Taiwan kept a close eye on the Bush-Jiang summit and the APEC leaders' summit -- both of which affected the triangular relationship between Taiwan, China and the US. Taiwan didn't lose a point in the face of China's offensive because the US didn't tilt toward Beijing. Chinese President Jiang Zemin (
Although Bush affirmed that the US doesn't support Taiwan independence, it didn't voice support the unification of Taiwan and China either, hoping that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait can resolve the issue peacefully. For all three parties, such highly compromised outcomes were dissatisfying but completely acceptable.
The APEC summit marked the conclusion of Taiwan-China-US relations in the Jiang era. Sino-US relations have improved from when Jiang first came to power -- after hitting a nadir in the wake of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. Bilateral relations reached a high during Clinton's presidency with the "three no's" policy. Relations nosedived shortly after Bush's inauguration with the EP-3 collision. Jiang helped improve ties when he chose to cooperate with the US in its war against terrorism. In return, Bush sent out the message in his recent talks with Jiang that his administration would not support Taiwan independence, bringing Sino-US relations back to a more stable status.
When former president Lee Teng-hui (
Since President Chen Shui-bian (
But China has failed several times in its efforts to intervene in Taiwan's elections. Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen (
Taiwan-China-US relations, however, are about to enter a new phase. With a brand-new team expected to slowly take over the reins of power, what happens to Jiang will influence the interactions between the three parties. Whether Jiang retains any political position, he will still have the final say in China's policies in the short term. Jiang remains the critical force in stabilizing these triangular relations in the post-Jiang era.
Taiwan faces complex challenges like other Asia-Pacific nations, including demographic decline, income inequality and climate change. In fact, its challenges might be even more pressing. The nation struggles with rising income inequality, declining birthrates and soaring housing costs while simultaneously navigating intensifying global competition among major powers. To remain competitive in the global talent market, Taiwan has been working to create a more welcoming environment and legal framework for foreign professionals. One of the most significant steps in this direction was the enactment of the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (外國專業人才延攬及僱用法) in 2018. Subsequent amendments in
The recent passing of Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu (徐熙媛), known to many as “Big S,” due to influenza-induced pneumonia at just 48 years old is a devastating reminder that the flu is not just a seasonal nuisance — it is a serious and potentially fatal illness. Hsu, a beloved actress and cultural icon who shaped the memories of many growing up in Taiwan, should not have died from a preventable disease. Yet her death is part of a larger trend that Taiwan has ignored for too long — our collective underestimation of the flu and our low uptake of the
US President Donald Trump on Saturday signed orders to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China effective from today. Trump decided to slap 25 percent tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada as well as 10 percent on those coming from China, but would only impose a 10 percent tariff on Canadian energy products, including oil and electricity. Canada and Mexico on Sunday quickly responded with retaliatory tariffs against the US, while countermeasures from China are expected soon. Nevertheless, Trump announced yesterday to delay tariffs on Mexico and Canada for a month and said he would hold further talks with
For Taipei, last year was a particularly dangerous period, with China stepping up coercive pressures on Taiwan amid signs of US President Joe Biden’s cognitive decline, which eventually led his Democratic Party to force him to abandon his re-election campaign. The political drift in the US bred uncertainty in Taiwan and elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific region about American strategic commitment and resolve. With America deeply involved in the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, the last thing Washington wanted was a Taiwan Strait contingency, which is why Biden invested in personal diplomacy with China’s dictator Xi Jinping (習近平). The return of