This Week in Taiwan

Amanda Stephens fills in for host Iris Hsu, covering: N ew Shinzo Abe Research Center opens at Taipei‘s National Chengchi University P resident Lai vows Taiwan will never surrender if facing an invasion T aiwan’s biotech industry revenue surpasses US$ 25 billion K o Wen-je to remain free on seventy million NT bail as prosecutors drop appeal T yphoon Ragasa: 14 dead and 124 missing afte...

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te: peace in the Taiwan Strait is essential for global security and prosperity. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung urges the United Nations to integrate Taiwan following the UN General Assembly Chinese ambassador's disrespectful behavior towards Taiwan and criticism of Danish media could negatively affect relations between Denmark and China, according to Danish media. Taiwan...

Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson voiced confidence in Taiwan’s resilience against China in a Daily Mail op-ed, calling Beijing’s sovereignty claim baseless. A US think tank warned that Taiwan’s dependence on Qatari LNG leaves it vulnerable to Chinese pressure and urged diversification, renewables, and possible nuclear restarts. President Lai Ching-te unveiled three measures...

New Economic Minister joins the Cabinet.  President Lai stressed shared responsibility for defense, warning of China’s threats, and announcing higher troop pay and a defense budget rise to 3.32% of GDP. Military expert warned the PLA could prepare for two weeks before invading Taiwan.  Foreign Ministry condemned former KMT chair’s attendance at Beijing’s military parade...

Team Taiwan set a new milestones at the World Games, bringing home five gold, six silver and four bronze medals. Former White House NSC chief of staff Alexander Gray says US President Donald Trump has never compromised on America's core national interests, and Taiwan has always been one of them. US President Donald Trump met with leaders of Russia, Ukraine and major European countries to discuss t...

The DPP says Taiwan should use its position as a key hub in the first island chain to gain leverage in tariff talks with US, while the KMT is urging the Lai administration to fully engage Washington on all fronts. The DPP is stepping up its involvement in the second round of recall campaigns. The recall vote will coincide with a referendum on nuclear power on August 23.  The U.S.’s tari...

Premier Cho Jung-tai says Taiwan’s special post-disaster recovery ordinance will now cover damages from the recent heavy rainfall. The Democratic Progressive Party is stepping up its involvement in the second round of recall campaigns, with voting set for August 23. The recall vote will coincide with a referendum on nuclear power.  Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is calling...

All 24 KMT lawmakers who faced recall votes on Saturday will remain in office. The ruling DPP said the result offers a moment for “calm reflection and a fresh start.” Reuters and the Financial Times reported that the Trump administration had rejected Lai’s proposed U.S. stopovers, But the Presidential Office dismissed those claims. Premier Cho Jung-tai visited Tainan’s Baih...

Taiwan’s Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun is in the United States this week for a new round of high-stakes tariff negotiations.  President Lai Ching-te met with the members of the European Parliament’s Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield (EUDS).  Chair of EUDS, Nathalie Loiseau, says Europe is eager to exchange knowledge and strategies with Taiwan on countering hybr...

New U.S. tariffs targeting Southeast Asian countries are raising uncertainty for Taiwanese manufacturers that previously relocated from China. Taiwan’s fisheries authorities push back after a CNN report highlights migrant worker abuse in the fishing industry. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung leads a delegation to Paraguay, aiming to deepen ties through expanded cooperation in technology and he...

Typhoon Danas made historic landfall in Chiayi County, leaving two dead, over 300 injured, and widespread infrastructure damage before exiting Taiwan early Monday. Haitian Foreign Minister Jean-Victor Harvel Jean-Baptiste visited Taiwan to reaffirm 69 years of diplomatic ties and deepen cooperation in public health and agriculture. Taiwan condemned China’s new W121 flight path, warning it th...

Taiwan and the UK signed three new agreements under the Enhanced Trade Partnership to boost cooperation in investment, digital trade, and clean energy. President Lai Ching-te urged the UK to support Taiwan’s bid to join the CPTPP. Team Taiwan made a vibrant showing at the San Francisco Pride Parade, showcasing Taiwan’s inclusive values and leading with its national flag and marriage eq...

President Lai Ching-te launched his “Ten Talks on the Country” series by reaffirming that Taiwan is a sovereign state and rejecting Beijing’s claim that Taiwan has ever been part of the PRC. The U.S. House passed the Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act, signaling strong bipartisan support for Taiwan’s international participation and pushing back against China’s pressure cam...

President Lai met with U.S. Representative Ami Bera and a delegation of lawmakers on Monday, thanking them for their support and calling for deeper Taiwan-U.S. defense cooperation. Taiwan's Health Ministry reported that suicide has returned to the top 10 causes of death in 2024, with over 4,000 cases and a call for broader prevention efforts. Taiwan rose to 6th place in the IMD World Competitivene...