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TAEF BRIEF
September 16, 2022
No. 96 |
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CONTENT
-TAEF Updates
-TAEF Commentaries
-New Southbound Policy News
-Regional Headlines |
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US and Canada Visitor Leadership Program Delegation Visits TAEF |
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Date of Event: August 19, 2022
On August 19, TAEF was honored to welcome the delegation of US and Canada Visitor Leadership Program (USCVLP), a premier exchange program organized by the Department of North American Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and implemented by Ming Chuan University’s International College.
The delegation comprised 11 thought leaders and experts from the US and Canada in a variety of fields, such as international relations, trade and economy, national security, and energy.
TAEF and the USCVLP delegation had a fruitful exchange on the potential of the New Southbound Policy (NSP) in expanding Taiwan’s outreach in the international space.
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Freedom House Visits TAEF |
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Date of Event: August 16, 2022
On August 16, TAEF had the pleasure to receive representatives from Freedom House, which recently opened its office in Taipei.
Our Executive Director Dr. Alan Yang presented TAEF’s actions and goals as well as Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy to Freedom House. We were also delighted to learn that Freedom House will operate several projects in Taiwan.
Outstanding in Freedom House’s 2022 Freedom in the World Report, Taiwan has been recognized, by this world-renowned think tank, as a hot spot for democracy development in Asia.
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BBC Hindi
China-Taiwan Tension: Is Taiwan Prepared if China Wages a War on Taiwan? Will the US Come to Taiwan's Aid? |
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September 1, 2022
-Dr. Alan H. Yang, Executive Director, Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation
Following the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi’s visit, TAEF Executive Director Dr. Alan H. Yang received an interview from BBC Hindi on how it would affect the Cross-Strait tension.
In essence, Dr. Yang commented that "The people of Taiwan have been faced with and threatened by China's political pressure and military intimidation for decades. The civil society and the people here are closer to democratic values This is the strength of the people of Taiwan that despite living under Chinese threat, they live a normal life here in Taiwan."
Watch the full video
here.
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DW Chinese
Is India Playing the "Taiwan Card" Against China? Experts Hold Different Views |
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August 31, 2022
-Dr. Sana Hashmi, Postdoctoral Fellow, Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation
India's first-time calling out China for the "militarization of Taiwan Strait" has raised speculations of the country using the Taiwan card against China. When interviewed by DW Chinese, TAEF Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Sana Hahsmi replied with a big NO, stressing that "Taiwan is too important to be used as a card against China." She said that India has been working for a long time towards altering its Taiwan policy, and this rare response "should only be seen as a show of support and solidarity."
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BBC Hindi
China-India Tension: Is this an Opportunity for India? BBC World with Vidit Mehra |
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August 30, 2022
-Dr. Sana Hashmi, Postdoctoral Fellow, Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation
With India-China relations becoming more dynamic while India called out China for the "militarization of Taiwan Strait" for the first time recently, TAEF Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Sana Hashmi talked to BBC Hindi on India-China relations, adding an insider view from Taiwan.
Dr. Hashmi stressed that "In the past two years, China only opted to escalate tensions with India and Taiwan. The current round of tensions is a wake-up call for Taiwanese businesses still operating in China that they must pull out of China and look toward other countries. India is a huge potential market for Taiwan. If India-Taiwan relations become stronger and interactions grow, then there is a possibility that Taiwanese businesses will be motivated to enter the Indian market."
Watch the full video
here.
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NEW SOUTHBOUND POLICY NEWS |
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Focus Taiwan
European Parliament Passes 'Silicon Shield' Pro-Taiwan Resolution |
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September 15, 2022
The European Parliament overwhelmingly passed a non-binding pro-Taiwan resolution, calling for the boosting of Taiwan's security by strengthening its "silicon shield."
The resolution stresses that Taiwan is crucial for the global supply chain of key high-tech sectors, notably semiconductors, and the European Parliament called on the European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to swiftly start work on a resilient supply chain agreement with Taiwan aimed at preserving Taiwan's security by strengthening its "silicon shield."
In the resolution, the Parliament also calls on the EEAS and the Commission to consider co-investment in partnerships between the EU's Global Gateway and Taiwan's New Southbound Policy, with a view to fostering trade and political relationships as well as stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
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Focus Taiwan
Indonesia Eyes Taiwan Investment in New Capital City Nusantara: Envoy |
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September 15, 2022
Indonesia's representative office in Taipei is looking to attract more Taiwanese investment to Indonesia as the Southeast Asian country promotes business opportunities related to the relocation of its capital city.
In a bid to reduce developmental inequality in the archipelago, Indonesia is moving its center of government from Jakarta in Java to Nusantara in Kalimantan and hopes to complete the new city's first phase of development by 2024, said Budi Santoso, head of the Indonesian Economic and Trade Office in Taipei (IETO).
"Taiwan has a strong high-tech industry and we have materials, so we can work together in Indonesia and also build the capital city Nusantara," Budi said.
Upon being informed of the transition of the capital city, many Taiwanese companies have expressed interest in investing in Indonesia, Budi said, adding that Taiwanese investment in Indonesia has been growing in recent years.
Taiwan and Indonesia also have a substantial relationship as there are currently 350,000 Indonesian citizens working in Taiwan, while at least 16,000 Indonesian students study in Taiwan, in short course or internship programs, and undergraduate, masters and doctoral programs at various colleges and universities, Budi said.
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Bangkok Post
“Taiwan Expo 2022” The Economical and Cultural Bridge between Thailand - Taiwan
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September 12, 2022
The 4th year of Taiwan Expo 2022 – the largest expo for innovation and technological products in Thailand – continues to support the B2B model online and offline. The event packs a diverse range of products and innovations from leading Taiwanese brands.
Dr. Chuang Suo Hang, Representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand, representative of the Taiwanese government in Thailand, said that the Taiwan Expo is one of the projects under the New Southbound initiative of Taiwan’s government, in the hopes that it can become a bridge to link Thailand and Taiwan, both economically and culturally. Taiwan’s products and innovations have the potential to become one of the best options for Thai entrepreneurs. Thailand is considered the land of opportunities in ASEAN that investors are showing their interest in.
Taiwan also expands the success of the Taiwan Expo in 5 other countries in this region – India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines. There are also regular trade events, exhibitions, and investor visits to Taiwan, and if investors are interested in purchasing the products, they can visit the factories to observe the manufacturing process to gain confidence in the quality.
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Bloomberg
Singapore to Create Up to 20,000 Finance Jobs in Five Years
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September 15, 2022
Singapore aims to add as many as 20,000 finance jobs over five years as the government seeks to bolster areas including wealth management and sustainable financing.
The Asian financial hub is projected to add 3,000 to 4,000 net roles on average every year from 2021 to 2025, while the financial sector will grow by 4% to 5% per year in the plan unveiled recently by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
The push to enhance Singapore’s competitiveness as a global financial center comes against the backdrop of a gloomier economic outlook. The country’s political stability attracts rich people from all over the world, a key edge as it vies with Hong Kong and London to manage global wealth flows. The financial sector accounts for 14% of the country’s gross domestic product.
The Asian financial hub last month said it is overhauling visa rules to attract foreign workers, allowing foreigners earning a minimum S$30,000 ($21,338) per month to secure a five-year work pass. That’s the latest in a string of decisions this year that are meant to address a still-tight labor market, as well as attract international business.
The plan is “a clear signal by the MAS to stay ahead of the changing trends and ensure Singapore maintains its position and relevance as a leading and open financial center,” said Amol Gupte, Citigroup’s head of South and Southeast Asia.
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The Economist
Pakistan’s Flood Disaster Shows the Perils of Climate Shortsightedness
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September 12
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As one-third of Pakistan remains submerged after devastating floods, Muzammil Kakar, general secretary of the Haqooq-e-Khalq Party (HKP), worries about his own family amid on-the-ground efforts to help flood victims near his hometown in Balochistan province, Pakistan.
Kakar mainly earning money through farming their apple orchards, like much of the Baloch population who live mainly off of agriculture. But with transportation at a halt and major roadways and railways covered with water, Kakar said despite a good initial harvest, the harvested fruits are rotting in wait because there is no way to send them to consumers or markets. Yet Kakar said the impact of these lost harvests is far from understood.
This is hardly the kind of story that’s immediately being highlighted in the aftermath of the floods’ devastation because most efforts are focused on immediate relief of the 33 million internally displaced persons who have lost everything in the disaster. Kakar, however, pointed out this particular story in an effort to share his concern on what will happen next when immediate relief efforts end and the news cycle moves on.
Part of the shortsightedness that Kakar has pointed out can be seen in the mismanagement of flood relief operations—with most organizations and individuals who are coordinating relief efforts homing in on a few select areas while others are left wanting.
Read more
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The Economist
Can South-East Asian Countries Learn to Share Power?
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September 1, 2022
It takes just three hours to fly to Singapore from Vientiane, the capital of Laos. To transmit electricity between them, however, has taken eight years.
In June and July both countries undertook an experiment in energy exchange. Electricity from hydropower plants in Laos, which brands itself “the battery of Asia”, buzzed through wires in Thailand and Malaysia to arrive in Singapore. The amount of power made available, 100mw, is less than 1% of what Singapore produces itself. Yet this trial, which was mooted in 2014, has been hailed for its symbolism: it marks the first time electricity has travelled across four South-East Asian countries.
In Europe and North America, trading with neighbours has been crucial to reducing costs and pollution while boosting capacity. It has also helped those regions handle the vagaries of solar and wind power. Pooling power over a large area means that deficits in one place can be quickly compensated for by surpluses elsewhere.
Yet ASEAN governments tend to hoard power, usually by overbuilding fossil-fuel plants. Most member states boast generation capacity of over 30% more than peak demand. “Although people want to be friends, you can never fully trust your neighbour,” says Matthew Heling of afry, a consultancy. “Will they give you power when you want it?” Suspicion keeps costs and pollution higher than necessary.
What has changed is the push for clean power.
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