2005-7

 2001 Year-End Elections

Taiwan’s Party Politics

2004 Presidential Election

Referendum Issue

New Constitution Issue

 [Government and Policies] [Speeches and Statements] [Taiwan Information] [Research Organizations] [News] [Papers]

 ~2000 ; 2001-2004

 Government and Policies

Office of the President

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Mainland Affairs Council

Foreign Trade, Ministry of Economic Affairs

Government Information Office homepage

Constitutional Law -Taiwan Constitution, Additional Articles, constitutional background and political parties

Taiwan Government Service Network 

Information Division, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York 

Speeches and Statements

Taiwan Security: A KMT’s Perspective By SU Chi
(US-Taiwan Business Council, Denver, Colorado, USA, Sep. 11, 2006) The KMT wants to be a Positive “Responsible Stakeholder” in East Asia.  We believe Taiwan can contribute to and benefit from a peaceful and prosperous region. 

President Chen's Inaugural Speech: "Paving the Way for a Sustainable Taiwan" (May 20, 2004) If both sides are willing, on the basis of goodwill, to create an environment engendered upon "peaceful development and freedom of choice," then in the future, the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China--or Taiwan and China--can seek to establish relations in any form whatsoever. We would not exclude any possibility, so long as there is the consent of the 23 million people of Taiwan.

2002 ROC National Defense Report
(Ministry of National Defense, ROC, July 23, 2002) MND is working hard to establish a compact but delicate, quick responsive, and highly efficient precision strike capability, so as to pose a strong posture of effective deterrence.

President Chen's Remarks during His Stop on Tatan Island
(May 10, 2002) Beginning on August 1, 2002, I will work to promote a visit to mainland China by a delegation led by the director of the DPP's Department of Chinese Affairs in order to increase mutual understanding and facilitate reconciliation between political parties.

Q&A: Chen Critical of Beijing but Seeks Dialogue
(US Today, May 2, 2001) " We hope that we will see a change in their military posture, a decrease in missile deployment in their coastal area aimed at Taiwan. If we can resume dialogue, if China will cease its military buildup and abandon the threat to use force against Taiwan, we can make our adjustments accordingly.

Address to the National Day Rally By President Chen Shui-bian
(Oct. 10, 2000) As we constitute a new paradigm of democracy for all Chinese societies, we should fearlessly strive to move forward on the path of freedom, democracy and human rights.

DPP issues Policy White Papers During the second half on November 1999, the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) issued three White Papers, outlining the Party's position on a number of major issues for the upcoming presidential elections of March 2000.

Understanding Taiwan: Bridging the Perception Gap By Lee Teng-hui (Foreign Affairs, November/December 1999) The sustained economic growth, unprecedented prosperity, and full democracy achieved by the Republic of China has one drawback: the speed of Taiwan's progress has outstripped prevailing perceptions of what Taiwan is and how it should fit into the global order.

Taiwan Merely Affirmed Current Reality By Chien-Jen Chen (LA Times, Aug. 6, 1999) President Lee's reference to a 'state-to-state relationship' was not a change in policy regarding the 'one China' stand.

Full Text of Statement of SEF Chairman Koo Chen-Fu (Central News Agency, July 30, 1999)

Taiwan Information

CIA World Factbook: Taiwan

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, Information Division

China Law Web Taiwan's Constitution and laws in English 

Taiwan Documents Project

Research and Private Organizations

Peace Forum Division of Strategic and International Studies, Taiwan Research Institute

Peace for Future China Cross-Strait Interflow Prospect Foundation, Taipei

Taiwan Research Institute

New Taiwan Ilha Formosa

AmCham Head Blasts Problem of Leadership
(China Post, Dec. 14, 2007) What Taiwan needs is good political leaders, the outgoing executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei writes in a summarization of his long experiences in Taiwan.

Six Hurt in Crash at Taipei Memorial Renaming
(Straits Times, Dec. 7, 2007) The Taiwan government's latest move to rename the memorial hall dedicated to late president Chiang Kai-shek took a bloody turn. A bitter row over the dismantling of two plaques from the monument bearing the name of the late strongman turned violent when an agitated lorry driver drove his vehicle into a crowd outside the site, injuring six people.

Taiwan Opposition Says Govt Tries to Downplay Leader Legacy
(AFP, Dec. 6, 2007) Taiwan's opposition denounced a government plan to remove the name of late president Chiang Kai-shek from a memorial gate, saying it was the latest move aimed at downplaying his legacy.

Opposition Snubs Meeting on 228 Bill
(Taipei Times, Dec. 4, 2007) A meeting of the legislature's Judiciary Committee that was to review legislation holding family members responsible for the 228 Incident and the White Terror era did not take place because of insufficient attendance, after legislators from the opposition parties boycotted the meeting.

KMT to Boycott 2/28 Incident Law
(China Post, Dec. 3, 2007) Democratic Progressive Party lawmakers are all set to start the first reading of a bill on compensation for victims of the Feb. 28 Incident of 1947. They may face a boycott by their Kuomintang colleagues. If passed, the bill requires relatives of the dead persecutors to stand trial for the crimes they know nothing of. No law in the world compels relatives to be litigated for the crimes committed by the dead.

Pacific Island Lawmakers Mull Dumping Taiwan for China
(Reuters, Nov. 23, 2007) Some lawmakers in the tiny South Pacific nation of Palau are suggesting it break links with diplomatically isolated Taiwan and recognise rival China instead, the archipelago's ambassador to Taiwan said.

Open Shouting Games against President Chen Emerging
(China Post, Nov. 11, 2007) Openly shouting against President Chen Shui-bian is emerging as a popular practice by local people to vent their anger over the government's failure to counter runaway commodity prices and improve their worsening livelihood.

Pan-Green Camp, MOFA Criticize Remarks by Envoy
(Taiwan News, July 1, 2007) Taiwan's outgoing envoy to Singapore came under fire with the pan-green camp and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for criticizing the current administration's recent desinicization movement in a newspaper interview, while opposition parties applauded his courage in speaking the truth.

Taiwan to Go Ahead with UN Referendum
(AP, June 20, 2007) Taiwan will proceed with a planned referendum on rejoining the United Nations under its own name, an official said, despite strong objections to the move from China and the United States.

U.S. Urges Taiwan's Chen to Drop UN Referendum Bid
(Reuters, June 20, 2007) The United States called on Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian to drop a proposed referendum on how the island can apply to join the United Nations, saying the move would raise tensions with China.

Taiwan Will Hold U.N. Bid Referendum: Chen
(China Post, June 19, 2007) President Chen Shui-bian announced he will call a referendum alongside a nationwide election next year to help Taiwan rejoin the United Nations under that name.

Taiwan Signs US$5 Billion in Purchase Agreements with U.S.
(China Post, June 9, 2007) Taiwan has signed industrial and agricultural purchase agreements worth US$5 billion with the United States while urging Washington to sign a free trade agreement with Taipei.

Taiwan Re-establishes Diplomatic Relations with St. Lucia
(AP, May 1, 2007) Taiwan announced it has re-established relations with the Caribbean nation of St. Lucia, notching up a small victory in its long-running battle with rival China for diplomatic partners.

MOFA Terminates US PR-firm Contract
(CNA, Apr. 7, 2007) Taiwan hired several public relations firms to help it communicate with Washington, but the Chen administration is reconsidering the necessity of the practice.

Taiwan Names New de facto Envoy to US
(AFP, Mar. 19, 2007) Taiwan's Premier Su Tseng-chang announced Sunday the island's top China policy-maker Joseph Wu has been named de facto envoy to the United States. Wu would also be the first member of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party to serve as representative to the US.

Ex-U.S. Official Gets Year in Prison in Taiwan Case
(Reuters, Jan. 23, 2007) A former senior State Department official was sentenced to one year and a day in prison for illegally removing classified documents and hiding his ties to a Taiwanese intelligence officer.

Taiwan's Democratic Achievements Win Accolades from the Freedom House's 2007 Report (e-Gov Taiwan, Jan. 18, 2007) Freedom House released its Freedom in the World 2007, a survey of worldwide political rights and civil liberties. Taiwan continued to be listed as a “Free” country. Meanwhile, Taiwan received a score of “1” in the area of civil liberties, which represents the most free. It was given a rating a score of “2” in the area of political rights.

Taiwan Asks US to Save It from Economic Isolation
(Agence France Presse, Nov. 29, 2006) Already shunned politically by most nations, Taiwan has called on the United States to save it from economic isolation by forging a model bilateral free-trade agreement.

Officials Say Chen Fully Trusts Taiwan Diplomats in U.S.
(TN, Oct. 14, 2006) Both the Presidential Office and the MOFA have refuted a report saying President Chen was suspicious about the loyalty of Taiwan representatives that he had to count on his own contacts in handling Taipei's relations with Washington.

Chen Advocates Using 'Taiwan' in Bid for U.N.
(Taiwan News, Sep. 14, 2006) President Chen Shui-bian advocated that Taiwan should apply to enter the United Nations as a "new formal member" under the name of Taiwan in the wake of the U.N.

UN Rejects Taiwan's 14th Membership Bid
(Associated Press, Sep. 14, 2006) Taiwan has failed for the 14th year to win approval from a key United Nations committee in its bid to become a member of the world body. China welcomed the UN decision.

Pacific Allies Get Aid from Taiwan
(Reuters, Sep. 5, 2006) Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian pledged more than US$10 million in aid and promised other assistance to a group of South Pacific countries in a bid to cement ties with Taiwan's dwindling pool of allies.

Taiwan Renews Bid for U.N. Membership
(Central News Agency, Aug. 11, 2006) Taiwan has renewed its bid for membership in the United Nations as well as a call for the world body's support for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, the Foreign Ministry said.

'Strangulation' to Continue: Envoy
(Taipei Times, Aug. 9, 2006) Representative to the US David Lee warned that Beijing would continue its efforts to "strangulate Taiwan" internationally -- as it did in wresting Chad away from Taiwan -- unless both sides change their foreign policy "mindsets."

Taiwan Breaks Off Diplomatic Ties with Chad
(AFP, Aug. 6, 2004) Taiwan severed diplomatic relations with Chad after the central African country decided to switch its recognition and open official ties with China, the foreign ministry said.

MOFA Hopes Keyser Case Won't Harm Washington Ties
(Taiwan News, July 19, 2006) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it will keep a close eye on the Donald W. Keyser case in the United States and hopes it will not hinder Taiwan-U.S. ties in the future.

African Allies Suggest Holding Taiwan-Africa Summit: MOFA
(CNA, July 16, 2006) Minister of Foreign Affairs Huang Chih-fang said Saturday that several leaders of Taiwan's African allies have suggested holding a "Taiwan-Africa summit."

Chen Oversees Draft of First NSC Report
(China Post, May 19, 2006) President Chen Shui-bian held the first-ever formal national security conference during his term as president, overseeing a draft of an unprecedented national security report.

Taiwan Ranks 17th in World Trade: WTO
(CNA, Apr. 13, 2006) Taiwan was the world's 17th largest trading nation in 2005, down two notches from the previous year, according to the annual world trade report released by the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Taiwan Sees First Female Combat General
(Taiwan News, Dec. 30, 2005) Major-general Chai Hui-jen was promoted to become the first female combat general in the military history of the Republic of China. Chai is a highly trained expert in computer programming and information technology.

Senegal to Resume China Ties in Blow to Taiwan
(Reuters, Oct. 26, 2005) Senegal resumed diplomatic ties with China after a 10-year break, a coup for Beijing as it seeks to diplomatically isolate Taiwan. Without Senegal, Taiwan will have only 25 allies left.

Taipei Denies 'Dollar Diplomacy' in LatAm
(China Post, Sep. 28, 2005) After President Chen Shui-bian proclaimed his Project "Co-Prosperity" in Managua yesterday, his underlings scurried to explain it is not "dollar diplomacy," as has been branded in Taipei.

UN Urged to Help Taiwan, China Ease Tension
(AP, Aug. 13, 2005) Taiwan said that it wants the United Nations to mediate between the island and China to help ease cross-strait tensions.

Chen: Diaoyutais Belong to Taiwan
(Taipei Times, Aug. 11, 2005)President Chen Shui-bian reiterated Taiwan's sovereignty claim over the Diaoyutai islands. "The Diaoyutais belong to us, belong to Taiwan, there is no doubt about it ... I'm here to show our determination to protect our territory," Chen said.

Taiwan's U.N. Bid to Highlight New Theme of Peace
(Taiwan News, Aug. 10, 2005) Taiwan plans to highlight the goal of peace in a new lobbying approach to bid for entry to United Nations this year as the world body enters the 60th year of its founding. Taiwan has been making efforts to re-join the U.N. since 1992.

Government Shuts Down TV Stations
(Taipei Times, Aug. 2, 2005) The government announced that it would not renew the operating licenses of TV news channel ETTV-S and six channels, and said the stations must go off the air.

'Taiwan' Added to 'Republic of China' on Website
(Straits Times, Aug. 1, 2005) Taiwan's Presidential Office added the word 'Taiwan' after the island's official title of 'Republic of China' on its website.

Chen's DPP wins Taiwan vote for National Assembly
(AFP, May 15, 2005) Taiwan's independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won an election for a 300-member assembly to decide on a package of constitutional reforms set to test the limits of the island's China policy.

Taiwan Re-establishes Diplomatic Ties with Nauru
(AFP, May 14, 2005) Taiwan has re-established diplomatic ties with the South Pacific island of Nauru in a move likely to irritate China. The two sides signed a communique to formally resume relations.

ROC Severs Formal Ties with Grenada
(China Post, January 28, 2005) Taiwan formally ended diplomatic ties with Grenada, reducing its number of allies to 25, following the Caribbean county switching allegiance to China.

Taipei Not Opposed to Dual Recognition
(China Post, Jan. 22, 2005) Taiwan would not rule out the possibility that Grenada could recognize both Taiwan and China, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

Grenada Dumps Taiwan in Favor of China
(AFP, Jan. 20, 2005) Grenada has switched diplomatic allegiance to China from Taiwan, signing a communique to establish diplomatic ties with Beijing.

Taiwan Ups Anti-Chiang Kai-Shek Action
(Associated Press, Dec. 8, 2007) Workmen began removing giant Chinese characters from a memorial previously dedicated to Chiang Kai-shek, the latest action in the Taiwan government's campaign to eradicate the ''one China'' legacy of the late dictator.

Taiwan Leader Defends Move to Downplay Chiang Legacy
(Agency France Presse, Dec. 7, 2007) Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian Thursday defended a move to take the name of Chiang Kai-shek off a memorial gate, calling the late leader a "dictator" who should not be honored.

Taiwan Public Mood Index and Party Identification Tracking Analysis in Taiwan (Global Views Monthly, Nov. 2007) Monthly polls on various public issues by Global Views Monthly, Both Taiwan Public Mood Index  (TPMI) and Political Confidence Index (PCI) hit record how since the survey started in June 2006. TPMI almost slides to the bottom of the “losing some public approval” level.

228 Bill Fights Injustice with Injustice
(Editorial, Taipei Times, Dec. 5, 2007) A Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator has proposed a bill that seeks to extend a degree of legal responsibility for the 228 Incident and the White Terror to the spouse, direct descendants and other relatives of suspects. The proposal is ridiculous, both in political terms and for the fact that it would constitute bad law.

Boom and Gloom in Taiwan By Ong Hwee Hwee
(Straits Times, Dec. 1, 2007) The economy expanded 6.92 per cent in the third quarter from a year earlier - the fastest growth in three years - according to official data released last week. While government figures painted a rosy picture, the findings of research institutes appeared to differ. Market analysts in general do not share the government's optimism on the island's economic prospects.

Taiwan in Whirlwind Drive to Keep Diplomatic Allies
(Reuters, July 11, 2007) Taiwan's Vice-President Annette Lu has promised more aid for Paraguay as the island seeks to counter China's diplomatic offensive in the region. A month after the island suffered a severe diplomatic setback. with Costa Rica, Ms Lu's visit to Latin America showed Taiwan is taking no chances.

Taiwan's Faltering Democracy By Julian Baum
(Christian Science Monitor, July 2, 2007) Democracy has fallen on hard times in Taiwan, and it's been a long while since its citizens felt good about their government. With candidates beginning to campaign for elections next January, this is the time to ask what, if anything, can be done about it.

Taiwan Bids to Write Chiang out of History
(Telegraph, July 1, 2007) Some 32 years after Chiang Kai-shek’s death, the man who became synonymous with the island's split with mainland China has been thrust back into the political spotlight, as Taiwan's two main political parties seek an issue to galvanize public opinion before presidential elections next year.

A Diplomat Reflects on Taiwan’s Isolation
(New York Times, June 24, 2007) For Andrew Hsia, Taiwan’s departing consul general and its shadow ambassador to the United Nations, Costa Rica’s decision was an unfortunate capstone on his six-and-a-half-year tenure in New York.

Why Small Nations Are Important for Taiwan's Survival By David Chang
(Deutsche Presse-Agentur, June 10, 2007) The island's leaders say foreign recognition is proof of Taiwan's sovereignty and, no matter how small they are, Taipei needs their vote when it seeks to rejoin the UN and other international organizations each year.

Interview: Taiwan's Man in Washington on Maintaining Relations
(Taipei Times, June 3, 2007) Joseph Wu, the first Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) member appointed representative to the US, assumed his new position in April. Wu sat down with Taipei times Staff Reporter Charles Snyder in Washington on Wednesday and shared his objectives for his new job and views on Taiwan-US relations.

Taiwan Economy Needs Stronger Bite: AmCham
(China Post, June 1, 2007) The American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei (AmCham) released its annual White Paper, calling for the need to relieve political wrangling, resolve regulatory morass, and to improve cross-strait as well as U.S. trade relations in order to boost Taiwan's economy.

Taiwan MPs Put on Wrestling Shows for Publicity
(Reuters, May 18, 2007) Taiwan politicians know how to put on a good show. But the brawling and histrionics in parliament that have put Taiwan politics on the world map for the past 20 years are staged acts.

Taiwan Graduates Struggle on Meager Salaries
(Straits Times, Apr. 18, 2007) An official survey released this week showed that last year, the starting pay of fresh graduates was NT$28,209 on average. The figure represented a marginal increase of just NT$1,000 over what they were paid 10 years ago.

Anti-Corruption Activist Upbeat about Taiwan
(Taipei Times, Feb 21, 2007) Taiwan's current battles against political corruption will benefit the country in the future, an official from Transparency International (TI) said.

Taiwan Struggles for Equal Footing at APEC Meet
(Agence France Presse, Nov. 20, 2006) Behind closed doors, Taiwan continued its battle to gain equal footing at the annual summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, an event increasingly dominated by political and security issues.

Lamy Expounds on Taiwan's WTO Role
(Taipei Times, Oct. 23, 2006) WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy talked with 'Taipei Times' staff reporter Jessie Ho and other Taiwanese reporters on the role that Taiwan plays in the international trade body.

The Nation Needs New Diplomacy By Philip Yang
(Taipei Times, Aug 17, 2006,) Taiwan is already part of the international community but is still trying to find its way to the ticket office. The diplomacy of recognition may be necessary, but it is practical diplomacy that guarantees Taiwan's international interests and international participation.

Taiwan Losing Out in Diplomacy Game By Goh Sui Noi
(Straits Times, Aug. 9, 2006) Taiwan's loss of diplomatic ally Chad to China over the weekend is further evidence that the island is losing out in the zero-sum diplomacy competition and that it should look at other ways of creating international space for itself.

Focus on the Future, Not Just China By Lee Teng-hui
(Taipei Times, July 27, 2006) The problems facing Taiwan's economy are many. First, the economy has lost its dynamism and is caught in a bottleneck. Taiwan, not China, should be the strategic focus of the nation's sustainable development.

Taiwan's Crisis of Confidence By Jonathan Adams
(Far Eastern Economic Review, July/August 2006) In conversations with staff from a handful of Taiwan’s top it firms, an odd refrain emerged: the tech industry may be thriving, but Taiwan’s broader economy is in trouble.

Taiwan's Under-Performing Economy By Goh Sui Noi
(Straits Times, May 1, 2006) While Taiwanese expend their energies on political infighting, other Asian dragons such as South Korea are surging ahead economically. The outcome will be that Taiwan is more disadvantaged and even marginalised.

'Asian Strategy' Seen as Key in Taiwan Economic Growth
(Taiwan News, Mar. 28, 2006) Vice Premier Tsai Ing-wen said that Taiwan's economic relations with China need to be developed with an overall "Asian Strategy" to control risk and maintain competitiveness.

Political Woes Dampen Taiwan's Economy
(Reuters, Feb. 28, 2006) Political concerns are likely to dampen Taiwan's business investment this year, increasing chances that growth will fall short of expectations in an economy already struggling with high oil prices and bird flu worries.

Voters Control the Political Agenda By Wu Yu-shan
(Taipei Times, Jan. 2, 2006) What is the primary motivating force driving Taiwanese politics? Change in public attitudes is the force that drives the nation's political development.

Taiwan's Path to Democracy By Lee Teng-hui
(National Press Club in Washington, Oct. 2005) On Lee Teng-hui's recent landmark visit to the United States he addressed a crowd at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on October 20. The following is the text of that speech.

'Dollar Diplomacy' Must Be Tweaked By Tsai Zheng-jia
(Taipei Times, Oct. 5, 2005) Since "dollar diplomacy" is becoming outdated, the government must review its approach to supporting our allies and should understand what our allies need.

Taiwan to Test China on WHO Vote By Kathrin Hille
(Straits Times, May 11, 2005) Taiwan has promised to make the vote to determine whether it can participate in the World Health Organisation a test of China's goodwill towards the island.