ISSUE 150                                                                                     July 14, 2022
Taiwan Weekly
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President Tsai Defends Mayoral Candidate Suspected of Plagiarizing Master Thesis
Taoyuan mayoral candidate Lin Chih-chien of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is suspected of plagiarizing two master theses.
(Photo from: United Daily News)
Featured News

Taoyuan Mayoral Candidate Lin Chih-chien Charged with Plagiarizing Master Thesis

Summary Report by Taiwan Weekly

 

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) nominated Mayor Lin Chi-chien of Hsinchu to run for Taoyuan mayor, but it was revealed that his two master theses, one at Chung Hua University (CHU) in 2008 and another at National Taiwan University (NTU) in 2017, are suspected of plagiarism. Lin and Taipei City Councilwoman Wang Hung-wei of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), who exposed his plagiarism, have gone to court, and file a lawsuit against each other. President Tsai Ing-wen expressed her support for Lin on July 7 and the “country machine” is now protecting him. The chairmen of the KMT and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) criticized the DPP administration government for ruining Taiwan's academic standards all for one person.

 

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Featured Editorial
According to media commentary, President Tsai Ing-wen is mobilizing party apparatus to defend Lin at the cost of academic and political integrity.
(Photo from: China Times)

Rescuing President Tsai's Favorite Boy At the Expense of Academic Integrity

United Daily News Editorial, July 10, 2022

 

With scrutiny of thesis plagiarism yet to be dissipated, Lin Chih-chien has deserted his mayoral post in Hsinchu and rushed to Taoyuan to run for mayor. Lin was eager to get out of the thesis storm, but his self-defense and rebuttal appeared flickering and weak. Lin’s advisors tried their best to protect him, perhaps out of the need of "accomplice structure," revealing the unspeakable inside stories. Worst of all, to save her favorite boy, President Tsai Ing-wen would rather put elections first and sacrifice the academic ethics and political integrity of the nation.

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From: https://udn.com/news/story/7338/6449489

Featured Editorial
According to media commentary, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is being sacrificed amid the United States prioritizing its national interests and Taiwan's acting shortsightedly.
(Photo from: United Daily News)

TSMC U.S. Plant to Become a Nightmare?

United Daily News Editorial, July 9, 2022

 

The Taiwan Capitalization Weighted Stock Index (TAIEX) hit a record high early this year closed at 18,619 points. However, recently it has fallen below the 14,000 mark, a plunge of 24 percent. The market capitalization of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is about 27 percent of the weighted TAIEX market, thus a drop of NT$1 translates into 8 index points drop. As a result, TAIEX cannot rebound without TSMC. The impact of the TSMC’s plunge is significant as it hurts the performance of four major government funds including the civil service pension fund and the interests of the general public.

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From: https://udn.com/news/story/7338/6447848

This Week in Taiwan
The European Parliament approved designating nuclear power as green energy, generating skepticism again on Taiwan's nuclear-free policy.
(Photo from: United Daily News)
July 6: Five legislators across political parties were collectively charged with bribery and sentenced in the first instance. Legislator Su Chen-ching formerly affiliated with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was sentenced to 10 years in prison, Legislator Liao Kuo-tung of the Kuomintang (KMT) to eight years and six months in prison, Legislator Chen Chao-ming of the KMT to seven years and eight months in prison, former Legislator Hsu Yung-ming previously affiliated with the New Power Party (NPP) to seven years and four months, and independent Legislator Chao Cheng-yu to six months. The sentences may be commuted to fines. Except for Chao, the other four defendants stated that they would appeal. 
 
July 7: The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) stated that while the Omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5 are highly contagious, the rate of serious transmission has not increased. As such, Taiwan will lift the number of inbound arrivals from 25,000 to 40,000 per week. Starting July 14, nationals, holders of valid residence permits, and those transiting Taiwan will be exempted form attaching a PCR test report within two days of boarding. 
 
July 7: The Academia Sinica announced its 33rd list of academicians. Nineteen (19) who passed the election threshold are confirmed to have Republic of China (Taiwan) nationality, while the nationality of five (5) are pending confirmation. If the latter group cannot prove their nationality, the candidates in question cannot be elected but can be elected as honorary academicians in the next selection. 
 
Before the current academician election, the Academia Sinica for the first time required academicians to have R.O.C. nationality. There are currently 265 academicians, some of whom do not have R.O.C. nationality, which has generated controversy. 
 
July 7: The European Parliament passed a bill on July 6 supporting the listing of nuclear energy and natural gas investment as "green energy." On whether nuclear energy also become one of Taiwan's energy options, Tseng Wen-sheng, deputy minister of economic affairs and interim chairman of the Taiwan Power Company, responded that Taiwan faces the two hurdles of democratic choice and proper handling of nuclear waste. There is a better chance of discussing the prospects of nuclear energy after overcoming these two hurdles.
 
July 8: Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan was shot in his left chest during a speech in Nara and died at the age of 67. President Tsai Ing-wen expressed sadness and regret, stating that the international community lost an important leader and Taiwan an important friend. She condemned the violent and illegal act and announced on July 11 that the national flag would be flown at half-mast in mourning. Chairwoman Annie Lee of the Lee Teng-hui Foundation stated that she had recently invited Abe to visit Taiwan as a guest at the end of July. His death is a pity. 
 
July 8: Senator Rick Scott of the United States visited Taiwan from July 7 to 9 and met with President Tsai Ing-wen. President Tsai stated that Scott is the first American member of Congress to visit the Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania and thanked him for his support on Taiwan's security and U.S.-Taiwan economic and trade relations. She looks forward to a stronger and closer U.S.-Taiwan partnership. 
 
July 9: Secretary of State Antony Blinken of the United States and mainland Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi held talks for five hours during the Group of 20 (G20) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Bali, Indonesia. In terms of China policy, Blinken articulated "Six Nos," including that the U.S. does not seek to fight a new Cold War against China, change the Chinese system, challenge the ruling position of the Chinese Communist Party, seek to contain China, support Taiwan independence, or seek to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. 
 
Wang indicated that the United States is suffering from "Sinophobia" and demanded that it must not send any wrong signals to the forces behind Taiwan independence, underestimate the firm determination of the Chinese people to defend territorial sovereignty, or mistakenly commit subversive acts which would ruin peace in the Taiwan Strait. 
 
July 10: The DPP's electoral strategy committee unanimously agreed to nominate Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung to run for Taipei mayor and former Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Chia-lung to run for New Taipei mayor. The prospective nominations will be submitted to the party's Central Executive Committee. In a statement, Chen said that candidacy is his duty, and he will do his best to bear the responsibility.
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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