ISSUE 131                                                                                     March 3, 2022
Taiwan Weekly
Reliable report and analysis of the most important issues in Taiwan
In This Issue
● Featured Opinion: 
● Featured Opinion: 
● This Week in Taiwan: 
Other Important Events This Week


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Taiwan Sanctions Russia
Taiwan is joining the ranks of sanctioning Russia, prohibiting businesses like the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) from exporting to Russia.
(Photo from: United Daily News)
Featured News

Called by the White House, Taiwan Joins in Sanctions Against Russia

Summary Report by  Taiwan Weekly

 

After Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, Western countries led by the U.S. have imposed new set of sanctions against Russia. Deputy National Security Advisor Daleep Singh of the United States mentioned Taiwan on February 24 when he announced the U.S. and many allies including Taiwan and Japan are working together to unveil exports restrictions to deny Russia to sensitive, cutting-edge technology, primarily targeting Russia’s defense, aerospace, and maritime sectors, which will curb Russia’s access to advance semiconductors and other foundational technologies.

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Featured Opinion
According to a commentator, Taiwan and Ukraine are in very similar situations. It is hoped that Taiwan will not follow Ukraine's footsteps and become a pawn in the confrontation between major powers.
(Photo from: China Times)

Will Taiwan Become the Next Ukraine?

By Huang Nien

United Daily News, February 27, 2022

 

The world is all about Ukraine while Taiwan has been sidelined. This author believes that there are differences in content between the two, but they are very similar in structure.

 

If Ukraine joins the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), then it will be an encroachment on Russia. If Taiwan is completely dependent on the United States, then it will be like moving Guam to the doorstep of China. This situation is not only a matter of honor and disgrace for China and Russia, but also a matter of life and death. Therefore, the fight to the death is inevitable.

read more

 

From: https://udn.com/news/story/7339/6126960

Featured Opinion
According to a commentator, the high-profile reception of former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration will stir cross-strait relations.
(Photo from: China Times)

Why is Pompeo Visiting Taiwan?

By Chen I-hsin

China Times, February 22, 2022

 

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of the United States will visit Taiwan on March 2 and meet with President Tsai Ing-wen, Premier Su Tseng-chang, Speaker You Si-kun of the Legislative Yuan, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration decided to host Mr. Pompeo with super high standards this time around, thinking it is a lucrative political investment. But is this the case?

read more

 

From: https://www.chinatimes.com/opinion/20220222004173-262104

This Week in Taiwan
The USS Ralph Johnson (DDG-114), a destroyer of the United States Navy, recently passed through the Taiwan Strait. It is a show of support to Taiwan amid the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
(Photo from: United States Seventh Fleet)
February 20: The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics closed, ending the 17-day event. Host country China ranked third in the medal table with nine gold medals, four silver, and two bronze, behind Norway and Germany. The United States ranked fourth with eight gold medals. However, the Chinese Taipei Olympic delegation representing Taiwan was unable to win any medal.
 
February 22: According to media reports, Mike Pompeo, former secretary of state under President Donald Trump, will visit Taiwan for four days from March 2 to March 5. He will meet President Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President William Lai to exchange perspectives on U.S.-Taiwan relations, regional security, and other issues. Pompeo will also deliver a speech at the invitation of the Prospect Foundation. 
 
February 22: Premier Su Tseng-chang announced that the plan for expanding the metro between Keelung and Taipei was finalized. The first phase of the Nangang to Badu section will cover a total distance of 16.05 kilometers (about 9.97 miles) and add 13 stations, and 77 percent of the NT$42.5 billion (about US$1.5 billion) cost will be covered by the central government. Construction is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2023 and begin operating in April 2032.
 
February 24: The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that from March 1 to March 31, epidemic prevention measures in Taiwan will be moderately relaxed, including exempting wearing masks in certain areas and allowing eating and drinking on trains. Starting March 7, travelers entering Taiwan will complete a 10-day quarantine, followed by seven days of self-health management, during which each person will test for the coronavirus (COVID-19) seven times. One may quarantine at home if he meets the requirement of one person per household.
 
February 24: The Executive Yuan passed a draft regulation to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act. Fines will be raised from NT$3,600 (about US$128) to NT$6,000 (about US$213) if a vehicle does not yield to let a pedestrian past first. 
 
February 25: The current version of the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act stipulates that if a driver refuses or fails to take a breathalyzer test, the police may send him to a doctor for a mandatory blood test. The Constitutional Court rendered its first judgment under the Constitutional Court Procedure Act, ruling that forced blood tests are unconstitutional. The competent authority should amend the law within two years. 
 
February 26: The United States Navy destroyer USS Ralph Johnson (DDG-114) crossed the Taiwan Strait from south to north and turned on the automatic identification system (AIS) signal. The move is considered to be the United States deliberately conveying its pro-Taiwan stance amid the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war. 
 
The Ministry of National Defense confirmed that the Armed Forces had closely monitored the surrounding sea and airspace throughout the process, and the circumstances remain normal. 
 
At the same time, the media reported that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has recently continued to launch high-altitude balloons over the northern and central parts of Taiwan. At least four batches have been launched so far. The MND stated that the balloons are probably for meteorological research, but it will continue to closely monitor the circumstances.
Taiwan Weekly is a newsletter released every week by Fair Winds Foundation and Association of Foreign Relations which provides coverage and perspectives on the latest developments in Taiwan.

The conclusions and recommendations of any Taiwan Weekly article are solely those of its author(s) and do not reflect the views of the institutions that publish the newsletter.

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