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TAEF BRIEF
April 14, 2023
No. 108 |
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CONTENT
-TAEF Updates
-TAEF Media Gallery
-TAEF Commentaries
-New Southbound Policy News
-Regional Headlines |
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TAEF Meets with Release Peace Director |
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April 11, 2023
TAEF recently met with Daniel Peter, director of Release Peace. Release Peace is a nonprofit based in the Hague with an emphasis on promoting peace and security. Founded in March 2019, their work includes both on-the-ground projects in states with non-state actors that threaten peace and security as well as international advocacy with the UN, EU, ASEAN and other international-level organizations. TAEF was pleased to initiate communications with them and get to know them.
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2022 Yushan Forum | Interview with Minister of Economic Affairs Now Available |
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Organized by TAEF, the annual Yushan Forum: Asian Dialogue for Innovation and Progress provides a prominent platform for facilitating regional dialogues and showcasing both governmental and non-governmental cooperation between Taiwan and its neighboring partner countries. By doing so, the Yushan Forum helps foster stronger social connectivity for the region's youth by encouraging innovation, progressive ideas, and diverse regional partnerships.
For the 2022 Yushan Forum, TAEF was fortunate to have the opportunity to interview the Minister of Economic Affairs, Ms. Wang Mei-Hua. She shared with us how the MOEA promotes the New Southbound Policy, as well as how the MOEA has prioritized digital transformation and e-commerce cooperation and invested in reaching the zero emissions target.
The 2022 Yushan Forum witnessed fruitful exchange of wisdom between leaders and representatives from home and abroad during the opening, two key sessions, one roundtable dialogue, the luncheon, and the dinner. TAEF is excited to share with you the full interview with the Minister of Economic Affairs for the 2022 Yushan Forum, available now on the our YouTube channel.
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Newsweek
What Two Taiwan Trips Mean for Fate of Most Dangerous U.S.-China Issue
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March 31, 2023
-Dr. Sana Hashmi, Postdoctoral Fellow, Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation
In an article for Newsweek, Sana Hashmi, a fellow at TAEF, was asked for comment on current President Tsai Ying-wen’s recent visit to the U.S. at the same time that former President Ma Ying-jeou visited mainland China. Dr. Hashmi argued that Ma is trying to secure his legacy and demonstrate the KMT’s dedication to cross-Strait stability, especially with elections soon on the horizon. Dr. Hashmi suggested that Xi’s reaction to Ma’s visit would be low-key, just as Biden’s reaction to Tsai’s visit has been. Dr. Hashmi argues that China will use Ma’s visit to project Taiwan as willing to improve its relations with China.
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NEW SOUTHBOUND POLICY NEWS |
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Taiwan News
Taiwan Shoe Manufacturer Plans Factory in India
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April 7, 2023
The world’s second-largest shoe manufacturer, Taiwan’s Hong Fu, is planning to open a factory in Tamil Nadu, a state of India. India is one of 18 target countries of the New Southbound Policy. The project was initiated in April 2022 with a memorandum of understanding between the Tamil Nadu state government and Hong Fu. Hong Fu manufactures shoes for global companies like Nike. Puma, Vans, and Converse. The factory in India will likely total NT $3.7 billion and create 20,000 jobs over three to give years.
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Taipei Times
Ministry of Education Touts Malaysia Recruitment Drive
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April 6, 2023
The Ministry of Education said that with the lifting of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, foreign students have flooded back into Taiwan. Pre-pandemic there were on average more than 120,000 foreign students per year in Taiwan, with numbers falling to a still impressive 90,000 in each of the past two years. The MOE is expanding its student recruitment efforts, with one recent mission destined for western Malaysia. Taiwan’s universities are known for their friendly atmosphere and affordable prices, as well as the encouragement of the New Southbound Policy through scholarships and higher education expos and the advanced industries providing job opportunities.
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Market Screener
ASUSTek Computer: Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PHAPi) Delegation Visits ASUS
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April 6, 2023
The Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PHAPi) visited the ASUS headquarters, an indication of the broader trend of Southeast Asian organizations expressing interest in Taiwan’s smart healthcare industry. Taiwan’s technology and healthcare industries are both world-renowned, and Taiwan’s smart healthcare companies are helping hospitals in their post-pandemic digital transformation. Many ASEAN countries are expressing interest in Taiwan’s smart healthcare industry and applying these technologies and infrastructures to their own hospital systems.
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Taiwan News
Taiwan Helps Restaurant, Beverage Chains Expand Into Thailand, South Korea, US
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April 4, 2023
Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs is encouraging Taiwanese chains to expand into Thailand, South Korea, and the Untied States. The Ministry plans to take these restaurant and beverage companies to trade fairs abroad, helping them to meet potential partners and investors. The MOEA also plans to organize expos overseas. This push is intended to take advantage of the post-pandemic economic recovery and the growing interest in Taiwanese food and drink products overseas.
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Albanese's Emissions Bill Seeks to End Australia's 'Climate Wars'
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April 9, 2023
A new emissions bill that passed Parliament signals Prime Minister Albanese’s intent to settle the controversial topic of climate change. The bill will impose emissions limits on polluters in conjunction with a carbon credit scheme and cap Australia’s overall industrial pollution. The bill was pushed through with Albanese’s Labor Party and the Greens.
Climate change legislation has been a source of frustration during previous administrations, and the past stalemates led to voter frustration being vented against the former Prime Minister Scott Morrison as well as more climate-focused legislators being elected. The past decade has revealed a shift in Australian attitudes towards climate change legislation, with more citizens aware of the deadly effect of climate change on natural disasters.
Industry groups are cautioning legislators about possible inefficiencies in the legislation, such as the risk of carbon leakage, but they seem to have accepted that this new safeguard will be implemented. In the future, political battles are expected if the government takes policies that will more directly impact industry.
Read more
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Foreign Policy
Modi's Party Deals Its Main Opposition a Final Blow
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April 7
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Lawmaker and former Indian National Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi was recently convicted of defamation, raising alarms about whether the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is undermining Indian democracy. Gandhi’s conviction disqualifies him from Parliament, and if his appeals fail, the main opposition party to the BJP will be left without a leader during next year’s elections.
Gandhi’s conviction came four years after the defaming comments were made and a year before the next national elections, raising questions about possible political bias in India’s judiciary. This is especially true given he received the maximum penalty under the law and the minimum grounds for disqualification from Parliament. It would not be unprecedented for the BJP to harass opposition politicians, but this would be a dramatic escalation in tactics.
The Congress party has so far failed to come up with a viable alternative to Gandhi, partly due to the stranglehold the Gandhi family has on the party. In addition, the Congress party has repeatedly failed at the polls and at providing a viable set of alternative policies. Analysts predict that the BJP seems all but set to sweep the upcoming elections. If Gandhi’s appeal fails, both the Congress Party and India’s democracy seem set on a downward trajectory.
Read more
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The Diplomat
A Maturing Pragmatism in Indonesia-Singapore Relations
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April 4, 2023
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s recent visit to Singapore indicates a deepening of Indonesia and Singapore’s engagement with mutual benefits. During the visit, Jokowi and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong signed six MOUs and nine business-to-business agreements. Agreements centered on potential areas of mutual cooperation, including digital technology and entrepreneurship, as well as young talent development.
Both leaders have shown in the past an aptitude for breaking through domestic politics to advance foreign policy. The personal connection between the two leaders appear to have contributed to a more balanced relationship that could make the relationship more sustainable.
Jokowi's push is part of a broader effort to make Indonesia a more active player in ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific, especially as Indonesia is the chairman of ASEAN this year. The improved Indonesian-Singaporean relations could play an important role in stabilizing ASEAN and the region as a whole. If the MoUs signed this trip overcome domestic challenges and the two leaders can amicably overcome disagreements, Indonesian-Singaporean relations will likely have a solid framework to build on in the future.
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