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TAEF BRIEF
March 31, 2023
No. 107 |
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CONTENT
-TAEF Updates
-TAEF Media Gallery
-TAEF Commentaries
-New Southbound Policy News
-Regional Headlines |
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Radio Taiwan International Visits TAEF to Announce Future Collaborations and Signing of MOU |
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March 15, 2023
TAEF recently met with representatives from Radio Taiwan International (RTI) to discuss the signing of a MOU. TAEF invited RTI to join its network, Asia Engagement Consortium(AEC), of allied organizations. In addition, both parties discussed future cooperative efforts in both domestic and international forums for various fields including literature, international media, and foreign language broadcasting. TAEF looks forwards to fruitful collaboration with RTI that will enrich the intellectual pursuits of both sides and expand the breadth of their coverage.
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NSP Resilient Talent Project: On International Healthcare With Dr. Chuang Pei-Ni |
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At the end of 2022, TAEF launched the NSP Resilient Talent Project, which aims to discover the stories of New Southbound Policy movers in society, such as new immigrants, second-generation immigrants, and foreign personnel working in Taiwan. Through their stories, we hope to better understand, from their groundwork experience, how the New Southbound Policy has opened up Taiwan's Southward exchange and the associated opportunities and challenges.
In this issue of the TAEF Brief, we invite you to hear the journey of Dr. Chuang Pei-Ni, a doctor who embraces holistic medicine and humanistic care working on helathcare projects in Southeast Asia. TAEF is excited to share the full interview with Dr. Chuang, available now on our YouTube channel.
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The Sunday Guardian
Democracies Must Work to Reverse China's 'New Normal'
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March 18, 2023
-Dr. Alan H. Yang, Executive Director, Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation
-Dr. Sana Hashmi, Postdoctoral Fellow, Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation
In an opinion piece for The Sunday Guardian, Dr. Alan H Yang and Dr. Sana Hashmi argue that the channels of communication between the U.S. and China are rapidly deteriorating and predict further tensions in the Indo-Pacific this year. They point to multiple past clashes with India and Taiwan that indicate China is trying to establish a new norm, pointing specifically to Xi’s centralization of power and coercive military and economic behavior. Drs. Yang and Hashmi argue that liberal democracies must collaborate to protect the rules-based order by incorporating Taiwan, safeguarding economically vulnerable countries, create forums for like-minded countries to discuss, and oppose China’s attempts to change the status quo.
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NEW SOUTHBOUND POLICY NEWS |
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DigiTimes Asia
Taiwan PCB Makers Moving Production to Southeast Asia
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March 24, 2023
Taiwan-based PCB, or printed circuit board, makers have moved their manufacturing out of China, with some moving into Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Thailand has welcomed PCB investments by offering incentives like lowering manufacturing costs and stable water supplies. Unimicron leads the pack in expanding in Thailand, which is actively seeking foreign investments. Malaysia is also expanding its PCB market, as it plays a key role in the global semiconductor industry. Vietnam has received investments from Taiwan PCB Technology and Tripod Technology, although there are some concerns about anti-Chinese sentiments in the country.
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Energy Trend
TCA's Energy Charger Brand BEGIN Launches Its First Smart Charging Station in Australia
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March 16, 2023
Taiwan Carbon Asset (TCA)'s smart charging brand BEGIN has partnered with OAK Enterprises of Australia to build smart chargers in Hope Island Marketplace of Gold Coast, Australia. TCA emphasized its efforts in the global campaign for net-zero emissions by providing green solutions for energy and carbon emissions. TCA indicated that it also hopes to expand into Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, and will attend an energy conference in Munich this year. As Australia has made definite pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, TCA constructing its first charging station in Australia indicates that it has bene recognized for its competence by the international community.
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Pakistan Election Spat Enters New Stage as IMF Cash Remains Elusive
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March 24, 2023
Ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan’s supporters clashed with police, leading to key elections in the province of Punjab being postponed from April to October. The decision by the Election Commission contravenes a Supreme Court ruling that followed the dissolution of the provincial assemblies in January. The dissolution was orchestrated by Imran Khan in order to force an early general election, and he criticized the postponement. Meanwhile, the coalition government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for the general election and provincial elections to be held at the same time, in October.
Imran Khan himself faces allegations of misconduct which he dismisses as politically motivated. His supporters have blocked police attempts to arrest him, but he finally appeared in court in Islamabad on the 25th and was asked to return on March 30. The current government has filed an anti-terrorism case based on the clashes and have called for authorization to address Khan’s party’s alleged involvement.
The continued disorder is hurting Pakistan’s access to aid from the International Monetary Fund. The IMF has held off on the disbursement of at least $1.2 billion in aid. Experts say the IMF wants Khan’s opposition party to sign off on the commitments, but this is unlikely to happen as the suggested reforms would be politically unpopular. The IMF is also waiting for Gulf states to fulfill their commitments of external aid to Pakistan. Experts are pessimistic about the chance of reform in Pakistan.
Read more
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Nikkei Asia
IS-Linked Extremists Infiltrate ASEAN, Eyeing Indonesia 2024 Polls
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March 21
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Despite its caliphate falling in Syria four years ago, Islamic State is retrenching in Southeast Asia. Experts warn that Indonesia and the Philippines are most at risk of potential attacks.
Some experts predict attacks during Indonesia’s presidential election season in 2024. Police are warning about both Jemaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), the biggest IS affiliate in Indonesia, and the al-Qaeda-linked linked Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), highly committed to building an Islamic state in Indonesia. IS is mostly recruiting using social media and providing paramilitary training, although young people are eager to carry out attacks even without training.
In the Philippines, ISIS regards terrorist organizations there as reliable and useful allies. Abu Sayyaf is notorious, with one of its factions receiving support from IS headquarters. In Singapore, experts are concerned about the use of social media, especially online gaming, to propagate extremist ideology, and Malaysia is also a source of concern.
Rather than a near-term threat, experts are focused on understanding the nature and potency of IS’s narratives and ideology. Although IS is currently rebuilding after its defeats in the Middle East, it is seeking to remain relevant and rebuild attack capabilities. Governments must take action to combat their propaganda and prepare for the possibility of more attacks.
Read more
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The Economist
Micronesia Takes on China
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March 16, 2023
The letter written by Micronesia’s outgoing President David Panuelo, leaked recently and addressed to the Congress and state governors, offers a detailed insight into China’s influence campaigns among the small Pacific Island states. It makes clear China’s focus on a potential conflict over Taiwan, as well as the attractiveness of Taiwan as a potential ally and source of aid.
Mr. Panuelo describes in his letter offers of cash and trips by private planes as well as direct threats and harassment against politicians and administrators. He calls these efforts “political warfare” by China and calls for Micronesia to switch diplomatic recognition to Taiwan, suggesting that he has already received financial commitments from Taiwan. China has dismissed these allegations.
The island states of the Pacific would face a huge loss of sovereignty in any cross-Strait conflict, but experts suggest this position can also give them surprising amounts of influence. Micronesia successfully called on Pacific island leaders to reject China’s “common development vision” and has signed “compacts of free association” with America along with the Marshall Islands and Palau. Fiji has chosen to work with Australia rather than China on a deal for police training. These changes indicate that the Pacific island states are not hapless pawns of a great-power rivalry but rather significant geopolitical powers that are using the tensions to their advantage.
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