By Simon Xiao

Response to Biden Ending His Candidacy

Asked about the potential impact on Taiwan of U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision not to seek reelection,  Premier Cho conveyed confidence in the ability of the American electorate to select an appropriate leader through their democratic process.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who replaces Biden as the Democratic candidate, has maintained a consistent stance on Taiwan, affirming in September 2022 at the U.S. Navy Base in Yokosuka, Japan, that the United States “will continue to support Taiwan’s self-defense, consistent with our long-standing policy.” Harris met now Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te in 2022 when he was Vice President and both were attending the inauguration of Honduran President Xiomara Castro. According to news reports at the time, Harris highlighted U.S.-Taiwan shared interests in regional matters.

U.S. House Act Supports RIMPACT Invitation

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 on June 14, which notably includes an invitation for Taiwan to participate in the 2024 Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) military exercise. Participation by Taiwan’s naval forces would enhance ongoing efforts to expand military collaboration and interoperability among Pacific nations.

The act also features the Taiwan Peace and Stability Act as an amendment. Spearheaded by Representative Ami Bera (D-CA), the Democratic chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and a Taiwan Caucus co-chair, this initiative  aims to strengthen the U.S.-Taiwan partnership by reinforcing non-official diplomatic ties and security commitments. Another amendment, introduced by Representatives Young Kim (R-CA) and Michael McCaul (R-TX), would require the executive branch to provide a detailed accounting regarding delays in the delivery of arms sales to Taiwan and  to expedite those processes to ensure that Taiwan’s defense capabilities are bolstered in a timely manner.

A separate bill with some significant differences had already been passed by the Senate. The two chambers must now enter into negotiations to merge the two versions.

Reaction to Trump Assassination Attempt  

Leaders from both Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) issued statements in response to the shooting of former U.S. President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania on July 13.

The Office of the President of Taiwan issued a formal condemnation of “political violence of any form.” In the statement,  President Lai Ching-te expressed “his deepest condolences to all those affected by the attack.” Similarly, the KMT underscored that violence serves as a significant deterrent to the principles of democracy.

In the wake of the attempted assassination, security measures were intensified at public events featuring politicians across Taiwan.

Trump Says Taiwan Should Pay for Defense

In an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek on July 16, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump suggested that Taiwan should increase its financial contributions to its own defense, comparing the United States’ role to that of an “insurance company.”

The United States maintains a policy of “strategic ambiguity” regarding Taiwan, providing weaponry and other support to help boost Taiwan’s defense capability while refraining from committing itself to coming to the island’s aid militarily in the event of an attack. Despite Trump’s remarks, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) told  Reuters that Trump would “continue to do what he did in his first term,” which included supporting Taiwan.

In response to a question at a news conference, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller noted that Taiwan has been paying for its own defense and that its arms purchases from the United States have been important both for regional security and the U.S. economy, creating numerous job opportunities in American industry.

In Taiwan, Premier Cho Jung-tai said  that Taiwan is “willing to take on more responsibility” for its security.

Taiwan Makes Olympic Headlines

Taiwan, competing under the name Chinese Taipei, has as of August 6 won one gold and four bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The gold was clinched by the men’s doubles badminton team, Wang Chi-lin and Lee Yang, who triumphed over China’s Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang with a score of 2-1. President Lai personally congratulated the pair on their outstanding achievement.

In addition to the gold, Taiwanese athletes secured four bronze medals in various sports: Tang Chia-hung in artistic gymnastics on the horizontal bar, Lee Meng-yuan in men’s skeet shooting, and Chen Nien-chin and Wu Shih-yi in women’s boxing in the 66kg and 60kg categories, respectively.

At the same time, the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee (CTOC) has been embroiled in a legal challenge with the International Boxing Association (IBA). The controversy stems from the decision of the IBA and its president, Umar Kremlev, to disqualify Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting and Algerian Imane Khelif at the 2023 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, citing ambiguous eligibility tests regarding their gender. Critics, including J.K. Rowling, British author of the Harry Potter books, referred to that previous disqualification in questioning the eligibility of the two boxers to compete in women’s boxing events at the Olympics.

The CTOC, protesting the spread of misinformation by the IBA, issued a letter on August 6 threatening potential legal action. The committee has appointed a lawyer and reserves the right to pursue further legal measures to defend the integrity and rights of its athletes.

PRC Raises Penalties for Taiwan Activists

 Beijing has introduced a set of judicial guidelines that impose harsher penalties, potentially including death sentences, for individuals it categorizes as Taiwan independence “diehards.” Announced on June 21, these guidelines are designed to “severely punish” acts considered as efforts to split the country or incite secession, underpinning China’s commitment to “resolutely defend national sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.”

The measures were built on the 2005 Anti-Secession Law, which permits Beijing to deploy military force against entities it identifies as pro-Taiwan independence. The guidelines come at a time of increasing tensions across the Taiwan Strait, particularly since the inauguration of Taiwan’s President Lai, whom Beijing labels a “separatist.” Following his inauguration in May,  Lai has called on China to acknowledge the existence of the Republic of China and respect the Taiwanese people’s choices. He has also promoted policies to enhance cultural exchanges and boost cross-Strait tourism, aiming to foster “peace and mutual prosperity.”

In response to the escalating situation and the proactive enforcement of national security laws, including tightened legislation by Hong Kong in 2020, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council elevated the travel alert for China, Hong Kong, and Macau to “orange” on June 27. This is the second-highest warning level, advising against non-essential travel to these areas.

China has stated that the new guidelines only target a small number of “diehards,” and that the vast majority of “Taiwanese compatriots” would not be affected.

Typhoon Gaemi Strikes Taiwan

Typhoon Gaemi struck the northeastern coast of Taiwan on July 24, quickly moving across the Taiwan Strait within six hours of landfall. The storm unleashed torrential rains and fierce winds, leading to widespread flooding and significant damage to infrastructure. The central and southern regions of Taiwan were especially hard-hit, experiencing major disruptions.

The typhoon led to power outages affecting thousands of households and caused numerous landslides and road blockages, complicating rescue and relief operations. The agricultural sector was severely impacted, with substantial damage reported to rice and fruit plantations. The Ministry of Agriculture estimated the damage at over NT$2.7 billion (US$82.8 million).This devastation  raises concerns about future food supplies and other economic repercussions.

In response, the government has activated emergency services and deployed military personnel to aid in the relief efforts, focusing on the safety and well-being of those impacted. The recovery and rebuilding efforts are expected to be prolonged and challenging.

Alishan Forestry Railway Reopens

After a 15-year closure due to extensive damage from natural disasters, the Alishan Forest Railway fully reopened on July 1. The historic railway had suffered significant setbacks, with sections of the track first being damaged by Typhoon Morakot in 2009, and again by Typhoon Dujuan in 2015. Given the railway’s challenging location characterized by fog and low temperatures, the restoration was a complex endeavor, ultimately costing around NT$2.3 billion.

Originally constructed in 1912 for logging purposes during the period of Japanese rule, the railway’s function shifted after logging was banned in the area. It then gained popularity for its scenic routes, attracting tourists to the stunning vistas of Chiayi City and County. Today, the railway continues to play a crucial role in the local tourism industry, celebrated for its historical significance and natural beauty.

Government Raises Public Servant Pay

Next year, Taiwan will implement a 3% salary increase for all government employees, military personnel, and public school teachers. The raise follows a previous salary increase of 4% authorized by the Executive Yuan earlier this year, and was described as intended to offset increases in the cost of living. Premier Cho expressed hope that  the private sector will follow suit in increasing salaries.

The DGBAS has forecast growth in the consumer price index of 2.07% for the year, a slight decrease from the previous year’s 2.49%.