Asia in Review Archive 2021

Taiwan (Republic of China)

News summary

Taiwan: Simultaneous military exercises

(nds) The Taiwanese military conducted exercises on the east and west coasts of the Hengchun Peninsula. The Air Force and Special Forces Command carried out the annual Condor exercise at the Jiupeng military base on the east coast. The Condor exercise is held annually and generally in September. However, it began in late August this year. Apache, SuperCobra, and Kiowa helicopters from the Army’s 601st and 602nd Air Cavalry Brigades fired Hellfire and Stinger missiles to test the brigades’ combat capabilities.

Simultaneously, two joint forces composed of soldiers from the three military branches conducted the “Lien Yong” exercise, which began on 23 August. In addition, the defense is preparing for Han Kuang Highway takeoff and landing exercises, which will be held from 13 September to 17. [Taiwan News]

Group of European Parliamentarians Supports Taiwan and Lithuania facing China

(nds) The Formosa Club, a group of pro-Taiwan European parliamentarians, has been supporting the Taiwan-Lithuania relationship at the European Commission, the European Council, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Recently Taiwan and Lithuania announced plans to establish representative offices in Taipei and Vilnius, angering China. China responded with threats and economic sanctions against Lithuania.

According to the Formosa Club’s deputies, China’s coercive actions are a flagrant violation of international diplomatic norms, noting that 15 other European countries have already established representative offices in Taiwan. As Chinese pressure mounts in the Taiwan Strait, more states are supporting Taipei. [Taipei Times]

Taiwanese space company to conduct launch in Australia

(nds) Australian authorities have allowed Taiwanese company TiSPACE to conduct a commercial launch at a newly licensed facility in southern Australia later this year.

Tispace will test its Hapith I two-stage suborbital rocket from the Whalers Way orbital launch complex in southern Australia. The flight will be used to validate the vehicle’s propulsion, guidance, telemetry, and structural systems. [Voice of America]

This news is crucial for Taiwan’s and Australia’s burgeoning space industries, which have lagged behind other countries. Australia only established a national space agency in 2018, and Taiwan has also been slow to develop the space sector on the island. Taipei has yet to launch a rocket or spacecraft from its soil. Hapith I is Taiwan’s first domestically built rocket, and Tispace is its first commercial space launch company. [Voice of America]

Taiwanese legislators passed the Space Development Act in May to spur the development of a national space program. By improving the legal framework for space activities, Taiwan has been able to advance its plans in this field. [Taiwan News ]

Taiwan-Paraguay relations: Central bank signs cooperation agreement

(nds) On 25 August, the Central Bank of the Republic of China said it had signed an agreement with its Paraguayan counterpart to strengthen bilateral exchanges of information and experience through mutual visits, case studies, based on reciprocity, and information security protection. [Focus Taiwan]

Paraguay and Taiwan have good diplomatic relations. Paraguay is one of only 15 countries with full diplomatic ties with Taiwan and the only one in South America.

Japan-Taiwan relations: Lawmakers from ruling parties hold talks

(dql) In a move angering China, Japanese and Taiwanese lawmakers from the respective ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) held an online meeting on August 27 to discuss how to handle the rising challenge from China as well as possible military exchanges. The topics covered semiconductors, Beijing’s military activities in disputed waters and possible cooperation between Taiwan, Japan and the United States, as well as cooperation between Coast Guards on both sides. [Straits Times]

The meeting is the latest in a string of signals of a hardening stance of Japan towards China on the Taiwan issue. Earlier this month, Japan’s defense minister Nobuo Kishi called on the international community to pay more attention to “Taiwan’s survival” in the face China’s military build-up and moves “that work to envelop Taiwan.” [Taiwan News]

In this year’s defense white paper, Japan’s Defense Ministry made a direct link between its security and Taiwan. [Taiwan News]

China-US relations: US destroyer, cutter transit Taiwan Strait

(dql) On August 28, the guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd, accompanied by a Coast Guard National Security Cutter, transited the Taiwan Strait. It was the eighth of such a transit this year by a US warship. [USNI News]

On the same day, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) held drills on both sides of the strait, reflecting signals of an intensified tit-for-tat pattern of show of force between both countries’ militaries in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea. [Global Times]

Prior the those drills in Friday, China had conducted a series of naval exercises from Tuesday to Thursday in the South China Sea, the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Strait. [South China Morning Post 1]

The naval activities came on the heels of reportedly successful tests of new missiles by China’s PLA Rocket Force. The missiles are believed to be capable of overcoming “complex electromagnetic interference” to destroy facilities in a “fast-reaction” operation and to be aimed at Taiwan. [South China Morning Post 2]

They also came amid US Vice President Kamala Harris’ trip to Vietnam and Singapore during which she reiterated longstanding US criticism of China’s actions in the South China Sea where “Beijing continues to coerce, to intimidate and to make claims to the vast majority of the South China Sea, […] underm[ining] the rules-based order and threaten[ing] the sovereignty of nations.” [New York Times]

In a latest development, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense confirmed that a PLA Air Force reconnaissance plane entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Sunday, marking the 13th intrusion in August. [Taiwan News]

Taiwan: Court rejects complaint to amend the Constitution

(nds) The Taipei High Administrative Court has dismissed a complaint filed by the founder of the Taiwan New Constitution Foundation, Koo Kwang-ming, against a decision made by the Central Election Commission last October to reject two proposals for a referendum on drafting a new Constitution.

The two proposed questions were “Do you support the president in pushing for a new constitution that reflects Taiwan’s reality?” and: “Do you support the president in initiating a constitutional reform process for the country?”.

The election commission judged that the wording of the referendum proposal lacked clarity and therefore decided to reject it. The Referendum Act states that all referendum proposals must be concise, clear, and objectively neutral. In addition, the decision-makers found that the questions did not comply with the procedural rules and did not conform to the “initiatives or referendums on important policies” in Article 2 of the Act. The Taipei High Administrative Court upheld the ruling. [Taipei Times]

Taiwan: President Tsai Ing-wen rejects rumors of a Cabinet reshuffle

(nds) At a regular meeting of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leadership on 25 August, President Tsai Ing-wen said she would not reshuffle the Cabinet, rejecting reports of plans to reshuffle the Cabinet circulating in the media. In doing so, she supports Prime Minister Su Tseng-Chang and the members of the government.

According to those reports, several DPP mayors and county chiefs would leave their posts and join the Cabinet in September. In addition, Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan was said to be the new premier. Tsai denied those claims and stressed the good work of the cabinet members in maintaining the economic momentum and containing the health crisis in Taiwan.

A spokesman for the president’s party called on the media to check their sources with official authorities before publishing. On the other hand, some party leaders suspect that some media have ulterior motives. It could be an attempt from the opposition to destabilize the government. [Taiwan News]

Taiwan, Japan to hold bilateral talks

(nd) For the first time, ruling officials from Japan and Taiwan are planning to hold bilateral talks to address security threats posed by Chinese coercion tactics. 

Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its Taiwanese counterpart, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), will hold the first of their “two-plus-two” security dialogue, which is normally held between governments. The talks were initiated by Japan. Despite promoting general exchange, the only talks shall address recent security issues in the Taiwanese Strait, amid the scenario of a Chinese invasion. [Taiwan News]

China halts rail freight to Lithuania as feud deepens over Taiwan

(lm) China’s train state train operator has suspended direct freight operations to Lithuania “until further notice”, in the latest gambit in a simmering geopolitical feud over Taiwan, although there has been no official confirmation as of August 18. [South China Morning Post]

The apparent suspension of service comes after hostilities between the two countries had ratcheted up earlier this month, with China recalling its ambassador from Lithuania and asking Vilnius to do the same, over plans by the European country and Taiwan to establish reciprocal diplomatic offices. [AiR No. 32, August/2021, 2]

Lithuania does not yet have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but it maintains increasingly friendly relations with Taipei. Vilnius has been an increasingly vocal critic of China’s actions towards Taiwan, as well as in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, has withdrawn from China-led multilateral groups and has announced vaccine donations to Taiwan.

Trade volumes between Lithuania and China are relatively low, with many analysts saying that the country’s lack of economic exposure to Beijing has helped sharpen its tongue.

China prepares to build airport on reclaimed land near Taiwan

(lm) China is gearing up to build an airport on land claimed from the sea in the contested Taiwan Strait, Minxi Daily reported on August 17, as Beijing moves ahead with plans to integrate development with the Taipei amid rising tensions and near-constant drills by its military forces. [South China Morning Post] [The Times]

The $463 million project would be between the isles of Dasha and Xiaosha near Pingtan Island, which is the nearest territory to Taiwan controlled by the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

The plan, which was disclosed a day after Chinese military began its latest round of live-fire war games near Taiwan [see AiR No. 33, August/2021, 3], seamlessly links with the ambitious infrastructure-building guidelines announced by the southeastern Fujian Province earlier this month.

According to the development plan, local authorities will continue to push forward the study of land connectivity with Taiwan while accelerating construction on the mainland side of bay bridge projects linking with the Kinmen groups of islands. Located off the southeastern coast of mainland China, Kinmen is close to Fujian Province but under the control of Taiwan.

All these plans share the goal of using transportation infrastructure to convert the PRC’s coastline opposite Taiwan into a leading conduit for trade, investment and travel between mainland China and Taipei. Beijing intends for this increased engagement to promote the integration and eventual unification of Taiwan-controlled territories with mainland China.

In the past decade alone, the push to build out Pingtan’s transportation infrastructure has resulted in several new and improved linkages, with still more in the construction or planning stages. The opening of the Pingtan Strait Road-Rail Bridge — first to automobile traffic in October of last year and then to high-speed rail traffic in two months later — marked the island’s connection to the PRC’s integrated transportation system.

Afghanistan implications for Taiwan

(nd) Amid the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, the rapid collapse of the Afghan National Army and the US military’s hasty withdrawal, the US’s commitment to defend Taiwan has been put into question, following a respective Global Times article, potentially in an effort to draw Taiwan closer to China. [CNBC] The Chinese comments coincided with China’s latest military exercise near Taiwan last Tuesday. [Reuters, See also AiR No. 33, August/2021, 3]

Premier Su Tseng-chang commented Taiwan would not collapse like Afghanistan, warning “foreign forces” not to be “deluded” they can invade the island, indirectly addressing China. Additionally, President Tsai Ing-wen said Taiwan needs to be more united and more resolute in defense said Taiwan needs to be united and focus on its military capabilities, bolstering their commitment to defense. Currently, Tsai Ing-wen conducts an ambitious military modernization program to boost capabilities of the Taiwanese army with advanced, highly mobile weapons to make a Chinese invasion as difficult as possible. 

Earlier voiced concerns if the US would be willing and able to defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack, have been refueled with the fall of Kabul. With respect to the comparison, a US State Department spokesperson said Taiwan and Afghanistan are two “very different” policy issues. While the US went to Afghanistan “with a mission to deal with the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11,” its policy on Taiwan emphasizes maintaining “peace and stability” in the Taiwan Strait, according to the spokesperson. Also, analysts say Taiwan and Afghanistan are incomparable, with Taiwan at the core of US interests. In a recent spat between China and Lithuania over Taiwan, US President Joe Biden referred to the US commitment in Taiwan as “rock solid”. [See also AiR No. 32, August/2021, 2] Following the victory of the Taliban, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan called Washington’s commitments to its allies, including Taiwan, as “sacrosanct”, and White House press secretary Jen Psaki rejecting conflicting reports by Chinese and Russian outlets as propaganda. President Biden said the US would “respond” if Taiwan was attacked or invaded by China, verbally expanding NATO protection mechanism over Taiwan and South Korea. 

The US and Taiwan have no formal defense treaty, the current Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 does not guarantee US defense in the event of an attack, but provides for the supply of arms. Biden’s promise seems like a departure from official US policy and long-term position of “strategic ambiguity” over Taiwan, while a senior official was quoted saying that Washington’s “policy with regard to Taiwan has not changed”, citing analysts as suggesting that Biden had “misspoken.”

Nevertheless, according to analysts, the current global situation is likely to embolden China to test the US over Taiwan, due to the much referred to decline of the US and a possibly overconfident China. Yet, according to a recent analysis for the East Asia Forum, Chinese leaders till rather doubt Chinese capability to conquer Taiwan and fight the US. Additionally, taking over Taiwan forcefully would arguably have detrimental effect on China’s economy, foreign relations and global image. Also, Chinese leaders are more likely to continue to hope for a “peaceful reunification” while pursuing its decades-long military modernization process and thereby grow in strength.

According to another analysis for Politico, the withdrawal demonstrates the US seriousness with respect to security challenges from China, which in turn, when recognized as peer competitor, leads to a more mutual, strategic stability seeking approach to such conflicts, stressing a need for cooperation. Still, this take would happen against the backdrop of a stronger-growing China, frequently demonstrating its military capabilities and preparedness.

As part of its “One-China” policy, China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has recently ramped up military and diplomatic pressure on Taiwan. Like most other countries, the US has no official diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but is its most important international supporter and arms supplier. [Taipei Times] [Taiwan News 1] [Reuters] [Taiwan News 2]

Taiwan plans to join US summit for democracy

(nd) The Taiwanese Foreign Ministry announced its plan to attend the “Summit for Democracy” announced by US president Joe Biden. The summit shall bring together virtually leaders of the world’s democracies by early December. Topics will be the defence against authoritarianism, fight against corruption and the promotion of respect for human rights.

[Nikkei Asia] The list of invitees has not been released yet, but US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has pledged he would invite Taiwan to participate, emphasizing its strong democratic system, and its status as technology hub. [Taiwan News]

Indo-Pacific forces from 21 partner nations kick off SEACAT

(lm) Maritime forces from Indo-Pacific partner nations on August 10 began the 20th iteration of the Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) naval exercise in Singapore and virtually. [Al Jazeera] [NavyTimes]

Signifying the largest iteration to date, this year’s exercise involves ten ships and more than 400 personnel. 21 nations participate, including Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Canada, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, New Zealand, Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam.

This year’s also presents a new element by incorporating international organizations and nongovernmental organizations, whose objective is to create an even more realistic scenario to “enhance understanding and adherence to accepted rules, laws, and norms,” the US Navy said in a statement. Participants include United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), EU Critical Maritime Route Wider Indian Ocean (CRIMARIO), and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). [Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet]

The SEACAT exercises commenced just a day after more than 10,000 troops from China and Russia began a major exercise, West-Interaction 2021, in China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [AiR No. 32, August/2021, 2]

Last year, the event was conducted as part of a virtual symposium amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lithuania to reiterate decision to open representative office named “Taiwan”

(nd) Following diplomatic reactions from both sides after Lithuania announced to have a representative office named “Taiwan” in Lithuania, [See also AiR No. 32, August/2021, 2] Lithuania President Gitanas Nauseda said they were independent and able to decide which countries to develop a relationship with. He added that the “one China” policy was implemented after Lithuania established diplomatic relations with China in 1991. In the document signed for the establishment of diplomatic relations with China, however, Lithuania agreed not to establish or encourage any official relationship with Taiwan. [Taiwan News 1] The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) supported the Baltic nation for its “resolute will” to defend its national dignity and freedom and stand up to China. [Taiwan News 2]

US State Department spokesman Ned Price condemned China’s reaction towards Lithuania and reassured that the US stands in solidarity with Lithuania. [Nikkei Asia] During a call, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman reiterated the US’s support to Lithuania’s foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, referring to China’s “coercive behaviour”. [Reuters]

French conservative newspaper Le Figaro commented, Taiwan may be viewed as a province by China, but it is a state for everybody else. The opening of this de-facto embassy in a European capital would be the first in 18 years.  [Taiwan News 3] 

On Monday, non-profit US Council of State Governments passed a resolution on Monday encouraging each state to establish representative offices in Taiwan to strengthen bilateral trade and economic relations and to enter driver’s license reciprocity agreements to ensure mobility. The latter exists already with 35 US states since 2013. The resolution also reiterated support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations, like the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL). [Focus Taiwan]

China announced drills off Taiwan

(nd) Accusing the US and Taiwan of “collusion” and “provocations” targeting “Chinese sovereignty”, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has dispatched warships, anti-submarine aircraft and fighter jets to conduct drills southwest and southeast of Taiwan. Since last year, China has been sending its airplanes into Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ) in an effort to intimidate Taiwan and pressure it to accept Chinese sovereignty. Additional to seeking air supremacy, PLA is also conducting frequent electronic reconnaissance and electronic interference operations, for what Taiwan believes to gather electronic signals from U.S. and Japanese aircraft in order to paralyse such reinforcing aircraft.

China referred to its drills as necessary to balance the tensions created in the Taiwan Strait by the US and Taiwan. While no location was given in the PLA’s statement, China often exercises near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands at the top part of the South China Sea, and around the Bashi Channel off southern Taiwan.

Last week, the US approved an artillery system sale valued at up to $750 million to Taiwan. [AiR No. 32, August/2021, 2]

Amid recent threats and looming use of force to bring Taiwan under Chinese control, the US has said their commitment to Taiwan was “rock solid”, prompting Chinese Global Times to compare Taiwan to Afghanistan, referring to empty promises by the US. [Taiwan News] [Nikkei Asia] [Bloomberg]

Taiwan: Vessels deployed to Kinmen

(nd) The latest vessel to be stationed by the Coast Guard Administration’s (CGA) was positioned in Kinmen to help with maritime law enforcement, inter alia. Possibly in the future, larger frigates can be deployed to support fishery protection and patrol missions. The deployment comes amid the Chinese government lifting its seasonal fishing ban on August 1. [Taiwan News 1] [See article above]

Meanwhile, the latest intrusion into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and fifth this month happen on Monday, another one occurred Thursday, with four Chinese fighter jets and two surveillance aircrafts, according to the Ministry of National Defense (MND). Taiwan’s Air Force drove away the planes, sent radio warnings and tracked them with land-based anti-aircraft missiles. [Taiwan News 2] Earlier intrusions were carried out by slow-moving turboprops, with the last fighter jet intrusion happening on June 17. The largest intrusion of 28 warfare planes happened on June 15.  [Taiwan News 3]

Additionally, CGA confirmed that a French warship had anchored off the coast of western Taiwan. France’s de facto embassy in Taiwan, the French Office in Taipei, has not yet responded to requests for comment. [Taiwan News 4]

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) said they opposed any form of military ties between the two countries, saying the Taiwanese Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities will suffer the consequences of “playing with fire”. The Taiwanese government denied such joint patrols even happened. They did however debate illegal fishing with the US during their inaugural virtual coast guard cooperation meeting, agreeing to hold more regular meetings. [Taiwan News 5]

Taiwan accused of illegal fishing in report

(nd) In the “2021 Biennial Report to Congress on Improving International Fisheries Management,” released by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Taiwan was listed as being involved in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing for the first time. It was not notified and asked for an explanation by the US government. According to the report, 13 Taiwan-flagged fishing vessels were involved in violating “conservation measures” in various regional fisheries management organizations in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans, with the Taiwanese government failing to take measures against such activity. Taiwan claimed not to have received any details on the vessels, with NOAA saying the information stems from NGO-conducted interviews with crew members of Taiwan-flagged fishing vessels at the conclusion of their contracts.

NOAA biennially reports to US Congress, the first of which was published in 2009. In 2020, the US Department of Labor listed Taiwan-caught fish in its List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor, accusing authorities to ignore the issue. [Taiwan News]

Taiwan, Slovakia to sign judicial treaty 

(nds) On August 3, Taiwan signed a judicial treaty with Slovakia, strengthening their mutual legal assistance. Both countries aim to use this agreement to fight crime more effectively. In Taipei, a ceremony was held with the Taiwanese Ministers of Justice and Foreign Affairs, Tsai Ching-Hsiang and Joseph Wu. Slovak Minister of Justice Michal Kotlárik attended the event from a distance, but the Slovak envoy to Taiwan, Martin, was present. 

The agreement allows the two governments to share their practical experience in law enforcement and cooperate in the extradition of criminals. It is the sixth such agreement that Taiwan has signed with a European country. Taiwanese authorities have concluded agreements in the judicial and criminal field with Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, Denmark, and Switzerland.

The bilateral relations between Taiwan and Slovakia are good. They established representative offices in each other’s countries in 2003. They have signed several essential agreements in recent years, including the 2011 Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation of Income Tax and Prevention of Tax Evasion. It is expected that the two governments will continue to work closely together in the future. [Taiwan News]

Australia-Taiwan Relations: Taiwan received the Australian representative in Taipei

(nds) On August 5, Taiwan’s Vice President, Lai Ching-te, received the new Australian representative to Taiwan, Jenny Bloomfield. It was an opportunity for both countries to recall their good economic and security relationship.  Lai Ching Tai expressed her intention to see the two countries continue security cooperation and trade development in the Indo-Pacific region. In July, Taiwan and Australia discussed bilateral cooperation in clean energy, including hydrogen-based technologies, and agreed to expand trade and investment efforts in these areas. The Taiwanese vice president expects that the “Memorandum of Understanding on Energy and Mining Cooperation between Taiwan and Australia” will be renewed. [Taiwan News]

U.S. passes bill regarding Taiwan’s participation in WHO as an observer 

(nds) On 6 August, the Senate passed a bill regarding Taiwan, requesting the Secretary of State to enact legislation allowing Taiwan to “regain observer status at the World Health Assembly (WHA).  The Secretary of State shall report annually to Congress on relevant developments.

 The bill was approved by “unanimous consent” after being approved by a voice vote by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on 28 July. Last March, the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed a similar bill. Therefore, once both houses of the U.S. Congress agree on a unified version of the final bill, it will be forwarded to President Joe Biden for signature.

From 2009 to 2016, Taiwan participated as an observer in the WHA under “Chinese Taipei.” It was possible because Taiwan recognized the 1992 consensus that led to the One China principle. When the Tsai administration came to power in 2016, it rejected the consensus and has not participated in the WHO since then. As early as 2017, the United States led bills to restore Taiwan’s observer status. The successful handling of Taiwan’s health crisis has accentuated this trend. This new bill also shows the closeness between the two countries in recent months. [Focus Taiwan]

Philippine representative to Taiwan to explain top priorities

(nd) The recently appointed Philippine representative to Taiwan, Gilberto Lauengco, announced his top priorities for his position, naming the promotion of the welfare of Filipino workers and enhancing trade and agricultural development between the two countries. 150,000 Filipino workers are in Taiwan currently. Lauengco has been active in speaking for Filipinos living abroad, urging the Taiwanese government to include them in the national vaccination scheme after a cluster of 123 infected Filipinos was uncovered, a call which was later joined by his counterparts of Indonesia and Thailand. With respect to bilateral trade, Lauengco aims to simplify investment procedures, and streamline the visa application process in an effort to attract Taiwanese investment to the Philippines. Additionally, he wishes to implement Taiwanese agricultural technologies in the Philippines and have student exchange programs to learn agricultural skills. Upon a question, Lauengco clarified he was granted significant leeway to navigate the official constraints of Manila’s “one China” policy. [Taiwan News]

Taiwanese President talks about a mechanism for dialogue on East Asian security

(nds) In an interview with the Japanese magazine Bungei Shunju, President Tsai Ing-wen spoke of the need to establish a mechanism for dialogue on security affairs in East Asia. Tsai explained that China had demonstrated grand ambitions in the Asia-Pacific region in recent years, creating uncertainties regarding regional stability and peace. Therefore Japan, the United States, or other countries worried about the Taiwan Strait issue are sending a “signal” to China to continue its military expansion. The greater the concerns, the more cooperation there is, the more China must be careful in its policies, especially concerning military activities. Faced with these challenges, Tsai reaffirms Taiwan’s desire to develop its relations with its partners. On the other hand, the Taiwanese authorities will continue to improve its military self-defence capability. [Taiwan News] 

Taiwan to ban all Chinese I.T. and communications products 

(nds)The Cabinet has asked all government agencies in Taiwan to phase out all Chinese-made information and communication technology products by the end of the year to protect the country’s national security. [Taiwan News] The Taiwanese authorities had initially planned to establish a blocklist of Chinese products to be banned. However, the complexity of defining and updating information on these products made the government decide to ban such products by 2021. Undercover a prior approval, the establishments that do not respect the deadline can postpone it. Huawei devices will be banned because of the company’s links with the Chinese army. Hikvision could be subject to the same measures. [Taiwan News]

It has been several years since the Tsai administration began this fight against telecommunications products. In January 2019, the Taiwanese authorities had already decided to prohibit state organizations from using Chinese technological products because of the risk for national security. [Taiwan Info in French ]

China to recall its ambassador to Lithuania over Taiwanese representative office

(nd) China has recalled its ambassador to Lithuania, and demanded the Lithuanian government in turn to recall its ambassador to China. China was thereby responding to Lithuania’s decision to allow Taipei to open a representative office in Vilnius, bearing the name “Taiwan”. In an announcement by China’s foreign ministry, it said the decision “brazenly violates the spirit of the communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Lithuania and severely undermines China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” and therefore the “Chinese government expresses its categorical opposition to this move.” The announcement continued urging the “Lithuanian side to immediately rectify its wrong decision, take concrete measures to undo the damage, and not to move further down the wrong path” and continued to “warn the Taiwan authorities that ‘Taiwan independence’ is a dead end and any attempt at separatist activities in the international arena is doomed to fail.”

According to its one-China policy, China claims Taiwan as part of its territory. The diplomatic outpost in Lithuania would be the first such de facto embassy in Europe to have the name “Taiwan”. Lithuania also plans to open a representative trade office in Taiwan by the end of the year.

Lithuania’s foreign ministry commented to regret China’s decision but was determined to continue bilateral relations with Taiwan. This most recent decision forms part of a year-long development of Lithuania to move away from China and towards Taiwan. [see also AiR No. 31, August/2021, 1] Earlier, Lithuania left the China-led “17+1” group to engage Central and Eastern European countries by funding infrastructure and other projects. The Lithuanian ambassador to China said this move was because their expectation for an improved access to the Chinese market did not materialize, saying imports from China continued to noticeably outweigh exports to China, leaving a negative trade balance. According to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, trade value between China and Lithuania was US$1.35 billion in 2019. [South China Morning Post] [Taiwan News]

US administration to approve arms deal with Taiwan  

(nds) On 4 August, the US State Department approved a deal to sell arms to Taiwan for $750 million. The agreement includes 40 M109A6 155mm medium self-propelled artillery systems.

The Taiwanese foreign ministry thanked the United States and stated it was the first significant arms sale since Joe Biden took office in January. [Reuters]

Meanwhile, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the United States to immediately cancel the deal to not further damage Sino-US relations.  According to the Chinese authorities, this agreement is contrary to the “one China” principle and would undermine the country’s sovereignty. In addition, Beijing criticizes Washington for interfering in what it considers to be its national affairs. [Taiwan News 1]

The Biden administration has yet to respond to the Chinese statement. However, it is expected that this agreement will become a reality if Congress approves it, as it represents a US strategic interest. The tactical objective of this agreement is to thwart a possible invasion of China by allowing the Taiwanese army to fire directly at troopships and raids on the beaches. The Chinese air force has recently increased incursions into Taiwan’s airspace, and the People’s Liberation Army has also conducted manoeuvres to simulate an invasion of Taiwan. At the Aspen Security Forum, US Indo-Pacific Command Commander Admiral John Aquilino reiterated that the Indo-Pacific region is the most important to the United States and is Washington’s most significant security challenge. While Aquilino believes the US can defend Taiwan, this arms deal could allow the Taiwanese military to act faster to deter the People’s Liberation Army before American intervention. [Taiwan News 2]

Taiwan to massively produce missiles soon

(nds) Taiwan will soon produce an extended-range version of the successfully tested Tien Chien II “Sky Sword” missile. The Taiwanese Air Force has ordered 250 to 300 upgraded Tien Chien II missiles at the cost of US$1.07 million each, and they will be mounted on the 129 Air Force’s Indigenous Defense Fighter. These aircraft have been modified to carry four Tien Chien II missiles instead of two, significantly increasing their firepower. [Focus Taiwan 1]

According to a source of Focus Taiwan, the purpose of the new acquisition is to deter China from violating the Taiwanese ADIZ effectively, most recently this week [Taiwan News]. The Taiwanese military is far less powerful than China’s, and much of its weaponry is aging or even obsolete. Therefore, it is necessary to modernize the Taiwanese army. [Focus Taiwan 2]

Meanwhile, the Tawainese authorities are also multiplying military exercises. The government plans to deploy 292 Kestrel anti-armor rockets to the two territories it controls in the South China Sea to bolster its defense against increasing Chinese military incursions. In addition, the Coast Guard Administration has scheduled two rounds of live-fire exercises on Pratas Island in the South China Sea in September. Besides, they will also test an indigenous anti-tank rocket. The live-fire practices will be held from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on 5 and 12 September. [Focus Taiwan 3]

Japan to deploy missile units near Taiwan 

Japan plans to deploy missile units to the island of Ishigaki, located 300 kilometers off the coast of Taiwan, to counter China’s growing military presence in the region and defend against a possible Chinese attack. [Taiwan News]

The Japanese defense ministry plans to deploy missile units of the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) and send new units of 500 to 600 Japanese Self-Defense Forces (SDF) soldiers. in addition, Japan is reportedly planning to install an electronic warfare unit on Yonaguni Island by the end of 2023 and build a new SDF base on Mageshima Island. [Taiwan News]

Beijing regularly sends its military to the Miyako Strait, between the islands of Okinawa and Miyako. Recently, 28 Chinese warplanes flew near Taiwan. At the closest point, they were 110 km from Japan. It has led Japan to review its defense strategy. [Taiwan News]

In its Defense Report 2021, Japan addressed the issue of stability around Taiwan for the first time, concluding that in light of China’s military activities around Taiwan, “stabilization of the situation around Taiwan is important for Japan’s security and the stability of the international community.  Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso went a step further and warned: “If a major problem were to occur in Taiwan, it would not be an exaggeration to say that it could relate to a situation that threatens [Japan’s] survival.  It would justify Japanese military intervention. 

Taiwan to restrict its citizens from working in critical industries in China

(nd) Taiwan announced to impose heavy fines ranging between NT$2 million (US$71,532) and NT$10 million on citizens trying to work in China involved in “critical industries” in an effort to protect the country’s core technologies. According to the amendment to the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area proposed by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), individuals, corporations, and organizations working related to defense, diplomacy, technology, intelligence, and Chinese affairs have to seek government approval before entering into the Chinese market. [Taiwan News]

Taiwanese retired general urges military Coup to surrender to China 

(nds) A retired Taiwanese general urged the country’s military to overthrow the democratically elected government in a video titled “Letter from ‘General An-Kuo’s Unification Forum’ to Brothers in the Army, Navy and Air Force,” to pave the way for a Chinese take-over of Taiwan. Moreover, he accused the Taiwanese authorities of being responsible for the outbreak of covid cases by refusing the Chinese vaccine. The video sparked an outcry in Taiwanese social networks urging politicians and legal experts to investigate the soldier for treason and violating the National Security Act. In addition, the general could be charged under Article 153 of Taiwan’s criminal code, which prohibits inciting another to commit an offense, break the law, or disobey an order. Furthermore, the general filmed himself wearing the official military uniform without authority, which violates Article 159 of the law. [Taiwan News] [Taipei Times]

Japan calls for greater attention to ‘survival of Taiwan’

(lm) Japan’s Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi has called on the international community to pay greater attention to the “survival of Taiwan” as he warned that China’s military build-up was enveloping the island, the Financial Times reported. [Financial Times, $]

Kishi, the younger brother of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, is known for his close relations with politicians in Taipei and is regarded as both a conservative and a hawk on China.

His comments mark a further uptick in rhetoric after Japan broke with years of precedent and for the first time directly linked Taiwan’s security with its own and with regional stability more widely, in its latest defense white paper, released last month. This followed even firmer language from Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso, who said earlier last month that Japan “would have to defend Taiwan” alongside the United States if it was invaded by China. He later retracted the statement. [AiR No. 28, July/2021, 2]

China reacted with predictable fury to the statements, both through official channels and its more bellicose media outlets. In a video aired earlier this month – reportedly with approval of the Chinese Communist Party – Beijing warned that it would use nuclear bombs against Tokyo, if the country were to intervene intervene in a future Taiwan conflict. [AiR No. 30, July/2021, 4]

Lithuania, Taiwan to move closer

(nd) Following a series of small diplomatic incidents, including a data leak in September revealing a Chinese company gathered information on over 500 prominent Lithuanian citizens, the Baltic nation grew increasingly wary towards China.Lithuania pulled out of China’s “17+1” cooperation bloc with Central and Eastern Europe in spring last year, a prelude to establishing closer ties with Taiwan through vaccination donations and an agreement to open mutual representative offices, naming it somewhat provocatively “Taiwan representative office”. In the following October, a center-right coalition came to power promoting a “values-based foreign policy” under Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, the grandson of a prominent post-Soviet independence leader.        

According to political observers, with respect to viable economic relations, Lithuania aims to primarily cooperate with democracies for their higher level of predictability.It remains unlikely that Lithuania’s dropout will trigger a wave of similar action. Since it triggered a discussion, though, there is a possibility of countries to slowly drift away or send lower-level envoys.After all, the majority of Chinese direct investment in infrastructure was made to the Western Balkans, and outside the region, mostly to Poland and Hungary. Total Chinese investment in Lithuania was calculated about 82 million euros in 2020. With China facing increased criticism for its growing aggression — both NATO’s counterintelligence reports taking note, and the EU including the issue in its Indo-Pacific Strategy — Taiwan gained momentum to expand presence in Europe, most notably with its praised management of the current health crisis. The changing views of China in Europe, also in connection with the situation in Hong Kong, were insofar favorable for Taiwan: According to researchers, this led to more frequent exchanges with respect to medical supplies and vaccines during the pandemic. Amid that, Lithuania’s move is the most pronounced and a sign to Brussel of remaining very independent domestic policies. [Nikkei Asia]

Taiwan to investigate ex-deputy defense minister over espionage allegations

(nd) Taiwanese authorities announced to investigate a former deputy defense minister and other serving and retired military officers over contacts with an alleged Chinese spy. According to a source, the suspects were being used in “penetration efforts” by Beijing, reportedly through a Hong Kong-based representative of the Chinese Central Military Commission, dining with the suspect and organizing a trip to Hong Kong. The former deputy defense minister said he had paid for the trip and always strictly followed rules on secrecy.  The Defense Ministry had “actively reinforced anti-espionage education” in an effort to counter “infiltration by enemy spies and protecting national security” according to a statement. The investigation in the most high-level case of suspected spying and comes amid China stepping up pressure on Taiwan, which it claims as part of its territory. [Reuters] Just recently, Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu highlighted the threat that China poses to Taiwan, pointing to frequent incursions of Chinese military aircraft into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) and China’s destabilizing actions in the Taiwan Strait, challenging peace and order in the Indo-Pacific. Parallelly, Wu called the US Taiwan’s “most staunch ally and strategic partner” and emphasized the importance of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), US-Japan summit, US-South Korea summit, EU-Japan summit, and G7 Foreign and Development Ministers’ Meeting, demonstrating the global nature of the issue. [Taiwan News]

Russian state-owned news agency to show Taiwan’s flag on the Olympic medal table 

(nds) During their coverage of the Olympics, Russian press agency RIA Novosti depicted the Taiwanese flag. Athletes must be part of a national Olympic committee attached to an independent state recognized by the international community and the International Olympic Committee to participate in the Olympic Games. However, there are a few exceptions, such as Taiwan, which carries the Olympic rings instead of their flag because of China’s claims. Due to their state-backed doping program, Russian athletes are competing under the acronym ROC (Russian Olympic Committee) and a modified flag, a possible motivation for this move. The governmental run news outlet, which therefore respects the “One China” principle, has maintained the name of Chinese Taipei to designate Taiwan on the Olympic medal table, nevertheless. [Taiwan News 1]

Italy’s most widely read newspaper used the name and flag of Taiwan in its Olympics coverage. Despite China’s attempts to use the Olympics to assert its claim of ownership over Taiwan, there has been a growth in international news agencies using the Taiwanese flag. [Taiwan News 2] Meanwhile, the US House of Representatives passed the “Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act 2022”, a foreign assistance bill, with a vote of 217 to 212. One of the bill’s amendments prohibits using funds to create, acquire or display maps depicting Taiwan as part of the People’s Republic of China. The five Republican representatives who introduced this amendment argued that Taiwan is sovereign, democratic, and independent of communist China. Moreover, they declared that the principle of one China is misleading. [Taipei Times]        

The bill is a harbinger of stronger ties between Washington and Taipei.  [ See also AiR No. 28, July/2021, 2] Such encounters have become more frequent since the US State Department updated its guidelines for exchanges with Taiwan in April, encouraging more contact between US and Taiwanese officials. Meanwhile, China’s mission in Geneva criticized the US for the most recent meeting in Geneva, asking it to “cease all official interaction with the Taiwan region” and respect the “one China” principle.[Taiwan News]

Taiwan: Ministry of National Defense to design new armored vehicle 

(nds) On July 31, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense announced plans to develop a 105 mm gun combat vehicle instead of the 120mm gun initially selected in 2020. The 105 mm gun is still the most widely used gun for armored vehicles globally.  The equipment is supposed to be very mobile, light, and able to respond to incidents, and will be deployed to the joint barracks to carry out front-line strikes and anti-armor missions. [Taiwan News 1] For several months, the Taiwanese authorities have been heavily modernizing their military equipment in the face of an increasingly threatening China. Since last September, Beijing has intensified its military tactics in the Taiwan Strait by conducting frequent military exercises and patrols near the island and regularly sending aircraft into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), the latest of which occurred on July 28, marking the 14th intrusion in July. [Taiwan News 2]

China threatens to use nuclear bombs against Japan if it intervenes in Taiwan conflict

(dql) A video aired last week – reportedly with approval of the Chinese Communist Party – warned that China would use nuclear bombs against Japan if the country would intervene in a future Taiwan conflict. Showing images of World War II, the comment in the video said: “When we liberate Taiwan, if Japan dares to intervene by force – even if it only deploys one soldier, one plane or one ship – we will not only return fire but also wage full-scale war against Japan itself,” and: “We will use nuclear bombs first. We will use nuclear bombs continuously. We will do this until Japan declares unconditional surrender for the second time.” [Zee News]

The threat comes as tensions between Tokyo and Beijing over Taiwan have reached new heights in recent weeks. Japan’s Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso earlier this month warned: “If a major problem took place in Taiwan, it would not be too much to say that it could relate to a survival-threatening situation [for Japan],” adding that in the case of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, Japan and the United States would have to defend Taiwan together. [AiR No. 28, July/2021, 2]

It comes also as the US, Japan and South Korea during a meeting between US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Mori and South Korea’s Choi Jong-kun on Wednesday reaffirmed their opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea and in the Taiwan Strait, with Sherman saying: “When countries take actions that run counter to the United States’ interests or that threaten our partners and allies, we will not let those challenges go unanswered.” [Japan Times] [AP]

For a discussion on what kind of US and Japanese military response to a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would be needed to succeed, see Scott W. Harold and Satoru Mori in [The Diplomat] who suggests that “[s]ince there is no guarantee that the United States and Japan will be able to detect, disrupt, deny, and defeat China’s intended crippling first strike against U.S. and Japanese bases, maximizing a retaliatory strike capacity could prove crucial for maintaining deterrence.”

Taiwan: Halifax International Security Forum’s meeting will be held in Taipei

(nds) On 22 July, the Wahsington, DC-based Halifax International Security Forum (HFX) – a forum and network vfor international government and military officials, academic experts, authors and entrepreneurs addressing global security issues – revealed that its first major meeting in Asia would be  organized in Taipei and in cooperation with the Taiwan Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR). The gathering, described as the “Davos of international security, will be held in Taipei from January 21-23, 2022, just weeks before the Beijing Winter Olympics [Taiwan News]

This is the second time, HFX is angering China in short time. In May, HFX awarded Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen the John McCain 2020 Award. [see AiR No. 18, May/2021, 1] 

Taiwan: First indigenous submarine to be launched earlier than expected

(nds) The launch of Taiwan’s first indigenous submarine and delivery of heavyweight torpedoes by the United States is expected to occur in September 2023 instead of 2024. According to Liberty Times, while the submarine was expected to enter full service in 2025, its first trip is now likely to take place in September 2023.

The government has set a budget of $1.75 billion for the first vessel. Taiwan’s Army seeks acquire between eight and twelve additional submarines. In addition, it will seek to advance the delivery of 46 US torpedoes from 2028 to 2026. [Taiwan News]

Taiwan to test-fire Patriot III missiles at US Army’s White Sands test range

(nds) Taiwanese military officials said the Army would soon conduct test firings of Patriot III missiles at the U.S. Army’s White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. A live-fire verification test of Taiwan’s Patriot missiles is conducted every two years, and it can only be done in the United States for security reasons. 

According to Liberty time, Taiwan has spent US$6.38 billion to purchase six Patriot III missile systems and upgrade three existing Patriot II systems to the current variant. Taiwan is the only country, along with Japan, that can test missiles in the US  [Taiwan News 1]

Recently, Taiwan has been increasing the number of military exercises. For example, it has decided to organize a live-fire practice from the end of August to the beginning of September, Ithe annual Condor exercise during which Apache, SuperCobra, and Kiowa helicopters from the Army’s 601st and 602nd Air Cavalry Brigades, along with a training unit, are scheduled to launch a Hellfire and Stinger missiles barrage certify the brigades’ combat capabilities.[Taiwan News 2]

China’s growing threat is pushing Taiwan to improve its military response capabilities. On 25 July, a Chinese anti-submarine warfare plane entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone, marking the 12th intrusion this month, according Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense.  [Taiwan News 3]

US Senate Armed Services Committee passes defense bill, calling for deepening US-Taiwan defense cooperation

(nds) On 22 July, the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee voted to advance the 777.9 billion USD National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, which includes provisions to strengthen defense cooperation between the United States and Taiwan. First, the Secretary of Defense will be required to assess Taiwan’s defensive capabilities and a plan to help improve those capabilities.  Second, the US would have the opportunity to increase cooperation with its Taiwanese ally to deter and respond to Chinese use of force. Furthermore, the bill calls on the US government to pursue a policy to “maintain the ability of the United States Armed Forces to deny a fait accompli against Taiwan in order to deter the People’s Republic of China from using military force to unilaterally change the status quo with Taiwan.” [Focus Taiwan]

Taiwan to open de facto embassy in Lithuania

(dql) Taiwan announced that it will open a de-facto embassy in Lithuania, with Vilnius agreeing to name it “Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania,” the first time the island’s name has been used for one of its offices in Europe, as normally only “Taipei” is used.

The announcement is the latest in growing signs that some Baltic and central European countries are seeking closer relations with Taiwan, with Lithuania announcing in May that it was withdrawing China’s 17+1 cooperation forum with central and eastern European states. It has since pledged to donate some 20,000 coronavirus vaccines to Taiwan and open its own representative office on the island. [Euro News]

Taiwan-Germany relations:  Air services agreement signed

(nds) On 15 July, Germany and Taiwan signed an agreement on air services allowing to increase the maximum number of passenger flights between Taiwan and Germany from seven to 11 per week. 

Germany is Taiwan’s largest trading partner in Europe, and since 2016, both sides have reached agreements in various fields, such as energy, science, and transitional justice. The air agreement, which replaces an earlier one concluded in 2001, shows Germany’s willingness to get closer to Taiwan while seeking to maintain a balance between its relations to Taiwan and the economic ties with China. [Taiwan News] [Focus Taiwan]

Taiwan-US relations: House Committee passes EAGLE Act

(nds) On 16 July, a U.S. Congressional committee passed the Ensuring American Global Leadership and Engagement (EAGLE) Act. This legislative package includes several bills aimed at strengthening US ties with Taiwan. Among the pro-Taiwan bills are the Taiwan Diplomatic Review Act, the Taiwan Peace and Stability Act, the Taiwan International Solidarity Act, and the Taiwan Fellowship Act.

Under the Taiwan Diplomatic Review Act the US Secretary of State is required to consult with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the US about changing its name to the Taiwan Representative Office, reflecting an elevation of US-Taiwan relations. The Taiwan Peace and Stability Act seeks to support Taiwan’s participation in international organizations and forums, expand bilateral economic and trade relations, and strengthen Taiwan’s military deterrence, while the Taiwan Fellowship deepens exchanges between Taiwanese and American officials. [Taiwan News ]

Taiwan-Australia relations: Strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries

(nds) Taiwan’s and Australia’s trade ministers Wang Mei-Hua and Dan Tehan held an online meeting, during which they reached a consensus on potential cooperation in multiple areas such as liquefied natural gas, biotechnology, finance, and education.

Taiwan is an important trade and investment partner for Australia. However, Australia does not formally recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state, although it supports its participation in international organizations. 

The meeting comes amidst trade tensions and frosty diplomatic relations between China and Australia as well as between China and Taiwan. [Taiwan News]

Taiwan-Japan relations: Tokyo takes up Taiwan Strait stability in defense report for first time

(nds) In its 2021 defense report, released this Tuesday, Japan for the first time has taken up the issue of stability around Taiwan, concluding that in the light of China’s military activities around Taiwan ‘[s]tabilizing the situation surrounding Taiwan is important for Japan’s security and the stability of the international community.” This, in turn, would require to closer observe the military trends of both the US and China in the South China Sea and Taiwan. [Ministry of Defense, Japan)

Japan’s Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso, meanwhile, went a step further by warning: “If a major problem took place in Taiwan, it would not be too much to say that it could relate to a survival-threatening situation [for Japan],” adding that in the case of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, Japan and the United States would have to defend Taiwan together. [Kyodo News]

Aso’s remark refers to Japan’s security legislation of 2014/2015 which allows the use of force “to the minimum extent necessary” as measures for self-defense “when there is no other appropriate means available to repel the attack and ensure Japan’s survival and protect its people.” [Government, Japan]

It signals a new high in security ties between Japan and Taiwan, backed by Washington’s and Tokyo’s shared interest in securing peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait.  [Observer Research Foundation] [The Diplomat]

Cross-strait relations: Taiwan tightens regulations on China exchanges

(nds) Taiwan’s Ministry of the Interior has amended the “Measures for Permitting People from the Mainland Area to Enter the Taiwan Area.” Under the amendment, Taiwanese companies or organizations will now have to be registered in the country for at least three years before inviting Chinese professionals, compared with one year previously. In addition, Chinese nationals and Taiwanese companies will have to provide documents, including budget and expense reports for the past three years. To prevent fraudulent applications the documents will be reviewed by an interagency to be convened by the Ministry. 

The amendment applies to Chinese corporations, non-governmental organizations, temples, and churches taking part in science and technology research, art and literature activities, or providing training assistance to Taiwanese national sports teams. [Taiwan News] [Taipei Times]

US supports strong, unofficial relations with Taiwan, but not independence

(nds/dql) Speaking at an Asia Society Policy Institute conference, US White House coordinator for the Indo-Pacific Kurt Campbell reiterated and made clear the US position towards Taiwan, saying that the US has strong but unofficial ties with Taiwan and that it does not support Taiwan’s independence. Referring the Chinese government’s actions, he warned that a similar move in Taiwan would be “catastrophic.” 

The remarks express strong support for Taiwan without crossing Beijing’s red lines, trying to what Campbell called “a very delicate, […] a dangerous balance,” one that “presents China with both opportunities but also very clear challenges for taking steps that are antithetical to the maintenance of peace and stability.” He added that while coexistence between the US and China was possible, “the challenge is going to be enormously difficult for this generation and the next.” [Kyodo News] [South China Morning Post] [Taiwan News]

Echoing this position towards Taiwan, the White House deleted a twitter post about America’s COVID vaccine donations to the world that included an image of the Taiwanese flag and apologized for its “honest mistake.” [New York Post]

Taiwan in the top tier of states fighting anti-human trafficking 

(nds) On 1 July, the U.S. State Department released the 2021 Human Trafficking Report. 

According to the report, Taiwan’s authorities fully comply with the most basic standards for suppressing human trafficking and have continued to be serious about combating human trafficking despite the health crisis, reflected by investigations and the sentencing of more traffickers to significant prison terms, in addition to improving victim identification protocols and labor inspection resources in vulnerable sectors related to maritime activities. 

The report, however, also highlighted persistent problems with forced labor in the deep-sea fishing sector and the recruitment of migrant workers, with understaffing and inadequate inspection protocols continuing to hamper efforts to identify, investigate, and prosecute forced labor on fishing vessels in the highly vulnerable “Distant Water Fleet” sector. 

The report also identified a lack of special labor legislation guaranteeing the rights of migrant domestic workers in Taiwan. [Focus Taiwan]  [Taipei Times] [ JDM journaldemontreal, in French]

Taiwan-US relations to deepen:  Pro-Taiwan bills added to American Global Leadership and Engagement Act amid resumption of trade talks

(nds) A number of pro-Taiwan bills have been incorporated into the US Global Leadership and Engagement (EAGLE) Act, a legislative package that calls on the US government to “revitalize and reassert U.S. leadership, investment, and engagement in the Indo-Pacific region and globally,” in a bid to counter China’s growing global influence. The Act was introduced in the House of Representatives in May and reviewed by the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee last week. The bills – all of them aimed at bolstering Taiwan-US ties – include the Taiwan Diplomatic Review Act, the Taiwan Peace and Stability Act, and the Taiwan International Solidarity Act. [Focus Taiwan]

The legislative move comes as the US and Taiwan resumed trade and investment talks, the first in five years. During the virtual meeting, both sides agreed on holding a series of meetings this year to resolve differences pertaining to trade practices and discuss cooperation in a range of areas, including the chip supply chain and custom manufacture of American vaccines. [South China Morning Post]

Meanwhile, the US Department of State reiterated its support for a “peaceful resolution” of cross-strait issues, consistent with the wishes and best interests of the people on Taiwan,”. The statement come in response to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s address delivered of on the occasion of the celebration of the centenary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party in which he insisted that re-unification with Taiwan is the party’s “historic mission and an unshakable commitment,” based on the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus. He, furthermore, pledged the crush any Taiwan independence attempts as well as forces meddling with its unification goal. [Focus Taiwan] [Nikkei Asia]

Taiwan: National referendums postponed to December

(nds) The Central Elections Commission (CEC) has decided to postpone the organization of the four referendums initially scheduled for 28 August. They will finally take place on 18 December. The counting of votes will occur on the same day, and the official announcement of the results will be published before 24 December.

The four referendums approved are related to the commissioning of the fourth nuclear power plant, the import of pork containing ractopamine residue, the construction of a receiving terminal for natural gas energy production on an algal reef, and the holding of popular referendums and general elections at the same time. [Focus Taiwan] [Taiwan News]

Taiwan buys French locators beacons, takes delivery of new corvette 

(nds) The Air Force has ordered 96 Sarbe 6-406G personal locator beacons from France to help rescue pilots more quickly after a crash.  The beacons can assist rescue teams in locating the site of a plane after a crash or disappearance and find survivors. The Air Force has allocated a budget of 1.44 million USD to buy the new military equipment. Delivery is expected to be completed by the end of 2022.

The Air Force began purchasing its first Sarbe 6-406G beacons after a sputter in 2015. At that time, Taiwanese lawmakers criticized the military for using outdated PRC-90 survival radios, dating back to the Vietnam War. Although the army has denied those allegations, it has begun the process of renewing its military equipment.[Taiwan News]

Taiwan,s Coast Guard Administration (CGA), meanwhile, took delivery of a new corvette, the Chenggong which will be deployed in eastern Taiwan to protect Taiwan’s maritime rights and the interests of local fishermen. It can be equipped with anti-ship missiles and converted into fast attack crafts in wartime. [Focus Taiwan]

Cross-strait relations: Taiwan must prepare for war, Taiwanese Foreign Minister says 

(nds) Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu warned that the island “needs to prepare” for a possible military conflict, citing China’s ongoing military intimidation.

Wu’s warning comes after 28 Chinese warplanes recently flew near Taiwan and the Arleigh Burk-class guided missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur transited the Taiwan Strait, marking the sixth transit of a US warship in the region since President Joe Biden took office

It comes also as Taiwan and the US are set to resume trade talks under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement in this week, signaling deepening cooperation between the US and Taiwan. [Taipei Times] [ Taiwan News]

In another statement, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council condemned the closure of Kong Kong’s government critical newspaper as political oppression, adding that the move has “not only sounded the death knell for freedom of press, publication, and speech in Hong Kong, but has also allowed the international community to see for themselves the Communist Party regime’s totalitarianism and autocracy.” [Reuters]

Japan stresses importance of Taiwan’s security 

(nds) In line with Japan’s recent diplomatic efforts to position itself against China’s threats towards Taiwan, Japan’s Minister of Defense Nobuo Kishi assured in an interview that the security of Taiwan is directly tied with that of Japan, adding that Japan is “closely monitoring ties between China and Taiwan, as well as Chinese military activity.” 

His remark comes as recently 28 Chinese warplanes flew near Taiwan. At the closest point, they were 110 km from Japan. [Taipei Times] [Eurasia Review]

In a latest development, Japan’s Deputy Defense Minister Yasuhide Nakayama this week warned of a growing threat posed by Chinese and Russian collaboration and urged allies to “wake up” to Beijing’s pressure on Taiwan and protect the island “as a democratic country.” He also raised the question whether the decision of Japan and United States and many other nations to follow a “one-China” policy would stand the test of time. [Reuters]

8th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus

(pr/lm) China’s Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe last week reiterated that his country will not bend when it comes to Taiwan, the South China Sea and other “core interests.” Commenting on the growth of China’s military power, Wei suggested it should be considered “part of the growth of the world’s peace forces”.

Speaking at the 8th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), held online and hosted by Brunei, Wei acknowledged other countries’ “legitimate concerns” on unspecified matters but said China’s national interests must be fully respected and safeguarded. He listed not only Taiwan and the South China Sea – where China has overlapping claims with several Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members – but also Xinjiang and Hong Kong. [Nikkei Asia 1]

The meeting brought together defense ministers from the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and their counterparts from the six so-called “plus countries” outside the group: the United States, South Korea, India, Russia, Australia and New Zealand. These gatherings have been held since 2010, but the latest session marked the first since US President Joe Biden took office.

The remarks assume added significance coming as they did a day after Taiwan reported the largest-ever air incursion by Chinese forces. The also came just a week after advanced economies, at the Group of Seven summit, had also urged Taiwan Strait stability and encouraged “the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues”.

Significantly, ADMM-Plus members also welcomed the expansion of the ASEAN Direct Communications Infrastructure (ADI) in the ADMM Process to the Plus Countries. The ADI aims to enable a dialogue to promote de-escalation of potential conflicts and to defuse misunderstandings and misinterpretations during crisis or emergency situations. In 2019, the ASEAN’s defense ministers adopted a concept paper to expand the ADI to the eight so-called “plus countries” outside the group. [South China Morning Post] [The Straits Times 1]

The day before the ADMM-Plus meeting, Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto told an ASEAN-only meeting that the bloc needs to solidify its own Indo-Pacific strategy to preserve its “unity and centrality.” During the virtual gathering, defense ministers from ASEAN also called for an early conclusion of a code of conduct for the South China Sea. [Nikkei Asia 2]

The ASEAN-only meeting also approved the establishment of a new Cybersecurity and Information Centre of Excellence in Singapore to better facilitate exchanges among ASEAN defense establishments and protect against the threats of cyber-attacks, disinformation, and misinformation. This center will complement the ASEAN Cyber Defence Network in promoting regional exchanges, interactions, and cooperation on cyber-security matters. [The Straits Times 2]

House of Commons’s bill to strengthen Canada-Taiwan relations

(nds) On 17 June, a bill to create a legal framework for strengthening Canada-Taiwan relations passed the first reading in the Canadian House of Commons. Since 1970, there has been no formal relationship between the two countries, even if they have strong economic and cultural ties. The Canada-Taiwan Relations Framework Act will establish an “orderly mechanism” to conduct relations between the two countries.

Beijing rejects Taiwan as a sovereign state independent of China and urges other countries to do the same. The Canada-Taiwan Relations Framework Act was drafted in a way that is consistent with the “One-China” policy. The joint Canada-China communiqué that defines this policy states that the Canadian government “merely takes not” of Beijing’s assertion of “one China.” 

The terms “merely” and “take note” mean that Canada does not expressly support the one-China claim but does not contest it either. This deliberate choice of language allows Canada greater flexibility in its dealings with China and Taiwan.    [theepochtimes.com]  [ Focus Taiwan] [ Taiwan News ]

Taiwan withdraws staff from its representation in Hong Kong

(nds) Taiwan announced that it has pulled back all but one staff member from its Hong Kong trade office – Taiwan’s de facto embassy – following their refusal to sign a letter expressing commitment to the one-China principle which the Hong Kong government has made a requirement for visa renewals since 2018.

Meanwhile, Macau’s government announced that it will shut down its representative office in Taiwan, following the example Hong Kong which had closed it Taiwan office in May made the same move last month, citing Taipei’s ‘gross interference’ in Hong Kong affairs. [Taiwan News] [The Guardian]

Taiwan strengthens defense capabilities amid Chinese military activities 

(nds/dql) Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has signed two contracts with the US to purchase multiple M142 high mobility artillery rocket systems and Harpoon coastal defense systems, worth nearly three billion USD. Delivery of the systems is expected for 2027 and 2028 respectively. In addition, the Ministry announced that the Taiwanese Army has installed a new variant of its Thunderbolt-2000 multiple launch rocket systems with a range of 100 kilometers, more than double of its previous maximum range. [Taiwan News 1] [Apple Daily]

The deals come as Taiwan’s military confirmed that three Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) vessels, including one destroyer, one corvette and one replenishment oiler, sailed through the Pacific Ocean off the coast of eastern Taiwan’s outlying Green Island on last Friday, only a few days after 28 Chinese military aircraft, entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Tuesday. [Focus Taiwan 1] [Focus Taiwan 2]

Meanwhile, the Penghu Defense Command last week conducted live-fire exercises aimed at maintaining combat readiness and involving firing procedures, tactical maneuvers, and gun placement procedures. In an earlier development, the Ministry of National Defense had decided to postpone the Han Kuang exercise, Taiwan’s largest military drills involving all military branches, to September due to the recent surge in Covid-19 cases on the island. [Taiwan News 2] [Focus Taiwan]

Taiwan-US relations: Legislative actions in Congress in support of Taiwan 

(dql) Lawmakers of the US House of Representatives from both political parties have announced to introduce the Taiwan Peace and Stability Act which seeks to boost US support for Taiwan. The latest in a string of recent legislative moves in Congress reflecting a hard line towards China [see AiR No. 22, June/2021, 1] [see AiR No. 24, June/2021, 3], the bill presents a measure “to support the diplomatic, economic and physical space” of Taiwan, calling on the Biden administration to submit within 90 days a report on a whole-of-government strategy to enhance deterrence against a cross-Strait conflict, while emphasizing cooperation with allies. The bill, however, does not call for abandoning the long-standing stance of “strategic ambiguity” despite demands from some of the most hawkish Congress members that the US speaks out a clear commitment to defending Taiwan in the case of a Chinese attack. [Reuters]

Furthermore, Congress members reintroduced a bill known as the Taiwan Defense Act in both the Senate and House of Representatives which stipulates that it should be the US government’s policy to maintain its military’s ability to launch combined joint operations against Chinese forces to deter potential attacks on Taiwan. The proposed legislation was first introduced to Congress in 2020, but was eventually left off the agenda. [Focus Taiwan]

Meanwhile, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley said in a Congressional hearing that there was a low probability that China would try to take over Taiwan militarily in the near-term, arguing that Beijing is lacking the necessary capabilities to do so.

Milley’s assessment stands in contrast to those earlier this year of Admiral Philip Davidson, then commander of US forces in the Pacific, who warned that China might launch an attack on Taiwan in the next six years, and his successor Adm. John Aquilino who said that such an attack “is much closer to us than most think.” [The Hill]

Taiwan expresses appreciation for G7 support

(nds) Taiwanese authorities have extended their appreciation to the leaders of the Group of Seven, following their communique in which they underscored the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and encourage the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues. It is the first time that G7 leaders have expressed such Taiwan-friendly content, reflecting a shift towards a more muscular stance against China with regards to cross-strait relations.

Although most countries, including G7 members, do not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, they have recently deepened their support for the island. [Taiwan News] 

Cross-strait relations: Chinese warplanes in Taiwan’s air defense identification zone 

(nds) Tawain’s Ministry of National Defense confirmed that a Chinese Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine warfare plane flew into the southwest corner of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on 12 June. In response, Taiwan’s government issued radio warnings, sent aircraft, and deployed air defense missile systems to track the plane.

It is the third time this month that the People’s Liberation Army Air Force has violated Taiwan’s ADIZ. [Taiwan News]

In a latest development, China sent 28 warplanes into Taiwan’s air defence identification zone on Tuesday. The move comes a day after the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carried out maritime security operations, strike exercises and coordinated tactical training in the South China Sea. [South China Morning Post 1]

Meanwhile, the Chinese military has reportedly deployed additional surveillance forces in the air and waters near a disputed South China Sea archipelago, including a Type-815G spy ship, a navy Y-8Q maritime patrol aircraft and a KJ-500 airborne early warning and control plane. [South China Morning Post 2]

Taiwan, US to resume talks on Trade and Investment Framework Agreement

(nd) On 10 June, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai had a virtual meeting with Taiwanese Minister-Without-Portfolio John Deng to discuss US-Taiwan trade relations. The two officials committed to convening the 11th Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council meeting, which has been dormant since 2016. The meeting will take place in the coming weeks. [Focus Taiwan]

For political, economic and strategic reasons why the time is ripe for a US-Taiwan free trade agreement, see David Sacks and Jennifer Hillman in [Council on Foreign Relations]. 

Japan-Taiwan relations are “non-governmental”, Tokyo confirms 

(nd) Following Beijing’s protest over a recent reference to the Taiwan as a country, the Japanese government has backtracked and re-affirmed that the country’s relations with Taiwan are non-governmental, practical and based on Tokyo’s recognition of China’s “one country, two systems” and of China as the sole legitimate government. 

China’s protest came after Prime Minister Yohishide Suga in a parliamentary debate had called Taiwan a country during a press conference. [The China Post] 

Meanwhile, a motion calling for Taiwan’s attendance at the World Health Assembly (WHA) was unanimously approved by Japan’s Upper House on 11 June, marking first time that Japan’s House of Councillors has supported Taiwan’s participation in international organizations through a resolution. [Taiwan News]

Taiwan-US relations deepening: Trade talks and vaccine donation 

(dql) In a latest sign of deepening US-Taiwan relations, Washington is set to hold trade and investment talks with Taipei, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirming that the US is “engaged in conversations with Taiwan, or soon will be – on some kind of framework agreement [with Taiwan].” [Reuters]

US Senators, meanwhile, have announced that the US will give Taiwan 750,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, as part of the country’s plan to share millions of jabs globally. Interestingly, the delegation arrived in Taipei on a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III freighter, rather than a private jet as is generally the case for senior US visitors. [Aljazeera]

The announcement comes as Taiwan, so far hailed for its success in curbing the pandemic, sees itself in a worrisome situation, with over 11,000 cases and 260 deaths, more than 90% of them since mid-May, and less than 3% of its 23.5 million people vaccinated. [The Guardian]

Japan, EU share concerns over Taiwan

(dql) Japan and the European Union have agreed on a joint position with regards to Taiwan. In the joint statement following the virtually held 27th EU-Japan Summit last week both sides reaffirmed “the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” and their commitment to “the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues.” [European Council]

The reference to Taiwan was the first in a statement from the leaders of Japan and EU. It follows similar wording in a joint statement issued after Suga’s meeting with US President Joe Biden in April.

US to help Taiwan prepare for irregular war?

(dql) Christopher Maier, the nominee for United States assistant secretary of defence for special operations and low-intensity conflict, has floated the idea of the US assisting Taiwan in strengthening its ability to fight an irregular war against China. In a hearing in the Senate Armed Services Committee, Maier argued that special operators could help Taiwanese troops increase their skills in order to, for example, counteract potential enemy amphibious landings, stressing that information operations were a core area in which special operators could help conventional forces deter an aggression from China. [Military.com]

Taiwan-US relations: Congressmen introduce “Taiwan Diplomatic Review Act

(dql) In a move aimed to strengthen relations between the US and Taiwan, US lawmakers of both parties have introduced the “Taiwan Diplomatic Review Act” to rename the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO), Taiwan’s representative office in the US, to “Taiwan Representative Office.” It also calls for creating diplomatic visas for Taiwanese diplomats serving in the US. So far, Taiwan’s officials and diplomatic representatives reside on investor visas. [Taiwan English News]

Meanwhile, Joseph Young, chargé d’affaires ad interim at the US Embassy in Tokyo, on Monday visited the official residence of his Taiwanese counterpart. It was the first such visit since formal ties between the US and Taiwan were severed in 1979 and internal restrictions on interactions by US diplomats with their Taiwanese counterparts were put in place. However, these restrictions were lifted in January by then-US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. [Focus Taiwan]

Cross-strait relations: Taiwan accuses China of obstructing purchase of German vaccine 

(dql) Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen has accused China of being instrumental in preventing Taiwan signing a deal to purchase Covid-19 vaccines from German firm BioNTech. Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group signed a deal with BioNTech last year to supply its vaccines to mainland China, and in March offered to supply some of those doses to Taiwan. Under the deal, Fosun was given the exclusive rights to develop and commercialize the vaccines in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. [The Guardian]

China-Australia relations: Chinese Defense Ministry accuses Canberra of fomenting confrontation over Taiwan

(dql) Already strained Sino-Australian relations have been further complicated after China’s Defense Ministry has labelled the Australian government’s warnings on the threat of war over Taiwan as irresponsible and accused it of inciting confrontation over the island.

The comment comes in response to a flurry of warnings from Australian leaders in April and May, including Home Affairs Secretary Michael Pezzullo whose remark that “the drums of war” are beating have been widely interpreted as referring to the situation in the Taiwan Strait. They were followed by Defense Minister Peter Dutton who warned not to discount the possibility of conflict. [Sydney Morning Herald]

Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, meanwhile, called on countries to unite against China’s growing economic and geopolitical coercion. Otherwise, they could risk being singled out and punished by Beijing. [BBC]

Taiwan: Date of four national referendums announced

(dql) The Central Election Commission (CEC) has officially confirmed August 28 as the date of four national referendums which will ask Taiwan’s citizens to decide the following issues: the relocation of a liquefied natural gas receiving station to protect a coastal algal reef, the lifting of a ban on pork imports containing traces of the leanness-enhancing drug ractopamine, the scheduling of referendums to allow them to be held in conjunction with national elections, and the re-activation of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei. [Focus Taiwan] [Nippon]

Taiwan: Amendment to Criminal Code removes adultery as criminal offense

(dql) Taiwan’s parliament has passed a law to amend Taiwan’s Criminal Code, officially removing adultery as a criminal offense. The legislative move comes one year after the Constitutional Court had declared the related article unconstitutional and voided, citing changed perceptions of marriage and family in society and similar actions by other countries. [Taiwan News]

Cross-strait relations: Possibility of China-Taiwan war at “all-time-high”, Chinese research institute says

(dql) According to a report of the Hong Kong-based China Cross-Strait Academy, the possibility of a full-scale war between China and Taiwan has reached an ‘all-time high’, identifying the risk level at 7.21 for 2021 on a scale of 10, compared with 6.7 in the early 1950s, when the Nationalist forces escaped from the mainland to Taiwan, above 6.5 for much of the 1970s, 4.55 in 1978 when the US established diplomatic ties with Beijing, and again over 6 during the Trump administration. The report cites for its assessment of the two sides being “on the brink of war” two “destructive factors”: a shifting political dynamic across the Taiwan Strait and closer ties between the US and Taiwan.

The academy’s head Lei Xiying, who is also a committee member of the Communist Party-backed All-China Youth Federation, added that ‘[i]f the current trend continues … China’s unification of Taiwan by force will only be a matter of time.” [Express] [South China Morning Post]

Meanwhile, the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) the Taiwan Strait last week. It was the fifth time a US warship has navigated the waterway since US President Joe Biden assumed office in January. [Taipei Times]

In another move, equally angering Beijing, the US mission in Taipei together with the Australian and the Japanese mission issued a joint statement in support for the participation of Taiwan as an observer in the World Health Assembly (WHA). The statement came a day after the opening of the virtually held annual meeting of the WHA, the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO). Taiwan, excluded for the fifth consecutive year, criticized the WHO for its “continued indifference to the health rights of Taiwan’s 23.5 million people,” and urged it to “maintain a professional and neutral stance,” and to “reject China’s political interference.” [Focus Taiwan] [Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taiwan]

Taiwan-US relations: Missile maintenance deal signed, TSMC joining US-led semiconductor lobby group

(dql) Taiwan’s Air Force signed a deal worth 291 million USD with the US in order to continue the maintenance of armaments that can be loaded onto Taiwan’s F-16 fighter jets, manufactured by US based Lockheed Martin Co. [Focus Taiwan]

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Co (TSMC), the world’s biggest chip foundry, meanwhile, has joined the Semiconductors in America Coalition (SIAC), a new lobbying group 65 major players along the semiconductor value chain dominated by top American chip developers and users, such as Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Intel. Asian and European members include MediaTek from Taiwan, South Korea’s Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix as well as Dutch ASML, the only supplier of the advanced photolithography equipment used to make high-end chips. [South China Morning Post]

Taiwan: National referendums to be held in August

(dql) Taiwan’s Central Election Commission (CEC) on Friday approved proposals to hold three referendums on August 28, in addition to the nuclear power plant referendum already planned. Each of the proposals gathered the required number of  289,667 signatures needed before a referendum will be held.

The three referendum proposals include one about the protection of a coastal algal reef and one about pork imports containing traces of the leanness-enhancing drug ractopamine. The third is about referendum scheduling.

In order to pass, each referendum will have to gain a majority of votes in favor from at least 25% of the Taiwanese population. [Focus Taiwan]

Taiwan: Constitutional amendment committee begins its work

(dql) Taiwan’s legislative constitutional amendment committee this Tuesday met for the first time to select five conveners tasked with overseeing the review of currently over 50 amendment proposals, including those suggesting to lower the voting age to 18, to abolish both the Examination Yuan and Control Yuan, and lower the high bar for constitutional amendments.

The committee was set up in September last year and consists of 22 lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), 14 from the Kuomintang (KMT), two from the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), and one from the New Power Party (NPP), according to proportion of seats each party holds in the parliament. [Focus Taiwan]

G7 pull no punches on China at latest meeting

(dql) The Group of Seven (G7) has expressed a hardened stance towards China on multiple fronts at their first face-to-face meeting in two years in London last week. In their joint statement after the meeting, the foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US, along with the High Representative of the European Union, called on China to “respect human rights and fundamental freedoms,” in accordance with the country’s obligations under international and national law, adding continued deep concerns over human rights violations and abuses in Xinjiang and in Tibet.

Furthermore, the group criticized the erosion of democratic elements in Hong Kong’s recently adopted electoral reform as well as over “practices that undermine […] free and fair economic systems, including on trade, investment and development finance.”

With regards to Taiwan, the group expressed its support for “Taiwan’s meaningful participation in World Health Organisation forums and the World Health Assembly,” as well as its “serious concerns about reports of militarisation, coercion, and intimidation,” in the South China Sea, stressing “the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and encourage the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues.” [EEAS]

It was the first time that the EU and its leading member states aligned with the US over the highly sensitive issue of Taiwan, and comes amid warnings of high-ranking US military officials of a takeover of the island by China by force by 2027 or sooner. [Politico] [The Guardian]

Grant Newsham in [Center for Security Policy], raises the question whether China – in an assault on Taiwan – could follow Russian President Vladimir Putin’s example of the seizure of “large swaths of Ukraine with a hybrid technique utilizing both local insurgents and military forces,” in 2014.

Taiwan, meanwhile, has not been invited to participate in the World Health Assembly (WHA) later this month May 24 to June 1. It is the fifth straight year in which the country has been excluded from the forum. [Focus Taiwan]

The decision over an invitation lies with 194 member states of the World Health Organization.

Taiwan: Government urged to improve human rights in fishing industry

(dql) Taiwan’s Control Yuan, the top government watchdog body, released a list of demands over the government’s failure to address the issue of forced labor on the country’s distant water fishing (DWF) fleets. Citing grievances such as “confiscation of documents, long days with little rest, physical and verbal abuse, and lack of payment,” the agency called on involved government entities to assign more personnel to conduct inspections, to step up human rights education among those working in the fisheries industry to ensure a clearer understanding of what constitutes forced labor. 

Taiwan’s has the world’s second largest fishing fleet (behind China). In October last year the US Department of Labor added fish caught by Taiwan-flagged vessels to its 2020 “List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor.” [Taipei Times] [Department of Labor, US] [Seafoodsource]

Taiwan: KMT referendum proposals take second stage

(dql) Taiwan’s Central Election Commission (CEC) confirmed that two referendum proposals initiated by the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) have passed the second stage in the three-stage procedure after reviewed the signatures submitted by the KMT in March. The CEC will convene a meeting this 14 to determine whether the two proposals will be put to the vote on August 28. 

One of the proposals aims to reverse the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government’s decision to ease restrictions on pork imports, allowing products with residue of the livestock drug ractopamine. The other seeks the electorate’s approval to have future referendums held in conjunction with major local elections. 

In Taiwan, a referendum proposal has to clear two hurdles before being put to the vote. The first requires the signatures of 0.01% of eligible voters in the most recent presidential election, while in the second a proposal must gather the signatures of 1.5% of eligible voters in the most recent presidential election. [Focus Taiwan]

EU and India to boost trade, Indo-Pacific partnership

(lm) The European Union and India have agreed to resume long-stalled talks on a free trade deal, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on May 8. Brussel and New Delhi will also launch negotiations on reciprocal investments and on the protection of so-called geographical indications. [South China Morning Post]

Earlier on May 8, the first EU-Indian Leaders’ Meeting brought together all 27 heads of the EU member states and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Considering that previous EU-India summits have involved only the Indian prime minister and the heads of the European Commission and the European Council, the recent summit signals the bloc’s renewed interest in the Indo-Pacific region. [Reuters]

Last month, the EU Council asked the European Commission and high representatives to draw up the bloc’s Indo-Pacific strategy by September this year. In doing so, the Council unveiled the strategy’s main thrust, which included exploring closer economic ties with India and pledging to foster a rules-based order with “free and open maritime supply routes in full compliance with international law”, without naming China.

Earlier last week, the EU also said that efforts to ratify the proposed EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) with China had been suspended after Beijing imposed sanctions on several high-profile members of the European Parliament, three members of national parliaments, two EU committees, and several China-focused European academics.

For a comprehensive examination of the decision, please consider Chris Devonshire-Ellis’ comment for [China Briefing].

Cross-strait relations: Taiwan to toughen punishments for army servicemen leaking confidential information to China

(dql) Taiwan’s Cabinet approved a draft amendment to the island’s Criminal Code of the Armed Forces that provides punishments for serving members of the armed forces who pass on confidential information to a newly defined category of people, to include now “foreign governments and nationals, citizens of Mainland China, residents of Hong Kong and Macau and or any middlemen sent on their behalf.” The current law identifies the country’s enemies as “any country or organization that engages in or whose forces confront the Republic of China.” 

Under current law, leaking confidential information is punishable with a jail term of 3-10 years in peacetime and 7 years to life during war. Furthermore, anyone who discloses or delivers materials of a secret nature related to Taiwan’s defense to anyone in the new category faces 5-12 years in prison during peacetime and 10 years to life during war. However, individuals who disclose more confidential information can be sentenced to a maximum of 18 years. 

The draft amendment also expands the definition of enemies from “any country or organization that engages in or whose forces confront the Republic of China,” to any country, organization, or “political entity,” that does so. [Focus Taiwan]

The draft bill comes after China’s Ministry of State Security, the country’s civilian intelligence, security and secret police agency, in April issued new anti-espionage regulations, the first counter-espionage working regulations at a national level and across different sectors, including government departments, social groups and companies. They allow the agency to draw up lists of companies and organizations suspected of foreign infiltration and to require them to adopt security measures to prevent foreign infiltration. [AiR No. 17, April/2021, 4]

The legislative move comes also at a time of heightened cross-strait relations amid Chinese military activities of unprecedented frequency close to Taiwan on the one side and US warnings of a Chinese takeover of Taiwan by force in the near future on the other. [AiR No. 17, April/2021, 4] [AiR No. 11, March/2021, 3] [The Guardian]

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s High Court upheld a guilty ruling against two former guards of President Tsai Ing-wen charged with breaching the National Security Act and spying for China, trying to obtain the itinerary of President Tsai, as well as US and Japanese politicians who visited and met with her in 2018. [Taipei Times]

Taiwan: Advancing naval military capabilities

(dql) Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration (CGA) took delivery of the “Chayi,” a homegrown 4,000-ton vessel and CGA’s largest patrol boat to date. Designed to carry out maritime patrols, crack down on illicit activities on the open seas, and conduct search and rescue missions, the vessel is expected to significantly enhance the CGA’s capability to protect Taiwan’s waters. 

The “Chiayi” is one of four CGA patrol ships of that size, commissioned by the government and being built by CSBC at a total cost of 392 million USD. [Focus Taiwan]

The delivery of the vessels comes as China’s second aircraft carrier and the first one domestically produced aircraft carrier, the Shandong, and its naval support group have concluded exercises in the South China Sea, that, according to the Chinese Navy, were “legitimate,” and served to “enhance Chinese capabilities to protect national sovereignty, security, and development interests. The drill was the first in the disputed water this year and the latest in a string of many military muscle flexing activities of China there. [Aljazeera]

Taiwan-Canada relations: President Tsai receives John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service

(dql) Taiwanese President was awarded the 2020 John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service of the Halifax International Security Forum (HFX). Now an independent, nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., HFX was founded by the Canadian government and receives considerable funding from Ottawa.

The conferment of the prize upon Tsai is expected to further worsen already fraught relations between Canada and China over the 2018 arrest in Vancouver of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou at the behest of the US. Meng is currently fighting extradition to the US, where she is wanted over charges of breaching sanctions against Iran. Shortly after Meng’s arrest, China detained Canadian national Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor and later charged them with espionage. Both sides have accused each other of arbitrary and politically motivated detentions. [CNN]

Taiwan-US relations: Change from ‘ambiguity’ to ‘clarity’ to have destabilizing effect, US spy chief says

(dql) Speaking at the Senate Armed Services Committee, US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines has voiced caution over a shift from the long-standing ‘strategic ambiguity’ to ‘strategic clarity’ regarding Taiwan, arguing that China would find such a change “deeply destabilizing.” She added that this would cement Chinese perceptions of the US aiming at “constraining China’s rise, including through military force, and would probably cause Beijing to aggressively undermine U.S. interests worldwide.” [Focus Taiwan]

Haines’s remarks come amid recent warnings of high-ranking US military officials of a Chinese takeover of Taiwan by force in the near future, including former US Asia-Pacific commander Philip Davidson testifying in the same committee in March that China could invade Taiwan within a timeframe of six-years. [The Guardian]

For insights into positions in the debate in the US on a potential end of the decades-long approach of ‘strategic ambiguity’ see [The Diplomat] and [New York Times]. Dean P. Chen in [The National Interest], meanwhile, argues that “[u]nless the United States can decisively make up its mind on doing away with the “One China” policy irrespective of Beijing’s reactions, strategic ambiguity inevitably remains.” 

Cross-strait relations: Taiwan accuses China of stealing technology

(dql) Taiwan’s government has made allegations against China of waging economic warfare against Taiwan’s tech sector by stealing technology and poaching away engineers, adding that the theft was not only about economic interests, but also aimed to “make Taiwan poorer and weaker.”

At the same time, lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) are stepping up efforts to revise Taiwan’s commercial secrets law to widen the scope of what is considered a secret and to sharpen penalties.

The allegations of technology theft refers especially to the semiconductor industry, in which Taiwan is world-leading, with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) controlling 84% of the market for chips with the smallest, most efficient circuits on which the world’s biggest technology brands rely for their products and services. [South China Morning Post][Aljazeera] [The Economist]

In a related development, Taiwan’s Labor Ministry has urged local recruiters to remove all listings for jobs in China, in particular those in critical industries such as semiconductors. The Ministry defended the drastic measure as a necessary protective move against China: “Due to geopolitical tension between the U.S. and China, China’s semiconductor development has suffered some setbacks, and as a result China has become more aggressive in poaching and targeting top Taiwanese chip talent to help build a self-sufficient supply chain.” [Newsweek]

On the transformation of the semiconductor industry into a high-stakes geopolitical issue and a source of tension between the US and China and the specific role of Taiwan therein, see the report “Geopolitics of Semiconductors” in [Eurasia Group].

For the impact of Taiwan’s worst draught in more than 50 years on the Taiwanese semiconductor industry and the global electronics sector, see [BBC].

Taiwan: Cabinet proposes relocating planned LNG terminal 

(dql) Taiwan’s Cabinet proposed to relocate a contentious liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal from its planned site further away from the coast in northern Taiwan.  The proposal comes in response to strong opposition of environmental groups to the original location of the terminal and will delay completion of the project by two and a half years to 2025 while increasing the costs by NT$15 billion to NT$75 billion. 

To observers, the government’s move aims to satisfy critics of the project and prevent a defeat in the upcoming related national referendum in August. [Focus Taiwan]

Cross-strait relations: Taiwan kicks off week-long 24/7 simulation of Chinese invasion 

(dql) Taiwan’s military has begun the computerized component of this year’s Han Kuang military exercises last Friday to test Taiwan’s defense strategies and tactics against a possible military attack by China.

The Han Kuang exercises are Taiwan’s largest annual war games and involve all branches of its armed forces, conducted in two stages: the tabletop drills and live-fire drills. The week-long simulation of a full-scale PLA invasion, done using the Joint Theater Level Simulation system, is the longest in the history of Han Kuang exercises since they were held for the first time in 1984.

The drills come amid military intimidation from China, with PLA planes flying into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone for 18 days within the first 23 days in April and the largest show of force recorded on April 12, involving 25 war planes. [Taipei Times]

Taiwan: Government to increase child raising funding to tackle record low birth rate

(dql) In an attempt to reverse historically low birth rates which have persistently dropped since the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) took office in 2016, Taiwan’s government has announced to increase funding to help couples raise children, from this year’s NT$55 billion to NT$85 billion (US$3.05 billion) by 2023. Starting in August 2022, the monthly child-raising subsidy to be increased from currently NT$3,500 to NT$5,000. 

Taiwan’s birth rate has fallen from 8.86 per 1,000 in 2016, to 8.23 in 2017, 7.70 in 2018, 7.53 in 2019, and 7.01 in 2020, marking a record low. The number of newborns in 2020 stood at 165,249 babies, a record low, too. [Focus Taiwan]

Taiwan to sharpen penalties for negligence leading to deaths

(dql) Taiwan’s Cabinet approved a draft amendment bill that provides harsher penalties on people found guilty of negligence leading to death. 

Currently, the maximum penalty for conviction on that charge is five years in prison or a fine of NT$500,000 (US$17,615).

The bill now allows for a prison sentence of one to seven years in cases of serious offenses on the charge of negligence causing death. In addition, a serious offense results in the death of three or more people, can be sentenced with jail terms from three to 10 years. 

In case of an intentional offense results in death, the punishment will be 10 years to life in prison. If it results in injury, the sentence will be seven years to life.

Under current law, those convicted of intentionally committing a crime of this nature are sentenced to five years to life, while in cases of negligence the maximum sentence is three years and a fine of up to NT$300,000. 

The legislative move comes in response to train crash on April 2, in which 49 people died and at least 200 were injured, marking Taiwan’s deadliest in seven decades. [Focus Taiwan] [New York Times]

In an earlier development, prosecutors indicted seven individuals for offenses related to the crash, while the transportation minister resigned. [Taiwan News] [Kyodo News]

Canadian lawmakers support presenting award to Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen

(zh) Further worsening already strained Canada-China relations, the Canadian House of Commons has unanimously passed a motion in support of the Halifax International Security Forum’s (HFX) decision to give the 2020 John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service to Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen.

The motion also calls on the Canadian government to maintain its funding to HFX even if the award is presented to Tsai, after the Trudeau administration had reportedly threatened to withdraw funding for the award if HFX honored President Tsai, out of concerns of provoking China.  Canadian Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan denied the report as “absolutely false.” [Politico]

The Halifax International Security Forum is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. It is a forum and network for international government and military officials, academic experts, authors and entrepreneurs. Addressing global security issues, the forum is best known for its annual security summit in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada which brings together over 300 delegates from more than 70 countries and has been dubbed by media as “The Davos of international security.” The Canadian government is among the funding partners of the forum. 

Cross-strait relations: Concurrent military drills on both sides of the Taiwan Strait

(zh) Taiwan has conducted intensive drills in southern Taiwan to assess the coordination and effectiveness of the military command as well as the joint operational capabilities of the armed forces. During the drills, China begun six-day live-fire drills in waters near the disputed Pratas Islands. I  [Focus Taiwan] [South China Morning Post]

Taiwan-US relations: US delegation visits Taiwan to deepen bilateral ties

(zh) In another sign of deepening Taiwan-US ties, an American delegation, including former US senator Chris Dodd, former US deputy secretaries of state James Steinberg and Richard Armitage, and director of the State Department’s Office of Taiwan Coordination Dan Biers visited Taiwan last week to reaffirm the US commitment to its partnership with Taiwan and to discuss with President Tsai Ing-wen and other government officials climate change, bilateral economic cooperation, and Taiwan’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and transition to green energy. The selection of Dodd, Steinberg and Armitage – all personally close with President Biden – signals the weight of the visit and the US commitment to Taiwan.  [Focus Taiwan][Reuters]

Prior to the delegation’s visit, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council declared the recent largest warplane incursion to the island’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), involving 25 warplanes on one day [see AiR No.15, April/2021, 2], was to warn Taiwan not to seek independence by moving closer to the USl, stressing Beijing does not “abandon the use of force, and retain the option of taking all necessary measures.” [South China Morning Post]

In the meantime, US lawmakers from both parties introduced a bill – the Taiwan International Solidarity Act – to counter Beijing’s mounting pressure to isolate Taiwan from international organizations. [Taiwan News]

China-Spain relations: Trade and economic relations strengthened in phone call

(zh) China’s foreign minister Wang Yi has spoken by phone with Spain’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Arancha González Laya. The two sides addressed the bilateral economic and trade relations.

González highlighted the frank dialogue Spain has maintained with China, adding that Spain considers the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics as an opportunity for athletes. The comment comes amid the discussion for a possible boycott of the Beijing Games in protest of China’s crackdown in Xinjiang.

On the Chinese side, Wang noted China and Europe are partners, not rivals, and China’s development is not a threat but an opportunity for Europe, marking Beijing’s latest attempt to push Europe away from the US amid a looming closer EU-US relation under the Biden administration. [Spanish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation][Xinhua]

Meanwhile, 46 Taiwanese nationals were sentenced to up to 13 years in prison after a Beijing court found them guilty of involvement in telecom fraud and swindling 678,000 USD from 66 Chinese people from Spain. The 46 were part of the 237 telecom fraud suspects (218 of them being Taiwanese) arrested by police authorities in Madrid and Barcelona in 2016. Defying opposition from Taiwan, Spain deported them all to China, including the Taiwanese. [Focus Taiwan]

China, Taiwan lodge solemn representations over Japan’s decision to discharge nuclear wastewater

(zh) China has summoned Japan’s ambassador and lodged solemn representations over Tokyo’s “wrong decision” to discharge around 1.25 million tons of treated water that was used to cool melted fuel from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean. China’s foreign ministry accused Tokyo of “violation of international law”, criticizing Tokyo’s action as “extremely irresponsible”.

Similarly, Taiwan’s foreign ministry has also made a “solemn representation” to Japan after the island’s main opposition party Kuomingtang (KMT) urged the government to lodge a “solemn protest” instead of just expressing being “highly concerned.” [Reuters][Taiwan News]

Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga defended his decision saying the release of the water was an “inevitable task” since the plant’s capacity to store the wastewater is expected to run out as early as the fall of 2022. He reassured that Japan would “take every measure to absolutely guarantee the safety of the treated water and address misinformation.” [New York Times]

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has endorsed Japan’s decision, saying it is “technically feasible and in line with international practice”. However, three United Nations human rights experts have expressed disappointment over Tokyo’s release of the water, criticizing it “imposes considerable risks” to human health and the environment. [CNBC][South China Morning Post] [UN News]

Australia warns China of “disastrous” conflict with Taiwan

(zh) Speaking at this year’s Raisina Dialogue, the Indian government-sponsored annual multilateral conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, Australia’s defense chief Angus Campbell warned that a military scenario over Taiwan would be “disastrous” for the region and urged countries to “all work to avoid” the potential conflict on the island, stressing the importance of a peaceful resolution across the Taiwan Strait. [Guardian]

Campbell’s remark comes after in March US Asia Pacific Commander Philip Davidson publicly voiced concerns over Taiwan (along with Guam) being potential next targets of China’s external aggression and over a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan within the next six years. Earlier this month, Michael Goldman, the charge d’affaires ad interim at the US embassy in Canberra, revealed that the US and Australia are discussing strategic planning, of which a Taiwan contingency was identified as an important component.  [AiR No. 11, March/2021, 3] [Republic World] [AiR No.14, April/2021, 1].

Meanwhile, Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the same event warned of the world moving toward “a great polarization” between authoritarian regimes and liberal democracies, adding in a very thinly veiled critic of China that “economic coercion is being employed as a tool of statecraft” and “liberal rules and norms are under assault.” [Bloomberg]

The relations between Beijing and Canberra have strained over trade restrictions, Australia’s call for an independent investigation of Covid-19 origins, and human rights concerns. In a latest development, import licenses for hay from 25 Australian business that expired two months ago have not been renewed China’s General Administration of Customs. Meanwhile, China’s ambassador to Australia Cheng Jingye earlier last week warned Beijing would respond “in kind” if Canberra imposes sanctions over Xinjiang human rights concerns. [South China Morning Post] [AiR No.15, April/2021, 2]. 

Taiwan: KMT starts campaign to mobilize voters for its anti-government referendum proposals

(dql) Taiwan’s main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) kicked off a series of dozens of events to be held in all of 73 electoral districts this month and in May to promote its two referendum proposals that have been submitted to the Central Election Commission (CEC) for review after the necessary numbers of signatures in the first two steps had been received. If approved by the CEC, the referendum would be held in August.

One of the two proposals opposes the decision of ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government to lift a ban on pork imports containing the controversial leanness-enhancing drug ractopamine, while the second proposal would allow referendums to be held in conjunction with major local elections. The latter proposal aims at reversing an amendment to the Referendum Act passed by the DPP-controlled Legislative Yuan in June 2019 that limits the frequency with which referendums. Critics argued, however, that the amendment was a maneuver of the DPP to prevent referendum questions from threatening its support at the ballot box, especially in the 2020 presidential election. [Focus Taiwan]

US-Taiwan relations: New guidelines to enhance engagement between government officials 

(zh) The US State Department has announced new guidelines which liberalizes existing guidance on contact with Taiwan to “encourage” engagement between government officials of both sides, regular working-level meetings with their Taiwanese counterparts in the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in New York, Taiwan’s de-facto embassy in the US. [US Department of State] [South China Morning Post] 

In response, China’s Foreign Ministry warned the US “not to play with fire” on Taiwan issues and urged the US to “immediately stop any form of US-Taiwan official contacts, cautiously and appropriately handle the matter, and not send wrong signals to Taiwan independence forces so as not to subversively influence and damage Sino-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.” [Aljazeera]

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, meanwhile, warned Beijing that “it would be a serious mistake for anyone to try to change that status quo by force,” while reaffirming the US’ “serious commitment to Taiwan being able to defend itself,” and to “peace and security in the western Pacific.” [The Guardian]

For reasons why China is unlikely to seize Taiwan by force, see Kris Osborn in [The National Interest] who argues that even if China would be successful in taking over Taiwan, “given the sustained U.S. presence in the region and forward positioning of strike assets nearby,” it would be impossible for China “to manage to secure the island before a large counterattack was possible.”

Cross-Strait relations: Tensions flare up at multiple fronts 

(zh) Taiwan’s Executive Yuan is considering amendments to the National Security Act and the Trade Secret Act to prevent China’s commercial espionage and the poaching of core technologies, particularly the semiconductor and information technology. Taiwan prohibits Chinese companies from doing business or recruiting locally without prior approval, but some firms conceal their Chinese ownership to illegally recruit workers. [Taipei Times 1]

The plan to amend those law comes at a time when Taiwan’s government has become increasingly wary of the risk of the “red supply chain”, especially amid the ongoing trade war between Beijing and Washington, worrying the island’s chip workers become targets for China’s poaching in the semiconductor industry. [AiR No.14, April/2021, 1]

China, meanwhile, continues its military muscle flexing, with 25 PLA planes flying through Taiwan’s air defense zone (ADIZ), including 14 J-16 fighter jets, four J-10 fighter jets, four H-6K bombers, two anti-submarine warfare planes and an airborne early warning and control plane on Monday. In an earlier move last week, 15 of China’s military aircraft, including 12 fighter jets, had flown into the southwestern part of the island’s ADIZ. The flights were linked to maneuvers of China’s aircraft carrier Liaoning and its escorts in the west and east of Taiwan on Monday last week, an exercise of which China said that it will be conducted regularly [CNN] [Taiwan News 1] [CNN] [Taipei Times 2]

Referring to the increased number of incursions into Taiwan’s ADIZ and to US warnings of a Chinese military attack on Taiwan in the near future, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu reassured that Taiwan is willing to fight the war if needed and the island would “defend ourselves to the very last day,” adding that Taiwan ready to build up its military might and allocate more funds for defense. [Guardian 1] [Taiwan News 2]

China’s military, on its side, confirmed it has tracked the US Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain sailing through the Taiwan Strait. The US has claimed the move as a routine exercise of freedom of navigation, whereas China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command called it a tactic to “manipulate” the cross-Strait situation and China is “firmly opposed to that”. [South China Morning Post]

Finally, Taiwan has accused China of malign “vaccine diplomacy” in Paraguay – one of 15 countries which have formal relations with Taiwan – after the Paraguayan government declined China’s offer of millions of vaccine doses in exchange for cutting diplomatic ties with Taiwan. China has denied the efforts to entice Paraguay with vaccines. To counter China’s mounting pressure in Central and South America where Taiwan has five allies, Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said Taiwan is working with like-minded countries including the Quad countries Japan, the US, and India to provide vaccine to Paraguay, adding that India has already shipped 100,000 doses to Paraguay and there would be another 100,000. [BBC][Bloomberg][South China Morning Post]

However, India denied Taiwan’s reported role in the shipment of Indian-made vaccines to Paraguay, saying the delivery was made in response to Paraguay’s request. [Hindustan Times]

In a separate move, India’s foreign ministry last week posted a message on Twitter to express condolences over more than 50 deaths in Taiwan’s most serious train crash in decades. It is probably the first time the Ministry posted online about Taiwan, indicating New Delhi’s subtle foreign policy shift amid its ongoing boundary dispute with Beijing and engagement in the Quad to counter China. As Taiwan’s foreign policy shifts from US-centric to South Asia-focused, an opinion piece in  [Taipei Times] suggests that New Delhi cooperate with countries such as the US, Japan, and Singapore to devise a consistent Taiwan policy and “take a lead in facilitating Taiwan’s inclusion,” into the evolving regional order of the Indo-Pacific. 

Taiwan: Ruling party and cabinet not to initiate any referendum

(dql) Taiwan’s government and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus decided not initiate any referendum proposals to counter a referendum on key policy issues which will be held in August and at  which Taiwan’s citizens will be asked whether they support: “one, the government’s decision to lift a ban on pork imports containing ractopamine; two, construction of a receiving terminal for natural gas, which could threaten Taoyuan’s Datan Algal Reef; three, activation of the mothballed Fourth Nuclear Power Plant; and four, holding referendums on the same day as national elections.” The referendum questions all basically oppose DPP policies. 

The decision was made at a DPP meeting convened by President Tsai Ing-wen, who doubles also a DPP chairperson, attended by officials from the Presidential Office, the Cabinet, the DPP, legislators and mayors, with most of them arguing that the government should focus its efforts on dealing with the aftermath of the nation’s worst rail disaster in decades and reforming the Taiwan Railways Administration. [Taipei Times]

Cross-strait relations: Taiwan wary of China stealing semiconductor technology

(zh) Taiwan has accused China of stepping up its efforts to steal technology and poach talent from the island’s world-leading semiconductor industry to boost its own industry’s self-sufficiency. The risks of the ‘red supply chain’ – a reference to the color of China’s Communist Party – have increased by the escalating trade war between the US and China as well as Washington’s sanctions on the Chinese telecoms equipment giant Huawei Technologies, said Taiwanese Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua, adding that Taiwan’s chip workers are a “natural target for poaching China has latched onto since they have rich experience and speak the same language.” [South China Morning Post]

Despite attempts from the US and China to boost its chipmaker industry, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and South Korea’s Samsung Electronics remain the dominating giants in the industry. [Nikkei Asia] reports at least $30 billion per year for a minimum of five years are needed for the US, China, and the EU to have a reasonable chance of succeed in being comparable to Samsung and TSMC, making the goal to competing with TSMC and Samsung “economically unrealistic.”

Taiwan to purchase upgraded missiles from US 

(zh) Taiwan has decided to order an upgraded version of missiles – the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptor – from the US to “boost defense capacity.” The missiles are to be delivered in 2025 or 2026 and be deployed by the end of 2026. Taiwan had received its first PAC-2 systems in 1997, with upgrades to PAC-3 being implemented since 2007. [South China Morning Post][Taipei Times]

The US Department of State, meanwhile, reiterated its commitment to deepening ties with Taiwan, adding that it will consider opportunities for mutual visits of senior officials to advance bilateral relations. The statement comes shortly after US ambassador to Palau John Hennesey-Niland joined a visiting delegation from the Pacific Island nation of Palau, including Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr., that traveled to Taiwan March 28 to launch a Taiwan-Palau travel bubble. [Taipei Times]

The visit made Hennessey-Niland the first US ambassador to visit Taiwan in an official capacity since Washington switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing from Taipei in 1979. [The Diplomat]

In response, Beijing dispatched om Monday 10 warplanes, including four J-10 and four J-16 jet fighters, along with a surveillance plane and an anti-submarine plane, through Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) to the southwest of the island while a carrier group, led by the Liaoning, the country’s first aircraft carrier put into active service, was carrying out “routine” drills in the waters near Taiwan. [RT] [Aljazeera]

US, Australia discuss Taiwan defense

(zh) The US and Australia are discussing potential joint responses to a war over Taiwan, according to Michael Goldman, the charge d’affaires ad interim at the US embassy in Canberra, who spoke about a potential role for Australia in a Taiwan contingency in an Australian National University podcast. He made clear that both sides would cooperate “not only in making our militaries interoperable and functioning well together, but also in strategic planning,” adding that strategic planning “covers the range of contingencies that you’ve mentioned, of which Taiwan is obviously an important component.” [Guardian] [Taipei Times]

Goldman remark comes at a time when high-ranking US military officials are warning of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan in the near future, with Commander of the US Pacific Fleet Admiral John Aquilino, nominated to become commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, saying that China’s threat to invade Taiwan is serious and more imminent than widely understood, possibly as soon as within the next six years. [AiR No. 12, March/2021, 4]

The statement comes also amid highly strained Sino-Australian relations over trade restrictions China has imposed in response to Australia’s criticism of human rights violations in Xinjiang and Hong Kong and to Canberra’s call for an independent investigation into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a latest development of the trade dispute between Beijing and Canberra, nearly 9000 liters of Australian red wines has been seized by Chinese authorities in Shenzhen and new duties of between 116.2% and 218.4%t have been imposed on wines in containers of up to two litres. [South China Morning Post] [AiR No.13, March/2021, 5].

BBC China correspondent flees China to Taiwan

(zh) Senior BBC China correspondent John Sudworth has fled China and relocated to Taiwan citing legal threats and intense pressure from Chinese authorities over the coverage of sensitive subjects including Covid-19 origins and Xinjiang human rights abuses.  

Commenting on the relocation, BBC said in [twitter] that “John’s work has exposed truths the Chinese authorities did not want the world to know”. The European Union (EU) has condemned Chinese authorities’ “harassment” to foreign journalists. Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said Sudworth will “feel that Taiwan is a free and democratic nation”, while China’s Foreign Ministry identified a “guilty conscience” over producing “immoral fake news and disinformation” about China as the “only rational explanation” for leaving China so abruptly. [New York Times] [South China Morning Post] [CGTN]

In February, China banned banned BBC World News from broadcasting in the country, a move widely seen as retaliation against British media regulator Ofcom revocation of Chinese state broadcaster China Global Television Network’s (CGTN) licence to broadcast in the UK. [AiR No. 7, February/2021, 3]

Sudworth’s departure is part of a larger exodus of foreign journalists from China, with Taiwan becoming a preferred a destination for these journalists. Since last year, at least 18 foreign correspondents were expelled by China, some of which were framed as retaliation for the Trump administration’s restriction on the number of Chinese journalists working in the US. 39 correspondents and 21 outlets have moved to Taiwan, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and BBC. [Taipei Times]

Taiwan: 100 convicted in political trials exonerated  

(dql) Taiwan’s Transitional Justice Commission (TJC) announced the latest round of exonerations for 100 individuals convicted in political trials during the authoritarian era from 1945-1992. The guilty verdicts, involving 105 cases, were declared unjust overturned during a ceremony presided over by President Tsai Ing-wen. The cases include crimes of rebellion, espionage and subversion. [Focus Taiwan]

Taiwan-Palau travel bubble strengthens relations

(zh) Palau’s leader Surangel Whipps and his delegation have flown to Taiwan to kick off Asia’s first travel bubble between two ‘Covid-safe’ destinations. Whipps earlier had revealed he rejected China’s offer to switch from diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China after he was elected last November. “I believe that we should be free to choose who our friends are, and nobody should say ‘I cannot be somebody’s friend,” said Whipps. [Taiwan News 1]

The trip to Taipei, however, has prompted a “red line” warning from Beijing as US ambassador to Palau John Hennessey-Niland arrived on the island as part of a delegation from Palau. “The Chinese side resolutely opposes any form of official contacts between US and Taiwanese officials,” said China’s foreign ministry. Hennessey-Niland is the first US ambassador to visit Taiwan in an official capacity since the US cut its ties with Taiwan in favor of China in 1979. [South China Morning Post][Taipei Times][Taiwan News 2]

Taiwan, US sign MoU on maritime cooperation

(zh) Taiwan and the United States have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish a Coast Guard Group (CGWG), the first agreement signed by two sides since Joe Biden took office. The agreement provides a platform for the two sides to communicate through Taiwan Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard. The MoU signals Taiwan’s move to counter China’s new coast guard law, which permits the coast guard to use weapons in the waters China claims. [Focus Taiwan][Radio Taiwan International, in Chinese]

Both Taiwan and the US have been increasingly wary of China’s threat to the island. “[T]he problem is much closer us than most think,” said Admiral John Aquilino, the nominee of the US Indo-Pacific Command, in his hearing with the Senate Armed Service Committee, adding China considers establishing full control over the island to be its “number one priority” [CNN].

Meanwhile, in US parliament, the Taiwan Relations Reinforcement Act was reintroduced by Republican Senator Marco Rubio, a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and Democrat Senator Jeff Merkley, chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. If passed, the act would change the status of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), a de facto US embassy under the name of a government-sponsored non-profit organization, to be “representative”, making their appointment subject to Senate approval. It would also require the US president to establish an “inter-agency Taiwan task force”, comprised of senior government officials who submit an annual report to Congress detailing actions that should be taken to enhance the relations. A nonprofit Taiwan-US cultural exchange foundation would also be set up. The bill was previously introduced in the Senate last October but was not included in the congressional schedule. Besides, the group of seven Republicans and two Democrats has asked Biden administration to set up a preclearance facility at Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan’s main international airport, saying it would “improve the ease of travel between the United States and Taiwan and reinforce the importance of our relationship with Taiwan”. [Bloomberg] [Taipei Times] 

Taiwan, US sign MoU on maritime cooperation

(zh) Taiwan and the United States have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish a Coast Guard Group (CGWG), the first agreement signed by two sides since Joe Biden took office. The agreement provides a platform for the two sides to communicate through Taiwan Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard. The MoU signals Taiwan’s move to counter China’s new coast guard law, which permits the coast guard to use weapons in the waters China claims. [Focus Taiwan][Radio Taiwan International, in Chinese]

Both Taiwan and the US have been increasingly wary of China’s threat to the island. “[T]he problem is much closer us than most think,” said Admiral John Aquilino, the nominee of the US Indo-Pacific Command, in his hearing with the Senate Armed Service Committee, adding China considers establishing full control over the island to be its “number one priority” [CNN].

Meanwhile, in US parliament, the Taiwan Relations Reinforcement Act was reintroduced by Republican Senator Marco Rubio, a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and Democrat Senator Jeff Merkley, chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. If passed, the act would change the status of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), a de facto US embassy under the name of a government-sponsored non-profit organization, to be “representative”, making their appointment subject to Senate approval. It would also require the US president to establish an “inter-agency Taiwan task force”, comprised of senior government officials who submit an annual report to Congress detailing actions that should be taken to enhance the relations. A nonprofit Taiwan-US cultural exchange foundation would also be set up. The bill was previously introduced in the Senate last October but was not included in the congressional schedule. Besides, the group of seven Republicans and two Democrats has asked Biden administration to set up a preclearance facility at Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan’s main international airport, saying it would “improve the ease of travel between the United States and Taiwan and reinforce the importance of our relationship with Taiwan”. [Bloomberg] [Taipei Times]

Cross-strait relations: Twenty Chinese military aircraft enter Taiwan air defence identification zone

(dql) Last Friday, twenty Chinese military aircraft – including four nuclear-capable H-6K bombers and 10 J-16 fighter jets, among others – entered Taiwan’s air defence identification zone, marking the largest incursion since Taiwan’s defence ministry began disclosing almost daily Chinese military flights over the waters between the southern part of Taiwan and the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands in the South China Sea last year. [The Guardian]

Palau to maintain ties with Taiwan

(dql) In a diplomatic win for Taiwan, Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr., confirmed in an interview that he has notified Beijing that his country will maintain its relations with Taiwan, adding that “nobody should tell us that relationship should be severed.” Whipps is scheduled to visit Taiwan this week.

Palau is among the four diplomatic allies of Taiwan in the Asia-Pacific region, next to the Marshall Islands, Nauru and Tuvalu. The total number of United Nations member states having full diplomatic relations with Taiwan stands 14, plus the Holy See. Since 2001, Beijing has lured 17 diplomatic allies away from Taiwan, including seven since President Tsai Ing-wen of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party took office 2016. [Focus Taiwan]

In a related development, both sides are discussing a travel bubble, with a first group of Taiwanese passengers expected to fly to Palau in April. [Taiwan News]

Taiwan: Military report prioritizes advancing far-strike capabilities against China

(dql) Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) has released its Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), revealing that it will focus on building Taiwan’s far-strike capabilities of its armed forces in the coming years, aiming at effectively extend its defense in depth to delay the advance of a potential Chinese invasion.

To strengthen far-strike capabilities, the report suggests continue ongoing efforts to build more long-distance air-launched missiles and remote-controlled precision weapon systems. It also announces to adopt a “resolute defense and multi-domain deterrence” tactic focusing on defending its forces and annihilating the enemy near the coastline preventing a landfall on the island, while recognizing the need for a high number of small, mobile, and stealthy asymmetric systems for strategic dispersion, taking advantage of the deployment of anti-ship missiles in coastal areas, rapid reaction forces and mine-laying at sea. [Focus Taiwan]

Meanwhile, Taiwanese troops from various units have been mobilized on this Monday to kick off field training exercises as part of the “Combat Preparedness Month,” which started on March 1 and is conducted in four stages, including battlefield scouting, tabletop exercises, field strategy and tactics, and field exercises.

The Combat Preparedness Month was suspended in the 1990s but resumed in 2019 in response to the increased nearby maneuvers of China’s military. [Taipei Times]

In the [Diplomat], Denny Roy warns that while “[p]rospects for an imminent Chinese invasion are overblown,” Taiwan must not be complacent and tackle the problem of limited military effectiveness caused by “unmet recruiting targets, insufficient training of both conscripts and reserves, and ammunition and spare parts shortages.”

Commander of the US Pacific Fleet Admiral John Aquilino, nominated to become commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, however, warned in his testimony before members of the Senate armed services committee that China’s threat to invade Taiwan is serious and more imminent than widely understood, disagreeing with outgoing Indo-Pacom commander Adm Philip Davidson who recently said that China’s attempt to attack and take over Taiwan could come as soon as within the next six years. [The Guardian]

France rebuffs China’s criticism over lawmaker’s Taiwan trip

(zh) China’s ambassador in Paris Shaye Lu has angered Paris for issuing a statement expressing “serious concerns” about the plan of Alain Richard, France’s head of the Senate’s Taiwan Friendship Group, to visit Taiwan in summer, warning the trip would “cause unnecessary interference” in Franco-Chinese relation and send the wrong signal to Taiwan’s pro-independence forces. Richard was reported to be “very displeased” about Lu’s letter. “French parliamentarians freely decide their travel and their contacts,” said France’s foreign ministry.

In defense, China’s embassy in Paris said Lu was “calm and firm”, urging France to abide by the one-China principle. “French senators, as members of a French state institution, should, of course, observe this principle and refrain from any form of official contact with the Taiwanese authorities”. In the latest development, France’s foreign ministry summoned Lu over his “inadmissible” words against French officials and researchers and Beijing’s sanction over EU officials.

Richard has previously traveled to Taiwan in his existing role. This year’s trip aims at studying the island’s successful response to Covid-19. Taiwan’s Premier Su Tseng-chang criticized Beijing’s attempt to block exchange between France and Taiwan on Covid-19 only created a bad international impression of China and harm global efforts to fight against the pandemic. Taiwan’s foreign minister Joseph Wu on the other hand said China’s “Wolf Warrior” diplomacy is not acceptable to any civilized country. [Focus Taiwan][Reuters][South China Morning Post 1][South China Morning Post 2]

Taiwan: More than 700.000 signatures for a referendum to move national gas terminal site 

(dql) The Rescue Datan Algal Reefs Alliance, a coalition of environmental activists, has submitted more than 700,000 signatures in support of a referendum to relocate the site of a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal. The group cited threats to the ecosystem of an algae reef in northern Taiwan as grounds for its legislative move. 

The government, however, made clear that it has no plans to move the terminal’ site. It insisted that the construction of the terminal would not harm the algae reef but added that it is willing to invest more in the protection of the ref, but as of right now is not considering any alternative locations. [Focus Taiwan] 

The terminal construction is also fiercely disputed between the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Kuomintang (KMT), which called plans of the ruling to hold nationwide more than 300 public forums on government policies “propaganda,” aimed at mobilizing DPP supporters against the referendum. [Taipei Times]

Taiwan is boosting its LNG imports as part of its massive energy transition strategy, which aims to phase out nuclear power by 2025 and increase the share of natural gas to 50% of the country’s power mix. In 2020, gas made up almost 36% of the mix. [Bloomberg]

Taiwan-US relations: Strengthening relations

(zh) The past week saw several moves reflecting continued efforts to strengthen US-Taiwan relations.  US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that he will invite Taiwan to the ‘Summit for Democracy’ which President Biden pledged to host during his election campaign. Calling Taiwan “a strong democracy,” and “a very strong technological power,” he added that Taiwan was “a country that can contribute to the world, not just to its own people.” By referring to Taiwan as ‘country’, Blinken broke with an unwritten rule to avoid using the term ‘country’ for the self-ruled island as part of the US commitment to Beijing’s so-called “One China Policy,” raising the question whether it marks a new stage in US-Taiwan relations or just a slip of the tongue.  [Taiwan News 1][Taiwan News 2]

Meanwhile, Washington and Taipei launched a partnership on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), while the US Navy sent its Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn to conduct a routine Taiwan Strait transit. It was the third transit conducted by the Seventh Fleet since the Biden administration took office and amid warnings of Philip Davidson, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, that Taiwan could be the first potential target of China’s military aggression in the next five to 10 years. [Focus Taiwan 1][South China Morning Post] [Focus Taiwan 2]

Furthermore, US Congress members reintroduced the Taiwan Fellowship Act, which calls for the creation of a program allowing US federal government employees to study and work in Taiwan for up to two years. [Taipei Times]

James Lee in [East Asia Forum] points out that supply chain plays a key role in US strategy toward the Taiwan Strait, arguing that the US dependence on the island’s supply chain – for example in the semiconductor industry –, can be seen as enhancing US deterrence in the Strait without the risks associated with strategic clarity. The US would maintain its strategic ambiguity – declining to clearly state its stance on Taiwan – and let the market increase economic leverage without breaching the One-China principle.

Cross-Strait relations: Kuomintang heavyweights abandon ‘one country, two systems’

(dql/zh) Former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou of the Taiwan’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), has critically commented on China’s push for an electoral reform in Hong Kong, arguing that with the reform the ‘one country, two systems’ formular which China’s upholds for a future re-unification with Taiwan has “officially passed into history”. His remark reflects growing development over the past years within the traditionally Beijing-friendly KMT to distance itself from Beijing. [Hong Kong Free Press]

Similarly, KMT chairman Johnny Chiang made clear in an interview earlier this month that “one country, two systems” has no market in Taiwan citing Taiwanese citizens’ appreciation of their freedoms. [Reuters]

Speaking at the National People’s Congress plenary session, China’s Premier Li Keqiang, however, insisted that only on the basis of the one-China principle and the ‘1992 Consensus’, Beijing welcomed dialogue with “any political party or group from Taiwan.”

Official exchanges between Taipei and Beijing have been suspended since pro-independence President Tsai Ing-wen came to office and since then consistently refused to embrace ‘1992 consensus,’ to eventually to declare in 2019: “As president of the Republic of China, I must solemnly emphasize that we have never accepted the ‘1992 Consensus.’ The fundamental reason is because the Beijing authorities’ definition of the ‘1992 Consensus’ is ‘one China’ and ‘one country, two systems.’ […] Here, I want to reiterate that Taiwan absolutely will not accept ‘one country, two systems.’

For an interpretation of Tsai’s recent reshuffle in leadership positions in Taiwan’s defence and security team, see Corey Lee Bell who argues in the [Strategist] that the decision to appoint Chiu Kuo-cheng, a former director of the National Security Bureau, as new defense minister is a response to China’s “unrestricted warfare,” which has “confounded the conventional dichotomy between kinetic and information warfare.”

SIPRI international arms transfers report 2020

(dql) According to the 2020 international arms transfers report of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), released last week, the US remains the world’s largest arms supplier in 2016-2020 accounting for 37% of the global arms exports, followed by Russia (20%), France (8.2), Germany (5.5%) and China (5.2%). Together, these five countries accounted for 76% of all exports of major arms. Besides China, Asian countries listed among the top 25 countries which accounted for 99% of global arms exports include South Korea (2.7%, ranking at 7), the United Arab Emirates (0.5%, 18), and India (0.2%, 24)

Against the backdrop of the US-China rivalry, the US allies Australia (accounting for 9.4% of US arms exports), South Korea (6.7%) and Japan (5.7%) were among the five largest importers of US arms.

23 Asian countries were among the 40 largest importers including Saudi-Arabia, India, China, South Korea, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Iraq, Japan, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Thailand, Oman, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Jordan, the Philippines, Azerbaijan, Myanmar, Taiwan, and Malaysia. [Reliefweb]

Taiwan: KMT demands halt of government natural gas terminal project

(dql) Taiwan’s main opposition party, Kuomintang (KMT), called on the government to stop all construction on a controversial liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal project, after a petition supporting a nationwide referendum on the project gathered enough signatures to go ahead in August. The KMT also demanded that the government actively prepare alternative solutions and to publicly declare to respect the referendum’s outcome. 

The LNG terminal project, located off the coast of Taoyuan, is operated by state-run utility CPC Corp., Taiwan and has been criticized by environmental groups who argue that it would harm the algal reef and endangered species in the area. [Focus Taiwan]

Lithuania to set enterprise office in Taiwan

(zh) Lithuania has announced it would open an “enterprise office” in Taiwan this year, aiming to “strengthening and diversifying of economic diplomacy in the Asian region.” Few countries set up formal embassies in Taiwan, but several, including the European Union and some of its members, have representation and trade offices operating as de-facto embassies.

The move signals Lithuania’s discontent toward Beijing as the country’s engagement in the “17+1” summit and in China’s Belt and Road Initiative have not yielded the expected tangible results, with Chinese investment in 2020 standing at only some 10.5 million USD. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis remarked in this regard: “I am not saying that we are leaving and it’s the end, but we should really consider what is the useful way of building a relationship with China.”

Last month, Lithuania was one of six countries refused to send government leaders attend the 17+1 summit and only sent lower-level ministers instead. Earlier it had also banned a Chinese tech company on national security grounds. [Reuters][South China Morning Post 1][AiR No.8, February/2021, 4].

In response to the announcement, Beijing has called on Vilnius to “refuse to be taken advantage of by Taiwan separatist forces, and avoid doing anything detrimental to bilateral political mutual trust”. [South China Morning Post 2]

Taiwan-Guam relations: New Marketing Committee set up

(zh) The Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) has decided to remove Taiwan from the Greater China Marketing Committee to set up a new separate Taiwan Marketing Committee to improve the Taiwan market. The GVB has thus far overseen Guam’s business with China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Guam described the move as a sign of respect towards Taiwan. The number of Taiwanese tourists ranked third after Japanese and South Koreans. [Taipei Times] [Taiwan News]

Malaysia, Saudia Arabia sign MoU ambush

China is the biggest consumer of Taiwan’s pineapples with 91% of Taiwan’s total exports of fruit valuing at 1.5 billion NTD. Observers believe that Beijing’s suspension aims to hit the high public approval ratings Tsai currently enjoys due to her world-class effective pandemic response. [Focus Taiwan][Reuters][SupChina][Taiwan News]

Since Taiwan’s pro-independence President Tsai Ing-wen has assumed office in 2016, Beijing has cut off diplomatic channels and has been ramping up its pressure on the island, including regularly sending fighter jets and bombers near Taiwan or into its air defense identification zone. In January, China staged military exercises near Taiwan on almost daily basis. [Daily Mail] 

Cross-Strait relations: Taiwan ridicules China’s Beijing-Taipei railway connection plans and condemns pineapple ban

(zh) China has announced plans to construct a high-speed railway and expressway linking Beijing and Taipei by 2035 in the annual session of the National People’s Congress. The envisioned connection is part of a “National Comprehensive Transportation Network Plan,” released by the China’s State Council, the country’s central government. It lays out construction goals for transportation links from 2021 to 2035 covering 700,000 kilometers.

Taiwanese politician and netizens called the plan “daydreaming” and called on Taiwanese citizens to regard it as a “science fiction novel,” while urging Beijing not to be a “frog at the bottom of a well”. [Nikkei Asia][Taiwan News] [Republic World]

Earlier this month, China announced to ban the import of Taiwan’s pineapples from March 1 on, citing bugs found in batches of imported pineapples and denying claims that the ban was politically motivated. Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen decried the unilateral action, calling it an “

to IUU fishing activities, detecting some Chinese coast guard ships and fishing vessels near Natuna waters last year. A number of such incidents have attracted international attention to Chinese violation in Indonesian sovereign waters. Besides Chinese vessels, in August 2020 two Vietnamese vessels were found fishing illegally in Northern Natuna. [Antara News]

Taiwan: KMT submits signatures backing referendum against government’s pork policy

(dql) Taiwan’s main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) has submitted more than 1 million signatures supporting its two referendum proposals to the Central Election Commission (CEC) for review.

The referendums are aimed at striking down the government’s decision to lift a ban on pork imports containing ractopamine, a leanness-enhancing additive ractopamine, and at allowing to hold referendums to be held in conjunction with major local elections. The second referendum seeks to reverse an amendment to the Referendum Act passed by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party-controlled parliament in June 2019 that limits the frequency with which referendums can be held. Critics view the amendment a way for the ruling DPP to prevent referendum questions from threatening its support at the ballot box. [Focus Taiwan]

Cross-strait relations: PLA and Taiwanese concurrently hold military exercises in the South China Sea

(dql) Amid high running cross-strait tensions, China and Taiwan are holding military drills at the same time in the South China Sea. According to a notice of Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration (CGA), the Tawainese military conducted a round of live-fire exercise on Monday on the Taiwan-held Pratas Islands. Similar drills are scheduled to be staged next week. China, meanwhile, kicked off on the same day a month-long military exercise west of the Leizhou Peninsula in Guangdong province. [Focus Taiwan1] [South China Morning Post]

In an earlier show of force, at least 10 Chinese bombers belonging to the Southern Theatre Command conducted maritime strike exercises in the South China Sea, immediately after the Lunar New Year Holiday which ended on February 17. The drills involved China’s most advanced H-6J bomber. [Global Times 1]

Further fueling the tensions, last week the US was also present in the disputed region. While various reconnaissance aircraft as well as the ocean surveillance ship USNS Impeccable carried out surveillance missions in the South China Sea, a US Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer transited through the Taiwan Strait. [Global Times 2] [Focus Taiwan 2]

Meanwhile, two US lawmakers have introduced a resolution calling for the US government to resume formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan and end the “one China policy.” It also urged he government to negotiate a bilateral free trade agreement with Taiwan, and support Taiwan’s membership in international organizations. [Taiwan News]

Taiwan: Database on political prosecution cases launched

(dql) On the occasion of the launch of a database of politically motivated cases during the during the authoritarian regimes between 1949 and 1991 in Taiwan, the Transitional Justice Commission (TJC) presented preliminary data which reveal so far a total of 13,268 cases have compiled, adding that three former presidents Chiang Kai-shek, Yen Chia-k, and Chiang’s son Chiang Ching-kuo were among the major decision makers in those cases, with the former participating in court procedures more than 4.100 times, the most of all major decision makers.

The data also shows that 1,153 of the accused were handed down death sentences, 169 life imprisonment, 1,628 jail terms of more than 10 years but less than 15 years and 1,498 imprisonment of more than five years but less than 10 years. [Focus Taiwan]

The launch of the database, part of a broader government policy on transitional justice, comes shortly ahead of the commencement of the 74th anniversary of the 228 Incident which refers to an anti-government uprising in Taiwan on February 28 1947 which was violently suppressed by the then Kuomintang-led Republic of China government. The number of Taiwanese deaths from the incident is estimated to be between 5.000 and 28.000. The 228 Incident has become a key element in the narrative on Taiwanese identity. 

India donates $20.4 to Taiwanese medical institution

(lm) To consolidate cooperation under Taiwan’s New Southbound Initiative, India has donated $20,4 million to Taipei’s National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine (NRCIM), marking the first time the Indian government has donated to a Taiwanese government institution. [Hindustan Times]

Launched in 2016 under Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, the New Southbound Initiative is a people-centered policy that aims to enhance cooperation and exchange with eighteen primary target countries: 10 in the ASEAN region, six states in South Asia, and Australia and New Zealand.

While relations between New Delhi and Taipei in the past have mostly walked in the shadows of India’s strict adherence to the ‘One China Policy’, since 2014, bilateral engagements have gradually strengthened. At the time, Indian Prime Minister Modi initiated a shift from his country’s ‘Look East Policy’ to the ‘Act East Policy’ placing greater emphasis on regional cooperation. Since then, New Delhi has initiated several initiatives to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), most notably through its ‘Make in India’ initiative, which aim to encourage companies to manufacture in India [see e.g. AiR No. 8, February/2021, 4].

Taiwan-Germany relations: BNT promises its vaccines after the deal called off

(zh) Germanybiotech firm, BioNTech SE(BNT), promises to provide 5 million doses of its Covid-19 vaccines to Taiwan after Taiwan’s Minister of Health and Welfare, Chen Shih-chung, announced the deal was called off at the last minute by potential Chinese interference. While details on what happened were not provided, Chen implied there was a political dimension to the decision, saying “someone did not want Taiwan to be too happy.” 

BNT signed a deal with the Chinese firm Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co Ltd to exclusively develop and commercialize Covid-19 vaccine products with BNT’s technology in China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, which gives China the power to intervene in the deal. Hearing the island’s complaint, BNT later said that the discussion continues and it plans to provide vaccines to Taiwan. [Focus Taiwan][Reuters 1][Reuters 2]

Cross-Strait relations: Appointment of new Mainland Affairs Council chairman to signal Taiwan’s less confrontational China policy

(dql/zh) In a move widely seen among analysts as signaling an adjustment of Taiwan’s confrontational China policy towards more pragmatism, President Tsai Ing-wen has appointed former Taiwanese Justice Minister Chiu Tai-san as new head of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC).

During the swearing-in ceremony, Chiu, who had been the Council’s vice chairman from 2004 to 2005, expressed hope that both sides overcome the current diplomatic impasse and move towards “exchanges based on pragmatism”, adding that if “political exchanges are too sensitive … and there is not enough mutual trust, we can always start with non-political, economic, social and cultural exchanges to build up mutual trust before taking on higher-level issues.”

Analysts also believe that Tsai’s decision to shift to a more pragmatic approach in cross-strait relations follows concerns of the Biden administration that Taiwan as a potential flashpoint of Sino-US tensions will disrupt its foreign policy. In a statement in December US Indo-Pacific coordinator chief Kurt Campbell stated that a degree of “productive and quiet dialogue” between Beijing and Taipei was “in everyone’s best strategic interests”. [South China Morning Post] [Focus Taiwan]

In another – more provocative – move towards China, Tsai ordered all of Taiwan’s coast guard vessels to be emblazoned the word ‘Taiwan’ above the original designation “ROC Coast guard.” According to the Presidential Office, the move – coming shortly after China’s new launched coast guard law, which permits coast guard vessels to use military weapons in the waters China claims – aims at better distinguishing Taiwan’s law enforcement vessels from China’s. [Focus Taiwan] [AiR No. 4, January/2021, 4]

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s air force scrambled after nine Chinese air force aircraft on Friday and another 11 aircraft on Saturday, including eight fighter jets, two nuclear-capable H-6 bombers and an anti-submarine aircraft, flew near the Pratas Islands in the top part of the South China Sea, also claimed by Beijing. At the same time, four retired Taiwanese military intelligence officers have been indicted for developing a spying network and collecting confidential information for Beijing. [VoA] [Channel News Asia]

Taiwan: KMT gathers enough signatures for referendum on government’s ractopamine pork policy

(dql) Taiwan’s opposition Kuomintang (KMT) announced collected around 600.000 signatures for each of its proposed referendum on the government’s lift of the ban of imports of ractopamine-fed pork, meeting the thresholds to continue the referendum motion, with the review of the signatures by the Central Election Commission as next step. The next possible date for the referendum is August 28 this year.  [Taiwan News]

Taiwan-US relations: High-level contacts continue under Biden administration

(dql) Signaling continuation of contacts between US and Taiwanese high-level officials which begun under the Trump administration, Taiwan’s top envoy to the US Hsiao Bi-khim met with Sung Kim, acting assistant secretary of the State Department’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the State Department. [Focus Taiwan]

Taiwan: KMT collects over half a million signatures for a national referendum against government’s new pork import policy

(dql) Pressure on President Tsai Ing-wen over her lift of imports of US pork containing ractopamine residue is increasing after the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) collected over 500.000 signatures in support of the party’s proposals to hold national referendums which would ask voters whether they agree that the government should impose a complete ban on imports of meat, offal and related products from pigs fed with ractopamine. The next possible date for such a referendum would be August 28 this year. 

To pave the way for a long desired free trade agreement with the US, Tsai agreed in August last year to lift the ban on pork with ractopamine which took effect January 1. [Taipei Times]

Cross-Strait relations: Guyana scraps plan for Taiwan embassy over China’s pressure

(zh) Bowing to pressure from China, Guyana called off an agreement with Taiwan on opening a representative office in Guyana’s capital, Georgetown, just hours after Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced signing of the agreement. [Focus Taiwan] [Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taiwan 1]

Rich in oil and located next to Venezuela, a major Chinese ally against the United State in South America, Guyana has become an important country for China. Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1972 and has been maintaining close ties. Following the signing of the agreement, China’s Foreign Ministry was quick to urge Guyana to stick to “One China” policy and to “earnestly take steps to correct their mistakes”. Within hours, Guyana’s Foreign Ministry said it adheres to “One China” principle and terminated the agreement with Taiwan, citing “miscommunication” about the agreement.

Taiwan strongly condemned the Chinese government’s interference, accusing it of bullying Taiwan in the international society. [CNN] [Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China] [Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taiwan, 2 in Chinese] [PTS, in Chinese] [Reuters]

The US is worried about China’s deepening influence in the Caribbean and Latin America, with both regions traditionally hosted the biggest bloc of Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic allies. However, facing Chinese fierce isolation, three Latin American countries, El Salvador, the Dominican Republican, and Panama, had cut the diplomatic ties with Taiwan within two years. Currently, Taiwan only has formal diplomatic relations with 14 countries, including four of the Caribbean and five Latin American countries. [NPR]

Meanwhile, two Chinese J-16 jet fighters entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) for a fifth consecutive day on Monday, marking the 34th day so far this year that Chinese aircraft intruded Taiwan’s ADIZ. [Taiwan News]

Taiwan: New reservist call-up system to be introduced

(dql) Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense announced that, beginning in 2022, new rules governing the call-up of reservists will be introduced to improve the combat readiness of the nation’s reserve forces, with call-ups would be for two weeks training compared to five to seven days. Furthermore, the call-ups would occur annually rather than biannually every two years. 

Already in this year, the military will extend the period for call-ups from a maximum of four times in eight years to four times in 12 years after being discharged. [Focus Taiwan]

Taiwan: DPP lawmaker released on bail in bribery case, Judicial Yuan moving forward in high-profile corruption case 

(nm) Legislator Su Cheng-ching of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was released on a bail in a major national bribery case which includes several lawmakers, judges, and police officials. He had been detained since August 2020 and is now subject to resident restrictions as well as barred from leaving Taiwan. 

The allegations under the Anti-Corruption Act stem from a case related to the ownership of the Pacific SOGO department store chain, in which Su allegedly accepted bribes to illegally lend support in the company’s former chairman’s Lee Heng-lung’s legal battle. Several other lawmakers of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and the smaller New Power Party are also involved in the case but have been released on bail before. [Focus Taiwan]

In a different case, the Judicial Yuan forwarded allegations against six high-ranking judges to the Control Yuan for further investigation of an alleged involvement in a corruption scandal. According to the Judicial Evaluation Committee, the six judges had committed serious transgressions in their alleged involvement with Chia Her Industrial Co president Weng Mao-chung while Weng was facing nine litigation cases in the 1990s. The accusations include abuse of authority, conflict of interest, insider trading, and bribe-taking. The move comes as the Control Yuan celebrates its 90th anniversary with an exhibition on the agency’s digital transformation plan. [Taipei Times]

Taiwan: Ministry of Interior to evaluate change of Taiwan’s emblem 

(nm) Last week, Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan passed a motion to instruct the Ministry of the Interior to evaluate the possibility of changing Taiwan’s emblem as it currently shows great similarities with the emblem of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party. The Interior Ministry is now required to submit a report on the topic to the Legislative Yuan’s Internal Administration Committee within two months.

The resolution was proposed by the small New Power Party (NPP) and passed along party lines, with the NPP and the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) voting in favour and the KMT against. The five members of the Taiwan People’s Party abstained. 

The NPP suggested that the emblem should “incorporate elements of […] national characteristics or culture to express the national spirit”, while many DPP members associate the current emblem with Taiwan’s decades of the KMT’s one-party rule prior to the island’s democratic transition in the 1990s. One Interior Ministry official has pointed out that previous attempts at changing the emblem have failed. Since the design of the flag is specifically set out in the Constitution, KMT chairman Johnny Chiang supported the legally untested view that a change would require a constitutional amendment which for its part requires a two third majority in the Legislative Yuan as well as ratification by a majority of eligible voters. [Focus Taiwan] [Taiwan News]

Taiwan: Judicial Yuan planning to facilitate transnational same-sex marriage

(nm) Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) is considering options to allow for same-sex marriage between Chinese and Taiwanese. Previously, the Judicial Yuan had announced that it aims to amend regulations on transnational same-sex marriages and to open them for Taiwanese and their partners from countries that currently do not recognize same-sex marriage. According to the Executive Yuan, this would include spouses from Hong Kong and Macau, but not from China. 

Taiwan had legalized same-sex marriage in 2019 as the first place in Asia after its Constitutional Court ruled that the existing law – mandating that marriage was between a man and a woman – was unconstitutional. However, Taiwanese still are unable to marry same-sex partners from a country which has not legalized such unions, creating significant hurdles to gay couples. The Judicial Yuan now approved draft revisions to the Act Governing the Choice of Law in Civil Matters Involving Foreign Elements, which would grant recognition to all same-sex marriages, stating “Nobody can put limits on love.” 

However, Taiwanese-Chinese marriages are governed by different laws which do not technically prohibit same-sex marriage, but require couples to register in China, which does not recognize same-sex marriage, making such unions practically impossible. According to the MAC Deputy Minister Chiu Chui-cheng, Taiwan’s legal basis for same-sex marriage, the Court’s ruling Interpretation No. 748, does not allow for the exclusion of Chinese spouses, adding that a “slew of legal issues,” including border and resident regulations as well as the verification of certificates, however, will have to be taken into account. The MAC is now collecting further information on legal and practical implications possibly arising from changing regulations. [Taipei Times 1] [Taipei Times 2] [CNN]

Taiwan-Germany relations: Taiwan urged to step up automotive chip production amid global shortage 

(nm) Amid a global shortage of semiconductor chips which are used in the auto sector, Germany has urged Taiwan to persuade Taiwanese manufacturers to increase production output. Automakers around the globe are forced to shut down assembly lines due to delivery problems, impeding economic recovery from the global pandemic. 

In a letter, German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier had reached out to his Taiwanese counterpart Wang Mei-hua, asking to address the issue in talks with Taiwan’s chipmakers, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC), the global market leader. Japan and the United States are also said to have reached out to Taiwan. According to reports, Taiwan’s four biggest chipmakers pledged to further optimize production in order to meet global demands and to support the automobile industry in particular. 

Semiconductors are vital parts of almost all electronic systems. After the Covid-19 pandemic had led to an initial reduction in demand for automobiles but increased demand for consumer electronics and medical technology, chip producers were unable to adjust their costly production as fast as the auto industry recovered. The problem is further exacerbated by former US-President Trump’s trade dispute with China, which led car manufacturers to consider alternative suppliers, including Taiwan.  

In exchange for the support, the Taiwanese government has asked German representative to Taiwan Thomas Prinz for assistance in buying Covid-19 vaccines, an exchange first raised by the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research. Prinz had said he would pass the proposal on to the German government. Although Taiwan’s success in containing its local Covid-19 outbreak was lauded globally, the island is currently struggling to secure vaccines. The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party supported the idea, pointing at a local cluster infection at Taoyuan General Hospital with 15 reported cases. [Focus Taiwan] [Taiwan News] [Reuters] [Zeit, German] 

For more background information on the global supply shortage, see [Bloomberg]. For insights into Taiwan’s political communication on the pandemic, see [Taiwan News].

Taiwan-Poland relations: Legal cooperation agreement approved by Polish President

(nm) The Taiwan-Poland Criminal Justice Cooperation which was signed by Taiwanese and Polish representatives in June 2019 was approved by Polish President Andrzej Duda last week, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). It will take effect as soon as Taiwan receives formal notice. 

The agreement, which is the first of its kind between Taiwan and a European country, will cover five major areas: mutual assistance with criminals, extradition, transfer of criminals, sharing of legal and practical insights, and criminal prosecution and crime prevention information sharing. According to the ministry, it will help strengthen transnational anti-crime efforts and judicial cooperation, while fully protecting individuals on the basis of human rights and the rule of law.  

Taiwan currently holds similar agreements with the United States, China, the Philippines, South African, Nauru, and Belize. In 2016, Taiwan had also entered into a double taxation avoidance agreement with Poland, followed by an agreement on science and higher education in 2018. [Focus Taiwan] [Taiwan News]

Poland currently faces intense criticism and an infringement procedure by the European Union due to a national judicial reform which threatens to undermine judicial independence and thus a centerpiece of the rule of law principle. [EU Press corner]

Taiwan: United States pledges unchanged support 

(nm) In several statements, the US has reassured its continued support for Taiwan. While the US Department of Defense announced that it will continue to fulfill its commitments to Taiwan’s self-defence needs and to the security of the Indo-Pacific, President Biden’s nominee for US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, stated in her confirmation hearing that Taiwan was “one of the strongest democracies in the region”, adding that the US needs to “support” and “stand by them” as a fellow democracy. [Focus Taiwan 1] [Taiwan News] [Focus Taiwan 2] 

Meanwhile, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan warned that the US must be ready to “impose costs” on China for Beijing’s threats toward Taiwan and its actions in Hong Kong and Xinjiang as part of a four-point plan he suggested the US needs to take to deal with the challenges posed by China, including fostering its own domestic democracy to combat Beijing’s claim that its governance model is superior than the US one, cooperating with democratic allies, and investing in emerging technologies, as the competition with China will be decided in this strategic resources. [Focus Taiwan 3]

The remarks came after recently thirteen Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and PLA Navy (PLAN) aircraft intruded Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), followed by Beijing’s warning that “independence means war.” [AiR No. 4, January/2021, 4] [BBC]

Trade-wise, the US and Taiwan have planned to hold a meeting this week on current global supply shortages of automotive chips, joining Germany and Japan in asking Taiwan for support in alleviating the shortage. [Focus Taiwan 4]

It’s structural, stupid – Sino-US tensions to remain definitional under Biden

(dql) In a tit-for-tat response to recent US sanctions on Chinese officials and entities over Chinese policies and actions in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, China announced similar sanctions against 28 high-ranking US officials of the Trump administration, described by the Chinese Foreign Ministry as “anti-China politicians,” who have “designed, pushed forward, and carried out a set of insane actions, which have severely interfered in China’s domestic affairs, harmed China’s interest, hurt the feelings of the Chinese people, and severely harmed Chinese-US relations.” Among those sanctioned are outgoing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former White House advisor Peter Navarro, former national security advisors John Bolton and Robert O’Brien, China strategist Matthew Pottinger, and former White House advisor Steve Bannon. [Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China 1, in Chinese] [CNN]

The announcement was made only a few minutes after Joe Biden was sworn in as US President and shortly after Pompeo officially declared China’s treatment of the Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang as “genocide,” and a “systematic attempt to destroy Uyghurs by the Chinese party-state” on his last full day in office. [U.S. News]

At the same time, China’s Foreign Ministry expressed its hope that the new Biden administration would “view China and China-U.S. relations in an objective and rational manner,” and “bring back China-U.S. relations back onto the track of sound and stable development.” [Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China 2] The remarks echo Beijing’s efforts to find common ground with Washington in the areas of climate change and the anti-pandemic fight as starting points of a reset of bi-lateral relations. [Aljazeera] [Wall Street Journal]

In one of his first moves as President, Biden signed executive orders to return to the Paris climate agreement and to hold the US exit from the World Health Organization. [The Guardian] [Deutsche Welle]

Meanwhile, Secretary of State nominee Antony Blinken notably said that – while he did not agree with all of Trump’s methods –, he still believed that the former President was right in taking a tougher approach to China. He also confirmed Pompeo’s assessment of the Chinese Communist Party’s genocide in Xinjiang, indicating a thorny path towards Beijing’s hope for a return to “sound and stable” relations between the two countries. [Reuters]

Furthermore, the US Department of State issued a statement on Saturday expressing concern over China’s ongoing attempts to intimidate Taiwan and urging China to “engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan’s democratically elected representatives.” It reassured “rock-solid” commitment to Taiwan, which “contributes to the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and within the region.” [Focus Taiwan]

The statement was made on the same day a US aircraft carrier group entered the South China Sea while an incursion of People’s Liberation Army bombers and fighter jets into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone was reported by the Taiwanese government. [Reuters]

The take-away is: While foreign policy Trumpism is over with a last jab from Beijing, US-China tensions are thus revealed once more to be inherently structural, this time by the just inaugurated Biden administration.

In a latest development, Chinese President Xi Jinping – speaking at the virtually held World Economic Forum in Davos – warned global leaders against starting a “new Cold War” and called for unity in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. [Aljazeera] More analysis on the World Economic Forum in the next AiR issue.

Taiwan: Nuclear power plant referendum date set 

(nm) A national referendum on activating the long-inactive Fourth Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Gongliao District is set for August 28, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC). 

The referendum initiative launched by nuclear power advocate Huang Shih-hsiu will ask: “Do you agree that the 4th Nuclear Power Plant be activated for commercial operations?” It is currently the only referendum initiative that has met the endorsement threshold required to be put to a vote, although several other initiatives are still pending, including one to eliminate the restriction as to when a referendum can be held. The CEC will announce the referendums to be held on May 27 and hold presentations on the proposed questions until August 27. Official results will be announced on September 3, although unofficial results should be known the night of the vote.

The power plant was close to completion before being put off in 2014 and has become a focal point in the national debate over nuclear power. [Focus Taiwan] [Taipei Times]

Taiwan: Parliament passes infrastructure budget

(dql) Taiwan’s parliaments last week approved a special budget of more than 8 billion USD for spending related to the third stage of the central government’s so-called Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program (FIDP). It shall be completed by 2025 and is supposed to accelerate Taiwan’s digital development and improve the urban-rural allocation of resources to also boost rural infrastructure development. [Focus Taiwan]

Launched in 2017, the FIDP aims to meet Taiwan’s development needs for the next 30 years, covering eight categories: aquatic environments, child care facilities, digital infrastructure, food safety, green energy, human resources, railways and urban-rural renewal projects. [Executive Yuan, Taiwan]

US-Taiwan relations: Taiwan’s representative to the United States attends Biden’s inauguration

(nm) Taiwan’s representative to the United States, Hsiao Bi-khim, attended the inauguration of US President Joe Biden, making her the first person in that position to receive an official invitation to a presidential inauguration since the US and Taiwan have severed formal diplomatic ties in 1979. [Focus Taiwan 1] [Taiwan News 1]

Hours before the inauguration, China had flown a military plane into Taiwan’s Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ), which was met by Taiwan’s military with dispatching jet fighters, issuing radio warnings, and tracking the aircraft with air defense missile systems. [Taiwan News 2]

In light of the inauguration, chairman of Taiwan’s opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party, Johnny Chiang, in contrast, vowed to commit to greater engagement with the US, based on the KMT’s “pro-US while friendly to China” principle. At the same time, he pointed out that Taiwan will not be so easily used as a tool of “offensive diplomacy” against China, should US-Sino relations further deteriorate under President Biden. [Focus Taiwan 2]

As – in defiance of Beijing’s opposition – the former Trump administration had greatly stepped up support for Taiwan in its last weeks in office – planning official visits, pledging economic cooperation, lifting restrictions on interaction guidelines – a shift in US administration has been carefully observed in Taiwan. According to a number of Taiwanese scholars and political figures, President Biden is expected to take a more measured approach to Beijing, likely focussed on preventing escalating tensions, and more focussed on domestic issues. At his confirmation hearing, Biden’s pick to head the US Department of State, Anthony Blinken, confirmed that there has been “a strong and long bipartisan commitment to Taiwan” in the US, adding that part of this commitment “is making sure that Taiwan has the ability to defend itself against aggression.” [Focus Taiwan 3] [Focus Taiwan 4] [The New York Times, $]

In a similar move, the director of the U.S. Health Department’s Office of Global Affairs, Garret Grigsby, also supported Taiwan at a World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board meeting last week, highlighting “the important contributions Taiwan could make to these discussions [pandemic emergency responses] as well as other aspects of COVID-19 response if they were allowed to participate fully as an observer to WHO’s technical work.” [Taiwan News 3]

Cross-Strait relations: Record numbers of Chinese military aircraft enter Taiwan’s Air Defence Identification Zone

(nm) China sent a record number of warplanes into the Taiwan Strait over the weekend, with a total of 13 warplanes entering Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on Saturday, followed by 15 military planes on Sunday, making it the 20th day in January that China’s military has sent aircraft into Taiwan’s ADIZ. According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND), the planes involved in Saturday’s maneuver were one anti-submarine aircraft, eight bombers, and four Chinese fighter jets, while 12 fighters, two anti-submarine aircraft, and a reconnaissance plane entered the ADIZ on Sunday.

Although such drills have been common in recent years, China has lately stepped up its military maneuvers, in a show of force to the incoming US Biden administration, signalling Beijing’s plans to maintain pressure on Taiwan.

Echoing this, Wang Yang, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, China’s top leadership body, demanded in his speech before officials of the Taiwan Affairs Office that China must “use the increasing strengths and significant advantages in our system effectively when handling Taiwan affairs,” and “resolutely curb” any forces calling for Taiwan’s independence. [Focus Taiwan 1] [Focus Taiwan 2] [South China Morning Post]

Sunday’s intrusion came after the Theodore Roosevelt, a US aircraft carrier, entered the South China Sea on Saturday, an undertaking described by the US Navy as “routine operations” to “ensure freedom of the seas.” Also on Saturday, the US Department of State issued a statement calling on China to “cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan’s democratically elected representatives,” adding “We will stand with friends and allies to advance our shared prosperity, security, and values in the Indo-Pacific region – and that includes deepening our ties with democratic Taiwan.”

In response to the intrusion, Taiwan’s military tasked airborne alert sorties, issued radio warnings and deployed air defence missiles to monitor the activity, according to the MND. [The New York Times, $] [DW]

Taiwan-EU: European Union passes resolutions comprising pro-Taiwan clauses

(nm) The European Parliament (EP) passed two resolutions calling on its member states to “re-examine their engagement policies with Taiwan” and to continue supporting Taiwan’s participation in international organizations.

Both the resolution on the implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy and the resolution on the implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy expressed serious concerns about recent tensions in the Taiwan Strait as well as about “China’s increasingly provocative military maneuvers aimed at Taiwan,” urging both sides to resort to peaceful means in resolving their differences. [Focus Taiwan] [Taiwan News 1]

Meanwhile, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen expressed her administration’s interest in negotiating a trade deal with the United Kingdom which has left the European Union’s single market and customs union. Newly appointed British Representative to Taiwan, John Dennis, who assumed office early in January, has pledged to develop ties with Taiwan by “building on our already powerful links in trade and investment, science and innovation, climate change, education and on shared values.” [Taiwan News 2]

China in the “U.S. Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific” 

(dql) Shortly before Joe Biden will be sworn in as US President in this week, the Trump administration declassified and published the “U.S. Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific”, approved by President Trump in 2018 and stamped secret and not for release to foreign nationals until 2043. 

The 10-page national security strategy paper identifies maintaining “U.S. strategic primacy over the Indo-Pacific region,” and promoting “a liberal economic order, while preventing China from establishing new, illiberal spheres of influence and cultivating areas of cooperation to promote regional peace and prosperity” one of three national security challenges, along with North Korea’s threat to the US and its allies as well as the advancement of US global economic leadership. 

Furthermore, the document assumes that the “[s]trategic competition between the United States and China will persists,” with China “circumvent[ing] international norms and rules to gain advantage,” and seeking to “dissolve U.S. alliances and partnerships,” in order to “exploit vacuums and opportunities created by these diminished bonds.”

As an desired outcome with regards to China, the “United States and its partners on every continent” shall become “resistant to Chinese activities aimed at undermining their sovereignty, including through covert or coercive influence.” [White House, USA]

For a concise assessment of what has been achieved under this strategic framework, see Grant Newsham in [Asia Times] who argues that “Trump and his staff are handing off to Joseph Biden an Indo-Pacific that is better off than it was in 2017. 

Taiwan: DPP municipality councilor recalled 

(nm) Taoyuan City Councilor Wang Hao-yu of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was recalled in a popular vote last week, marking first recall of a councilor in a special municipality. More than 92% of votes were cast in favor of the recall while nearly 8% were cast against, with a voter turnout at 28%. 

Wang had become target of public discontent in the city after issuing a controversial statement about a Kaohsiung politician of the main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), who committed suicide. 

Taoyuan belongs to the six special municipalities in Taiwan, large metropolitan areas which account for over 60% of Taiwan’s population. The other five special municipalities include Taipei, New Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung. [Focus Taiwan] [Taipei Times]

The DPP expressed regrets over the recall and criticized the KMT’s removal campaigns against DPP officials as another DPP Kaohsiung independent city councilor is facing a recall in a vote on February 6, supported by the KMT, which, in contrast, has voiced hope to use the momentum of the successful recall to also drive its referendum pork containing ractopamine. [Taiwan News 1] [Taiwan News 2] 

Taiwan: High-profile corruption cases moving forward

(nm) A report of the Judicial Yuan investigation revealed that 20 Supreme Court and High Court judges and senior officials as well as 20 prosecutors and judicial investigators were found to have engaged in illegal activities, including bribe-taking, abuse of authority, and conflict of interest.

The report was issued after the Control Yuan’s earlier findings implicated more than 200 judicial personnel in a corruption scandal around former Supreme Court judge Shih Mu-chin and businessman Weng Mao-chung. Last year, the Control Yuan – the government’s oversight body – had begun impeachment proceedings against Shih over alleged breaches of the Judges Act as well as over failure to avoid conflicts of interest. 

Judicial Reform chairman Lin Yung-sung, meanwhile, voiced sharp criticism, stating that the case had severely eroded faith in Taiwan’s justice system and has shown that the “justice system is rotten to the core.” Together with other judicial reform proponents, Lin also called on the Control Yuan to conduct a more thorough investigation of the case. Control Yuan members also told Premier Su Tseng-chang that the case had seriously affected Taiwan’s international image of good governance and would harm its evaluation in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index. [Taipei Times 1] [Taipei Times 2]

Taiwan: Supreme Court orders retrial in Sunflower Movement case

(nm) The Taiwanese Supreme Court this week ordered the retrial of eight Sunflower Movement activists who had been sentenced by the High Court to two to four years in prison over their occupation of the Executive Yuan complex in 2014. The guilty verdicts have been revoked and the case is remanded to the High Court. 

The Supreme Court held that the defendants were merely exercising “civil disobedience” or their “right of resistance” and should thus receive more lenient sentences. Last year, the High Court had sentenced the activists for inciting others to commit crimes related to the occupation of the Executive Yuan during a 23-day student-led protest against 

Protesting against the then-Kuomintang (KMT) government’s handling of a trade in services agreement with China, in March and April 2014 several hundred students broke into the Legislative Yuan with thousands more gathering outside the complex. The eight defendants were part of a group of students that broke into the Executive Yuan and were forcibly removed by the police. [Focus Taiwan] [Taipei Times]

Taiwan-Denmark relations: Danish parliament considers supporting Taiwan’s WHA bid 

(nm) Denmark’s parliament is considering passing a resolution supporting Taiwan’s efforts to rejoin the World Health Organization (WHO), despite opposition from China. According to a Facebook post by Taiwan’s office in Denmark, six out of ten political parties represented in the Danish parliament are supporting the resolution which asks the WHO to invite Taiwan to the World Health Assembly (WHA) as an observer. The WHA is the WHO’s decision-making body. 

The resolution has now passed a first reading and is currently being reviewed by the Foreign Affairs Committee. 

Taiwan has been expelled from the WHO since the People’s Republic of China took its seat in 1972, and has not been able to participate in the WHA, except from a period between 2009-2016, when the Kuomintang party (KMT) was ruling. Taiwan has been praised internationally for its successful handling of the COVID-19 outbreak. The European Parliament also recently passed two resolutions supporting Taiwan’s bid to participate in the WHO.  [Focus Taiwan] [Taipei Times]

Taiwan-US relations: Declassified strategy document shows support for Taiwan

(nm) The recently declassified and published “US Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific” – a 10-page report approved for implementation by President Trump in 2018, that had been stamped secret and not for release to foreign nationals until 2043 – contains US affirmations towards Taiwan. 

Under the assumption that “China will take increasingly assertive steps to compel unification with Taiwan,” the framework stipulates “defending the first-island-chain nations, including Taiwan,” as part of a defense strategy against China, while seeking to “[e]nable Taiwan to develop an effective asymmetric defense strategy and capabilities that will help ensure its security, freedom from coercion, resilience, and ability to engage China on its own terms.” [White House, USA]

In response, China’s Foreign Ministry s urged the US “to turn away from an erroneous and dangerous path that could jeopardize peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and harm China-US relations.” 

The Taiwanese government, meanwhile, confirmed that the reference to asymmetrical warfare in the framework is in line with Taiwanese military’s focus in crafting an innovative and asymmetric fighting force in the next few years. [Bloomberg] [Taipei Times 1] [Taipei Times 2][news.com.au]

Meanwhile, the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), a US think tank, has recently released its Preventive Priorities Survey in which it has listed a possible conflict between the US and China over Taiwan as a tier-1 concern, which might lead “to a severe crisis with the United States.”. An armed confrontation in the South China Sea involving US and Chinese forces – in 2020 a top-tier concern – is judged as tier-2 concern for this year. 

The annual report identifies potential violent overseas conflicts where US troops might be deployed in the year ahead, and ranks them in a three-tiered system according to their possibility. [CFR][Focus Taiwan 1] 

The release also comes after a week of dynamic US-Taiwan relations. On Tuesday of last week, a highly anticipated visit to Taiwan by US ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft was cancelled as the US State Department had cancelled all visits ahead of the inauguration of incoming President Joe Biden in order to carry out transition duties. Instead of an in-person meeting, Craft and President Tsai Ing-wen held a video conference during which Craft affirmed the close relation between the US and Taiwan, stating the US “stands shoulder to shoulder with Taiwan as pillars of democracy.” They also discussed Taiwan’s international participation, bilateral cooperation, and shared democratic values. [Taiwan News] [Focus Taiwan 2]

Furthermore, US and Taiwan representatives to Switzerland and the Netherlands met after the US unilaterally ended its restrictions on official contacts between Taiwan and the US on January 9. [Focus Taiwan 3]

Cross-strait relations: China displays weapons targeting Taiwan

(dql) Images of the year-opening training session of an artillery brigade of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) revealed a new variant of the powerful the PCL-191 long-range multiple launch rocket system (MLRS), capable of hitting strategic targets with precision fire anywhere on the Taiwan’s west coast. 

It was the first public display of the updated weapon, viewed by experts as one of the world’s most powerful of its kind, since its appearance at China’s National Day parade in 2019. [South China Morning Post]

In a related development, the PLA Rocket Force showcased ten types of active short and intermediate-range missiles targeting “Taiwan independence-leaning forces”, in a documentary of state broadcaster China Central Television released on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the founding organization. [ABS-CBN]

Formerly the Second Artillery Corps, the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) is the strategic and tactical missile forces of China. Established in 2016, the PLARF controls the country’s arsenal of land-based ballistic missiles – both nuclear and conventional.

China-US tensions over Taiwan: Beijing warns of US UN ambassador’s and Pompeo’s planned visits to Taipei

(dql/nm) Taiwan’s government and the US mission to the UN announced, that US ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft will visit Taiwan from January 13-15 to meet with senior Taiwanese leaders. The visit is of highly symbolic nature as Taiwan is not member of the UN. Craft is set to give a statement on Taiwan’s contributions to the global community, along with a call for the expansion of Taiwan’s participation in international organizations.

Following Undersecretary of State Keith Krach in September and Health and Human Rights Secretary Alex Azar in August last year, Craft will be third senior US official to visit Taiwan within half a year, reflecting US heightened efforts to support Taipei amid high running tensions between Washington and Beijing. In response, China’s UN mission warned that “whoever plays with fire will burn himself. The United States will pay a heavy price for its wrong action,” and called on Washington “to stop its crazy provocation.” [Reuters] [MENA FN]

The announcement of Craft’s Taiwan visit was followed by a statement of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo past weekend in which he revealed that the State Department would move to ease restrictions on contacts and interactions between US and Taiwan officials which had been put in place after the adoption of the “One China policy” in 1979. A planned visit of Pompeo to Taiwan – which would have been his final overseas trip as state secretary – however, was cancelled after China threatened to send warplanes over Taiwan in case of the visit. [Department of State, USA] [The Guardian] [Taiwan News]

Taiwan: New passports with bigger ‘Taiwan’ to be launched

(nm) On Monday, Taiwan introduced a newly designed passport in which the word “Taiwan” will be printed in larger lettering and placed in a more prominent position, while the size of the words “Republic of China”, Taiwan’s formal designation, will be reduced and re-positioned inside a thin outer circle that surrounds the national emblem.

Unveiled in September last year, the Taiwanese government called the new design an attempt to disassociate Taiwanese from mainland Chinese as Taiwanese have faced travel restrictions amid the pandemic due to confusion over the country’s designation. China had responded to a first draft in September by stating that “no matter what tricks” Taiwanese authorities pulled, Taiwan would remain an “inalienable part of the Chinese territory.” [Reuters] [Focus Taiwan] [The New York Times, $]

Taiwan: KMT continues anti-ractopamine campaign 

(nm) Last week, the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) started to collect signatures in the second stage of its efforts to initiate a referendum against the government’s decision to lift an import ban on pork containing the feed additive ractopamine which became effective at the beginning of the new year. 

After clearing the first hurdle in December, 1.5 percent of eligible voters in the most recent presidential election, or nearly 290,000 people, must sign for the referendum to be held in this second hurdle. The KMT hopes to collect more than 500,000 signatures by the March 21 deadline.

The new policy on imports of ractopamine-fed pork has been heatedly debated in Taiwan ever since it was first announced by President Tsai Ing-wen in August 2020. While the government sees the lift as an opportunity to clear the way for a trade deal with the United States, it is considered a food and health risk by the KMT. [Focus Taiwan] [Taipei Times] 

Taiwan-India relations: New Delhi identifies priority areas of cooperation 

(nm) India and Taiwan are set to focus on bilateral investments, people-to-people exchanges, and technical cooperation in their bilateral relations, according to director-general of the India Taipei Association Gourangalal Das, India’s representative office in Taiwan. 

Stressing mutual disadvantages, Das pointed at “great opportunities for sustained growth to Taiwanese investors” and India’s “world-renowned manufacturing skills and know-how.” Regarding human exchange, he said his office will start out with higher education and tourism, two areas with great room for improvement. He further sees good prospects for cooperation amid restructuring of global supply chains and welcomed Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy which he said compliments India’s Act East policy. When asked about the possibility of a bilateral trade agreement, he however responded his office is currently focused on expanding trade and investments with Taiwan as current numbers are rather modest. [Focus Taiwan]

China-US military relations: US destroyers transit Taiwan Strait

(dql) In a rare move, two Japan-based US Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, the USS John S. McCain and USS Curtis Wilbur, last week conducted a Taiwan Strait transit, the 13th mission through the sensitive strait in 2020 but the first time in the year that the US had sent double destroyers there. [USNI News] [South China Morning Post]

Taiwan: Criticism over Tsai’s head of court pick 

(nm) The Taiwan Jury Association has criticized President Tsai Ing-wen’s recent appointment of a cousin-in-law to head of the Supreme Administrative Court – which arbitrates disputes between the public and the government. It called the move an overreach of her powers and a breach of the principle of separation of powers which could lead to further distrust of the judiciary. The Association’s founder Jerry Cheng went further, stating that the appointment signals Tsai’s attempt to “openly reintroduc[e] a dynasty-based system of leadership.” 

Echoing this criticism, the main opposition party, the Kuomingtang, voiced concerns over the appointment with regards to judicial independence and the increased possibility of presidential intervention in the judiciary. [Taipei Times]

Taiwan: Local governments push back against over new ractopamine policy of Tsai administration 

(nm) On past Friday, a contentious new government-sponsored policy lifting restrictions on imports of US pork containing the livestock drug ractopamine went into effect. 

In response, 17 out of 22 city and local governments across the country have drawn up rules to keep US pork products containing the additive out of their jurisdictions, despite an announcement of the Cabinet that local bans on imported pork will become invalid as they contradict central government’s authority. ‘Rebellious’ city governments include the capital Taipei and the two larges cities New Taipei and Taichung, who announced different measures to control pork containing ractopamine, with Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen going furthest reassuring that her city will continue carrying out random testing of pork products and will impose penalties if any are found to contain ractopamine, citing a “zero tolerance” policy on the drug. [Focus Taiwan 1] [Focus Taiwan 2]

The lifting of the import ban on US pork containing ractopamine has been a contentious issue in Taiwan and has drawn sharp criticism especially from the major opposition party, the Kuomintang (KTM), which accuses the government and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of accepting risks to food safety and public health over its bid to court the US government to enter into talks on a bilateral trade deal.

But it has also led to disagreement within the DPP, reflected in the recent suspension of three of its legislators who abstained on a series of votes, mainly regarding the import ban, from running for committee membership or party leadership positions for a period of three years. [Taiwan News 1]

Meanwhile, in response to concerns over price gauging among vendors suspected of raising prices following the lift of the import ban, the Executive Yuan asked the Consumer Protection Committee to monitor and crack down on artificial hikes of pork prices, while the Council of Agriculture released its “Pork Dashboard”, an online overview indicating the daily quantity and country of origin of Taiwan’s pork. [Focus Taiwan 3] [Taiwan News 2]

Taiwan-New Zealand relations: Customs standard agreement signed 

(nm) Last week, Taiwan’s the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that Taiwan and New Zealand have signed in December an agreement to mutually recognize their authorized economic operators (AEO). The agreement is expected to deepen customs cooperation and supply chain safety between the two countries

The World Customs Organization (WCO) defines an AEO as “a party involved in the international movement of goods that has been approved by a national Customs administration as complying with the WCO or equivalent supply chain security standards.” [WCO]

Taiwan currently holds similar agreements with eight other countries: Australia, Israel, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and the United States. Its Custom Administration introduced its AEO program in December 2009 and has to date certified 789 AEOs, with countries accounting for 48% of Taiwan’s trade. 

In a separate statement, Taiwan’s Ministry of Finance estimated the trade volume between Taiwan and New Zealand in 2019 at 1.3 billion USD. [Focus Taiwan] [Taipei Times]

Taiwan-US relations: Senate overrides Trump’s veto against US defence bill, securing sections supporting Taiwan

(nm) The US Senate overrode a veto of President Trump against the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a defence bill which also comprises two sections that specifically deal with Taiwan and signal further support of Washington for Taipei. 

The first Section 1260 calls for an annual briefing to Congress on US arms sales to Taiwan, a brief by the defence secretary on the feasibility of establishing a medical security partnership and reaffirms that the Taiwan Relations Act and the “six assurances” provided by the US to Taiwan in 1982 are “the foundations for United States-Taiwan relations.” Section 9724 further urges the US to ensure that Taiwanese do not face discrimination when seeking employment at international financial institutions. [Focus Taiwan] 

In a related development, the US National Security Council welcomed Taiwan’s lift of the import ban on ractopamine-fed US pork as “a great step … for American farmers,” adding that the US “look forward to further strengthening US-Taiwan economic ties in 2021.” [Taiwan News ] 

Cross-strait relations: Taipei and Beijing issue convictions against Taiwanese nationals 

(nm) Last week, a Taiwanese businessman was found guilty of working with Chinese intelligence in contravention of the National Security Act and handed a three-month jail sentence or payment of a fine by the Taipei District Court. The man had been charged in August for attempting to “develop an organization” for the official use of a foreign government. The case is still open for appeal. [Focus Taiwan 1] [Taipei Times 1]

Meanwhile, 29 Taiwanese nationals were sentenced to four-and-a-half years to 14 years in prison by a Beijing court for telecoms fraud committed in Spain in 2016. The defendants were allegedly members of a fraud ring that operated from Spain but defrauded 14 Chinese nationals residing in China and Hong Kong by pretending to be Chinese law enforcement officials and swindling money. [Focus Taiwan 2] [Taipei Times 2]

Cross-strait relations: Tsai Ing-wen reiterates conditions for meaningful dialogue with China

(nm) In her New Year’s speech on past Friday, President Tsai Ing-wen reassured China of Taiwan’s readiness for having “meaningful” cross-strait talks, but also reiterated her demand that such talks will be held among “equals” and based on “principles of reciprocity and dignity.” 

China’s Foreign Minister, however, harshly rejected Tsai’s remarks, accusing the Taiwanese government of engaging in “cheap talk,” and Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of continuing “to provoke by seeking independence, confronting the mainland at every turn, deliberately creating confrontation across the Taiwan Strait.” [Reuters 1] [Aljazeera]

Tsai’s remarks come amid an exchange between officials from both the People’s Republic of China (China) and the Republic of China (Taiwan), that depicts their divergent views on Taiwan’ status as a country and the prospect of cross-strait relations. On Thursday last week, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) rejected a statement from China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) that 2021 would see further efforts to bring about the “unification of the motherland.” The MAC emphasized Taiwan’s status as a sovereign country that has never been part of the People’s Republic of China and that it will never accept any unilateral legislation by Beijing that tries to destroy its sovereignty. It also pointed at the crucial role played by Taiwanese investors in China’s rise as “the world’s factory” and its high-tech sector. The TAO, in contrast, referred to an increase in bilateral trade and identified the refusal of Taiwan’s government to accept that it is part of China as the root cause of present tensions. [Taiwan News] [Reuters 2]

Meanwhile, according to a year-end report released by the Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR), a Taiwanese government-funded think tank, Beijing’s policy toward Taiwan is unlikely to change in 2021, citing the deterioration of US-China relations, warming US-Taiwan ties, and the cessation of cross-strait talks due to political differences, including on the “1992 consensus,” and adding that 2020 saw most intrusions of the People’s Liberation Army into Taiwan’s ADIZ (91 days) since the “Taiwan Strait missile crisis” in 1996. [Focus Taiwan 1] [Focus Taiwan 2]