Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Unity makes strength

Taipei Times Editorial

Policymakers and experts in Japan back increased US support for Taiwan, while those in South Korea and the Philippines want that support to remain as it is now, US and Japanese researchers found.

The report, which was completed in February and published online last month, was conducted by US-based think tank RAND Corp and Japan’s Sasakawa Peace Foundation.

The report’s findings on Japan’s stance are not surprising as Japanese officials on several occasions over the past few years have said that a conflict in the Taiwan Strait would impact Japan. Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe in 2021 called for the US to make it clear that it would defend Taiwan in such a conflict, and then-Japanese deputy prime minister Taro Aso said in the same year that Tokyo and Washington would defend Taiwan together.

Subs crucial to Taiwan’s defense

Fang Ping-sheng 方屏生

The nation’s first domestically made submarine, named the Hai Kun (海鯤), or “Narwhal,” had its commissioning ceremony at shipbuilder CSBC Corp’s Kaohsiung dockyard last week.

As the first indigenous defense submarine prototype, it still requires many modifications and final testing.

However, information leaks and corruption allegations surrounding the program have been making news headlines, causing furor and confusion among the general public. The Ministry of National Defense and prosecutors should quickly get to the bottom of the matter.

China’s trade actions a vote tactic

Taipei Times Editorial

China on Monday announced plans to extend a unilateral investigation into what it calls Taiwan’s trade barriers by three months to Jan. 12 next year, the eve of Taiwan’s presidential and legislative elections, showing Beijing’s intention to interfere in the vote.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced on April 12, the day that the Democratic Progressive Party nominated Vice President William Lai (賴清德) as its presidential candidate, a probe into Taiwan’s import regulations on 2,455 types of products from China.

On Monday, China said that the probe, which was supposed to be completed this month, would be extended due to “complexities.” The announcement, as is typical for Beijing, was made in a brief statement with few details and no explanation for the decision.

Taiwan joining the UN a vital task

The Liberty Times Editorial

On Sept. 22, the UN General Assembly wound up its 78th annual General Debate in New York City, again excluding Taiwan.

However, most of the nation’s diplomatic allies voiced their support for allowing Taiwan to participate in the UN system.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves and Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Drew, as well as Belizean Minister of Foreign Affairs Eamon Courtenay, made similar appeals in their respective addresses. Paraguayan President Santiago Pena, who visited Taiwan in July as president-elect, said that the world body should reflect on “participatory, democratic and equitable practices” in line with the UN Charter.

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