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TAEF BRIEF
July 21th, 2023
No. 115 |
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CONTENT
-TAEF Updates
-TAEF Media Gallery
-TAEF Commentaries
-New Southbound Policy News
-Regional Headlines |
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National Endowment for Democracy (NED) visits TAEF |
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July 20, 2023
July 18, 2023
The Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation (TAEF) was pleased to receive the delegation from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), including President & CEO Damon Wilson, the Associate Director for Asia Lynn Lee, along with representatives from Taiwanese civil defense and disaster prevention NGO, Kuma. President Tsai Ing-Wen was also honored with the Democracy Service Medal for her historic achievements and contributions advancing democracy and human rights in Taiwan and around the world. Their visit to TAEF was an opportunity to foster ties across civil society institutions in Taiwan to promote long-term collaboration in strengthening democracy in Taiwan and Asian. The NED delegation emphasized its commitment to supporting TAEF's efforts in advancing the New Southbound Policy in Southeast Asia and beyond by sharing ideas and fostering dialogue on democratic governance issues.
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NSP Resilient Talent Project—Interview with Second Generation of New Immigrants |
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Above is the next in the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation's New Southbound Policy (NSP) Resilient Talent Project video series. The series, initiated in late 2022, goes into various fields and industries in Taiwan, uncovering the stories of NSP policy workers, new immigrants, their children, and NSP forces working in Taiwan. Through their sharing, we hope to better understand how the NSP has opened up Taiwan's Southward exchange and the associated opportunities and challenges.
In this interview with enterprising young law and Taiwanese literature student studying at the National Cheng-Kung University, Wang Jui-hao talks about his advocacy for Southeast Asian immigrants to Taiwan. As a Vietnamese-Taiwanese, he hopes to be able to uplift the lives of immigrant families like his own, particularly by helping people to access education and improve their job prospects and economic circumstances. He not only serves the immigrant community through volunteering at literacy programs, but also by embracing and sharing his Vietnamese cultural background in Taiwan. He is improving his Vietnamese language skills in the hopes that through his legal studies he will one day be able to represent immigrant interests in the legal sphere and fight for their rights.
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John Hopkins University Press
Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific Region: Prospects and Challenges
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July 20, 2023
-Dr. Sana Hashmi, Postdoctoral Fellow, Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation
Taiwan's security and strategic stability in the Indo-Pacific region are closely interconnected, with the United States and Japan viewing the maintenance of the status quo in the Taiwan Strait as integral to the rules-based order. Despite lacking formal diplomatic relations with most nations in the region, Taiwan plays a significant role in trade, investment, and regional supply chains. The Taiwanese government, under the Tsai Ing-wen administration, seeks collaboration with Indo-Pacific countries to uphold a rules-based order and foster a resilient and peaceful community. Taiwan advocates for an inclusive, transparent, and rules-based approach, drawing on its good governance practices and non-confrontational external engagements. The China-US rivalry, with Taiwan as a major factor, also influences the dynamics of the Indo-Pacific region. This article explores Taiwan's centrality in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in major power politics within the region.
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NEW SOUTHBOUND POLICY NEWS |
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Focus Taiwan
Hon Hai subsidiary in Singapore aimed at EV
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July 18, 2023
Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., also known as Foxconn, has invested NT$15 billion (US$484 million) to establish Foxconn EV Singapore Holdings Pte, a subsidiary in Singapore dedicated to electric vehicle (EV) development. While the official statement did not provide specific details about the investment's nature, an industry source revealed that the subsidiary is intended to serve as a funding hub for Hon Hai's global EV ambitions. The company aims to secure at least a 5 percent share of the global EV market by 2025 and has already made various EV-related investments in Asia and the United States. Notably, Hon Hai faced challenges with its investment in American electric pick-up truck maker Lordstown, which filed for bankruptcy in June and accused Foxconn of breaching its contract and failing to fulfill promises made during the investment. Hon Hai has denied these allegations.
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Focus Taiwan
Engineer opens 'first' Taiwanese stir-fry restaurant in Singapore
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July 17, 2023
Taiwanese entrepreneur Tony Chen has opened Tai One Wei, the first Taiwanese quick-fried (stir-fry) restaurant in Singapore, offering a unique taste of Taiwan-style Chinese stir-fry to the city-state. Chen, originally an engineer in the semiconductor industry, decided to open the restaurant after his office closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He sources fresh ingredients and sauces from Taiwan weekly to maintain authentic flavors. The restaurant attracts both Taiwanese expats and Singaporeans, with word-of-mouth contributing to its popularity. Tai One Wei serves as a cultural bridge between Taiwan and Singapore, with Chen recently catering dinner banquets for Taiwan's representative to Singapore, introducing more of Taiwan's unique flavors to residents.
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Nikkei Asia
Taiwan presidential hopefuls woo Southeast Asian diaspora
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July 16, 2023
Taiwan's vice president and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leader William Lai Ching-te is leading the race to become the next president of Taiwan, with a growing focus on drawing support from Taiwanese communities across Southeast Asia. Lai's efforts to establish support centers in countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Laos come as Taiwan strengthens trade and business ties with the region, leading investors and companies to shift away from China's influence. As Taiwan's New Southbound Policy (NSP) prioritizes ties with Southeast Asian nations, the growing Southeast Asian diaspora's influence on Taiwanese domestic politics is becoming more apparent, impacting Beijing's efforts to sway Taiwanese elections. While Taiwanese expatriates in Southeast Asia cannot vote from overseas, their growing numbers and support have become important in promoting Taiwan's soft power and sovereignty. The upcoming election is considered significant in shaping Taiwan's relations with China, given the ongoing geopolitical tensions.
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Arts Hub
First Nations artist exchange between Taiwan and Australia
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July 13, 2023
Dr. Sophie McIntyre, the curator of the Grounded in Place project, aims to introduce Taiwan's Indigenous culture and artists to Australia, as media coverage often focuses on national security issues rather than cultural aspects. This first-of-its-kind exchange program between Taiwan and Australia started in 2021 with an online symposium and subsequent publication of the symposium papers in the peer-reviewed journal, Pacific Arts. The project seeks to foster greater awareness and appreciation of Taiwan's rich Indigenous culture within Australia's artistic community.
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Financial Times
Cambodia’s leader Hun Sen lays ground to pass power to his son
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July 19, 2023
Ahead of Cambodia's tightly controlled lower house election, Prime Minister Hun Sen is ensuring his party faces no significant challenge as he seeks to pass power to his son, Hun Manet.
The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) has effectively quashed political competition through a crackdown on opponents, leading to the main opposition party being dissolved and its successor, disqualified. Despite other small parties participating, none have the same domestic and international support as the now-disbanded opposition. Hun Manet, endorsed as the future prime-ministerial candidate, is therefore expected to win in the uncontested election.
The government's efforts to boost voter turnout include barring non-voters from holding public office and warning against ballot spoiling, responding to calls for election boycotts from exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy. These actions reflect the CPP's anxiety over the lack of support for Hun Sen's succession plans. Despite the suppression of political opponents, the CPP faces major political and economic challenges as it navigates the complex patronage system and manages competing interests within the influential elite.
As the country undergoes a change in leadership, the upcoming election potentially solidify the ruling party's control in Cambodia. This has raised concerns about the country's democratic prospects and the concentration of power within Cambodia.
Read more
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CNBC
Singapore’s ‘squeaky clean’ image takes a beating as scandals rock the government
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July 19
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Singapore is facing an unprecedented political crisis as high-profile scandals entangle its political elite, eroding public trust and confidence in the government. The ruling People's Action Party (PAP), in power since 1959, has long prided itself on governing with honesty and integrity, but recent incidents, including sudden resignations of lawmakers over an affair and a high-profile corruption probe involving a cabinet minister, have severely damaged the government's reputation. The PAP now faces the challenge of rebuilding trust and renewing the public's confidence in its leadership.
The scandals have surprised Singaporeans, who are unaccustomed to political controversies, and have become a test for the PAP's commitment to its own high standards of propriety and integrity. The government is under scrutiny to address the fallout and promptly respond to the challenges.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong emphasizes the government's zero-tolerance on corruption but acknowledges that no system is infallible. The timing is crucial as Singapore navigates a leadership transition, and the government needs to close ranks and stay on track to maintain a credible performance. Regaining the confidence of the people will be a tough task, and the political cost remains uncertain, potentially affecting the PAP's electoral performance in future elections.
Read more
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BBC
Comfort women: Last of Japan's WW2 sex slaves sing 'forget us not'
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July 15, 2023
A group of surviving "comfort women" of the Philippines, victims of Imperial Japan's occupation of the Philippines in World War Two, are calling for their stories to be preserved and remembered by future generations.
These women were forcibly taken from their homes as young teenagers and imprisoned in military brothels by the Japanese Imperial Army. Raped repeatedly and subjected to unimaginable trauma, they are now in their late 80s to early 90s and have become among the last survivors from this period in the Philippines. Their compelling stories of survival and resilience have become their lifeline, as they share their experiences with those willing to listen, hoping to ensure that the world does not forget their tragic past, even as their own memories fade with time.
Despite the passage of decades, the survivors of the comfort women still seek justice for the unspeakable horrors they endured. They persistently demand a public apology and compensation from Japan. However, Japan's refusal to confront its wartime past and reluctance to provide reparations have been a significant source of tension with neighboring countries.
The survivors' numbers have dwindled in South Korea and Taiwan, with only nine known survivors left in South Korea and the last known survivor in Taiwan passing away in May. Yet, these brave women, known in the Philippines as the Malaya Lolas or Free Grandmothers, have not given up hope and continue their fight for acknowledgment and restitution from Japan.
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