William Brent Christensen began serving as Director of the American Institute in Taiwan in August 2018, but that was by no means his first Taiwan assignment. During his three-decade-long career as a foreign service officer, Christensen has served in Taiwan on three separate occasions, including a stint as a consular official in the 1990s and…
U.S.-Taiwan TIFA Talks Resume The 11th Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) trade talks between the U.S. and Taiwan convened on June 30 following a five-year hiatus. Taiwan’s delegation was led by Yang Jen-ni, deputy trade representative in the Office of Trade Negotiations. Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Terry McCartin headed the U.S. delegation, which included officials from the…
Brookings Institution senior fellow Richard C. Bush’s comprehensive new book on Taiwan describes in great detail the delicate balancing act Taiwan must play regarding not only its international status and the tenuous cross-Strait relationship, but also a host of thorny domestic issues impacting the island’s future. When it comes to explaining Taiwan, Richard C. Bush…
Plum Rains Help Ease Drought This spring Taiwan experienced its worst drought in 56 years. Rainfall on the island has been steadily decreasing due to climate change. Leaky pipes, low water prices, and lax water-use habits also contributed to May’s shortage. The annual plum rains arrived in late April following a year without significant rainfall…
A weekly snapshot of Taiwan business news stories brought to you by CommonWealth and AmCham Taiwan’s TOPICS Long-stalled TIFA Talks Resume in Late June The 11th Taiwan-US Trade & Investment Framework Agreements (TIFA) council meeting was convened virtually on June 30. It was the first such meeting to be held in nearly five years, and…
A weekly snapshot of Taiwan business news stories brought to you by CommonWealth and AmCham Taiwan’s TOPICS Taiwan COVID-19 Update: The Bright and the Bleak The COVID-19 outbreak in Taiwan is slowly being brought under control as the island enters its fourth week of Level 3 restrictions. Daily confirmed cases remain in the triple digits…
A weekly snapshot of Taiwan business news stories brought to you by CommonWealth and AmCham Taiwan’s TOPICS Taiwanese Outlook Positive Despite Pandemic The COVID-19 situation in Taiwan continues to be severe, with the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) reporting between 250-400 new cases per day, as well as a continuing backlog of cases due to…
By Austin Babb and Jason Wu Train Derailment in Hualien Kills 49 On April 2, passenger train Taroko Express No. 408 collided with a crane truck near the Qingshui Tunnel in Hua-lien County. The resulting derailment caused the death of 49 passengers, with more than 200 injured. Among those losing their lives were two American…
By Austin Babb and Jason Wu Guidelines, Visit Show Improving U.S. Ties U.S.-Taiwan relations are showing further signs of strengthening as Washington continues to make overt gestures of support for Taiwan. The U.S. Department of State recently released an update to guidelines regarding interactions between American diplomats and their Taiwan counterparts. In a short press…
The ROC’s two territories in the region have strategic and political significance, yet both are difficult to defend. Taiwan’s Coast Guard in March twice conducted live-fire drills on the Pratas Islands – known in Chinese as the “Dongsha” – located in the South China Sea 450 kilometers southwest of Kaohsiung. Such exercises were rare in…
