~ 2000

[ News ] [ Papers ] 

Taiwan Foreign Minister's LA Speech Calls for U.S. Help to Stabilize Security
(Central News Agency, Nov. 29, 2000) The United States should continue to play its historic role to help stabilize the security environment in the Taiwan Strait, ROC Foreign Minister Tien Hung-mao made the call in his first public speech in the United States since assuming his current post on 20th May.

Soldier Tang, Taiwan's Shortest-Serving Premier
(Reuters, Oct. 2000) Tang Fei, a career soldier turned head of government, became Taiwan's shortest-serving premier on Tuesday when he resigned on health grounds after just four and a half months in office.

Taiwan's Premier Quits Amid Nuclear Power Row
(Reuters, Oct. 3, 2000) After just four and a half months in office, Taiwan Premier Tang Fei dropped a bombshell on Tuesday when he announced his resignation after a row over whether to scrap the island's fourth nuclear power plant. Tang, 68, became Taiwan's shortest serving premier when he stepped down citing deteriorating health.

DPP Now Taiwan's Largest Political Party: Survey
(CNA, Sept. 23, 2000) The Democratic Progressive Party is now Taiwan's largest political party, outshining the other parties in terms of public support, according to the results of a survey released Saturday. The DPP received the support of 25 percent of the public, compared to 10 percent for the Kuomintang and the People First Party each, and 1 percent for the New Party, according to the poll.

CNN Interviews Taiwan President
(CNA, Sept. 22, 2000) Republic of China President Chen Shui-bian said in an interview with U.S.-based Cable News Network Friday that he has shown "persistence, good will, and responsibility" in dealing with mainland China over the past few months but has never made any concessions to Beijing.

DPP Does Not Rule Out "Unification" as Option for Taiwan's Future
(CNA, Sep. 6, 2000) The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has resolved its pro-independence platform issue and its current goal is to maintain Taiwan's status quo, the ruling party chairman said Wednesday in an interview with a local radio station. DPP Secretary-General Wu Nai-jen pointed out that it is no secret the DPP favors independence over unification.

President Comments on Taiwan-US-China Relations
(CNA, Aug. 14, 2000) Republic of China President Chen Shui-bian said on Monday that relations between the ROC and the United States are so close that there is "no distance" between them. Chen made the remarks while meeting Richard Bush, chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan, which represents American interests in Taiwan in the absence of official relations.

Taiwan's UN Bid Has New Twist
(Taipei Times, Aug. 5, 2000) Taiwan launched its eighth bid to join the UN yesterday, obliterating any references to "one China" while calling on the international body to serve as a forum to peacefully settle differences across the Strait..

ROC President to Visit Central America, Africa
(AP, July 31, 2000) President Chen Shui-bian said on Monday he will visit Taiwan's allies in Central America and Africa next month, via Los Angeles, in his first diplomatic offensive since taking office. "Diplomacy will symbolize and highlight our sovereignty," Chen told a news conference.

Taiwanese Party Debates Independence
(AP, July 15, 2000) Taiwanese voters are wary of it. China calls it a "malignant tumor'' and an obstacle to peace. But the political party of Taiwan's new leader doesn't seem ready to dump its independence platform.

Taiwan To Set Up China Protections (AP, Jan. 15, 2000) A new bill approved by Taiwan's legislature Saturday will let the government buy billions of dollars in stock to help protect financial markets against hostile moves by China. Under the bill, the government can create a fund of up to $16 billion to buy blue chip shares when "major events" occur to weaken public confidence

Taiwan's Politics Are Straining Trade With China
(New York Times, June 27, 2000) Ask Stan Shih about personal computers, the Internet or his native Taiwan, and he holds forth enthusiastically. Not for nothing is Mr. Shih, the voluble founder of the computer maker Acer, regarded as the head cheerleader and unofficial spokesman for corporate Taiwan.

Majority of Taiwan People Still Favor Maintaining Status Quo (Central News Agency, Jan. 31, 2000) Most people in Taiwan are in favor of maintaining the status quo regarding the development of cross-strait relations, the cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said on Monday.

Bills Passsed Banning Military Role in Taiwan Politics (AFP, Jan. 16, 2000) Taiwan's parliament has passed two bills to further ensure the military would play no role amid efforts to press for political reforms.

Taiwan's Big Economic Headache By Lawrence Chung
(Straits Times, Dec. 30, 2000) After weathering the Asian financial crisis, something is now very wrong with the economy as people are being laid off and the market is plunging. At the turn of the century, what has gone wrong with the usually lively Taiwan economy, which had weathered the recent regional financial crisis successfully?

DPP Should Seek Coalition Partners
(Editorial, Taipei Times, Dec. 29, 2000) Taiwan politics is currently in a rather peculiar state. The Democratic Progressive Party is the ruling party in name only, while the opposition KMT actually rules the country through its majority in the legislature. The DPP could seek the support of the KMT, as well as independent lawmakers who share some of its ideas, and build an open, formal coalition alliance.

Consciously revising our cross-strait policies By Philip Yang
(Taipei Times, Dec. 16, 2000) Two types of "Taiwanese consciousness" are taking shape, "local Taiwanese consciousness" and "status quo Taiwanese consciousness".  The former has a "Taiwan-centric" core that strives for the "equality and independence" of Taiwan. "Status quo Taiwanese consciousness" stresses the importance of "Taiwan first," as well as maintaining the status quo and keeping up economic development.

Taiwan's China Problem: After A Decade Or Two, Can There Be A Solution? , Lynn T. White III (SAIS Policy Forum Series, Report No. 6, Dec. 1998) (PDF file, need Acrobat Reader)

Between China and the U.S.--Taiwan, even more than human rights, is the most dangerous issue, James Mann (Washington Post, Jan. 10, 1999)