With high-profile U.S.-Taiwan military cooperation, experts worry that it may invite more military pressure from mainland China and American demands. |
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Lai Administration's High-Profile Stance Demands Concern
In recent military exercises and training conducted by the Armed Forces, American personnel have frequently been seen on site, earning the joking nickname of "English teachers." Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo has even made the rare public confirmation that U.S.-Taiwan military cooperation and exchanges "far exceed public imagination." Security cooperation between Taiwan and the United States has existed for many years and has traditionally been handled with discretion. The government's decision to publicize it now clearly carries a specific message: to signal to the outside world, particularly Beijing, that U.S.-Taiwan relations remain strong.
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With its petition to dissolve the Chinese Unification Promotion Party, the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) is accused of suppressing free association and undermining constitutional principles. |
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First Case of Political Party Dissolved by Government: Free Association Faces Dismantling
On July 30, the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) held a high-profile press conference announcing that it would petition the Constitutional Court to dissolve the Chinese Unification Promotion Party (CUPP). The move did not attract significant public attention in Taiwan, perhaps because the party advocates unification or because of its previously poor public image, leading many people to regard the matter as irrelevant to themselves. Precisely because of this, however, the MOI has chosen the easiest target by seeking to dissolve a legally established political party, thereby challenging the freedom of association guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of China.
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Civil Servants visiting relatives in mainland China are required to submit a list of family and friends. An expert criticizes the measure as invading privacy and harmful to trust. |
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Civil Servants Visiting Mainland Required to Submit Family and Friends Lists: Government Expands Power Under National Security
Under the latest regulations, civil servants traveling to mainland China to visit relatives must not only report the time, destination, and purpose of their trip, but also provide the names and contact telephone numbers of their relatives and friends in the mainland. In response to public criticism, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) stated that this is "simply information that we need to know and must know," and does not constitute an excessive infringement upon the personal privacy of civil servants.
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Japan’s Defense white paper removes wording on Taiwan Strait security. Critics say this reflects a two-pronged strategy and deserves attention. |
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July 31:
The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics released its preliminary estimate for second quarter economic growth at 12.9 percent. The first half of the year reached 13.7 percent, the highest in half a century. If forecasts for the second half of the year remain unchanged, the annual growth rate is expected to exceed 10 percent. |
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August 3:
The Taiwan Stock Exchange announced new rules for “disposal stocks”: the disposal period will be shortened from 10 days to five days, matching frequency will be accelerated, and the trigger standards for high-priced stocks will be relaxed. The new measures take effect on August 10. |
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August 4:
Japan’s Ministry of Defense published the 2026 Defense White Paper. Regarding the Taiwan Strait, it removed the phrase “relevant to Japan’s security,” retaining only that stability in the Taiwan Strait is important for international stability. |
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August 4:
The Executive Yuan reported to President Lai Ching-te on the 2027 central government budget proposal, with expenditures exceeding NT$3.6 trillion (about US$111.4 billion), a record high. However, no budget was allocated for salary increases for volunteer military personnel, prompting opposition parties to urge President Lai to prioritize the welfare of service members. |
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August 5:
The carcinogenic oil scandal continues. A new MyFormosa poll shows 60 percent of the public dissatisfied with the central government’s performance. Premier Cho Jung-tai’s disapproval rating rose by 5.1 percentage points to 45.1 percent, the highest in six months, surpassing his approval rating of 40.2 percent. President Lai’s approval rating edged up 0.7 point to 44.7 percent. |
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August 5:
The Han Kuang military exercise kicked off, lasting 10 days and nine nights. The drills this year emphasize unscripted and decentralized mission-oriented command, focusing on tactical-level two-way communication and real-time contingency handling. |
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August 6:
American defense analysis platform War on the Rocks recently reported that Communist China has proposed a concept of “large-scale urban paralysis warfare.” Through military blockade, precision strikes, and cognitive attacks, the plan aims to rapidly cripple the function of Taipei City. The objective is to force Taipei’s submission while reducing the costs of prolonged war, occupation, and subsequent resistance. |
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