arrived in Taiwan for a second fence-mending
visit after bilateral ties were soured by a row over Manila's deportation of
14 Taiwanese fraud suspects to China in early February.
Philippines Replaces
Immigration Chief to Solve Row with Taiwan
(CNA, Mar. 10, 2011) The Philippine government
announced the replacement of its immigration chief in an apparent attempt to
resolve a row with Taiwan
over the deportation of Taiwanese nationals suspected of fraud to China.
Philippines Deports Taiwanese
Fraud Suspect Back to Taiwan
(CNA, Mar. 9, 2011) With relations between Taiwan
and the Philippines remaining tense over a deportation row that erupted last
month, the Philippines Bureau of Immigration deported a Taiwanese suspect
involved in a cross-Taiwan Strait fraud scheme back to Taiwan.
Taiwan Hoping for Stronger
Philippines Ties: President
(CNA, Mar. 4, 2011) President Ma Ying-jeou said that Taiwan
hopes to strengthen relations with the Philippines
despite a diplomatic row between them over Manila's
deportation of 14 Taiwanese fraud suspects to China.
Taiwan Might Grow Crops
Overseas to Meet Domestic Demand
(CNA, Mar. 3, 2011) Taiwan is planning to follow
in the footsteps of other countries by growing crops overseas to meet
domestic demand amid soaring prices of raw materials.
Premier Insists on
Philippine Apology for Deportation Row
(China Post, Mar. 2, 2011) Premier Wu Den-yih reaffirmed the government's stand that the
Philippines make a apology over its the deportation of 14 Taiwanese fraud
suspects to China. He said the apology can be made in any possible form as
long as Manila
shows its sincerity.
Ex-Philippine President’s
Visit Is Way to Say Sorry: Legislator
(CNA, Mar. 2, 2011) Former Philippine President
Fidel V. Ramos' visit to Taiwan
is an indication that Manila has heard Taiwan's protests over the recent deportation
of 14 Taiwanese fraud suspects to China, a lawmaker of the ruling
Kuomintang said.
Filipino Workers Could Lose
NT$10 Billion a Year If Taiwan Implements Working Visa Freeze (China
Post, Feb. 26, 2011) The Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) may soon implement a
freeze on Filipino workers if the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) approves
the policy.
Taiwan Softens Its Stance in
Row with Philippines
(Taipei Times, Feb. 25, 2011) Minister of Foreign
Affairs Timothy Yang said that there was no need for Taipei to demand that
the Philippines apologizes for deporting 14 Taiwanese fraud suspects to
China.
Philippines Has Failed to
End Taiwan Row: President Aquino
(AFP, Feb. 24, 2011) Philippine President Benigno Aquino said the Philippines
had failed to resolve a row with Taiwan
over deportations, as Taipei
threatened to stop hiring Filipino workers.
No Apology from Philippine Envoy
(Taipei Times, Feb.
22, 2011) A special envoy from the Philippines yesterday met Foreign
Minister Timothy Yang, but did not offer an apology for the recent diplomatic
fracas.
Apology from Manila Over Row
a Must: Wu
(CNA, Feb. 21, 2011) Offering an apology is the
least the Philippine government should do to resolve a diplomatic row with Taiwan,
said Premier Wu Den-yih.
Taiwan Demands Formal
Apology from Philippines Over Deportation Row (DPA, Feb. 20, 2011) Taiwan
demanded a formal apology from the Philippines
for the deportation of 14 Taiwanese criminal suspects to China last
month.
Philippines Envoy Leads
Fence-Mending Mission
(CNA, Feb. 19, 2011) The Philippines and Taiwan
will start trying to mend their current tense relations over a deportation
dispute with the arrival in Taipei Feb. 21 of presidential envoy Manuel Roxas to explain and discuss the matter, a Philippines
official said.
Taiwan Rejects the US
Warning on Restrictions
(AFP, Feb. 19, 2011) Taiwan
said it will not give up restrictions it imposes on imported beef, after a
warning by U.S.
lawmakers that the issue could cripple free trade talks.
Philippine Congress Probes
Deportation Row
(CNA, Feb. 17, 2011) The Philippine Congress began
investigating a diplomatic row with Taiwan
that erupted after the Philippine authorities deported 14 Taiwanese fraud
suspects to China
early this month.
Row with Manila Tests Gov’t
Efficiency: Scholar
(CNA, Feb. 17, 2011) The ongoing row between Taipei and Manila over
the Philippine government's move to deport 14 Taiwanese nationals to China has raised questions about efficiency
and coordination within the Taiwan
government, scholars said.
DPP Wants Ban on Filipino
Workers Over Deportation Dispute
(CNA, Feb. 15, 2011) The DPP has stepped up
pressure on the government and called for a ban on entry of workers from the Philippines before Manila
makes a formal apology over the deportation of 14 Taiwanese fraud suspects to
China.
Philippines Hopes Row with
Taiwan Will Not Hurt Filipino Workers
(CNA, Feb. 11, 2011) Philippine Vice
President Jejomar Binay
has called on Taiwanese authorities not to pass its displeasure with the
Philippine government on to impoverished Filipino workers.
Manila to Send Special Envoy
to Settle Deportation Row
(CNA, Feb. 11, 2011) The Philippines government
will send a special envoy to Taiwan to seek a concrete solution to the
diplomatic row with Taiwan, Antonio Basilio, head
of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taiwan, said.
Deportation Based on ‘One
China’ Policy: Manila
(CNA, Feb. 10, 2011) The Philippines’ decision to
send 14 Taiwanese fraud suspects to China
for trial was made in observance of Manila’s
“one China”
policy, Philippine Presidential Executive Secretary Paquito
Ochoa Jr said.
Taiwan Recalls
Representative to Manila
(CNA, Feb. 8, 2011) Taiwan
recalled its representative to the Philippines
over what Taipei
calls the “inappropriate” deportation to China of Taiwanese citizens arrested
in connection with a fraud investigation.
Taiwan to Review Ties with
the Philippines
(CNA, Feb. 7, 2011) The Ministry of Foreign
Affairs said it would “seriously review the current exchanges and ties
between Taiwan and the Philippines” after Manila deported 14 Taiwanese to
China instead of to Taiwan.
Taiwan to Launch New
Supercomputer in July: Scientists
(CNA, Feb. 6, 2011) A Taiwan-made supercomputer
that is expected to be listed among the 100 fastest in the world will start operating
in July as part of the Republic of China centennial celebrations, government-backed researchers said.
Philippine Deportation Case
Proof of Beijing’s Pressure
(Taipei
Times, Feb. 5, 2011) The controversial deportation of 14 Taiwanese by the
Philippines to China showed the extent of pressure Beijing could bring to
bear on the country, a government official said.
MOFA Protests Over Deportations
(Taipei Times,
Feb. 3, 2011) MOFA lodged a protest with Manila,
threatening to re-examine bilateral relations after Philippine authorities
sent fourteen Taiwanese to China
to stand trial.
Taiwan’s Economy Rockets
10.5 Percent in 2010
(AP, Jan. 31, 2011) Taiwan's
economy rocketed 10.5 percent in 2010, surpassing expectations even as growth
slowed in the final quarter of the year.
Ma Orders ‘National
Security-Level’ Steps to Increase Birthrate
(AFP, Jan. 10, 2011) With the nation’s birthrate
hitting a record low last year, President Ma Ying-jeou
ordered “national security-level” countermeasures to address the matter.
Taiwan Sees Birth of Four
Special Municipalities
(CNA, Dec. 26, 2010) The nation’s five special
municipalities, home to 60 percent of the population, began operations
yesterday, starting a new phase in Taiwan’s administrative history.
First Taiwanese Academy to
Open in LA Next Spring
(CNA, Dec. 13, 2010) The first academy aimed at
promoting Taiwanese culture will open in Los Angeles
next spring, Taiwan's
office in the West Coast city said.
US Governor’s Taiwan Trip
Off Due to China Pressure: Report
(CNA, Dec. 11, 2010) Missouri Governor Jay Nixon
acknowledged that he canceled his trip to Taiwan
over concerns that it would impact his state's relations with China, U.S. media reported.
Paal Urges Talks on
Taiwanese Jobs in UN
(Taipei Times,
Dec. 10, 2010) Taiwan
should negotiate with China
to lift a ban on the employment of ROC nationals at UN-affiliated agencies
since relations between the two sides have improved recently, Douglas Paal said.
US, PRC Discussing Ways for
Taiwan to Join World Bodies
(Taipei Times, Dec. 9, 2010) The US and China are
discussing ways for Taiwan to increase its exposure and influence in the
world by joining more international institutions and organizations,
Washington sources said.
Task Force to Monitor
WikiLeaks: Minister
(CNA, Dec. 4, 2010) A special task force has been
established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to monitor Taiwan-related
documents expected to be released soon by the whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks.
EU Approves Plan to Grant
Visa-Free Entry to Taiwanese
(Taipei Times, Nov. 26, 2010) The Council of the
European Union — the decision-making arm of the EU —agreed to grant visa-free
treatment to Taiwanese visitors.
El Salvador Ties Solid, MOFA
Says
(Taipei Times,
Nov. 24, 2010) Reports by the Associated Press and Reuters cited Salvadorean President Mauricio Funes
as saying that he would do what was best business-wise.
Canada Gives Taiwanese
Visa-Waiver Privileges
(Taipei Times, Nov. 23, 2010) Canada became the 39th country to
grant Taiwanese visa-free privileges, the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei
(CTOT) announced on its Web site.
Taiwan Donates Money,
Supplies to Help Haiti
(CNA, Nov. 20, 2010) Taiwan has donated
US$200,000 to help Haiti fight cholera, an intestinal disease that has
claimed more than 1,100 lives in the Caribbean country since its outbreak
there in October, MOFA said.
Report Praises Religious Freedom
(Taipei Times, Nov.
20, 2010) A new report from the US State Department sharply contrasts the
degree of religious freedom in Taiwan
and China.
US Anti-Trafficking Envoy
Set to Visit Taiwan: AIT
(CNA, Nov. 19, 2010) Luis CdeBaca,
ambassador-at-large of the United States Office to Monitor and Combat
Trafficking in Persons, is scheduled to visit Taiwan Nov. 20-23, the U.S.
representative office in Taiwan said in a press release.
Taiwan Seizes Chance to Make
Regional Statement
(Japan
Times, Nov. 11, 2010) Taiwan
has thrown its support behind a proposed Pacific Rim free-trade zone and considers
APEC a key forum to achieve this, according to a senior Taipei official.
Outcome of U.S. Elections
Means Challenge, Opportunity: Taiwan Rep. (CNA, Nov. 5,
2010) The outcome of the just-concluded U.S.
midterm elections means both a challenge and an opportunity for Taiwan, Republic of China Representative to the
United States Jason Yuan said.
Taiwan Hopes U.S. Will
Acknowledge Claim Over Disputed Islets
(CNA,
Nov. 4, 2010) Taiwan hopes
the United States will
acknowledge and not "ignore" its claim of sovereignty over the
disputed Tiaoyutai
Islands, a Ministry of
Foreign Affairs official said.
Ma Stresses Value of Ties
with Japan on Abe Visit
(China
Post, Nov. 2, 2010) President Ma Ying-jeou said
that his administration will continue to step up interchanges with Japan.
Tsai Calls for Cooperation
with Japan on Diaoyutais
(Taipei
Times, Nov. 2, 2010) DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen
used her private talk with former Japanese prime minister Shinzo
Abe to call for greater bilateral cooperation on the Diaoyutai Islands.
Former Japanese PM Abe
Visits Taiwan, Meets Ma
(Taipei
Times, Nov. 1, 2010) President Ma Ying-jeou shunned
issues relating to the contested Diaoyutai Islands
during his meeting with former Japanese prime minister Shinzo
Abe.
Legislators Scrap Diaoyutais
Tour
(Taipei
Times, Oct. 31, 2010) The legislature’s Internal Administration Committee’s
plan to inspect the contested Diaoyutai Islands
on Nov. 4 has been temporarily called off, with bad weather conditions cited
as the primary concern.
Taiwan Exports to China
Record High in First Three Quarters
(DPA,
Oct. 29, 2010) Taiwan’s
exports to China rose to a historic high in the first three quarters of this
year to 85.38 billion dollars, the Economics Ministry said.
Taiwan Moves Up Press
Freedom Index
(Taipei
Times, Oct. 21, 2010) Taiwan
and South Korea made solid
bounds in Reporters Without Borders’ 2010 World Press Freedom Index released,
rising 11 and 27 places respectively, while China languished in 171st place.
MOFA Protests Downgrading in
Int’l Bodies
(China
Post, Oct. 15, 2010) Foreign Minister Timothy Yang said that his ministry has
protested against the downgrading of Taiwan's
status on two international bodies — apparently at the behest of Beijing.
U.S. Supports Taiwan’s ICAO
Participation: Official
(CNA,
Oct. 8, 2010) The United States expressed explicit support for Taiwan's bid to take part in the International
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) , in which Taiwan is seeking
"meaningful participation" as an observer.
Taiwan, US in First TIFA
Talks in Three Years
(Taipei
Times, Oct. 1, 2010) Taiwan and the US are set to resume negotiations on
economic issues under the bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement
(TIFA) after a three-year hiatus.
Taiwan Seeks to Join ICAO
Technical Meetings
(CNA,
Sep. 27, 2010) Taiwan is taking an even more pragmatic approach to expansion
of its international presence and is now seeking “meaningful participation”
in technical meetings of the International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO), rather than direct membership, the local aviation authority said.
MOFA Vows to Peacefully
Solve Sovereignty Dispute with Vietnam
(China Post, Sep. 17, 2010) Bau-shuan
Ger, deputy director of the Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs
under the MOFA, made the reiteration in response to a report written by Xue Litai that Vietnam might launch military intrusion into
the Taiping
Island.
Taiwan’s Wealth Gap
Widening: Survey
(CNA,
Aug. 20, 2010) Taiwan's household income gap widened in 2009, with the
average annual disposable income of the richest families reaching 6.34 times
that of the poorest.
Taiwan to Continue Pragmatic
Approach with U.N.: Ministry
(CNA,
Aug. 12, 2010) The government will continue to take a pragmatic approach
toward Taiwan's
participation in specialized agencies of the United Nations this year,
Minister of Foreign Affairs Timothy Yang said.
Corruption Hurting Taiwan’s
Democracy: Analysts
(AFP,
Aug. 9, 2010) A former president jailed for graft, a retired head of military
police indicted for embezzlement, three top judges accused of taking bribes —
the list goes on. Taiwan
has a problem with corruption.
Taiwan Considers Trade Deals
with Vietnam, Indonesia
(Taipei Times, Aug. 8, 2010) Taiwan
is eyeing Vietnam and Indonesia as potential free-trade agreement
partners after announcing last week that it had agreed with Singapore to explore the
feasibility of such a deal.
Taiwan, Singapore to Pursue
Trade Pact
(Reuters, Aug. 5, 2010) Taiwan and Singapore
will pursue a free trade-style deal, the two sides said, a key to Taipei's long-term growth strategy and following a trade
pact with political foe China.
Taiwan Diplomat Calls for
FTAs with Europe
(CNA, Aug. 4, 2010) Taiwan's
top envoy to the European Union and Belgium
called for a free trade agreement between Taiwan
and the EU, saying that the ground has already been laid with the recent
signing of a trade pact with China.
FTA with Taiwan Unnecessary:
Thai Rep Office
(CNA, Aug. 1, 2010) Goods imported from Thailand to Taiwan already enjoy a favorable
tariff treatment, hence a free trade agreement or a similar mechanism is not
necessary to stimulate bilateral trade, the Thai representative office said
recently.
US, Taiwan Still Far from
Resolving Beef Row: MOEA
(CNA, Jul. 30, 2010) The Ministry of Economic
Affairs said that big differences still remain in the dispute between Taiwan and the United
States over U.S. beef imports, but both sides
are in discussions on the issue at a technical level.
China Wouldn’t Scuttle Trade
Pacts: Academic
(Taipei Times, Jul. 29, 2010) Charles Freeman, an
academic at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said that authorities at “the highest
levels within China” had
assured him that Taiwan
would be free to enter into whatever free-trade agreements it wanted.
Israel Would Object to
Closer Taiwan-Iran Ties
(CNA, Jul. 26, 2010) Israel has no objection to
Taiwan fostering a better relationship with the Arab world but will frown on
closer Taiwan-Iran ties, the top Israeli envoy to Taiwan said.
Taiwan May Try to Reach Free
Trade Accord with Singapore, Negotiator Says (Bloomberg, Jul. 22, 2010) Taiwan may seek a free-trade accord
with Singapore following its first such deal with China, the island’s top
negotiator with China Chiang Pin-kung said.
Charity Wins Consultative
Status from U.N. Council
(CNA, Jul. 21, 2010) The
U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSCO) has designated the Taiwan-based
Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation as one of its special
consultants.
Lobbyists’ Merger Leaves
Taiwan Out in the Cold
(Taipei
Times, Jul. 17, 2010) Patton Boggs' takeover of the smaller Breaux Lott meant
dropping Taiwan as a client to focus on the bigger firm's client — China.
Taiwan Eyeing FTA Talks with
ASEAN Member States: MOEA
(CNA, Jul. 14, 2010) Taiwan has set its sights first
on the members of the ASEAN in its bid to secure free trade agreements, the
Ministry of Economic Affairs said.
Taiwan Targets Asian
Countries for FTAs: Report
(AFP, Jun. 30, 2010) Taiwan is now looking to
forge several free trade agreements in Asia after signing a sweeping and historic
pact with China, a report said.
No Need for Taiwan FTA,
Philippine Minister Says
(Taipei Times, Jun. 28, 2010) Recent comments by
the Philippines’ trade and industry secretary cast doubt on the feasibility
of Taiwan being able to sign FTA with other economies in the region after it
signs an ECFA with China.
Taiwan Should Alter China
Strategy: Japanese Expert
(CNA, Jun. 22, 2010) Taiwan needs to focus on
logistics and other professional services in China as the country will soon
lose its advantage in capitalizing on cheap Chinese labor due to wage hikes
and a stronger Chinese yuan, a visiting Japanese
corporate strategist said.
May Exports Hit New High
(China Post, Jun. 8, 2010) Taiwan's exports hit a
record single-month high of US$25.54 billion in May, showing a sharp growth
of 57.9 percent over a year earlier, according to customs statistics
released.
Taiwan Not Opposed to
Kiribati-China Relations: Ma
(Taipei Times, Jun. 8, 2010) President Ma Ying-jeo said Taiwan
would continue to strengthen diplomatic relations with Kiribati but would not oppose the Pacific
nation seeking to develop unofficial ties with China.
Feinstein Leads US Senate
Delegation on Lightning Visit
(Taipei Times, Jun. 6, 2010) A US Senate
delegation arrived in Taiwan,
the first group of US senators to visit Taipei
since President Ma Ying-jeou took office in May
2008.
Time Is Not Right for Closer
Relations with Iran: MOFA
(CNA, Jun. 3, 2010) The time is not right for
Taiwan and Iran to develop closer relations, despite a strong desire by both
sides to do so, a Taiwan foreign ministry official said.
Report: France to Cut
Military Contact with Taiwan
(AP, Jun. 1, 2010) France will withdraw a
military liaison unit in Taiwan after an international court ordered Paris to
make a large compensation payment to Taipei over a frigate sale, a Taiwanese
newspaper reported.
Taiwan Announces Haiti Debt
Relief Plan
(CNA, May 28, 2010) Taiwan will pay about
US$12-13 million in interest on loans to Haiti and the quake-ravaged country
will not have to make any payments on the principal for five years, Taiwan's
foreign minister said.
Jobless Rate Sees Biggest
Fall in 15 Years to 5.39% in April
(China Post, May 25, 2010) Taiwan's jobless rate
posted a decline of 0.28 of a percentage point from March to reach 5.39
percent in April, representing the largest single-month drop of its kind in
15 years.
Taiwan Outpaces China as
Growth Accelerates to 30-Year High
(Bloomberg, May 20, 2010) Taiwan’s economy
expanded at the fastest pace in more than 30 years last quarter on surging
sales of computer chips and display panels to China, as it heals ideological
wounds with its neighbor in favor of trade ties.
Taiwan seeks Expand Trade
Ties with U.S. under TIFA: President
(CNA, May 19, 2010) President Ma Ying-jeou reiterated Taiwan's
intention to tighten ties with the United
States under an established trade framework and
continue to buy arms from Washington,
at a press conference to mark the second anniversary of his inauguration.
Taiwan Should Focus on HQs,
Wolfowitz Says
(Taipei Times, May 19, 2010) US-Taiwan Business
Council chairman Paul Wolfowitz says Taiwan should
pull out all the stops to attract international companies to put their
regional headquarters in the country, adding that such an effort was more
important than membership in international organizations.
Taiwan Aims to Be WHO
Member: Minister
(CNA, May 16, 2010) Taiwan's
Department of Health Minister Yaung Chih-liang said in Geneva
that acquiring full membership of the WHO is the country's ultimate goal.
Taiwan Shakes Up Cabinet But
Policy Course Likely Steady
(Wall Street Journal, May 13, 2010) Analysts said
the changes unlikely mark a significant policy shift in Taipei,
which has been forging closer economic ties with China since the Kuomintang party
came to power in 2008.
Rising Sea Levels Threaten Taiwan
(AFP, May 8, 2010) Mountains cover two thirds of Taiwan,
but the heart of the island's economy is concentrated in the remaining third,
which stretches down the west coast and consists mostly of flat land near sea
level.
US Still Assessing Legislative
Beef Ban, Stanton Says
(Taipei Times, Apr. 23, 2010) The US is looking
into the extension of a Taiwanese ban on certain US beef products, American
Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director William Stanton said.
U.S. Criticizes Taiwan for
Tighter Inspection of Beef Tongue
(CNA, Apr. 21, 2010) The Office of the United
States Trade Representative (USTR) said that it was “deeply disappointed”
with Taiwan's decision to require much stricter inspection procedures for
beef tongue imported from the U.S.
New Beef Parts from U.S.
(China
Post, Apr. 18, 2010) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that
more U.S. beef products
could be shipped to Taiwan.
Taiwan Approves Debt
Reduction Proposal for Haiti
(Taipei Times, Apr.
14, 2010) The Executive Yuan has approved a debt reduction proposal for Haiti, which will see the government repay the
interest payments on the Caribbean ally’s debt to Taiwan for five years, Minister
of Foreign Affairs Timothy Yang said.
DPP Sees Trust Crisis
between Ages
(China Post, Apr. 12, 2010) Taiwan's society is faced with a
crisis of trust among generations instead of political divisions, according
to opposition DPP leader when laying the groundwork for pursuing the party's
policy guidelines for the coming decade.
Yang: China Not Factor in
Taiwan-Palau Relations
(CNA, Apr. 9, 2010) There is no solid evidence to
show that China is trying to undermine Taiwan's diplomatic ties with Palau,
but government agencies will continue keeping a close watch on related
developments, Foreign Minister Timothy C. T. Yang said.
President Ma Will Meet with
Visiting Ex-Japanese PM Aso
(China
Post, Apr. 6, 2010) President Ma Ying-jeou will
meet privately with former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso,
who arrived in Taiwan
on a four-day private visit, political sources said.
Taiwan in Appeal for Closer Contact
(The Australian, Mar. 29, 2010) No Australian
minister has visited Taipei since the Rudd
government was elected, although two Taiwanese ministers came to Australia
last year.
President Returns from Fifth
Diplomatic Tour
(China
Post, Mar. 28, 2010) President Ma Ying-jeou and his
90-member entourage returned to the Taiwan
Taoyuan International Airport
after concluding a one-week diplomatic visit to Taiwan's six allies in the South
Pacific.
Ma Embarks on Visit to South
Pacific Allies
(CNA, Mar. 22, 2010) President Ma Ying-jeou departed for a week-long trip to the South Pacific
that will take him to all six of Taiwan's diplomatic allies in the
region.
Taiwan’s Exports Up 32.6
Percent in February
(AFP, Mar. 8, 2010) Taiwan's
exports slowed from January but remained robust for a fourth-straight month,
helped by strong demand for electronics products from China, the finance ministry said.
Absentee Voting May Be
Implemented by 2012
(CNA, Mar. 8, 2010) The government is mulling the
introduction of absentee voting in time for the 2012 presidential election,
Interior Minister Jiang Yi-huah said.
President Ma to Visit Six
Pacific Allies in Six Days
(Taipei Times, Mar. 3, 2010) President Ma Ying-jeou will visit the nation's six diplomatic allies in the
South Pacific in six days, the first time Taiwan's head of state will be
visiting so many allies in such a short period of time.
Taiwan Manufacturing
Activity Growth Fastest in Over 4 Years
(Dow Jones, Feb. 28, 2010) Taiwan's manufacturing
activity expanded at its fastest rate in more than four years in February,
adding to evidence of a robust recovery in the island's economy.
Taiwan Economy Probably
Exited Deepest Recession, Survey Shows (Bloomberg, Feb. 18, 2010) Taiwan’s economy probably exited the
deepest recession on record last quarter as the global recovery spurred
demand for the island’s semiconductors and mobile phones.
Gov’t Faces Big Challenges
After Holiday
(China Post, Feb. 19, 2010) The Cabinet is facing
a spate of severe challenges, including renewing negotiations with the U.S.
over beef imports into Taiwan, activating talks with China over ECFA, and implementing
the re-organization of the government administration system.
Taiwan-Philippines FTA Will
Be Crucial: Taiwanese Diplomat
(Taipei Times, Feb. 13, 2010) A Taiwan-Philippines
free-trade agreement is crucial to securing Taiwan
as a lucrative job market for overseas Filipino workers, Representative to
Manila Donald Lee said in an recent interview with Philippine-based news
outlet Malaya.
NSC Chief Su Chi Resigns
(China Post, Feb. 12, 2010) President Ma Ying-jeou's top national security aide, Su Chi, announced his
surprise resignation. Ma immediately named, Hu Wei-jen, a veteran diplomat and an old hand on security
affairs, to take up the position.
Government Working on
Strengthening Ties with TPP Members, FTA with India (Taipei Times, Feb. 12, 2010) In a
recent interview with an Indian publication, Asia Age, Taiwanese
Representative to India Ong Wen-chyi
said a Taiwan-India FTA was a definite possibility and both sides were
conducting feasibility studies on the issue.
Taiwanese Exports Climb by
Most in More Than 30 Years
(Bloomberg, Feb. 9, 2010) Taiwan's exports climbed in January by the
most in more than 30 years as holiday spending in China before the Lunar New Year
fueled demand for the island's computers and mobile phones.
Taiwan Seeks to Join P4
Trade Group
(CNA, Jan. 30, 2010) Taiwan will continue its efforts
to join the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPPA),
despite several unsuccessful bids, the director-general of the Bureau of
Foreign Trade said.
No Basis for New Talks on
Beef Issue, Says USTR
(CNA, Jan. 24, 2010) The U.S. Trade
Representative Office said that Taiwan
has destroyed its bilateral agreement with the United States on beef imports and
there is no basis for renegotiation of the issue.
Taiwan Exports Show Record
Growth
(Wall Street Journal, Jan. 20, 2010) Taiwan's
December export orders grew at a record pace, boosted by strong Chinese
demand for the island's goods, and orders are likely to grow at a
faster-than-normal pace in the typically slow first quarter.
Ma Adds Dominican Republic
to Central America Tour
(Taipei Times, Jan. 20, 2010) President Ma Ying-jeou will visit the Dominican Republic to deliver aid
for victims of last week’s earthquake that devastated the Haitian capital.
Taiwan Excluded from WHO
Executive Board Meeting
(Taipei
Times, Jan. 19, 2010) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs insisted that Taiwan's
participation at the World Health Assembly (WHA) in May had not been
jeopardized even though the WHO had rejected its request to be an observer at
the annual Executive Board meeting.
Plans Underway for Ma’s
Dominican Visit
(CNA, Jan. 17, 2010) President Ma Ying-jeou said that his administration is still trying to work
out a way to show Taiwan's
concern for earthquake-ravaged Haiti
without causing inconveniences for its Caribbean
ally.
Haiti Aid a Telling Test of
China-Taiwan Relations
(AP, Jan. 17, 2010) One of the world's trickiest
relationships is being tested in devastated Haiti, where China and Taiwan are
rushing aid to one of Taipei's few remaining diplomatic allies.
Taiwan to Revamp Cabinet
(AFP, Jan. 13, 2010) Taiwan plans to cut eight
ministry-level agencies and eliminate tens of thousands of jobs in the
biggest revamp of its cabinet system in six decades, the government said.
Ma Is Scheduled to Visit
Republic of China Diplomatic Ally Hunduras (CNA, Jan. 12, 2010) President Ma Ying-jeou
is scheduled to make a whirlwind Jan. 27-28 visit to Honduras mainly to attend the
inauguration of President Porfirio Lobo Sosa.
Taiwan Firm: China Got Iran
Part with Nuke Uses
(AP, Jan. 8, 2010) A Taiwanese company agreed to
a request from a firm in China
to procure sensitive components with nuclear uses, then shipped them to Iran,
the firm's head said.
Defense, Beef Ban Unrelated:
US Official
(Taipei
Times, Jan. 9, 2010) The increasingly fractious beef row between Washington
and Taipei will not impact arms sales or other aspects of the bilateral
relationship, Assistant US Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific
Kurt Campbell said.
Beef Row Derails 3 Pacts
with U.S.: Official
(CNA, Jan. 8, 2010) The U.S. beef import dispute
has derailed Taiwan's plan
to negotiate three critical accords with the United States that may help pave
the way for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), a senior official said.
Taiwan Seeks New Talks with
U.S. After Banning Beef
(Reuters, Jan. 6, 2010) Taiwan, eager to mend
trade ties with the United States a day after overturning part of a deal to
import U.S. beef products, said it would seek to reopen talks with its
biggest ally.
U.S. Dismay Over Taiwan’s
Partial Beef Ban Widespread
(CNA, Jan. 6, 2010) The United States government
and its meat industry expressed their disappointment over Taiwan's decision to restore a partial ban on U.S.
beef imports and use American beef producers as a "political football.”
Taiwan Bans Some U.S. Beef
Imports
(AP, Jan. 5, 2010) Taiwan lawmakers voted Tuesday
to ban imports of some kinds of United States, reversing a deal the
government had negotiated with Washington.
Beef Turnabout Unacceptable:
Senator
(Taipei Times,
Jan. 5, 2010) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the open letter to Ma
Ying-jeou from Senator Max Baucus, a longtime
supporter of Taiwan,
would be taken seriously.
Beef Row Will Not Affect
Other Aspects of U.S. Relations: Official
(CNA, Jan. 3, 2010) Washington will deal with Taiwanese
lawmakers' attempts to block imports of U.S. ground beef and offal
sensitively, rather than confusing it with Taiwan's requests for arms sales
or for its president to make transit stops in the U.S., Taiwan's
representative to the U.S. Jason Yuan said.
Beef Row Will Not Affect
U.S. Arms Sales: Premier Wu
(China
Post, Jan. 2, 2009) Premier Wu Den-yih said that
the beef row with the United States
will not affect its arms sales to Taiwan.
Premier in U-Turn on Beef Delegation
(Taipei Times,
Jan. 1, 2010) The government called off a plan to send a delegation made up of
members of the Executive Yuan to Washington
to contain the fallout from the legislature’s move to bar imports of certain US
beef products.
Ma’s Mumbai Layover Shows
Warmer Ties with India
(CNA, Apr. 9, 2012) President Ma Ying-jeou's stopover in Mumbai on his way to Africa reflected
substantial progress in Taiwan-India relations amid peaceful development of
ties across the Taiwan Strait, academics in India said.
Taiwan-Singapore Soup Turns
Bitter-Sweet By Jens Kastner
(Asia Times, Mar. 22, 2012) Taiwan's media has been abuzz with the notion
that the island's ties to Singapore
have taken a dramatic nosedive lately. Some observers see Beijing pulling the strings while others
say the media have made a mountain out of a mole hill.
Getting Beyond Beef in
U.S.-Taiwan Relations By Don Shapiro
(Brookings, February 2012) While Ma improved
U.S.-Taiwan relations in large part by enhancing peace and stability,
however, not all was well with the U.S.-Taiwan relationship.
Challenges Facing the New
Cabinet By Tung Chen-yuan
(Taipei Times, Feb. 6, 2012) Given that the
European debt crisis is likely to have only a passing impact on Taiwan,
the fundamental challenge remains economic restructuring and the ability to
play a meaningful role in international economic integration.
Taiwan Offers Baby Bonus to
Fix Plummeting Birth Rate By Tania Branigan (Guardian, Jan. 23, 2012) The island's plummeting birth rate is
one of the lowest in the world, experts say, prompting a warning from the
president himself, Ma Ying-jeou, that it is "a
serious national security threat".
Taiwan’s Economic Tunnel
Vision By Philip Bowring
(Wall Street Journal, Jan. 17, 2012) Failure to
achieve the aspiration of being a regional trade and services hub was long
blamed on the absence of cross-Strait links, particularly after China
emerged as a major player. But the creation of those links by the Ma
government has exposed the fact that other forces are thwarting Taiwan's
growth.
Taiwan’s Participation in
UNFCCC By Hsiao I-chun and Jerry Hsiao
(Taipei Times,
Dec. 19, 2011) Taiwan’s
desired method of admission into the UNFCCC — using a similar model to its
participation in the WHA — deals primarily with the method of admission, but
not the substance of the participation.
US Expert Urges Taiwan to
Show Its Commitment By William Lowther (Taipei Times, Dec. 10, 2011) A specialist on Asian security told
a conference in Washington that the future of US-Taiwan relations was now in
Taipei’s court and that “critical challenges” needed to be faced.
Taiwan Presses Forward By Eddie Walsh
(The Diplomat, Dec. 7, 2011) Taiwan welcomes the strengthening of
bi-lateral or multi-lateral alliances between the United States and East Asian
democracies. In addition, Taiwan hopes that the United States will take the
lead in pushing forward on various tri-lateral security mechanism dialogues
in the form of “US-Taiwan+1”
with either track one or track two format.
Biding Time: The Challenge
of Taiwan’s International Status By Sigrid Winkler (Brookings, November 2011) Taiwan’s achievement of being invited
to the WHA as an observer seems to have created a precedent for other
countries on how to deal with Taiwan’s attempts to participate in
international organizations, namely to leave any decisions to bilateral
consultations between Taipei and Beijing.
Let Taiwan In (to
International Organization) By Denny Roy
(Wall Street Journal, Oct. 28, 2011) Beijing cares deeply about reclaiming Taiwan, but it also cares about
cultivating a positive international image. Making the lives of Taiwan's people more difficult and weakening
international organizations by excluding Taiwan
does not strengthen Beijing's case for
sovereignty over Taiwan,
but it does hurt China's
reputation.
Four First for Taiwan By Philip Yang
(Korea
Times, Oct. 9, 2011) As the ROC approaches the start of its second century, we
are pushing forward with our vision for a “golden decade,” creating
“value-added happiness” for our people and gaining a greater international
role for the country.
At 100, Taiwan’s Government
Faces Uncertain Future By Peter Enav (AP, Oct. 7, 2011) Spurned by the international community, ignored
in the land of its founding, and ridiculed by many of its own people, the
Republic of China celebrates the 100th anniversary of its birth, trying to
stave off extinction.
Changing Taiwan Faces New
Challenges By Cindy Sui
(BBC, Sep. 30, 2011) The challenge for Taiwan is
to not only continue to assert its place on the international stage and push
for inclusion in world bodies, such as the World Health Organization, but
also to open up trade links with other countries.
Taiwan’s ‘Freedom of Action’
in Danger By William Lowther
(Taipei Times, Aug. 5, 2011)
Robert Sutter of George Washington University told a conference titled “The
Future of US-Taiwan Relations” that there is a dark underside to the very
positive sentiments that are expressed toward Taiwan by Washington.
U.S. Slowdown Spells Trouble
for Asia’s Smaller Economies
(Reuters, Jul. 29, 2011) Asia’s smaller
export-driven economies such as Taiwan look most vulnerable to the threat of
a deeper U.S. economic slump, which could materialize even if Washington
manages to avert a debt default.
International Organization
and Taiwan
(CNAPS, Brookings, Mar. 14, 2011) On March 14,
the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies at Brookings (CNAPS) hosted a
discussion on the status of and prospects for Taiwan’s increased international
participation.
Taipei Storm Greets US
Evacuees By Jens Kastner and Wang Jhy-perng (Asia Times, Mar.
25, 2011) After the massive earthquake wrecked Japan's
Fukushima nuclear reactors,
the United States
evacuated its embassy personnel and, as unconfirmed reports have it, members
of the United States Marine Corps to Taiwan. Not everybody believes
that Washington's
location choice was as innocent as claimed.
ROC Is Alive and Well in
Taiwan By Dennis Hickey
(Taipei Times, Mar. 21, 2011) There is ample
reason to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the overthrow of the Qing
Dynasty. That momentous event led to the establishment of the Republic of
China — a responsible state that continues to play an important role in the
global community to this day.
Taiwan, US Count Cost of Spy
Saga By Jens Kastner
(Asia Times, Feb. 12, 2011) While Taiwanese and
US officials have quickly said the case will not affect Taiwan-US military
ties and US arms sales to Taiwan, analysts believe the US might become more
prudent over the sale of more advanced weapons to Taiwan.
Year-end Symposium Reviews
Politics, Economy
(CNA, Dec. 31, 2010) The signing of a historic
trade pact with China and fierce competition in the five special municipality
elections were the most significant developments in Taiwan this year,
scholars said in a year-end symposium in which they also predicted a
tumultuous year ahead.
Taiwan’s Central American
Allies Expand China Ties By Mica Rosenberg and Alex Leff (Reuters, Dec. 30, 2010) Friendlier ties between Taiwan and China
are allowing Central American nations to deepen economic links with the communist
giant, increasing Chinese influence in a region dominated by the United States.
Taiwan Not Briefing US:
Glaser By William Lowther
(Taipei Times, Dec. 10, 2010) The US is not being
fully informed and briefed by President Ma Ying-jeou
and his administration about Taipei’s direct
negotiations with Beijing.
The Modernization of
Taiwan’s National Security Council By
York W. Chen (China Brief, Jamestown
Foundation, Nov. 5, 2010) Although some controversies remain unsolved—such as
its relation with the legislature—the NSC in Taiwan has evolved as a
modernized institution in assisting the president’s national security
policy-making.
Taipei and the New,
Assertive China By Arthur Waldron
(China Brief 10(21), Jamestown Foundation, Oct.
22, 2010) Starting in late spring an unexpected tide of events set in motion
the beginning of a new polarization between China and many of the other. This
redrawing posed in turn an unanticipated question for President Ma's
government in Taiwan:
which side would the island take?
US-Taiwan Relations Still on
Course By Dennis Hickey
(Taipei Times, Oct. 11, 2010) It appears that a
major overhaul in US
policy toward Taiwan
is not on the horizon. On the one hand, Beijing
may take solace in the fact that Washington
is not going to upgrade its relations with Taipei or sell the country every weapons
system that it wants. On the other hand, however, the PRC must understand
that the US
has no plans to “sell out” or otherwise “abandon” an old friend.
US-Based Analysts
Apprehensive Over US-Taiwan Ties By
William Lowther
(Taipei Times, Oct. 9, 2010) Washington-based China-watchers are becoming
increasingly apprehensive over the perceived failure by Taiwan and the US to use the current situation
in the Asia-Pacific region to strengthen ties.
US-Based Analysts
Apprehensive Over US-Taiwan Ties By
William Lowther (Taipei Times, Oct. 9, 2010) Washington-based
China-watchers are becoming increasingly apprehensive over the perceived
failure by Taiwan and the US
to use the current situation in the Asia-Pacific region to strengthen ties.
Doubts Over Ma’s Tough Cure
for Corruption By Jens Kastner
(Asia Times, Aug. 26, 2010) Under public
pressure, President Ma Ying-jeou has talked tough
on the matter and vowed not to allow a few corrupt officials tarnish the
reputation of the public sector and the government.
The Social foundation of
Taiwan’s Future: Guns, Wheelchairs and Shark’s Fin Soup By
Richard C. Bush III (Columbia
University Symposium on Taiwan in the
21st Century, Jul. 13, 2010) Taiwan faces some difficult choices: how to
maintain competitiveness in a globalized economy, how to assure both growth
and relative equality, how to balance the desire for prosperity and the need
for high-quality social services, and how to guarantee both a good life and
national security.
Taiwan’s Sinking Birth Rate
Threatens Productivity
(Reuters, Apr. 2, 2010) Taiwan is scrambling to raise its
birthrate, among the world's lowest, before the sinking number of newborns
threatens productivity for its export-driven economy.
Taiwan’s U.S. Beef
(Wall Street Journal, Jan. 6, 2010) Mad cow
disease has claimed another victim: Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, who was for free trade in beef, until he was
against it. Chalk the decision up to a political infection.
U.S. Experts Warn of Fallout
from Taiwan’s Breach of Beef Protocol (CNA, Jan. 6, 2010) Several U.S. experts on Taiwan issues warned
that Taiwan's recent violation of a beef trade protocol with the United
States could hamper progress in bilateral economic and trade relations.
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