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TAEF BRIEF
July 1, 2022
No. 92 |
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CONTENT
-TAEF Updates
-TAEF Commentaries
-New Southbound Policy News
-Regional Headlines |
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IORG x TAEF 2022 Summer Briefing on Information Manipulation in the Indo-Pacific Region |
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June 29, 2022
On June 29th, TAEF had the pleasure to co-organize the webinar “2022 Summer Briefing on Information Manipulation in the Indo-Pacific Region” with IORG (Information Operations Research Group). Focusing on the Indo-Pacific region, we invited speakers from Taiwan, Malaysia, Australia, and Japan, to share their research on relative topics.
Giving his welcome remarks at the webinar, TAEF Executive Director Dr. Alan H. Yang highlighted that the Foundation initially addressed the issue of disinformation when co-organizing, with Taiwan’s parliament Executive Yuan, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the 2021 Open Parliament Forum, where parliament members from Eastern European Countries shared their experience of fighting against information manipulation. Now, TAEF continued the discussion by looking at the most eye-watching region.
Sharing IORG’s research work, Chih-hao Yu, Co-Director of the research group, presented significant research results on China’s information manipulation in Taiwan and urged more actions to build better public literacy and trust in order to consolidate democracy as well as freedom of speech. The discussion went further with studies conducted in different countries in the Indo-Pacific region and unveiled Australia’s promotion of education on media literacy to the younger generation, the Malaysian population’s regard towards some of the most worldwide media-covered issues, and potential bilateral cooperation between Japan and Taiwan on preventing democracy from disinformation.
Watch the full webinar here
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TAEF 2022 Taiwan-Australia Policy Report Workshop |
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June 21, 2022
On June 21, TAEF invited contributors of the Taiwan-Australia Policy Report to engage in a discussion on the Taiwan-Australia Policy Report Workshop, which is one of its annual flagship research series. Taiwan and Australia are like-minded countries that have been working together to maintain security, promote stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, and uphold the shared values of democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. Building on this foundation, the policy report takes an in-depth look at Taiwan-Australia relations across a range of dimensions, including politics, trade, environment, and culture. At this critical moment, as we enter the post-Covid era and welcome the new Australian administration, we look forward to the policy report providing valuable and crucial insights into the policy circles and their utilization at the government level.
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East Asian Policy
Strategising Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy: The Practice of PPPP Configuration |
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-Dr. Alan H. Yang, Executive Director, Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation
The New Southbound Policy (hereinafter the NSP) is a signature foreign policy launched by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen when she took office in 2016. The motivation behind the new strategy is to prioritize Taiwan’s engagement in Asia, instead of depending solely on one specific market.
The welcoming response of the international community, such as like-minded governments and international organizations, to Taiwan’s efforts in implementing the NSP, was encouraging. One such concrete move is the launch of the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-century Trade on June 1, 2022, to develop ways to deepen their economic and trade relationship. In addition, the European Parliament’s policy recommendations to the European Commission also pinpointed that the EU should strengthen its connectivity strategy in partnership with Taiwan’s NSP. These positive responses along with the others, such as international media attention and coverage, demonstrate that Taiwan is no longer a political taboo that cannot be publicly mentioned due to the political pressure and limits imposed by China.
This article argues that the underlying reasons for the international positive responses toward the NSP are twofold. First, the NSP responds to the people-centered rationale of ASEAN integration and the making of a regional community; Second, synergetic partnerships have been self-proven as the key to the success of the NSP.
To request the full text, please kindly send us an email at service@taef.org.
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Liberty Times Net
China’s Expansion in the South Pacific: Rethinking the Trilogy of the Framework Agreement on Security Cooperation |
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June 17, 2022
-Dr. Alan H. Yang, Executive Director, Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation
The birth of the Framework Agreement on Security Cooperation between China and the Solomon Islands is sending us a message: as a result of Taiwan’s “fading out” and China’s aggressive intervention, nesting power structures and overlapping spheres of influence are currently developing in the South Pacific region. The initiative also reinforces the international sentiment that small countries have the right to defend their own independent and autonomous diplomatic decisions, and should not be considered exclusively subordinate to any great powers (such as the US and Australia). In other words, the Beijing government has positioned itself to be a candidate of not only trade partner but a security guarantor when it comes to cooperation.
Yet China’s efforts in selling the idea of China and the Pacific Islands being a community with a shared future is not well-received. The author suggests three possible reasons: First, the Pacific Islands refuse to rest under the sphere of influence of any great powers, as it will probably intensify the geopolitical tension in the region (with them being used as a pawn); Second, China’s vision of building a “China-Pacific Islands community with a shared future” has rung the island countries’ alarm on China’s intention to expand its influence; Third, as Australia strengthens its defense in the South Pacific region, it advocates for natural grouping, which has resulted in the Pacific Islands being caught up in contemplation.
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NEW SOUTHBOUND POLICY NEWS |
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Taiwan News
Taiwan Not Invited to the Inauguration of Philippines President Marcos
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June 29, 2022
Taiwan has not been invited to send a representative to the June 30 presidential inauguration of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the Philippines.
MOFA said it would continue to seek other means to congratulate the new president of Taiwan’s southern neighbor. Emphasizing the close links between the two countries, MOFA said there were an estimated 140,000 migrant workers from the Philippines working in Taiwan
Meanwhile, bilateral trade reached US$9.07 billion (NT$269.21 billion) last year, with a further increase of 20.6% for the first four months of 2022.
As Taiwan had listed the Philippines as one of the 18 “New Southbound Policy” countries, MOFA said it would continue to develop cooperation projects and exchanges to benefit the people of both sides.
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Taipei Times
South Asia Ties Need to be Nurtured
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June 26, 2022
President Tsai Ing-wen has focused on improving relations with South Asian countries under the New Southbound Policy. It is in this context that Thursday’s meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Hon Hai Precision Industry Co-chairman Young Liu has been viewed as important—not merely because a Taiwanese company is planning to establish an electric vehicle plant in India, but also because the meeting indicated India’s willingness to engage at the highest political level.
There are several reasons for the limited engagement between Taiwan and the region over the years. One obstacle is China’s proximity to South Asian countries, except India. It has been observed that at China’s request, countries such as Nepal and Pakistan have not shown any inclination to foster ties with Taiwan. Trade barriers imposed by South Asian countries and a lack of understanding of each other’s culture, and languages are among the other obstacles preventing ties with Taiwan.
Read more
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Taiwan Intellectual Property Office
Taiwan Signs MoU with India to Bolster IPR Cooperation
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June 13, 2022
The Taiwan-India MoU on Intellectual Property Rights was signed by Representative Baushuan Ger of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India and Director General Gourangalal Das of the Indian Taipei Association at the High-Level India Taiwan Business Roundtable on May 18, 2022. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Vice Minister Chuan-Neng Lin of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Director General Shu-Min Hong of the Taiwan Intellectual Property Office. The exchange of diplomatic instruments was subsequently completed on June 6, opening a new chapter of cooperation between Taiwan and India in the field of IPR.
Under the framework of this MoU, both sides will jointly facilitate activities such as expert exchange programs, training courses, and experience exchange regarding IP awareness campaigns. Other collaborative efforts are also underway, such as facilitating the protection of traditional knowledge and setting up a joint committee to coordinate the implementation of related cooperation activities.
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The Times of India
Gas Lines and Scuffles: Sri Lanka Faces Humanitarian Crisis
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June 30
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Eleven people have died so far waiting for gasoline. The latest was a 63-year-old man found dead inside his vehicle on the outskirts of Colombo. Unable to get gasoline, some have given up driving and resorted to bicycles or public transportation to get around.
Food price inflation is running at 57%, according to government data, and 70% of Sri Lankan households surveyed by UNICEF last month reported cutting back on food consumption. Many families rely on government rice handouts and donations from charities and generous individuals.
Unable to find cooking gas, many Sri Lankans are turning to kerosene stoves or cooking over open fires.
Affluent families can use electric induction ovens for cooking unless the power is out. But most Sri Lankans can’t afford those stoves or higher electric bills.
Sri Lankans furious over fuel shortages have staged protests, blocked roads, and confronted police. Fights have broken out when some try to jump ahead in fuel lines. Police have attacked unruly crowds.
The crisis is a crushing blow to Sri Lanka’s middle class, estimated to account for 15% to 20% of the country’s urban population. Until it all came apart, they enjoyed financial security and increasing standards of living.
Read more
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The Diplomat
Marcos Jr. is Steering the Philippines Towards a Foreign Policy Reset
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June 29, 2022
Just weeks after his decisive electoral victory, Philippine President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, who wasted no time highlighting the “long-standing” U.S.-Philippine alliance.
As president, Marcos Jr. will actively court large-scale Chinese investment in order to fund his ambitious infrastructure development initiative and boost economic growth after five quarters of recession in 2020 and 2021.
At the same time, the incoming Filipino president has taken a tougher stance on the South China Sea disputes, repeatedly reiterating the finality of the arbitral tribunal ruling in the South China Sea against Beijing and making it clear that he will not “compromise it in any way.”
Then, if anything, the incoming Filipino president is an aficionado of British culture. During his six years in power, Duterte refused to visit a single Western capital, whereas Marcos Jr. is likely to become the first Filipino president to visit the White House in almost a decade.
Marcos Jr. has also warmly welcomed dignitaries from Europe, Japan, India, and South Korea, adding to signals about his preference for a foreign policy that is neither too dependent on the U.S. nor too friendly to China. In foreign policy, it seems that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
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The Economist
Why is Inflation Relatively Low in Some Places?
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June 20, 2022
Faced with public uproar about the cost of living, policymakers like to point out that rising prices are a global phenomenon. “Every country in the world is getting a big bite and piece of this inflation,” said President Joe Biden on June 10th, after America reported its biggest bite since 1981.
It is true that the cost of fuel, fertilizer, and grains rose everywhere after Russia invaded Ukraine in February. But not everywhere has its mouth full of inflation. Of the 42 big economies featured on the indicators page of The Economist, eight still have inflation below 4%. Six of those eight are in East or South-East Asia. The region also includes some smaller oases of price stability, such as Vietnam (where inflation was 2.9% in the year to May) and Macau (1.1% in the year to April).
What accounts for this Eastern exceptionalism? Japan has long suffered from too-low inflation, although rising commodity prices have pushed the headline rate a little higher. Elsewhere, part of the explanation lies in the spread of two diseases. An outbreak of African swine fever from 2018 to 2021 devastated the pig population in China, where as many as 200m pigs were culled, according to some estimates. This dramatically increased the price of pork, a staple food in East Asia. The price has subsequently fallen back sharply. This helped offset inflationary pressures elsewhere in the economy.
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