Taiwan’s pro-China opposition in Congress pass undemocratic laws that trigger mass protest

Written by Fang-Yu Chen and Ya-Han Chen

In short, this reform makes the LY a super-powerful institution that raises concerns about undermining the separation of power and thus checks and “imbalances”.

In Forum: 2024 — China’s policy towards the West

China and Australia appear to have patched things up, and more conciliatory tones are even heard about relations with the United States following Xi’s visit in November. In this In Forum, 9DASHLINE asks a number of experts to weigh in on whether we can expect improving ties to continue through 2024.

Editor's Picks9DLJanuary 12, 20249DashLine, In Forum 2024: China’s policy towards the West, China, Xi Jinping, dual circulation, Chinese Dual Circulation Strategy, trade, Beijing, Western democracies, Australia, United States, In Forum, FOREIGN POLICY, Selina Ho, Great power rivalry, Joe Biden, APEC summit, Chinese diplomacy, the West, wolf warrior, Wolf Warrior Diplomacy, the Philippines, Vietnam, security, sanctions, Chinese economy, Chinese society, South China Sea, Taiwan, JEAN CHRISTOPHER MITTELSTAEDT, self-reliance, geopolitical, China's strategic flexibility, green technology, electric vehicles, JUSTYNA SZCZUDLIK, smile diplomacy, Susan Shirk, overreach, strategic pause, Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Deng Xiaoping, China's global influence, G20 summit in Bali, China's de-risking agenda, raw materials, export, supply chains, de-risking, decoupling, open markets, Russia, Hamas, anti-coercion, dual diplomacy, DPP, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), China’s soft approach, ZICHEN WANG, Wang Yi, APEC, APEC meeting, high-quality domestic development, Japan, South Korea, european union, Marxism, ideology, Gina Raimondo, enemy, Washington, San Francisco, bilateral, unilateral, zero-sum game, peaceful development, ANDREW CHUBB, China-US relationship, Canberra, Albanese government, Anthony Albanese, In Forum: 2024 — China’s policy towards the West

Reading tea leaves: Taiwan’s November 2022 ‘midterm’ elections

Written by Alexander C. Tan

With the 2024 presidential and legislative elections about two years away — which might as well be an eternity in politics — the DPP has time to regroup and recalibrate its message.

Taiwan's midterm elections are about more than geopolitics

Written by Brian Hioe

Local midterm elections are more often about domestic issues than international, cross-strait ones, and it would be misleading to view Taiwanese politics solely through the frame of cross-strait issues.

Taiwan: Partisanship and identity struggles create exploitable loopholes for Beijing

Written by Thomas Chan

The acutely partisan nature and resentment between pan-Blue and pan-Green politicians could render it a continuous shouting contest and ultimately desensitise the population from any genuine concerns and escalation.

Countering disinformation together: First steps towards stronger EU-Taiwan ties

Written by Meghan Shoop

Future cooperation could include Taiwanese and EU think tanks working with one another to study authoritarian regimes’ current disinformation strategies and the effectiveness of various efforts to combat disinformation.

Kuomintang: The only party capable of maintaining a US-China-Taiwan trilateral balance

Written by Eric Chu

As conflict rages around the world and political divisions continue to drive nations apart, Taiwan’s political leadership must emphasise bipartisanship and cooperation for mutual benefit while also being able to stand up for the country’s principles: looking for commonalities while respecting differences.

East Asia9DLSeptember 24, 20219DASHLINE, Kuomintang, KMT, US, China, Taiwan, DPP, Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwan Strait, Afghanistan, Taiwan Relations Act, COVID, COVID19, Eric Chu

Assessing Taiwan’s ‘people-centred’ New Southbound Policy in Southeast Asia

Written by Ratih Kabinawa

Epistemic networks in Taiwan and Southeast Asia might learn from the success of their counterparts in European and North American countries in establishing regional Taiwan Studies associations. The Taiwanese government should also play an active role in fostering the establishment of such associations.

Cross-Strait relations amid the CPC’s centenary celebration

Written by Li-chia Lo

Strategic ambiguity used to provide a grey area for cross-strait communications and provided some stability in the region. But the CPC's "unshakeable commitment" may spell the end of strategic ambiguity and force all parties to play on their own terms.

Challenging ethnonationalism from the Matsu Islands

Written by Wen Lii

While countries in East Asia, such as China, Japan or South Korea, may not hold particular strengths in fostering a multi-ethnic environment, Taiwan could look towards Europe or Southeast Asia to devise feasible approaches towards encouraging regional identities.

East Asia, Faultlines9DLMarch 25, 2021China, Taiwan, Taiwan Strait, PRC, Republic of China, ROC, Matsu, Kinmen, Japan, KMT, Democratic Progressive Party, DPP, Hokkien, Penghu, Tsai Ing-wen, East Turkistan, Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong, ethnonationalism, Malaysia, Indian, India, Lanyu, Green Island, Hsiao Liuchiu, Pacific, Wen Lii, Lienchiang County

The geostrategic criticality of Taiwan

Written by Gerald C Brown

Outside of the South China Sea, Taiwan’s occupation would put China right at the doorstep of Japan's Ryukyu Islands, the string of small islands stretching from Taiwan to the Japanese mainland, including US military bases in Okinawa. Many of the islands would become far closer to China than Japan and would be well in range of Chinese Anti-Access/Area-Denial (A2/AD) capabilities.

East Asia9DLFebruary 5, 2021taiwan, Matsu, Kinmen, Republic of China, South China Sea, Philippines, DPP, First Island Chain, Cross Strait, PRC, Peoples Liberation Army, CCP, Chinese Communist Party, Xi Jinping, PLAAF, ADIZ, SRBM, Okinawa, A2/AD, Senkaku Islands, East China Sea, Japan, PLAN, Pacific, NATO, Cold War, Korean War, South Korea, United States

Edge of democracy: China’s influence on Taiwan’s ‘frontline’ islands

Written by Wen Lii

Kinmen and Matsu continue to face challenges from across the Strait — whether in the form of sand dredgers or false narratives — their location on the border continues to offer us a glimpse of China’s increasingly diverse toolbox of exerting influence, while also spurring Taiwan and the rest of the democratic world to devise more creative methods of coping with them.

What does the Biden Administration mean for Taiwan?

Written by Douglas H Paal

That Biden had spent more time than any US official with China’s Xi Jinping, despite recent campaign rhetoric, reinforced the concern that Biden may be less effective against China. This is a concern which will linger through at least the early months of Biden’s term of office.

East Asia9DLJanuary 11, 2021Taiwan, China, Tsai, Hong Kong, democracy, Peoples Liberation Army, Communist Party of China, Identity, Nationalism, DPP, KMT, Republic of China, Xi Jinping

Taiwan's democratic journey and stabilising national identity

Written by Sense Hofstede

Some critical observers warn that Taipei will inevitably have to deal with the unyielding demands of Chinese nationalism. But that is not the only reality that has to be faced. Beijing must also face the reality of the Taiwanese nation.

East Asia9DLDecember 9, 2020Taiwan, China, Tsai, Hong Kong, democracy, Peoples Liberation Army, Communist Party of China, Identity, Nationalism, DPP, KMT, Republic of China, Xi Jinping