Taiwan’s Congress-gate
October 28, 2013
Written by Chris Wang. What was perceived as President Ma Ying-jeou’s well-crafted political conspiracy to remove Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng, Ma’s Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang, KMT) comrade, began to unfold and shock the Taiwanese people in early September. The political drama, dubbed by the locals as “September Strife,” has become a national focus because the …
From “92 Consensus” to “One China Framework”: China’s Taiwan Policies under Xi Jinping
October 25, 2013
Written by Chien-min Chao. Since President Ma came to power in May 2008, cross-Strait relations have made great strides forward. Over the years, mainland China has gradually formed a three-dimensional strategy towards Taiwan: On the strategic level the “92 consensus” has been reaffirmed as the basis for political trust so that exchanges between the two …
Ma Ying-jeou’s aborted military reform
October 17, 2013
Written by Michal Thim. Last month, the planned transition from a conscript-based system of National Service to a professional all-volunteer army was postponed in the aftermath of the outrage surrounding the death of soldier Hung Chung-chiu (洪仲丘
Chinese Investment in Taiwan: Challenge or Opportunity for Taiwan’s Industrial Development?
October 16, 2013
Written by Chun-Yi Lee. Almost three decades have passed since the lifting of martial law, effectively the starting point of Taiwanese investment in China. Most Taiwanese businessmen (Taishang) in China now consider the golden era that privileged Taiwanese capital to be over, as the Chinese market opened up to global capital from diverse sources. Far from …
“National Day”: Protest Day
October 15, 2013
Written by Ketty W. Chen. As President Ma Ying-jeou touted economic liberalization, cross-Strait reconciliation and “a rational civil society” in his “National Day” speech, the surrounding area near the President’s Office, where the “Double Ten National Day” ceremony was held, was neither tranquil nor celebratory. A total of six organized protests with support and endorsement …
Will the Constitution Become Nominal Too? Reflections on Taiwan’s Nominal National Day
Written by Ming-sung Kuo In modern Chinese history, 10th October 1911 is a landmark. It is to that historical day that the birth of the first democratic republic in Asia, the Republic of China (ROC, 1912-49) dates back. On that glorious day, the Wuchang Uprising laid the foundations for the establishment of ROC on 1 January, …
Ma Ying-jeou’s National Day speech
October 14, 2013
Written by Jonathan Sullivan. Ma Ying-jeou, as documented elsewhere, is in the midst of a political crisis, much of it his own making. His approval ratings are desperate, and even among KMT identifiers his support is collapsing. The failed purge of the KMT Speaker of the Legislature has strengthened the hand of Ma’s competitors within …
Taiwan continues to avoid international irrelevance
Written by Julie Yu-Wen Chen. On Taiwan’s recent participation in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as an invited “guest,” I have been hearing different voices that once again highlight Taiwan’s unresolvable conundrum in international politics. While many might believe that this is another Pyrrhic victory for Taiwan, I suggest that this is also a Pyrrhic …
The ICAO Assembly attendance: A step forward or backward?
Written by Sasa Istenic. October 4th marked the last day of the 38th triennial International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly, held in Montreal at the ICAO headquarters. For Taiwan, this was a notable event; for the first time in 42 years, Taiwan was finally able to enter one of the most well-known and important UN’s …
Ma’s reform: Laudable goals, mounting obstacles
October 10, 2013
Written by Yu-Shan Wu The president of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Ma Ying-jeou was a highly welcome new leader for the country both domestically and internationally when he replaced Chen Shui-bian, the former president, in 2008. His personal integrity and policy of rapprochement towards mainland China won him plaudits from those who were appalled …
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