Imagine how it feels to win Olympic gold against opponents from the authoritarian country that wants to take your sovereignty - and when you receive your medal, your country's name, flag, and anthem are completely erased.
How much longer will this indignity be forced on Taiwan?
Reminder that none of today's horrific violence would have occurred had Carrie Lam withdrawn the extradition bill when 2 million Hongkongers peacefully protested against it in June. Lam and her CCP backers opened the Pandora's box of violence, and it's surely going to get worse.
A drag show in front of symbols of the ROC, which imposed a patriarchal heteronormative Chinese identity on Taiwan for decades... this is dissertation material
Taiwan President Tsai
@ingwen
was treated to a live drag show at the presidential office in a meeting with the country’s most famous drag queen, Nymphia Wind.
In a span of one week, Chinese diplomats threatened 150,000 Filipinos working overseas, got into a spat with South Korea, and openly questioned the statehood of the 14 former Soviet countries. The common thread between these episodes: Taiwan.
Quick personal note: Very happy to announce that I will be joining Bloomberg on Monday, where I will be the Taiwan markets reporter. Looking forward to covering Taiwan with the talented people of the
@business
Asia Markets team and Taipei bureau during these interesting times.
Tsai Ing-wen has a 5-story campaign ad above the Taipei Bridge featuring her and a cat. Rough translation:
Tsai: Tax cuts feel good
Cat: Buy me more treats
Interesting: Taiwan is one of the few major economies not expected to contract this year, suggesting effective handling of the coronavirus may actually be better for the economy than letting the virus spread unchecked to infect millions/kill 10,000s
1. Hsiao renounced her US citizenship in 2002
2. Hsiao speaks native Mandarin (and English)
3. Hsiao's white American mother speaks fluent Taiwanese:
4. China-leaning candidate Terry Gou's VP pick Tammy Lai also half-American, but CCP shills not bothered
People may imagine Taiwan is roughly the same size as Singapore or Hong Kong, due to it frequently being called an “island” or “place” by most international media outlets. It's not even close:
Singapore: 720 sq km
HK: 1,100 sq km
Taiwan: 36,190 sq km
Czech media: Billionaire Karel Komárek's family foundation bought $235,000 in piano orders from local manufacturer Petrof that had been canceled by Chinese customers after a Czech delegation visited Taiwan. The pianos will be donated to Czech schools.
Reminder: Taiwan's exclusion from the World Health Organization due to Chinese pressure poses an unnecessary global health risk, especially when mystery viruses start spreading beyond China's borders. For Beijing, politics trumps lives.
Fascinating development: With its military decimated and its economy in tatters, Russia quietly opens the port of Vladivostok to China - 163 years after the Qing ceded it to the Russian Empire.
“I do not torture myself with things we might have done differently.”
Reminder that Kissinger's eagerness to throw the Taiwanese people under the bus in order to please Mao is a major reason that Taiwan's status today is a geopolitical flashpoint.
2011: Ukraine signs agreement to become a strategic partner of China
2017: Ukraine signs on to China's Belt and Road Initiative
2022: "I think the partnership is already over... Ukraine has made it clear that this is the end" - Ukrainian MP
@InnaSovsun
Never-neverland: Taiwan has had only 7 deaths/500 cases during the pandemic, a new export record last month and stock market record high yesterday. Today its central bank *raised* its growth target for this year to 1.6% in a year of global recession.
There are currently *two* coronavirus cases left in Taiwan, out of ~23 million people. Only 7 have died since the first case was reported on January 21, the same day as the first case in the US, where almost 130K+ have died.
Good morning in sad, jealous tweets. All schools in Taiwan have been open since February. They did not listen to China or WHO in January and immediately masked up and shut down travel. They also traced the hell out of their outbreaks. They were practically done by February.
Another own goal for Chinese diplomacy, this time in Brazil. The Chinese embassy there sent a letter telling members of parliament not to congratulate Tsai Ing-wen on her recent inauguration. It was leaked, spawning the
#VivaTaiwan
hashtag now trending.
Em carta, a embaixada da ditadura chinesa recomendou o silêncio dos parlamentares brasileiros em relação à posse da presidente de Taiwan. Uma afronta. Diz que não podemos nem felicitar a presidente. Portanto, mesmo com atraso, felicito a presidente Tsai Ing-wen pela posse.
The stories of Taiwanese who dedicated their lives to overthrowing Chinese dictatorship and establishing the democracy Taiwan enjoys today are little-known beyond Taiwan's borders. Among them, Peng Ming-min's story is one of the most epic - and impactful.
For the vast majority of Taiwanese, China's “offer” of “peaceful unification” is not an olive branch, but a threat to their hard-earned democracy. Most Taiwanese consider their sovereignty non-negotiable - something that many commentators overlook.
Just had noodles in Tainan, chatted with the shop owner/cook while paying, mentioned I'm headed to Kaohsiung now. Moments later, as I am cycling away, I hear someone yell. It's him, drenched in sweat, running to hand me a big bottle of ice-cold water + tell me to take care. #台灣
The story of viral Instagram models Chang Wan-ji & Hsu Sho-er is so pure. Was a joy to interview them and their grandson, Reef, who helps behind the scenes. A super sweet Taiwanese family sharing love with the world. (Great photos, as always, by
@Anrizzy
)
Friendly guy at Kansas City airport: So, where ya headed?
Me: Taiwan.
Guy: Oh yeah? How's Taiwan?
Me: It's great. Nice people, beautiful nature, good food.
Guy: Oh yeah, the food's great.
Me: Ah, you've visited before?
Guy: Nah... I just like Thai food.
Taiwan has never been governed by the People's Republic of China. How can a country seek independence from a state that has never governed it?
And who are “Taiwan independence forces”? The vast majority of democratic Taiwan's 23 million people who oppose annexation by the PRC?
Taiwan has only six people remaining in quarantine for coronavirus and hasn't had a local transmission for two months. It recently revoked the ban on eating aboard the High Speed Rail, although your mask must go back on once you've finished that bento. #防疫新生活
The German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce has written to the Lithuanian government warning that German investors may close their plants in the country unless a "constructive solution to restore Lithuanian-Chinese economic relations" is found
The UN General Assembly is meeting this week, and once again it does not include Taiwan, a democratic near-G20 economy that is home to 23 million people. This is solely due to the objections of Beijing, which itself was excluded from the UN until 1971.🧵👇
Interesting how often US network TV coverage of the Pelosi visit repeated Beijing's rhetoric while ignoring Taiwanese voices. Also interesting: the parent companies of ABC, NBC & CBS have all partnered with Beijing-controlled companies on multibillion-dollar theme park resorts.🧵
If you've wondered how Taiwanese athletes and spectators feel about being forced to compete as Chinese Taipei, you're in luck.
This minidoc by
@GarretMClarkeP1
is full of Taiwanese takes on their predicament.
Democracies worldwide no longer worry about angering an always-angry Beijing. This has made it easier for governments to get closer to Taiwan, a fellow democracy that knows about Chinese anger. Quotes from
@kimberley_chen
,
@jorge_guajardo
,
@MatasMaldeikis
I visited Sihanoukville late last year, and found it overwhelmed by Chinese investment & construction centering around a casino gambling boom. Garbage piles everywhere, while the city's infrastructure was incapable of handling sewage and water drainage.
1. The Manchurian Qing Dynasty ruled less than half of Taiwan from 1683 to 1895, when it ceded it to Japan
2. Tokyo relinquished sovereignty over Taiwan via Treaty of San Francisco in 1952 - with no recipient country designated
3. Cairo + Potsdam declarations both non-binding
There is nothing new about legislators and other officials from the US and other democracies visiting Taiwan. China is manufacturing a crisis with the explicit aim of dictating the foreign policy of sovereign states.
Trial cruise of China's largest type of amphibious assault ship, designed with the invading Taiwan in mind. Top is a landing deck for helicopters, the well in the rear can unload amphibious tanks and hovercraft. China building two per year - this is its third. It's not small.
Can we reconsider the "by force if necessary" formulation when talking about China's threat to Taiwan?
Invading a country that doesn't threaten you is never "necessary". Such phrasing normalizes Xi's plan to end Taiwan's hard-earned freedom at the cost of many lives.
Zelenskyy criticises Chinese support for Russia 1/
- With China’s support for Russia, the war will last longer
- That's bad for the whole world
- It's also not good for China, which declares that it supports sovereignty and territorial integrity
Taiwan president
@iingwen
made this year's Bloomberg 50 for her government's success in handling Covid-19. Despite no local transmissions of the coronavirus since April 12 and only 7 deaths in total, Taiwan introduced stricter mask requirements on Monday.
This feels like a turning point: the first major cross-strait kerfuffle with more foreign correspondents reporting + tweeting from Taipei than from Beijing.
Yes there's room for more Taiwanese voices in x-strait coverage, but *a lot* has changed since Tsai called Trump in 2016.
As the world grapples with the severity of the
#COVID19
pandemic, China’s military maneuvers around
#Taiwan
have continued unabated. Whether it’s national defence or preventing the spread of disease, our armed forces remain as vigilant as ever.
#IslandOfResilience
Carrie Lam has singlehandedly changed the focus of Taiwan's election campaign from economics to sovereignty and boosted Taiwan-Hong Kong solidarity. Can't imagine Beijing being pleased.
The Taipei #反送中 protests is only 20 minutes in and already hundreds have shown up with more pouring in, heard from one organizer they are expecting over a thousand people. Pleasantly surprised by the turnout, by far the biggest TW-HK solidarity protest to happen in a while.
Over the last three years, I have seen first-hand Taiwan’s rich diversity and resilience and experienced the warmth, friendship, support and hospitality of the Taiwanese people. As I prepare to return to my hometown
#Melbourne
in the coming weeks, see my message in Taiwanese:
1. Taiwan has *never* been ruled by the People's Republic of China
2. Nobody was surprised
3. PRC denying its own agency - it chose to conduct destabilizing military exercises and fire missiles into Taiwanese and Japanese waters
#Taiwan
has recorded its sixth straight day of no new confirmed coronavirus cases. The Central Epidemic Command Center used watermelons to help us visualize this milestone.
Taipei Pride, which is not affiliated with today's event, is held on the last Saturday of October because June (Pride month) is typically rainy here. Today's parade is being held for the millions of people worldwide who are unable to march due to the coronavirus pandemic.
During
#USAPEC2023
in San Francisco, I met with Chinese Taipei Minister Kung Ming-Hsin from the National Development Council to discuss ways to strengthen our already robust economic cooperation on critical issues, such as supply chains and clean energy.
And, like magic, shortly after Taiwan became Asia's first country to recognize same-sex marriage, the heavy rains have disappeared and the sun is shining. At this point I wouldn't be surprised if a rainbow appeared.
"In a 1935 resolution, the CCP supported independence for Taiwan. Until 1943, it continued to refer to the Taiwanese people alongside other foreign nations. Not until March 1949 did the party state for the first time its goal of “liberating Taiwan”."
Taiwan's GDP grew faster than China's for the first time in 30 years, according to estimates - official data comes out today. A successful pandemic response and booming exports made it the other major economy to grow last year. By
@samsonellis
& Raymond Wu
Taiwan's GDP grew faster than China's for the first time in 30 years, according to estimates - official data comes out today. A successful pandemic response and booming exports made it the other major economy to grow last year. By
@samsonellis
& Raymond Wu
Crazy 2020 movie pitch: Beautiful island nation on edge of intl order solidifies its democracy, crushes covid, donates 50 million masks to rest of world. Universal health care, awesome food, friendly people, would be perfect but for one thing: China is preparing to annihilate it.
I've spoken to many Taiwanese recently who were genuinely surprised that the world was paying attention to its progress on same-sex marriage. Many here don't realize what a huge soft power win it is for Taiwan.
Just returned to mainland Taiwan after a few days of island life on Xiaoliuqiu 小琉球. Contrary to persistent media tropes, Taiwan is not a mere island, it's a country consisting of many islands, including a rather large one.
Earlier tonight, Taiwanese band FireEX played its Sunflower movement anthem “Island Sunrise” while audience members held up their hands with five fingers outstretched, for the five demands of HK protesters. Feels ever more poignant now.
Hard to overstate the difference between Su Tseng-chang and William Lai's approaches to passing same-sex marriage legislation. Su is all in. Lai did nothing, despite saying he would.
There is only *one* woman serving in the 25-member politburo at the top of the Chinese Communist Party, and none in the 7-member standing committee at its apex. In both Taipei and DC, however, women are playing vital roles in Taiwan's fight for survival.
Reminder to media friends that diminishing Taiwan by calling it "the island" instead of a country is not being neutral, it's literally parroting CCP propaganda
Taiwan is one of the countries least affected by coronavirus (5 deaths) precisely because it ignored
@WHO
guidance, which it considers tainted by Chinese influence. This will only deepen Taiwanese suspicion of WHO.
Kudos to
@TheEconomist
for calling Taiwan a country. All media should do this instead of calling it an island/place. It's a simple choice between reporting a fact, or clouding the truth in a way that aids Communist Party propaganda goals and disrespects a nation of 23 million.
Tsai Ing-wen declaring victory in Taipei: “With each presidential election, Taiwan is showing how much we cherish our democratic way of life... We must work to keep our country safe, and defend our sovereignty”
In the face of constant challenges, the people of
#Taiwan
have been resolute in their commitment to democracy. Together, we are showing the world that countries can develop & thrive while upholding democratic freedoms, & we should be proud of our achievements.
In January, Taiwan's mask production capacity was less than 1.9 million/day. It's now 15 million and will soon reach 20 million, thanks to coordination between the government, mask manufacturers and machine-tool makers.
w/
@Lauly_Th_Li
,
@ChengTingFang
"UN General Assembly Resolution 2758... neither states that Taiwan is a part of the PRC nor gives the PRC the right to represent the people of Taiwan in the UN and its specialised agencies."
Fact check: ✅️
The KMT doesn't consider itself a Taiwanese political party. It is officially the Chinese Nationalist Party, and disrupting Taiwanese democracy serves its own ethnonationalist ends, as well as those of the Chinese Communist Party.
Highly recommend this crash course in Taiwanese history by Gerrit van der Wees to anyone covering Taiwan's election this weekend. Gerrit is a former Dutch diplomat who teaches Taiwanese history at George Mason University.
Fun fact: Brent Christensen, the unofficial US ambassador to Taiwan, was the person who in 2007 purchased the US embassy in Beijing's air quality monitor. The embassy's AQI tweets eventually shamed CCP into admitting/monitoring its pollution problem.
Can't be emphasized enough: one of the critical components of Taiwan's gold-standard response to the pandemic was completely ignoring
@WHO
's advice from the outset
What
@WHO
has done throughout COVID-19 pandemic:
In Jan, WHO said Xi Jinping's leadership on COVID was invaluable.
In Feb, WHO urged countries not to close borders to visitors from China.
In March, WHO advised us against wearing masks.
Now, WHO says comments = cyberattacks.
Today's Taipei Pride parade capped a year-plus coming out for Taiwan on the global stage that began with legalizing same-sex marriage last year and was later boosted by its covid response this year
Respect to
@EngleTV
of Bloomberg for keeping a straight face throughout this exhange with
@KP_Taiwan
, a leading candidate to be Taiwan's next president - a job which presumably involves meeting people and talking to them