Taiwan diplomacy ★ Taiwan foreign policy

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                                           brief:   Unlike Trump, Biden are likely to resist using Taiwan as a cudgel to poke China... some signs show Taiwan-US bilateral relations' bit retreat.
                                                      Unlike America allies' forcing Iraqi to retreat from annexation of Kuwait , unlike America allies' planning for a war to protect West Berlin from the Soviets,
                                                      Today's America and its regional allies have not reached consensus to anger China for saving Taiwan.
　

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● Taiwan-US foreign policy (diplomacy)

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◆ The Hill, 2021-4-20: Japan needs to stand stronger with the US to defend Taiwan — and itself / Given the current widespread concern that the Taiwan flashpoint could suddenly explode into a U.S.-China conflict in Japan’s backyard, is such vacuous language the strongest deterrent message the two allies could muster? thehill.com/opinion/international/549066-japan-needs-to-stand-stronger-with-the-us-to-defend-taiwan-and-itself★
◆ Asia Nikkei (Japan), 2021-4-18: Taiwan in US-Japan statement: Biden wanted to make a strong statement against China's provocation but Suga sought for more moderate language in their joint document which has left much to interpretation asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Taiwan-in-US-Japan-statement-show-of-resolve-or-diplomatic-calculus

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◆ South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), 2021-4-18: Biden administration might want to deepen its relations with Taipei, there is no indication of a more fundamental shift and it is still trying not to provoke Beijing when it comes to the sensitive issue of mobilising troops to defend Taiwan. Biden’s new guidelines clarify that Washington will continue to honour its own one-China policy and the new guidelines will not allow anything related to formats or symbols of an ‘official’relationship with Taiwan,” . The State Department says the guidelines still ban officials from attending Taiwan’s Double 10th holiday and events which assert Taiwanese sovereignty. Exchanges by senior officials such as presidents, vice-presidents and high-ranking government ministers are not covered by the guidelines. scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3129980/joe-biden-set-end-guessing-game-about-what-us-will-do-if

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◆ Seattle Times, 2021-4-9: The department announced the changed policy in a statement that said the Biden administration intends to “liberalize” the rules to reflect the “deepening unofficial relationship” between the U.S. and Taiwan. However, the revised guidelines don’t include all the changes put in place by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the waning days of the Trump administration. Pompeo had lifted virtually all restrictions on contacts with Taiwan, including allowing Taiwanese military officers to wear uniforms and display the Taiwanese flag at meetings with U.S. officials. seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/us-unveils-new-rules-for-government-contacts-with-taiwan/ ◆ Guardian, 2021-4-11: A state department spokesman, Ned Price, said the new guidelines followed a congressionally mandated review and would “provide clarity … on effective implementation of our ‘one China’ policy” – a reference to the longstanding US policy under which Washington officially recognizes Beijing rather than Taipei. ◆ CNBC, 2021-4-9: The U.S. State Department on Friday issued new guidelines that will enable U.S. officials to meet more freely with officials from Taiwan. cnbc.com/2021/04/10/us-issues-guidelines-to-deepen-relations-with-taiwan.html ◆ Global Times, 2021-4-10: new guidelines has taken a step back from what Pompeo claimed...A report on the Financial Times...there would still be some "guard rails," such as not allowing officials to attend functions at Twin Oaks on major Taiwanese holidays that might complicate the US' "One-China" policy. The new guidelines are to test how the Chinese mainland will react, but there will not be a qualitative change to the relations between the US and the island of Taiwan. globaltimes.cn/page/202104/1220693.shtml ◆ The Hill, 2021-4-9: new guidelines for U.S. government interaction with Taiwan counterparts to encourage U.S. government engagement with Taiwan that reflects our deepening unofficial relationship. Taiwan's top representative to the U.S., Bi-khim Hsiao, touted Friday’s announcement. "We welcome the encouragement..." thehill.com/policy/international/asia-pacific/547464-state-department-announces-new-guidance-on-talks-with

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◆ Axios, 4-9-2021: Taiwan is home to 92% of the world's leading-edge chip manufacturing operations ...That's because most companies that design chips today — Qualcomm, Nvidia and Apple among them — don''t actually do the manufacturing, instead relying on companies like TSMC. If Taiwan's chip production were permanently disrupted,...estimates it would take three years to build enough capacity to replace it. That's why many in the industry are calling for the U.S. to be clearer about its support for Taiwan and, at the same time, to encourage investment in domestic chip production axios.com/threats-to-taiwan-nightmare-tech-847c1f30-d878-4eb9-b749-b2f17487dd91.html ◆ Reuters, 2021-4-14: Biden... a broader effort to bolster the domestic chip industry. He’s also proposed $50 billion to support chip manufacturing and research reuters.com/article/us-semiconductor-shortage-packaging-focu-idUSKBN2C01AL

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◆ Channel News Asia, 2-22-2021: Thus far, Mr Biden has signaled his administration will adopt much of Mr Trump’s approach to Taiwan. This elevating of US relations with Taiwan, if executed with the right balance of resolve, tact and mutual respect towards Beijing, can be an effective approach for maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait. channelnewsasia.com/news/commentary/taiwan-strait-us-china-biden-xi-jinping-arms-sales-diplomatic-14234674★

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◆ Financial Times, 2-9-2021: Taipei watches for signs that Washington could retreat from some of the Trump administration’s advances in bilateral relations... recent statements that avoided calling Tsai president, as had become the norm under Donald Trump... State department referred to “Taiwan’s democratically elected representatives” instead of its president or government. www.ft.com/content/f9c7ebcd-297a-4274-a07d-2c01515b77fd

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◆ National Review, 2-10-2021: "the state Department’s Bipartisan Taiwan Diplomacy" / The effort (Taiwan’s representative in the U.S., Bi-khim Hsiao, met a top State Department official at the department’s headquarters in Washington) to pave the way for more respectful diplomatic engagement with Taipei in accordance with longstanding U.S. policy through scrapping the old, restrictive guidelines was a bipartisan move... https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-state-departments-bipartisan-taiwan-diplomacy/

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◆ Diplomat, 2-11-2021: Taiwan’s representative to the United States: the question of strong relations with the United States is viewed not merely as diplomatic, but existential ......“The first thing we want to do is establish a good working relationship with the new U.S government and multiple issues of interest,”..."The first priority is in the general defense and security area. The second area would be our economic relationship, and the third being the international participation and the other political partnerships that we have.” thediplomat.com/2021/02/what-to-expect-from-us-taiwan-relations-in-2021-and-beyond/

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◆ Nikkei Asia (Japan), 2-6-2021: Biden doubles-down on Trump's Taiwan policy, but will it last? the negative consequences of bolstering U.S.-Taiwan ties are that China would almost certainly intensify its diplomatic, economic and military threats against Taiwan and the United States. Strengthened U.S.-Taiwan relations might also embolden Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party to push the envelope on sovereignty (Taiwan independence issue) in the run-up to Taiwan's 2024 presidential election. Despite these concerns, the Biden team, for the time being at least, appears poised to opt for a stronger relationship with Taiwan as set forth under the Trump administration. Only time will tell whether it is sustainable or wise policy. asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Biden-doubles-down-on-Trump-s-Taiwan-policy-but-will-it-last

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★ Top rankings "Taiwan diplomacy" ★

pic.: No.1 "Taiwan diplomacy" on Microsoft Bing, 2021-4-7, 3-23-2021, 3-12-2021, 3-3-2021, 2-21-2021, 1-27-2021, 1-23-2021

pic. : No.1 " Taiwan diplomacy" on Ecosia ( Berlin Germany) at 2021-4-7, 3-23-2021, 3-3-2021, 2-21-2021, 2-14-2021,1-23-2021;

pic. : No.2 "Taiwan diplomacy" on US Yahoo search engine, 3-23-2021, 2-16-2021, 1-31-2021

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◆ Wall Street Journal, 1-21-2021 : Biden Sends Important Foreign-Policy Signal With Taiwan Inauguration Invite /

Taiwan envoy formally attends presidential swearing-in for first time since 1979; China restrained in response. Taiwan’s de facto ambassador to the U.S. overcame four decades of precedent when she accepted a formal invitation to attend President Joe Biden’s inauguration, calming fears on the self-ruled island that U.S. support would erode in the post-Trump era. www.wsj.com/articles/biden-sends-important-foreign-policy-signal-with-taiwan-inauguration-invite-11611230623

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◆ Bloomberg, 1-25-2021: The U.S. statement signaled continuity with former U.S. President Donald Trump’s policy of engagement with Taiwan. The State Department statement indicated a desire by the Biden administration to preserve the longstanding ambiguity about Taiwan’s status. The U.S. pledged to stand by existing agreements with China and spoke of the interests of the “people on Taiwan,” rather than the people “of Taiwan.” bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-24/u-s-says-china-military-pressure-against-taiwan-threatens-peace (ps: In a new Council Special Report, The United States, China, and Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War, the authors argue that the United States should change and clarify its strategy to prevent war over Taiwan.; Slate, 2-2-2021: The Taiwan Relations Act ...This is pretty vague, and some say it doesn’t go far enough. )
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◆ Foreign Policy, 1-22-2021 : The U.S.-Taiwan relationship is likely to remain more low-key. Taiwan seeks assurances from Biden admin., but Biden and his team are likely to resist using Taiwan as a cudgel against China the way Trump did. Many experts expect Biden to hold off on the public saber-rattling and use of US policy toward Taiwan as a war to push back at China that typified the Trump approach. Biden's objectives are likely to include "viewing Taiwan as a card to be valued, not a card to be played in competition with China".
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◆ Japan Times, 1-17-2021 : Trump’s whiplash diplomacy on Taiwan / the sudden cancellation of Craft’s visit was a blow to Taiwan and apparent a victory for the CCP. Despite the advances the Trump administration made with Taiwan, it left two important actions incomplete: First was the realization of an official presidential visit. And second is the reestablishment of formal diplomatic relations (Many people throughout the Indo-Pacific region had hoped) ...“Everything Pompeo did will be undone soon.” japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2021/01/17/commentary/world-commentary/trump-taiwan-us-china/

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Only with the one-China principle in place can the Taiwan Straits avoid miscalculation
Biden administration should sent out a clear political signal / Global Times (China), 1-25-2021

Biden's "signals"

￭ Financial Times, 2-9-2021: State department referred to “Taiwan’s democratically elected representatives” instead of its president or government.

￭ Washington Examiner, 1-24-2021 : The United States does not recognize Taiwan as an sovereign country, but U.S. strategists regard the island as a crucial link in a chain of islands that restrains the Chinese Communist military’s ability to operate away from the Chinese coast and threaten U.S. forces and other allies.
　

￭ Bloomberg, 1-24-2021: The State Department statement indicated a desire by the Biden administration to preserve the longstanding ambiguity about Taiwan’s status. The U.S. pledged to stand by existing agreements with China and spoke of the interests of the “people on Taiwan,” rather than the people “of Taiwan.”
　

￭ Washington Post, Associated Press, DW, 1-24-2021: “We urge Beijing to ... engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan’s democratically elected representatives," spokesperson Ned Price said in the statement. (PS: using "Taiwan’s democratically elected representatives" to name "Taiwan president" and officials etc )
　

￭ Reuters, 2-4-2021: U.S. State Department says U.S. "one-China" policy has not changed.

￭ Global Times, 3-20-2021: In the Alaska meeting, the US side reiterated its one-China policy in the Taiwan question. globaltimes.cn/page/202103/1218914.shtml

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◆ CNN, 8-14-2020: What Taiwan needs form the US is a strong stable marriage not a hot passionate romance ... a long-term antagonistic relationship between the US and China wasn't sustainable after November... Taiwan needs to think about it
◆ Foreign Policy 8-14-2020: The United States and China ... They are in a bad marriage, with no current option for divorce. That will remain the case for many years to come (foreignpolicy.com/2020/08/14/cold-war-china-misuse-of-history-united-states-soviet-union/)

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◆ Financial Times (UK), 12-14-2020: Anxious Taiwan launches US charm offensive to win Biden’s backing. Taipei worries incoming American administration will not maintain Trump’s staunch support (https://www.ft.com/content/3174603a-69ce-4328-93af-69569bb86e0c )

◆ NY Times, 11-24-2020: Biden Faces Pressure from Democrats and Republicans to Stand Up to China by Embracing Taiwan... He will continue to support a peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues ... won't use Taiwan to poke Xi Jinping in the eye and make him look weak

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◆ Washington Post, 1-14-2021 : American relations with Taiwan have warmed under President Donald Trump, largely due to strong bipartisan support in Congress, but also because the administration has been willing to defy Beijing’s threats and promote Taiwan as an alternative to Chinese Communist Party authoritarianism. washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-ambassador-to-un-and-taiwans-president-meet-virtually/2021/01/14/d64548b0-5639-11eb-acc5-92d2819a1ccb_story.html★

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◆ Reuters, 1-20-2021: Blinken : US would uphold its commitment to ensure that self-ruled Taiwan has the ability to defend itself reuters.com/article/us-usa-biden-state-china/u-s-secretary-of-state-nominee-blinken-sees-strong-foundation-for-bipartisan-china-policy-idUSKBN29O2GB?feedType=mktg&feedName=politicsNews&WT.mc_id=Partner-Google

◆ Reuters, 1-21-2021, US News & World Report, 1-20-2021 : U.S. commitment to Taiwan was “rock-solid”, after the island’s de facto ambassador in Washington, Hsiao Bi-khim, attended Biden’s swearing in. reuters.com/article/us-usa-biden-taiwan/taiwan-biden-ties-off-to-strong-start-with-invite-for-top-diplomat-idUSKBN29Q01N?il=0

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◆ Int. Policy Digest, 1-20-2021: Blinken iterated his endorsement for expanding Taiwan’s international space in multilateral forums where statehood is not required, and even said that he wants to deliver Pompeo’s decision to lift the limitations on diplomatic engagements with Taipei “through to conclusion, if it hasn’t been completed.” ... Washington’s sentiments under Biden have sent strong messages in supporting Taipei’s democratic endeavors, time will tell how Washington will maintain the delicate balancing act of elevating their bilateral partnership without closing all windows of opportunity for cooperation with Beijing intpolicydigest.org/2021/01/20/where-u-s-taiwan-relations-might-find-itself-under-biden/

◆ Newsweek, 1-20-2021: Xi Jinping's top political adviser demanded more progress on Taiwan's "unification" with China in 2021... Taiwan affairs staff should insists on adherence to Beijing's "one-China principle" and the "1992 Consensus," the latter referring to a vague and disputed agreement allowing for different interpretations of which government claims China; Since 2016 Taiwan's Tsai Ing-wen government has rejected the 1992 Consensus and China's "one country, two systems" model of governance currently applied in Hong Kong and Macau ... bilateral trade between Taiwan and China stood at $235 billion for the year until November. Exports from China accounted for just $54 billion, with Taiwan recording a significant trade surplus.. the figures showed Taiwan's economy was "inseparable" from China's newsweek.com/chinese-communist-party-apparatchik-demands-progress-taiwan-unification-1562999

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State Dept. lifts US-Taiwan restrictions in move likely to anger China
New York Times (US), 1-9-2021	￭ State Dept. Moves to Ease Restrictions on Meeting With Taiwan Officials is meant to signal a warming of relations with Taipei and a tougher line with Beijing, but the Biden administration could easily reverse the move. ￭ the move was likely to have little practical effect. “It looks like a publicity stunt”. ￭ The moves, some outside experts said, are meant to lay a trap for Mr. Biden, forcing him either to pay a domestic political cost if he unwinds them or to sour relations with Beijing if he does not. ￭ Mr. Biden could discourage high-level contact with Taiwan officials. full text: nytimes.com/2021/01/09/us/politics/state-dept-taiwan-united-states-china.html
Guardian (UK), 1-9-2021	￭ Pompeo lifts US-Taiwan restrictions in move likely to anger China. ￭ The guidelines set out restrictions including where representatives of either government could meet, and limited the ranks allowed to attend Taiwan’s national day celebrations. It also said the US should not refer to Taiwan as a “country” or “government”In recent years the guidelines have been followed less and less, and the official change was not unexpected ... ￭ “Decades of discrimination, removed,” Taiwan’s representative in the US, Bi-khim Hsiao, said on Twitter. “A huge day in our bilateral relationship. I will cherish every opportunity.” ￭ A spokesperson for the Biden transition team told the Financial Times the incoming president was “committed to the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act” which defined relations between the two governments, and to the US’s one-China policy. full text: theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/09/mike-pompeo-restrictions-us-taiwan-china
CGTN, CCTV, GT(China) The Week via Yahoo, 1-11-2021	￭ Chinese state media (CGTN, CCTV) blast Trump admin. for " cowardly act of sabotage" a "cowardly act of sabotage" that "crossed a dangerous red line." ￭ Global Times (China), warned — in a since-delated tweet — that Taiwan could face repercussions for Pompeo's actions, The Associated Press reports. "The option ofusing military means to solve [the] Taiwan question will also be put on the table" ￭ The move may not be universally applauded stateside, either, per Reuters. Bonnie Glaser, an Asia expert at Washington's Center for Strategic and InternationalStudies, predicts the Biden administration will "rightly be unhappy that a policy decision like this was made in the final days of the Trump administration."
Japan Times, 1-10-2021	￭ The Trump administration’s policy toward Taiwan is ending much as it started — by attempting to fundamentally alter the status quo. ￭ Trump admin is lifting all of complex internal self-imposed restrictions which was in an attempt to appease the Communist regime in Beijing... 50 years of engagement with Beijing has not worked and that a different and tougher approach is needed... Japan, too, views the island nation as a bulwark against growing Chinese military assertiveness. ￭ This could be seen as an attempt by the Republican administration to sow chaos before it’s departure. “A blanket statement such as this, abrogating all of the guidance in place for years, without articulating what framework will replace it simply amplifies perceived chaos in DC” ￭ This just eases doing diplomacy with Taiwan. japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/01/10/asia-pacific/politics-diplomacy-asia-pacific/taiwan-us-china-pompeo-trump-biden/
DW (Germany) , 1-9-2021	￭ Taiwan's unofficial embassy said the move showed the "strength and depth" of the US-Taiwan ties. ￭ Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson : some "anti-Chinese politicians" like Pompeo would do everything in their remaining term to undermine relations between the US and China. full text: www.dw.com/en/us-ends-restrictions-on-official-contacts-with-taiwan/a-56183292
Brookings, 1-11-2021	The Biden administration upholds Pompeo’s decision to lift all restrictions on contact with Taiwan or publicly countermands Pompeo’s announcement is low-probability scenario. Options more likely are: (1) Instruct the State Department to resume reviewing and approving contacts from across the United States government with Taiwan counterparts to ensure that such contacts adhere to the spirit of longstanding policy, if not necessarily the letter of past contact guidelines (2) Use Pompeo’s announcement as a spur to launch a Taiwan policy review to develop updated guidelines for contacts with Taiwan counterparts based on a fresh assessment of America’s interests and priorities in its unofficial relationship with Taiwan. brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2021/01/11/after-lifting-restrictions-on-us-taiwan-relations-what-comes-next/

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◆ The Guardian, 2-11-2021: The Biden-Xi phone call came just hours after the announcement of Biden’s establishment of a Pentagon task force on China and a senior state department official meeting in person with Taiwan’s representative to the US. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/11/biden-raises-taiwan-tensions-and-human-rights-with-xi-jinping-in-first-phone-call

More Taiwan-US★

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● Taiwan-Asia & Pacific diplomacy/ foreign policy

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◆ Asia Nikkei (Japan), 2021-4-18: Taiwan in US-Japan statement: Biden wanted to make a strong statement against China's provocation but Suga sought for more moderate language in their joint document which used bland language devoid of "adjectives and adverbs.", shunned more specific language like 'defend Taiwan' to avoid unnecessarily provoking China,"... asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Taiwan-in-US-Japan-statement-show-of-resolve-or-diplomatic-calculus

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◆ Diplomat, 2021- 4-21: China’s diplomatic coercion – stripping away Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic allies with promises of financial assistance and gifts – has failed to produce desirable results. Taiwan appears to be growingly resilient against China’s diplomatic coercion. Beijing is also devoid of allies within Taiwan to act as countervailing forces to balance the Democratic Progressive Party’s “provocative” policies. Not only do the “pro-mainland” Kuomintang and Ko Wen-je’s Taiwan People’s Party pose no credible opposition against the prevailing ruling party, but these parties also actively seek better ties with the United States. (thediplomat.com/2021/04/beijings-military-heavy-approach-to-taiwan-locks-the-us-and-china-in-a-security-dilemma/ )

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◆ Foreign PolicyNewsweek, 2021-4-5 : In an attempt to reduce this dependency, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen unveiled the New Southbound Policy (NSP) after coming into office in 2016. The NSP is intended to boost trade and economic ties with Southeast Asia and South Asian countries as well as Australia and New Zealand. On paper, it sounds like a decent idea, but in practice the NSP has faltered in recent years to the point where Taiwan’s trade with those countries actually decreased by 3 percent year-on-year in 2020, which followed a year-on-year fall in 2019 by more than 4 percent. foreignpolicy.com/2021/04/05/taiwan-covid-19-success-china-military-threat/

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◆ Newsweek, 3-2-2021: Tsai's guiding economic plan since her first year in office has been her government's "New Southbound Policy," whose goal is to remove reliance on the Chinese market and instead build trading—and security—relationships with partners in South Asia, Southeast Asia and extending as far as Australia and New Zealand. According to Taiwan's Ministry of Finance, more than 40 percent of the island's exports went to China and Hong Kong last year, accounting for $151.4 billion of its $345.2 billion newsweek.com/taiwan-allies-rally-defy-chinas-economic-coercion-pineapples-1573124

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◆ The Diplomat, 2-5-2021: Taiwan highlighted the significance of the New Southbound Policy and pointed to Southeast Asia and India as particular focus points for the policy. For decades, much of the focus of Taiwan’s foreign policy agenda has been America-centric and Asia still does not figure as much as the United States and Europe do. In addition, the absence of diplomatic ties between Taiwan and the countries under the New Southbound Policy and lack of reciprocity might be dissuading factors for Taiwan to devise a consistent policy toward the countries of the region. Finally, a lack of expertise on the South Asian countries in Taiwan is a major hindrance. The New Southbound Policy has immense potential to significantly increase Taiwan’s regional outreach in the countries that were not traditionally part of Taiwan’s strategic thinking, and may very well serve as an answer to China’s attempts to shrink Taiwan’s international space (brief) thediplomat.com/2021/02/perfecting-taiwans-new-southbound-policy/

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◆ Global Times,10-25-2020: Japan and Taiwan have close relations in many areas. Economically, many profitable enterprises in Taiwan are funded by or receive investment from Japan, including the electronic semiconductor industry. In addition, the exchanges between parties in political circles between the Taiwan Island and Japan are also very close. This has been simmering below the surface since when former Taiwan regional leader Chen Shui-bian was in office....Tokyo may face greater pressure from Washington. With the two cards of Japan's trade and defense in its hands, Washington can force Tokyo to join the alliance of "protecting" Taiwan......Tokyo knows very well where Beijing's bottom line is when it comes to the Taiwan question. It also knows that crossing the line is like touch an electric wire - if Washington pushes too hard, Tokyo will be the first to get shocked. Therefore, Japan always plays Tai Chi with the US over Taiwan affairs. globaltimes.cn/content/1204603.shtml

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◆ Global Times, 2021-4-3: Taiwan separatist DPP authority's 'black hand' behind anti-mainland rumors amid Myanmar upheaval. For example, some people have spread the claim that "counterfeit Myanmar banknotes made in the Chinese mainland have entered the local market," but from the photos taken by the rumormongers, it can be seen that the bundling for the fake banknotes has the words "E.SUN Bank" (a Taiwan-funded bank) printed on it...The spokesman of the Taiwan People's Party recently said that the situation in Myanmar can reveal the real "diplomatic situation" of Taiwan and that the authority does not know much about its neighbors in Southeast Asia and has nothing it can do to help with the situation. Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Myanmar ..., its officials often meet with Myanmar personnel, donate some money, and have long been keen to attract local youth to study in Taiwan and cultivate pro-Taiwan forces. the Taiwan authority would promote the "New Southbound Policy" targeting Myanmar so as to decrease some Taiwan businesses' dependence on the Chinese mainland and expand "diplomatic space." globaltimes.cn/page/202104/1220154.shtml

◆ Japan Times, 3-15-2021: Pineapple diplomacy? China's Taiwan import ban prompts sales surge in Japan. In 2020, Taiwan exported some 45,000 tons and some 95% of them went to China, 2,144 tons to Japan. After China's ban, Japan preordered over 10,000 tons of Taiwan-grown pineapples as a gesture to thank Taiwan for its generosity in the wake of the massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan's northeastern coast on March 11, 2011. japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/03/15/business/pineapples-china-taiwan-imports-japan/

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◆ Yahoo News, 3-30-2021: The president of the Pacific island nation of Palau was visiting Taiwan on Tuesday along with the U.S. ambassador to his country, a show of solidarity as China increases diplomatic, economic and military pressure on Taiwan. news.yahoo.com/palau-president-visits-taiwan-amid-052321185.html

◆ New York Times, 10-19-2020:

Latest Clash Between China and Taiwan: A Fistfight in Fiji. (a country in Asia & Pacific) Two mainland diplomats attended an event, uninvited, and took offense at symbols of Taiwan — including a flag on a cake. A scuffle ensued.

Taiwan — It was supposed to be a quiet diplomatic event at a stylish beachside hotel in Fiji. ... the latest example of rising tensions between the two governments. (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/19/world/asia/china-taiwan-fiji-fight.html)

aljazeera 12-16-2020: The uproar over the recent fisticuffs between Chinese and Taiwanese diplomats in Fiji may have subsided, with the Fijian police declaring the case closed, but the incident has left analysts in the Pacific concerned about what they called Beijing’s increasingly hostile tactics in the region. it was just one outcome of the intensifying geostrategic competition in the Pacific pitting China against the United States and its allies. (aljazeera.com/features/2020/12/16/fiji-story)

◆ WSJ (Wall Street Journal) 9-20-2019: It’s clearly a big win for China having the two largest allies of Taiwan in the Pacific drop so quickly... Washington Post 9-25-2019: China’s growing dominance in the South Pacific is a defeat for an America in retreat. New York Times 9-20-2019: As Taiwan Loses Influence, China Gains Ground in Race With U.S.

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● Taiwan-Latin America diplomacy/ foreign policy

◆ WHBL (USA), 3-14-2021: Paraguay is Chinese-claimed Taiwan's sole remaining diplomatic ally in South America. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged Paraguay to work with its diplomatic ally Taiwan to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. The United States has expressed concern at Beijing's efforts to win over the remaining 15 countries which still have formal ties with Taipei and expand Chinese influence. whbl.com/2021/03/14/u-s-urges-paraguay-to-work-with-taiwan-amid-pandemic-protests/

◆ Gzero, 3-17-2021: Taiwan's vaccine diplomacy: Taiwan has offered Paraguay, the only country in South America that recognizes its independence from China, assistance to procure COVID vaccines. We're watching ... if Taiwan can help Paraguay find enough vaccines ... conquering its last holdout in South America through its vaccine diplomacy. gzeromedia.com/what-were-watching-netherlands-election-us-election-meddling-taiwans-vaccine-diplomacy-effort

◆ China Times, 3-18-2021, editorial: Taiwan's vaccine diplomacy is sad - According to news report and expert analysis, Taiwan is planning to donate about NT$ 2 hundred million to Paraguay to get COVID vaccines, therefore, the covering in Paraguay will be 28.6%, in contrast, that in Taiwan is only 0.5%. chinatimes.com/opinion/20210318004639-262103?chdtv

◆ East Asia Forum, 3-4-2021: In Feb. 2021, China actually ‘knew’ about Taiwan’s decision to establish an unofficial trade office in Guyana, after all, China has not opposed Taiwan’s development of economic, trade and cultural relations with other countries. The reality is that Taiwan’s foreign relations cannot be decoupled from cross-Strait relations. But this time Taiwan publicly announced that Guyana’s ‘Taiwan Office’ had official functions and was equivalent to a ‘representative office’. Pro-independence media called this a ‘diplomatic breakthrough’. It is unfortunate for Taiwan that diplomacy has become a tool of domestic politics. Taiwan’s high-profile self-promotion provoked China and embarrassed Guyana. (After Beijing criticizes 'mistake, Guyana said it was rolling back the agreement ) eastasiaforum.org/2021/03/04/the-guyana-incident-and-lessons-for-taiwans-international-space/

Taiwan-China-US diplomatic battle in Latin America

￭ The Guardian, 2-4-2021: After Beijing criticizes 'mistake, Guyana said it was rolling back the agreement – and that it continued to adhere to the “One China” policy. Earlier Taiwan’s foreign ministry announced it had signed an agreement with Guyana to open a Taiwan office – effectively a de facto embassy for the island that China claims as its sovereign territory with no right to diplomatic ties. (brief) theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/04/guyana-taiwan-office-agreement-beijing-criticism
　

￭ Reuters, 2-4-2021: Taiwan has opened a representative office in Guyana, the island’s foreign ministry said on Thursday, drawing praise from the United States, worried about deepening Chinese influence in Latin America, and a rebuke from Beijing. Guyana has traditionally had close ties with China. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-guyana-idUSKBN2A404T
　

★

● Taiwan-Europe diplomacy/ foreign policy No any European country, except Vatican, has formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan

◆ World Politics Review , 3-23-2021: there is still a huge discrepancy between the demonstrated European interest in the Indo-Pacific and Europe’s readiness to think about what its role would be in crisis scenarios, including conflict contingencies, especially in the Taiwan Strait. . In addition, it should be hammered home that Europe’s “one China” policy differs from the People Republic of China’s “one China” principle, and that Europeans have never acknowledged Taiwan as part of the PRC. worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/29515/europe-can-play-a-role-in-a-conflict-over-taiwan-will-it

◆ Atlantic Council , 3-24-2021: EU in 2016 committed to “use every available channel to encourage initiatives aimed at promoting dialogue, cooperation and confidence-building between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.” It’s a laudable aspiration. But so far, little has been done to fulfill it. Several EU member states, including Sweden, possess world-class expertise in conflict resolution. Brussels should leverage that advantage and launch a high-profile push for dialogue between China and Taiwan. atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/why-europes-future-is-on-the-line-in-the-taiwan-strait/

◆ Hill , 3-4-2021: Tensions in the Taiwan Strait may seem a distant concern to Europe’s leaders...Many European capitals may believe they have good reason to keep Taiwan at arm’s length. Beijing has made clear its displeasure when Europeans treat Taiwan more akin to a normal diplomatic partner. thehill.com/opinion/international/541555-the-west-needs-a-more-collaborative-approach-to-taiwan

◆ Politico , 3-11-2021, Der Spiegel, DW : Third German conservative MP quits as scandals mount; Hauptmann's departure follows a report by news magazine Spiegel over Azerbaijani, Taiwanese and Vietnamese tourism ads run in the "Südthüringer Kurier," a CDU-near local newspaper he publishes. He had been accused of accepting money from foreign agencies. DerWesten reports Taiwan paid far more than the other two did. politico.eu/article/another-german-conservative-cdu-mp-quits-scandals-mount/amp/ dw.com/en/germany-third-conservative-mp-quits-as-pressure-grows-over-lobbying-scandals/a-56843514 (TW Ministry of Diplomacy denied, Mar. 15 news)

◆ Reuters , 3-18-2021: French Senators are free to meet whomever they wish when they travel, the country’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday after the Chinese embassy in Paris warned against lawmakers meeting officials during an upcoming visit to self-ruled Taiwan reuters.com/article/us-france-china-taiwan-idUSKBN2B92MK

◆ Irish Times, 1-26-2021: The European Parliament last Wednesday passed two resolutions with statements supporting Taiwan’s democracy. irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/we-need-closer-links-to-taiwan-1.4467506

◆ Global Times, 2-13-2021: Bayern Munich football club confirmed it was a mistake to attach the image of an officially unrecognized "Taiwan flag" in its latest Chinese Lunar New Year greetings post on Friday, stating in a reply to the Global Times that the club has realized it was a "very serious and unacceptable mistake" and had removed the post. see pic. on https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202102/1215599.shtml

◆ Epoch Times, 2-15-2021: The German soccer club issued an apology for a post including an emoji of Taiwan’s national flag next to the phrase “happy new year” in simplified Chinese characters. brief from: https://www.theepochtimes.com/german-soccer-club-issues-apology-after-chinese-netizens-complain-of-facebook-post-with-taiwan-flag_3697086.html headline Manila, 2-14-2021: https://headlinesmania.com/taiwaneng/de-bayern-munich-football-club-hoisted-the-taiwan-flag-to-celebrate-a-small-pink-new-years-accident-free-times-magazine/

○

pic.: Germany Foreign Ministry website
replaced Taiwan's flag with a white flag

Upon reporter's request

"Does Germany think Taiwan already surrendered ?"

Official response from Germany is
"One China Policy" ,

similar to the US site did
　

7-13-2020

Taiwan news, 3-20-2021: Taiwan protests UN report labeling it as part of China taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4155965

◆ BBC (UK), 7-25-2018: Three biggest US airlines bow to China Taiwan demand as deadline passes / British Airways, Germany's Lufthansa, Air France and Singapore Airlines all list Taipei as in "Taiwan, China". Australia's Qantas in June also gave in to Chinese demands, leading to the government in Canberra criticising Chinese "pressure" over the situation. Cathay Pacific told the BBC in a statement the carrier was a registered airline "of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China. HKSAR is also where our operations are based. We must comply with the regulations and requirements of the relevant civil aviation authorities." https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-44948599 New York Times, 7-25-2018, etc: Under pressure from China, all 44 int'l airlines (including four US airlines) drop Taiwan in name.

★

★★

★ Top rankings "Taiwan diplomacy" ★

pic. : No.1 "Taiwan diplomacy" on Yahoo at 3-23-2021, 3-3-2021, 1-27-2021 pic. right: No.1 "comment Taiwan diplomacy" on Bing, 3-23-2021, 3-2-2021, 2-21-2021, 1-8-2021

pic. right: No.1 "Taiwan diplomacy" on Dogpile, 3-23-2021, 3-3-2021, 2-21-2021, 2-14-2021,1-23-2021

pic. left: No.1 "Taiwan diplomacy" on Swisscows (Switzerland), 3-23-2021, 3-3-2021, 2-21-2021, 2-14-2021,1-23-2021

◆

◆◆

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● Taiwan diplomatic strategy & tactics/ foreign policy
　

Taiwan's diplomatic strategy	reports
pawn/tool diplomacy	Taiwan is willing to be used by the US, to needle China, ... intentionally in exchange of Trump administration's a policy of strategic clarity, but failed. China called Taiwan "human bomb" because of its incompatible military capacity, but to poke the bear.	pic.: AFT France 10-19-2020: Cake fight: Taiwan, China officials scuffle at Fiji soiree for Taiwan's symbol - national flag on the cake, etc
Money/gifts/entertainment diplomacy	￭ Aljazeera, 12-16-2020: Sydney-based Lowy Institute: China’s concessional loans and grants in the Pacific amounted to $1.5bn between 2006 and 2017, compared with Taiwan’s $271m ... ￭ Le Monde diplomatique of France, '16 a graphic depicts Taiwan as a trembling sweating rat, doing nothing to approaching huge cat (China), but turn around and lift high a "$O$" banner. ￭ Taipei Times, 1-23-2021: Entertainment expenses are the “bullets” of overseas diplomats, and are not just spent on wine and steak. ￭ Taiwan sent "we can help" face masks to many countries for CovID-19 2020. ￭ New York Times, AFP (France). 10-19-2020: Taiwan de facto embassy was hosting a party for 100 distinguished guests to celebrate Taiwan's National Day, two Chinese officials began taking pictures of guests and when asked to leave assaulted an official, putting him in hospital. Aljazeera, 12-16-2020: China-Taiwan fistfight in Fiji raises concerns...“When the ‘prize’ is Taiwan, the stakes are very high and China will fight very hard”
charm offensive diplomacy	Financial Times (UK), 12-2-2020: Anxious Taiwan launches US charm offensive to win Biden's backing. This reminds me about same time China intelligence used "charm offensive" to contact US politicians - Daily Mail (uk), 12-8-2020, disrn, 12-9-2020 : Chinese Intelligence operative used personal charm, campaign fundraising efforts, extensive networks of associates...
Kow-Tow diplomacy	￭ Taiwan to ease restrictions on pork imports from the US ... New York Daily News, 11-28-2020: U.S. pigs consume ractopamine, a feed additive that’s been banned in more than 150 countries, including China and the entire European Union; Reuters, 12-16-2020 : US pork imports will be cost effective... But it can't be forced on us (Taiwanese) , bringing chaos to our industry and taking it down. ￭ Economist, 1-16-2021: Only a decade ago were the Stars and Stripes first raised outside the American Institute in Taiwan (ait), an embassy in all but name. (Taiwan even now refrains from flying its national flag outside its equivalent office in Washington.)

tiptoes	Sydney-based LOWY institute 7-17-2020: Taiwan tiptoes in cross-strait relations (China-Taiwan).
grease palm	￭ Politico , 3-11-2021, Der Spiegel, DW : Third German conservative MP quits as scandals mount, Taiwan was suspected to get involved. DerWesten reports Taiwan paid far more than Azerbaijani and Vietnamese did. (TW Ministry of Diplomacy denied, Mar. 15 news)
chips diplomacy	￭ Bloomberg, 1-26-2021, 1-22-2021 : the World Is Dangerously Dependent on Taiwan for Semiconductors ... The U.S. still holds dominant positions... (ps: tech. originally from US etc) ￭ L.A. Times, 12-17-2020 : Tension could be further strained if the U.S. maintains pressure on the firm TSMC to starve Chinese companies of its valuable chips. ￭ Financial Times, 2-8-2021: Taiwan sense opportunity to bolster relations with west after chip shortages; Law Fare, 2-2-2021: Taiwan’s Chips Remain Core of Technopolitics: cutting-edge chip manufacturing is narrowing - now U.S.-based Intel, Samsung of S. Korea, Taiwan’s TSMC and China’s SMIC.
on knees to Westerners, a discrimination diplomacy	￭ Bloomberg 12-24-2020: Taiwan deserves legitimate criticism for letting politics, especially relations with Western countries, pose a risk to the health of her own citizens. e.g., a U.S. delegation entered Taiwan without meeting quarantine requirements, Czech Senate President and other 80 were allowed to bypass the two week confinement everyone else faced. In contrast, one Filipino worker was fined $3,500 for stepping outside his quarantine room for 8 seconds, while others are reported to have been allowed to roam more freely. ￭ UDN editorial 12-24-2020: Unlike many western countries banned flights from the UK for new coronavirus variant at the very first moment, Taiwan did not take any step until facing so many local questions, then was very reluctant to cut off half of UK flights. Taiwan also was reluctant to give penalty-fine to Western pilot blamed for Taiwan's first local Covid transmission since April, but not so "polite" to some Asian worker. full text: https://udn.com/news/story/7338/5117298?from=udn-catehotnews_ch2 bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-23/taiwan-enjoys-an-i-told-you-so-moment-after-tangling-with-china-and-the-who
tears-in-eyes fawning diplomacy	New York Times, 11-24-2020: Taiwan politician : “Taiwan can’t face the might of China alone,” "We can’t fight China on our own." ; Taiwan Foreign Minister often S.O.S. on world media, such as Fox-news, Newsweek,12-1-2020, Australia ABC, 12-1-2020: Taiwan foreign minister calls on Australia to help defend against China... News Australia, 11-7-2020: expert says Taiwan will need to bring back the draft in order to put up a fight. However, Taiwan ignores western advice and plans to mobilize only about 1/10 reservists. Reuters 12-10-2020 slams Taiwan : "It is almost as if fighting to defend the country is somebody else’s responsibility” .
liar diplomacy	FOXnews 4-9-2020, Washington Post 4-9-2020, ABC 4-9-2020 (brief) : WHO chief claims he was racially targeted by Taiwan ... CNBC 4-8-20: WHO chief addresses death threats, racist insults... ("Giving me names, black or negro,... the abuse had originated from Taiwan, and the foreign ministry didn't disassociate" itself from it".) Taiwan denied all these - BBC, 4-10-2020 : Taiwan foreign ministry spokeswoman said the comments were "irresponsible" and the accusations "imaginary". click for full details

★

In world media's eyes, Taiwan is ~

◆ "conduit (tool)" / The LOWY Institute( think tank in Australia ) , 6-16-2020 : treating Taiwan as a conduit to frustrate Beijing imperils Taiwan’s security... and then the United States abandons Taiwan to deal with the consequences.

◆ "a card to play" / Foreign Policy, 1-13-2021 "Taiwan Needs Real Allies, Not Opportunists, Not Partisans " : ... That confirmed the suspicion of many Taiwan analysts that this administration views the island primarily as a card to play against the People’s Republic of China and as a convenient foil to it—or the “free China” per Pompeo’s press release.

◆ "a dog under control" / Eurasian Times 7-9-2020: The Tsai authority ... turns to Washington and is willing to be used. Taiwan Now Under ‘Deep Control’ Of The US.

◆ "meat on chopping blocks" / New York Times , 9-18-2020: Taiwan has become completely dependent on the United States,... Many people are saying that Taiwan has become the meat on others’ chopping blocks”

◆ "human bomb" / Global Times, 9-8-2020: US sets Taiwan up as a 'human bomb' ( drive the little to poke the big )

◆ "a rat" / Le Monde diplomatique of France, '16: Taiwan, a trembling sweating rat, doing nothing to approaching huge cat (China), but turning around and lifting high a banner "$O$" .

◆ “a ticking time bomb" / Brookings, 12-14-2020: Taiwan should follow suit and take a pragmatic approach, and avoid becoming what Graham Allision described as “a ticking time bomb" that could lead to a tragic conflict

◆ "food on the menu" / SCMP, 10-7-2020: "If you are not at the table, you are on the menu,” When the great powers sit at the geopolitical table, Taiwan has long been on the menu."

◆ "a bargaining chip" / Forbes, 10-5-2020: It would be a mistake for the U.S. to pursue an FTA as part of its China policy or to use Taiwan as a bargaining chip, and Taiwan has reasons to be wary as well.

◆ " a tradable pawn", "a useful chess piece" / Global Times, 8-23-2020: Taiwan is a useful chess piece for the US only because of the US strategy to suppress the Chinese mainland. On the one hand, Washington exploits the Taiwan question to contain China, on the other hand it is inciting tensions and making money by selling arms to Taiwan...Taiwan is a tradable pawn. Taiwan for the US is only a tradable chess piece, but for the mainland, reunification of the mainland and Taiwan is priceless.
◆ "cash machine" / Global Times, 10-27-2020: the latest announced sale is another expensive deal aimed at taking Taiwan taxpayers' money with low-quality weapons, in other words, the US is still treating the island as a "cash machine" ...

◆ "dispensable irritant" / Asia Times, 11-16-2020; Washington Post 1-18-2019: Trump abandoned the Kurds in Syria. Could Taiwan be next ? WP, 7-14-2020: Trump's policies are undermining the security of Taiwan's democracy ...

● Taiwan-China bilateral relations & foreign policy

●

◆ Foreign Policy, 2021-4-14: Taiwan and China Are Locked in Economic Co-Dependence / Cross-strait trade hit a record last year, including indirect trade through Hong Kong and Macao, with Taiwan’s exports representing some 70 percent of the total...The largest proportion of Taiwanese exports is sophisticated electronics, especially cutting-edge semiconductors that China lacks the ability to produce.. foreignpolicy.com/2021/04/14/taiwan-china-econonomic-codependence/ ◆ Reuters, 2021-4-14: Taiwan says its chip firms will adhere to new U.S. rules blacklisting China supercomputing entities

●

◆ VOA, 3-29-2021: “How could it (China) attack Taiping Island? China is doing everything possible to create an impression that the two sides (Taiwan, China mainland) are united fighting against outsiders including the United States, Vietnam and the Philippines” (for South China Sea remote islands) voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/wary-beijing-taiwan-doubles-down-south-china-sea-island

●

◆ Diplomat, 2-26-2021 thediplomat.com/2021/02/taiwan-shuffles-cabinet-in-signal-to-biden-administration/ : Tsai continues to reject the so-called “1992 consensus,” which Beijing upholds as foundational for talks with Taipei. The consensus originally maintained that both sides agree there is “one China” but agree to disagree on what that “one China” means. Beijing, however, refuses to allow Taiwan the freedom to interpret “one China” as it sees fit – Kuomintang (KMT) strongly supported the consensus until Xi equated “one China” with “one country, two systems” in a 2019 address.

Taiwan named new heads of defense and China policy in what is being interpreted as an attempt to cool cross-strait tensions and work with the United States.

◆ CGTN , 2-22-2021: China's policy on Taiwan, Can China and the U.S. reach consensus again on Taiwan？ - CGTN

◆ nature, 3-2-2021: Taiwan to fine prominent chemical engineer Lee Duu-Jong for allegedly managing research projects funded by the Chinese mainland without approval from the island’s authorities is intended to send a message to the research community that Taiwan’s government can classify research activities as political whenever it wishes (Chinese: 因涉嫌未經批准而管理中國大陸資助的研究項目台灣對傑出的李姓工程師罰款旨在向研究界傳達信息，即台灣政府可以根據需要將研究活動歸為政治活動。 ) nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00524-y

◆ Apple Daily , 2-23-2021: Taiwan's bottom line is "sovereignty and democracy". (我方底線是國家主權與民主) tw.appledaily.com/politics/20210223/MBBB7WZJEBC33NPH3N6J7SIGUM/ (ps: Taiwan independence is China's red line)

◆ France 24, South China Morning Post, 2-20-2021: Four Taiwan intelligence officers charged with spying for Beijing.

◆ ABC (Australia), 2-20-2021: Heated rhetoric has been on the rise in the region, where Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam challenge China's claim to about 90 per cent of the sea. abc.net.au/news/2021-02-20/taiwan-reports-eight-chinese-fighters-in-its-defence-zone/13174320

◆ Financial Times, 2-20-2021: Taiwan’s president Tsai Ing-wen has strengthened her national security team, signalling a fresh resolve to tackle long-delayed defence reforms and a new push for improving stalled dialogue with China www.ft.com/content/51f8bfba-bd1f-4dff-af8d-1a5b477d1dc7

◆ Reuters, 1-1-2021: Taiwan ... offering another olive branch to Beijing in New Year speech (brief)

◆ Macau Business, 12-12-2020: the DPP administration for “conspiring” with the US and becoming the American “chess game.” Furthermore, Taiwan has become dominated by party politics, which “altered” the target of peaceful dialogue from the PRC to the US. Finally, ... Taiwan’s social ecology has changed in such a way that no party would be willing to discuss with the mainland over the issue of peaceful reunification, for doing so would be labelled as the “agents of the PRC.” ... the reunification with Taiwan cannot be a long waiting game; instead, there must be the use of military force as “an intimidating function” to promote the process of reunification... the US as the major stumbling block to cross-Strait relations. The development of party politics is seen as a hindrance to cross-Strait relations, unless the KMT would return to presidential power in the distant future. www.macaubusiness.com/opinion-bidens-policy-toward-china-taiwan-and-hong-kong/

●

Diplomacy and Economy

◆ NBC, 10-24-2020: Tiny Taiwan caught in the middle as U.S. and China battle for supremacy Economically, Taiwan is dependent on Beijing. But for its security and for international political support, it relies on Washington. "We don’t want to be manipulated or caught in a great power competition," https://www.nbcnews.com/news/china/tiny-taiwan-caught-middle-u-s-china-battle-supremacy-n1244521

◆ Economist, 11-19-2020: Annual investment flows from Taiwan to China mainland have fallen by more than half since 2015. This growing reticence can be explained by 3 considerations.
   (1) geopolitical : China's goal of discouraging formal independence by strengthening business ties is increasingly transparent to many Taiwanese. Tariffs imposed by America on a long list of Chinese exports have prompted many Taiwanese producers to shift operations out of China.
   (2) competition: the capabilities of homegrown Chinese rivals, are becoming more competitive and innovative.
   (3) generational change: the impending “leadership vacuum” has made them cautious

★

◆ Bloomberg, 11-21-2020: https://www.bloombergquint.com/china/taiwanese-businesses-boost-investment-into-china-during-pandemic

Total approved investment from Taiwan to China rose to $4.7 billion in the first 10 months of this year, an increase of 47% over the same period in 2019...China is retaining its appeal for many Taiwanese businesses, even as President Tsai Ing-wen’s government offers incentives to bring investment back home.

★

◆ Global Times 9-8-2020: Taiwan enjoys a surplus of nearly $100 billion with the mainland every year. (ps: New York Times 12-3-2019: Trade between China and Taiwan exceeded $181 billion in 2017, up from about $35.5 billion in 1999. )
　

●
◆ Taiwan is diplomatically isolated, has only 15 formal relation allies till early 2021: Guatemala, Honduras, Holy See, Haiti, Paraguay, Nicaragua, Eswatini, Tuvalu, Nauru, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Belize, Marshall Islands, Palau. For updated news pls. ref. to Taiwan foreign ministry website: www.mofa.gov.tw/en/AlliesIndex.aspx?n=DF6F8F246049F8D6&sms=A76B7230ADF29736
The People's Republic of China (PRC) has identified that Taiwan as part of its territory and its most important core interest, since the Kuomintang (Nationalists or KMT) government retreated to the island in 1949 following defeat in the Chinese civil war. China has traditionally used a double strategy of “carrot and stick” towards Taiwan, on one hand, it has vowed to reunite this "breakaway province" by force if necessary, and has been ramping up military, diplomatic and economic pressure on Taiwan since president Tsai I.W. (2016 ~) refused to recognise the "1992 consensus" a 'pseudo'-agreement made by Taiwan's KMT party and the Chinese Communist Party, that proclaimed "the existence of only one China ”, but “ with different interpretations ” (being free to decide which side was legitimate.). In early 2019, CCP Xi openly equates One Country Two Systems with the 1992 Consensus to eliminate other interpretations. Under China's political development and strengthening its trade ties to our allies, Taiwan is diplomatically isolated, has only 15 formal relation allies till end of 2020 (Taiwan lost Salvador etc 3 allies within half yr. China rankled TW president's visit to NASA - LA Times 8-20-2018), most of them are little, unknown countries. On the other hand, China took the strategy " Allowance of economic benefits to Taiwan"("讓利", such as ◆ charming Taiwan by offering preferential treatment in a soft power bid / le monde diplmatique may 2019; ◆ 40% exports from Taiwan to China / CTN 5-30-2020; ◆ mainland China remains the largest market outside Taiwan for Taiwanese workers and companies, with around 1 million Taiwanese working there / German Institute for Int'l and security affairs, 2-7-2020 ◆ encouraging tourists to Taiwan. / WEF <Travel and tourism competitiveness report> of 2019 shows Taiwan had the sub-region's largest decline in competitiveness, Taiwan's overall score ranks 10th in Asia. ◆ L.A. Times, 8-1-2019: The indefinite suspension of individual travel visa is likely to prove a major economic hit to Taiwan, as well as a blow to cultural interplay. ) so that Taiwanese people may have higher tendency toward unification with China. Now 52% Taiwanese want closer economic ties with the mainland China. Taiwanese understood this interdependence is unavoidable, but over-dependence is risky. Modern Diplomacy (EU) at 6-9-2020: Roughly 26 percent of Taiwan’s trade is with China, which is its largest trading partner. China has replaced US as No 1 destination for Taiwanese export accounting for approximately 40% of total exports (Hong Kong included). New York Times 12-3-2019: Trade between China and Taiwan exceeded $181 billion in 2017, up from about $35.5 billion in 1999. Global Times 9-8-2020: Taiwan enjoys a surplus of nearly $100 billion with the mainland every year.

●

◆ Washington Post, 1-5-2018: For years, most analysts in the United States generally accepted the idea that Taiwan’s status as a de facto independent democracy was unsustainable as China’s economy and military rose to dominate Asia. Statesmen such as the late Singaporean leader Lee Kuan Yew and Henry Kissinger both predicted that Taiwan’s unification with China — under Chinese terms — was inevitable.

●

◆ Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan, Opinion, 6-22-2017 (読売新聞「社説」) : 中国が台湾を孤立させる動きを強め、波風を立てている。軍事、経済両面での優位を背景にした圧力は、中台間の緊張を高めるだけだ。...中国の一連の外交攻勢は、台湾を自国の一部とする「一つの中国」原則を、台湾の蔡英文政権に認めさせる狙いだろう。...台湾の住民の間では、中国に政治的、経済的にのみ込まれることへの警戒感が強く、「中国離れ」が加速しているためだ。...米国は台湾の防衛力強化を担っており、台湾海峡の平和と安定のカギを握る。(The US is the key to keep the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait)
◆ Le Monde diplomatique, France, mai 2016: "politiL’Amérique centrale lâche Taipei" / Les deux rivaux du détroit de Formose ne luttent pas à armes égales et, pour Taipei, l’isolement diplomatique menace. (The two rivals of the Taiwan Straits do not fight on equal terms , the diplomatic isolation threatens Taiwan )

●
◆ Spiegel Germany, 1-9-2017, <Donald Trump: Chinesische Staatszeitung warnt USA wegen Umgang>

Die staatliche chinesische Zeitung "Global Times" hat den künftigen US-Präsidenten Donald Trump gewarnt, von der "Ein-China-Politik" abzurücken. "Das chinesische Volk würde die Regierung auffordern, sich zu rächen", hieß es im Leitartikel des Blattes, das zum Zentralorgan der Kommunistischen Partei "Renmin Ribao" gehört. "Es gibt keinen Raum für Verhandlungen" / if "US President Donald Trump to abandon the one-China policy." "The Chinese people would call on the government to take revenge," "There is no room for negotiations" ... (Global Times, China)

●

Taiwanese Law-makers' fights for diplomacy entertainment expenses

Taipei Times, 1-23-2021 https://taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2021/01/23/2003751062 Formosa TV News, 1-23-2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r79kOZyM7OQ

It is not unusual for lawmakers to freeze budget bills until officials clarify their use, KMT Chairman Chiang said.

Entertainment expenses are the “bullets” of overseas diplomats, and are not just spent on wine and steak.

President Tsai Ing-wen urged support for diplomats, although she did not directly address the budget freeze issue.

KMT (The Nationalist Party), main opposition, proposed freezing part of the entertainment expenses for Taiwan’s envoys to the US and the Czech Republic

● The proposal was in response to Taiwan’s de facto ambassador to the U.S. 's alleged claim that the US refused to sell smart mines to Taiwan.

● Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil’s alleged refusal to endorse Taiwan’s sovereignty and the controversy surrounding a local firm’s donation of five mask production lines

●

pic. : No.1 "Taiwan diplomacy" on Lycos at
3-3-2021, 2-14-2021, 1-23-2021

pic. : No.1 "Taiwan diplomacy" on Ekoru (New Zealand) at
3-3-2021, 2-21-2021, 2-16-2021, 1-23-2021

pic. : No.1 "Taiwan diplomacy" on Excite, 3-3-2021, 2-21-2021, 2-14-2021, 1-23-2021

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