cross-strait relations

What Can We Expect for Taiwan with the Second Trump Presidency?

Brian Hioe
Recent comments by US President-elect Donald Trump have called for the US to annex Greenland, Canada, and the Panama Canal. Trump has also suggested renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.” With Trump set to take office today, this already shows the instability that is potentially ahead for Taiwan with a second Trump presidency...
America and the Asia PacificEnglishFeaturedInternationalJanuary 2025Politics6 min read

Why Has the KMT Begun to Attack the Kuma Academy Over Funding?

Brian Hioe
The KMT has hit out at funding for the Kuma Academy, the best-known of Taiwan’s civil defense initiatives. In particular, the KMT has accused fundraising efforts for the Kuma Academy–which took place on a public welfare fundraising platform run by the Ministry of Health and Welfare–as being an effort to fund political activities. Laws forbid political activities from fundraising on public welfare platforms...
EnglishFeaturedJanuary 2025PoliticsSelf-DeterminationSocial MovementsYouth Movements4 min read

Lai Ching-te Emphasizes Dialogue, Defense of the Constitution in New Year’s Speech

Brian Hioe
In his New Year's address, President Lai Ching-te touted Taiwan’s accomplishments on the international stage, such as the Olympics victories in badminton by Wang Chi-lin and Lee Yang, as well as in boxing by Lin Yu-ting. Lai also brought up Yang Shuang-zi’s Taiwan Travelogue winning best work in translation at the United States National Book Award, as translated by King Lin. Likewise, Lai touted Taiwan’s economic growth, including in high-tech industries, and increases in wages...
EnglishJanuary 2025Politics5 min read

After Lai Trip, China Deploys Largest Number of Naval Vessels Around Taiwan Since 1996

Brian Hioe
China has deployed a large number of vessels around Taiwan, with the Taiwanese military reporting the largest number of naval ships deployed by China since 1996. An uptick in air incursions has also taken place, with 47 detected between 6 AM on Monday and 6 AM on Tuesday. At the same time, it is yet unclear how many ships there are. Reuters reported yesterday that 90 coast guard and naval vessels had been detected, but the Taiwanese military has stated that only 12 naval vessels and nine other ships were detected...
Cross StraitDecember 2024EnglishInternational6 min read

China Pins Blame for Cyberattacks on Taiwan

Brian Hioe
The Chinese government has sought to claim that the Taiwanese government is behind a series of cyberattacks on Chinese government websites, defacing them with messages critical of the Chinese government. The Chinese government claims this to be the doing of a group called “Anonymous 64,” which it claims is a front for ICEFCOM’s Cyber Warfare Unit. ICEFCOM is a section of the Taiwanese military that deals with information warfare, cybersecurity, and information management...
EnglishOctober 2024Politics4 min read

Lai Strikes Conciliatory Tone to China, KMT in National Day Speech

Brian Hioe
Lai Ching-te delivered the first National Day address of his presidency today. Very little surprised about the speech, in that Lai made no surprising statements on Taiwan’s sovereignty or about Taiwan’s relationship with China. What one does observe from Lai’s speech, however, is the contours of a new historical perspective bridging adherence to the ROC and the resistance against authoritarianism that occurred in the course of Taiwan’s democratization...
America and the Asia PacificCross StraitEnglishInternationalOctober 2024Politics7 min read