A student protester commits suicide as protests against the government’s curriculum guideline changes intensify; KMT presidential candidate Hung Hsiu-chu snubbed by local party heavyweights in central Taiwan; PFP Chairman James Soong is expected to announce his decision on a presidential bid next Thursday; former president Lee Teng-hui’s remarks on the disputed Diaoyutai Islands spark controversy. …
The Cabinet resigns en masse; President Ma talks about ‘political vengeance’; The incoming administration decides to participate in this year’s World Health Assembly session without accepting the ‘one China’ proviso; Tsai reportedly will not mention the ‘1992 consensus’ in her inauguration speech despite pressure by Beijing; Tsai will reportedly visit Panama in June; The hasty …
Taiwanese accused of telecommunications fraud in Kenya are deported to China, sparking accusations of ‘extrajudicial abduction’; New round of Cabinet appointments announced; Appeals for pardon of former president Chen Shui-bian draws discussion; A U.S. officer is suspected of spying for Taiwan. Welcome to this week’s edition of the Insider. ► KENYA INCIDENT EXTRAJUDICIAL ABDUCTION: Eight …
The deportation of Taiwanese telecoms fraud suspects in Kenya and Malaysia sparks political and legal disputes across the Taiwan Strait and at home; the justice minister is criticized over her ministry’s position and performance in the deportation cases; China forces Taiwan out of an OECD meeting in Brussels; more new Cabinet members are introduced; President …
The Ma administration arranges a trip to Itu Aba for former officials and national security officers despite concerns over escalating tensions in the region; the incoming National Security Council chief has reservations about a Navy deployment near Okinotori atoll to protect fishing boats; Malaysia deports Taiwanese fraud suspects to China; Taiwan does not rule out …
The seizing by Japan of a Taiwanese vessel and crew near the disputed Okinotori atoll sparks a row with Tokyo; premier-designate Lin Chuan completes his Cabinet nominations; former premier Frank Hsieh confirms appointment as envoy to Japan; a poll by a Chinese state mouthpiece indicates majority support for “unifying Taiwan” by force”; a new political …
Week of Feb. 7-13 President Ma loses two of his most trusted aides as senior officials pull out of his administration; prosecutors press charges against more than 100 activists from the Sunflower Movement but do not indict a former official accused of spying for China; DPP Chairperson Tsai’s presidential nomination seems almost certain; the presidential …
Taiwan makes international headlines for the wrong reason with a second plane crash within a year that killed 31 of the 58 people on board a TransAsia Airways plane; the accident leads to the postponement of a cross-strait meeting; Constitutional reform is once again discussed; and Tainan Mayor William Lai remains vague on a potential …
Several Cabinet ministers resign; top military officials and commanders are replaced; President Ma files another lawsuit against a member of the media to “protect his integrity”; the DPP sets it schedule for the primaries, kicking off the campaign season; Taipei Mayor Ko continues his war against corruption in the nation’s capital. Welcome to this week’s …
A national flag-raising ceremony in Washington, D.C., caused a bit of a stir between Taiwan, the U.S. and China; Former president Chen is finally granted medical parole; Public attention shifts to President Ma and his aides’ alleged dealings with the business sector as well as the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) party assets. Welcome to this …
The DPP’s Su Jia-chyuan and Tsai Chi-chang are elected legislative speaker and deputy speaker respectively; President Ma defends his Jan. 28 visit Itu Aba; Speculation abounds surrounding president-elect Tsai’s picks for top government jobs. Welcome to this week’s edition of the Insider…and best wishes for the Year of the Monkey! ► NEW LEGISLATURE, CABINET SU …
Former president Chen’s medical parole was postponed while President Ma, caught in a legal battle over allegedly accepting off-the-book donations, proposed ‘reconciliation’ in the New Year. A hippo died, and scandals surrounding the previous week’s council speaker elections shocked the nation ahead of New Year’s Eve. The Thinking Taiwan Foundation wishes everyone a happy new …
President Ma is accused of receiving off-the-book political donations and is set to engage in a legal battle against a political pundit; one of the Sunflower Movement leaders drops out of a by-election after revelations of sexual harassment; the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) rebounds from the humiliating nine-in-one elections to score a convincing victory in …
Week of Jan. 23-29, 2016 President Ma visits Itu Aba (Taiping Island) in the South China Sea and restates the goals of his ‘peace initiative’ amid criticism from the U.S., Vietnam and local politicians; Simon Chang is appointed premier; an internal power struggle develops at the DPP as the party moves to pick its candidate …
The Central Election Commission officially sets Jan. 16 as the date for next year’s presidential and legislative elections; a U.S. expert accuses a media outlet of distorting her remarks for its political agenda; the KMT rushes to push through legislative amendments to solicit votes; Tsai Ing-wen appears to be increasing her lead in the polls; …
Welcome to this week’s issue of the Taiwan Insider. While all eyes are on the ongoing protests in Hong Kong, the focus within Taiwan this past week was on what President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said and did not say about Hong Kong, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) comments on “one country, two systems” and yet …
Chinese President Xi emphasizes the ‘1992 consensus’ and Beijing’s firm position on Taiwanese independence; the KMT’s internal battle over Wang Jin-pyng’s membership continues; who will enter KMT’s presidential primary remains a question; the nation marks the anniversary of the 228 Massacre with various events. Welcome to this week’s edition of the Insider. ► POLITICS XI WARNS …
President Ma met with Chinese President Xi in Singapore on Saturday Nov. 7 with mixed reactions at home and abroad; Ma’s public statement regarding the “1992 Consensus” stunned the nation with his mention of the “one China” principle without addressing the KMT’s prerequisite of “different interpretation”; Ma does not challenge Beijing’s rhetoric that its ballistic …
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has spent the past week dealing with its severe setback in the Nov. 29 nine-in-one elections as it seeks to regroup from the disaster and move on to a new phase by electing a new chairman by January. President Ma Ying-jeou has resigned as chairman. New Taipei City Mayor Eric …
Chinese hackers intensify their attacks on DPP members and local media to acquire information about the party’s policies and speeches; the KMT continues its negative campaign against DPP presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen as the DPP files another lawsuit; presidential and vice presidential TV debates coming soon; Tsai urges the KMT to stop selling its assets; …