Taiwan’s leading edge in semiconductors and other high-tech sectors would play a very important role in forging stronger alliances with democratic countries, headed by incoming US president Donald Trump, to counter the authoritarian regimes of China and Russia, experts said at a forum in Taipei yesterday.
Once he is inaugurated, it would be “Trump 2.0,” World United Formosans for Independence chairman Richard Chen (陳南天) said.
Trump has appointed a new slate of people to take charge of strategies to “reshape the world order,” as current world economies, international relations and wars are very different from those of his first presidency in 2017 to 2021, Chen said.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
Trump’s central tenets are “America First” and “Make America Great Again,” which won the support of disenchanted US voters who want industries and jobs to return home to drive new economic growth, Kuma Academy (黑熊學院) cofounder Ho Cheng-hui (何澄輝) said.
“During the campaign, Trump focused on the social instability and insecurity of Americans, brought on by the flood of illegal immigrants, and fentanyl and similar opioid drugs pouring into US. Trump wanted to ensure control by appointing a ‘border czar’ and threatening Canada and Mexico with higher tariffs so they would employ stricter enforcement at their borders with the US,” Ho said.
Trump and the Republicans also criticized Washington, saying it had not faced up to China’s rise as a world power. China has registered growth in its economy, industries, new technologies and military build-up over the past decades, and is challenging the US’ leadership on the global stage, he said.
“Trump has stated his position on these issues and pointed to China as the largest threat to US interests, especially in the Indo-Pacific region. Much of Trump’s new geopolitical strategies are aimed at countering China’s rise and its military expansionism,” Ho said.
Experts agreed that Trump and his new administration would forge a much stronger alliance of like-minded democratic countries, where Taiwan would have a pivotal role, given its central position in the “first island chain,” and its leading edge in semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI) and computer electronics industries.
The US and Western nations would rely on Taiwan for new high-tech products, electric vehicles and smart military weapons, they said.
Taiwan National Security Institute research fellow Stanislaw Kwiatkowski said that the people Trump appointed to offices that handle foreign affairs and have a direct impact on Indo-Pacific strategies were mostly China hawks who have been friendly to Taiwan and have espoused a tougher stance on US dealings with China.
Trump has sought to end the fighting in the Middle East and to pivot US geopolitical strategy and foreign policy initiatives to the Indo-Pacific region to face China’s rising power, he said.
The US would also seek closer partnerships with Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and India to counter Chinese military expansion and conflict, Kwiatkowski added.
Taiwan would have an even closer relationship with the US and have an enhanced democratic alliance, since Trump, Washington officials and European partners have realized Taiwan’s importance in the supply chain and production of semiconductors, AI technologies and smart weapons, he said.
Countries would want to have a good relationship with Taiwan in the expected economic and trade war, and work together on deterring the so-called “axis of upheaval” — China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, he added.
A NT$39 receipt for two bottles of tea at a FamilyMart was among the NT$10 million (US $312,969) special prize winners in the January-February uniform invoice lottery. FamilyMart said that two NT$10 million-winning receipts were issued at its stores, as well as two NT$2 million grand prizes and three NT$200,000 first prizes. The two NT$10 million receipts were issued at stores in Pingtung County and Yilan County’s Dongshan Township (冬山). One winner spent just NT$39 on two bottles of tea, while another spent NT$80 on water, tea and coffee, the company said. Meanwhile, 7-Eleven reported three NT$10 million winners — in New Taipei
Considering that most countries issue more than five denominations of banknotes, the central bank has decided to redesign all five denominations, the bank said as it prepares for the first major overhaul of the banknotes in more than 24 years. Central bank Governor Yang Chin-lung (楊金龍) is expected to report to the Legislative Yuan today on the bank’s operations and the redesign’s progress. The bank in a report sent to the legislature ahead of today’s meeting said it had commissioned a survey on the public’s preferences. Survey results showed that NT$100 and NT$1,000 banknotes are the most commonly used, while NT$200 and NT$2,000
ANNUAL EVENT: Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in Daan Park, with an event zone operating from 10am to 6pm This year’s Taipei Floral Picnic is to be held at Daan Park today and tomorrow, featuring an exclusive Pokemon Go event, a themed food market, a coffee rave picnic area and stage performances, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said yesterday. Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in the park as attractions, with an exclusive event zone operating from 10am to 6pm, it said. Participants who complete designated tasks on-site would have a chance to receive limited-edition souvenirs, it added. People could also try the newly launched game Pokemon Pokopia in the trial area, the department said. Three PokeStops are
Taiwan is concerned that China could exploit the US’ war in the Middle East, with state media citing examples from the conflict to cast doubt on the efficiency of US weapons Taiwan would use to repel an invasion. Taiwanese officials said the resumption of Beijing’s large-scale air force incursions near Taiwan after an unusual decline show that China wants to take advantage of the redeployment of US forces from East Asia to the Middle East. “This is a moment for China to exercise influence,” a senior Taiwanese security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “What China is trying to create is a
RSS