TSR-Taiwan

~2000 ; 2001-2004 ; 2005-2007; 2008

Polls

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.

Taiwan Should Stop U.N. Bid: Scholars
(CNA, Jun. 14, 2009) Several international relations scholars from National Chengchi University said that instead of seeking to join the United Nations, Taiwan should focus on applying for entry to U.N.-related agencies and programs.

MOFA Noncommittal, But Still Preparing for UN Bid
(Taipei Times, Jun. 13, 2009) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs remains noncommittal over this year’s UN bid but it is gearing up to pitch a proposal, Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco Ou said.

Ma Plans to Visit South Pacific Allies
(Taipei Times, Jun. 10, 2009) President Ma Ying-jeou is scheduled to make his fourth trip abroad to attend a fall leadership summit between Taiwan and its South Pacific allies, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

President Ma Will Visit Nicaragua As Scheduled
(China Post, Jun. 9, 2009) There won't be any change in President Ma Ying-jeou's scheduled state visit to Nicaragua, sources close to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Taiwan May Exports Dn 9th Mo But Decline Narrows
(Wall Street Journal, Jun. 8, 2009) Taiwan's exports fell for the ninth straight month in May, but the decline eased on improved demand for electronics and other products including flat panels, with shipments to China and the U.S. both showing signs of stabilizing.

MOFA to Shift Gear on UN Bid: Source
(Taipei Times, Jun. 8, 2009) An unnamed official said that the government would likely try to repeat the WHA model in seeking participation at UN specialized agencies.

Ma and Clinton Exchange Greetings
(Taipei Times, Jun. 3, 2009) The president said he was working hard to stabilize relations with China, which the US secretary of state said Washington supported.

Ma Addresses Belize Parliament, Speaks on China Ties, Foreign Aid (CNA, May 30, 2009) President Ma Ying-jeou addressed the parliament of Belize and talked about the increasingly warming cross-Taiwan Strait relations and his administration's foreign aid policy.

Ma Ying-jeou, First Lady Depart on Central America Trip
(Taipei Times, May 27, 2009) Ma, who is accompanied by his wife on a presidential mission for the first time, said he would not make public appearances during his US transit stops.

WHO Web Site Separates Taiwanese, Chinese Flu Toll
(Taipei Times, May 25, 2009) Department of Health Minister Yeh Ching-chuan said that the WHO had amended its Web site to include a separate tally for swine flu cases reported by Taiwan.

Taiwan’s Economy Shrinks 10.2 Percent in 1Q
(AP, May 21, 2009) The government says Taiwan’s economy contracted by 10.2 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2009.

Taiwan’s Status Safe at WHA: Yeh
(Taipei Times, May 18, 2009) Department of Health Minister Yeh Ching-chuan said that Taiwan’s sovereignty was not and would not be eclipsed during the annual meeting of the WHO.

DOH Delegation Leaves for WHA
(Taipei Times, May 16, 2009) Taiwan is to re-emerge on the world stage nearly four decades after quitting the UN by sending a delegation to the World Health Assembly.

Taiwan, China to Set Precedent at WHA Stage
(CNA, May 13, 2009) Health officials from Taiwan and China will meet formally for the first time under a United Nations framework at this year's World Health Assembly, which diplomatic sources said will set the stage for future cross-Taiwan Strait interactions in the international arena.

OIE to Tweak Charter: MOFA Official
(Taipei Times, May 11, 2009) The World Organization for Animal Heath (OIE) will revise its charter to change the term “member country” to “member” as a friendly gesture to Taiwan, a senior Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said.

Taiwan Can Ink FTA with Singapore: President Ma Ying-jeou
(China Post, May 10, 2009) President Ma Ying-jeou recently said he hopes Taiwan can sign a free trade agreement with Singapore as soon as possible under the name of “Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu Separate Customs Territories.”

FM ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ of China Diplomatic Truce
(CNA, May 7, 2009) Foreign Minister Francisco H.L. Ou said there is evidence that China is working with the “diplomatic truce” approach of President Ma Ying-jeou and he expressed “cautious optimism” that Beijing will continue to do so.

Ma Looks to WHA Model for Red Cross Membership
(Taipei Times, May 3, 2009) President Ma Ying-jeou promised to push for admission of the country’s Red Cross Society into the International Committee of the Red Cross following Taiwan’s admission as an observer at the World Health Assembly.

WHO Confirms Taiwan to Attend Health Assembly
(Reuters, May 1, 2009) The World Health Organization confirmed Taiwan will attend this month's meeting of its annual policy-setting assembly where the outbreak of the new deadly flu strain will likely top the agenda.

WHA Role Won’t Harm Status: Ma
(China Post, May 1, 2009) The nation's success in obtaining the right to attend this year's World Health Assembly has not been achieved at the expense of the country's sovereign status, President Ma Ying-jeou stressed.

Taiwan President: China Okays Island WHO Role
(AP, Apr. 29, 2009) Taiwan's president announced that China will allow the island's participation in a key World Health Organization body, a major goal in Taipei's campaign for international recognition.

President Set to Visit Central America Twice
(CNA, Apr. 24, 2009) President Ma Ying-jeou will visit Central America twice between late May and July to attend presidential inaugurations in two of Taiwan's allies in the region, political sources said.

Unemployment Rate Reaches Record High of 5.81% in March
(China Post, Apr. 23, 2009) Taiwan's jobless rate surged to a new high of 5.81 percent in March, edging up 0.06 of a percentage point from the February level of 5.75 percent and jumping 1.95 percentage points from a year earlier.

Taiwan to Test China by Meeting Allies
(Reuters, Apr. 21, 2009) Taiwan will lead a summit this year with six diplomatic allies, officials said, a tough first for the normally China-friendly president as Beijing claims the island and opposes its reach overseas.

MOFA Guarded on WHA Talks
(Taipei Times, Apr. 15, 2009) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs remained guarded on the status of cross-strait negotiations over Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly, but insisted that no secret talks had been launched on the matter.

Taiwan Military to Probe Bribery Claims
(AFP, Apr. 9, 2009) Taiwan's defense ministry said it had formed a task group to investigate an alleged high-profile bribery scandal which it said had seriously tarnished the military's image.

President Ma Orders Serious Action on Graft
(China Post, Apr. 9, 2009) President Ma Ying-jeou reiterated his determination to come down hard on corruption after Taiwan was described in a report as an even more corrupt country than China.

Health Official Granted Access to IHR Portal
(Taipei Times, Apr. 9, 2009) Health authorities recently received the password for the International Health Regulations information portal, formally completing the country’s accession into the global health management framework, a local health official said.

Taiwan Gravely Concerned about Pyongyang’s Rocket Launch: MOFA (CNA, Apr. 6, 2009) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed grave concern over North Korea's firing of a rocket over Japan the day before, saying the move threatens peace and security in Northeast Asia.

Ou Met El Salvador President: MOFA
(Taipei Times, Apr. 5, 2009) While it would not mind El Salvador having closer economic relations with China, MOFA said it would oppose any move toward diplomatic ties.

Lawmakers Urge Protest Over 2005 WHO-Beijing Deal
(Taipei Times, Apr. 2, 2009) A parliamentary committee passed a resolution urging the government to lodge a stern protest with the WHO regarding a 2005 MOU it signed with China, which stipulates that all communications between WHO and Taiwan must proceed via Beijing.

Ou Likely to Miss Talks on WHA
(Taipei Times, Mar. 28, 2009) Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco Ou said he would most likely be absent from upcoming negotiations with China on Taiwan’s bid to become an observer at the WHA, but hopes the talks will be launched before the Boao Forum on Apr. 17.

Jobless Rate Hits 31-Year High of 5.75% in Feb.
(China Post, Mar. 24, 2009) Taiwan's February jobless rate surged to the highest level of 5.75 percent in 31 years or since the first official unemployment survey was conducted in 1978.

Ma’s Office Denies Dual Diplomatic Recognition
(China Post, Mar. 22, 2009) The Presidential Office denied that Taipei had contacted Beijing over remarks made by Taiwan's foreign minister that were taken to imply the possibility of dual diplomatic recognition.

Uncertainty Marks Future of Nation at World Health Body
(Taipei Times, Mar. 20, 2009) Taiwan will never agree to become an associate of China at the WHO, Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco Ou told the legislature’s Foreign and National Defense Committee.

MOFA to Follow ‘Paraguay’ Model to Keep El Salvador Ties
(China Post, Mar. 20, 2009) Francisco Ou, minister of foreign affairs, said he would follow the “Paraguay” formula to keep diplomatic relations between Taipei and San Salvador.

Taiwan’s Foreign Aid Fruitful: U.S. Charity
(China Post, Mar. 19, 2009) Robin G. Mahood, President of Food For the Poor (FFP), praised Taiwan's International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) for its expertise in helping developing countries such as Haiti and Nicaragua.

Taipei, Beijing to Discuss WHA, Ma Says
(Taipei Times, Mar. 14, 2009) The government will conduct negotiations with China at an undisclosed location outside of Taiwan next month about the nation’s bid for observer status at the World Health Assembly, President Ma Ying-jeou said in an interview published.

MOFA Calls on Beijing to Negotiate over WHA Bid
(Taipei Times, Mar. 13, 2009) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on Beijing to negotiate with Taiwan on the nation’s bid for observer status in the World Health Assembly (WHA) this year.

Taiwan’s Export Orders, Production Plunge by Records
(Bloomberg, Feb. 24, 2009) Taiwan’s export orders and industrial output fell by records in January, threatening to stoke unemployment and deepen the island’s recession.

Taiwan GDP to Contract 2.97%
(China Post, Feb. 19, 2009) The Cabinet-level Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics forecast Taiwan's GDP would shrink by 2.97 percent in 2009.

Taiwan Hopes to Join Talks of ASEAN Labor Ministers
(CNA, Feb. 13, 2009) President Ma Ying-jeou proposed that Taiwan be invited to take part in the labor ministers meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations so as to allow the country to contribute to the resolution of regional labor issues.

Taiwan’s Exports Fall by a Record 44.1%
(Wall Street Journal, Feb. 9, 2009) Taiwan's exports in January fell by a record 44.1% to $12.37 billion on deteriorating demand for the island's goods due to the economic downturn.

Taiwan Calls for EU Support for WHO Status
(CNA, Feb. 8, 2009) Taiwan's representative to the European Union and Belgium called on the group to support Taiwan's bid to take part in the World Health Organization and allow the country to contribute its part to the international community.

Ma to Place New Emphasis on ‘Flexible Diplomacy’
(China Post, Feb. 6, 2009) President Ma Ying-jeou yesterday announced a shifting of emphasis from “high politics” to “low politics” as part of a new direction for his administration's “flexible diplomacy.”

MOFA Says It Has ‘No Concrete Plans’ for WHA
(Taipei Times, Feb. 6, 2009) With less than four months to go before the World Health Assembly convenes, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not decided how to promote the nation’s bid for observer status, a ministry official said.

MOFA Reaffirms Sovereignty Over Spratlys
(CNA, Feb. 5, 2009) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement reiterating the Republic of China's historical claim to islands and reefs in the South China Sea, including the Spratlys.

Participation in WHA Rests with China: FM
(CNA, Feb. 1, 2009) The key to Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly — the decision-making arm of the World Health Organization — is held by China, Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco Ou said.

Ma Promises to Lead Nation Through Crisis
(China Post, Jan. 26, 2009) President Ma Ying-jeou promised to lead Taiwan through its current economic hardship, as he spoke in a New Year address televised on the island's major networks.

Taiwan Win Landmark Access to WHO amid China Thaw
(Reuters, Jan. 22, 2009) The World Health Organization opened a formal line of communication with Taiwan this month, one of the clearest signs yet that the island's detente with political rival China is working.

WHA Result Will Test Cross-Strait Policy: MOFA
(Taipei Times, Jan. 18, 2009) The outcome of Taiwan’s bid for observer status at World Health Assembly in May will serve as an important indicator of whether the development of cross-Taiwan Strait relations can be normalized, a MOFA official said.

MOFA Plans Talks with US and EU on Piracy in Gulf
(Taipei Times, Jan. 16, 2009) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the government planned to discuss counter-piracy strategies in the Gulf of Aden with the US and EU in greater detail in the near future.

Taiwan Tops Freedom House Rights Survey
(CNA, Jan. 14, 2009) Taiwan earned the highest score for its political rights and the second highest score for its civil liberties in the 2009 “Freedom of the World” survey.

Taiwan Haunted by Plunging Exports, Job Cuts
(Reuters, Jan. 8, 2009) Taiwan announced exports plunged a record 42 percent in December from a year ago amid the worst global downturn since the Great Depression.

MOFA Mulls Easing Rules on Meeting Chinese Officials
(Taipei Times, Jan. 2, 2009) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is considering a new policy to loosen restrictions on interaction between Taiwanese and Chinese officials abroad, a senior MOFA official said.

Taiwan Welcomes China Response to ‘Truce’
(China Post, Jan. 1, 2009) Officials here welcomed the statements of Chinese President Hu Jintao as a positive response to President Ma Ying-jeou's call for “diplomatic truce.

Taiwan Needs Clear EEZ Rights Declaration
(Editorial, China Post, May 19, 2009) The Waichiaopu should proclaim Taiwan's EEZ rights at the earliest possible date lest it should be assumed to have acquiesced without complaint.

In a Switch, Taiwan to Take Part in WHO Conference By Jane Rickards (Washington Post, Apr. 30, 2009) Margaret Chan, the WHO's director general, issued the formal invitation Tuesday night, asking Taiwan to send nonvoting observers to the Geneva gathering under the banner of "Chinese Taipei."

As Asia Builds Economic Ties, Taiwan Sidelined by China By Jonathan Adams (Christian Science Monitor, Apr. 12, 2009) It's not just that this onetime economic "tiger" now can't compete head-on with China in ports and other areas. Due to Beijing's political pressure, Taiwan is also the odd-man out amid the trend of Asian economic integration.

TVBS Public Opinion Poll
(TVBS Public Opinion Poll Center, Mar. 2, 2009) The survey was conducted on the satisfaction ratings of the Ma government and on issues associated with the possibility of signing of CECA with China.

Taiwan’s Low Profile May Aid Its Goals By Keith Bradsher
(New York Times, Feb. 13, 2009) America’s new secretary of state is preparing to visit Beijing with an agenda that barely mentions Taiwan — and that is fine with the president of Taiwan.