Supporters say the acquisition of new F-16 Vipers is key not just to defending Taiwan’s airspace, but also to integrating the local manufacturing sector into global supply chains. This August the U.S. government formally offered Taiwan the F-16 fighter jets that it had requested more than a decade ago. It would be the first U.S….
Foreign Dignitaries Attend National Day Observance of the 2019 National Day – also known as Double Ten because it occurs on October 10 – featured Taiwan’s new immigrant communities and attendance by a large number of foreign dignitaries. More than 6,000 Taiwanese living abroad returned for the celebration, the highest number in three years. A…
When I arrived in Tainan in the summer of 1991, not even the city’s main roads had bilingual signs. As an English tutor, I had to visit households in different neighborhoods, and thus quickly had to learn how to read Chinese addresses. A few years later, romanization began to appear at major intersections. More recently,…
Terry Guo Leaves KMT, Will Not Run in 2020 Former Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou on September 12 resigned from his honorary position in the Kuomintang (KMT), citing the party’s “culture of reactionary politics and backroom horse-trading” as influencing his decision. His departure was criticized by many in the KMT, who argued that he broke the…
The promotion of English proficiency is designed to increase competitiveness in the international arena. To help ensure this country’s continued competitiveness in an era of globalization, the National Development Council (NDC) last December launched a plan to develop Taiwan into a “bilingual nation” by 2030. The goal is not to establish English as an official…
For decades before the establishment of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and the People’s Republic of China in 1979, Americans with a scholarly or professional interest in Chinese affairs invariably spent at least a year in Taiwan – and often much longer – studying Mandarin or doing research. The result was that a whole generation…
Solomon Islands, Kiribati Cut Ties with Taiwan After months of uncertainty regarding whether Taiwan would lose yet another ally to China, the government of the Solomon Islands on September 16 voted to switch diplomatic recognition to the PRC, ending its 36-year formal relationship with Taiwan. Its decision followed statements made by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign…
Mayor Ko Establishes new Political Party Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je announced in late July the founding of a new political party. Named the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), a reference to a party of the same name founded by Japanese colonial era democracy activist Chen Wei-shui in the 1920s, the TPP will present an alternative to…
Sale Of F-16Vs to Taiwan Gets U.S. Approval Following quickly after Taiwan’s US$2.2 billion purchase of tanks, missiles, and other military hardware from the U.S. in July, the Trump administration in August approved the additional US$8 billion sale to Taiwan of 66 F-16V fighter jets, also known as the F-16 Viper. Although in keeping with…
Protests in Hong Kong Over Extradition Law In June, mass protests erupted in Hong Kong in opposition to a proposed extradition law that would have allowed accused criminals to be sent to China (as well as Taiwan) for trial. The bill was introduced following the murder of a young woman at the hands of her…
