December 21:
The White House announced that President Joe Biden has exercised his presidential authority to provide Taiwan with $571.3 million in military aid. At the same time, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency also announced a $295 million arms sale to Taiwan, including parts for the 76 mm naval gun mounts and upgrades for the Link-16 terminal. This will go through the Congressional notification process and is expected to take effect in a month. This marks the 19th arms sale during President Biden's tenure, just before he leaves office.
December 22:
According to United Daily News, Minister of Economic Affairs Kuo Jyh-huei recently held a discussion with businesses and presented a report on the impact of the U.S.-China power struggle on global economic and trade development. This is the first time that the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has analyzed and outlined future policy directions in response to Mr. Trump's return to the White House. He mentioned three impacts on Taiwan: requiring Taiwanese companies to set up plants in the United States, canceling the CHIPS Act and imposing tariffs, and affecting U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade negotiations. The MOEA will assist Taiwanese companies in investing in the United States, expanding supply chain cooperation, and increasing procurement of American energy and key raw materials.
December 25:
The Legislative Yuan voted to reject seven grand justice nominations, including appointees for the president and vice president of the Judicial Yuan. Surprisingly, nominee Liu Ching-yi, who had frequently criticized the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), was blocked by the DPP caucus, marking the first time a political appointment was rejected by the ruling party caucus.
The Office of the President expressed regret and will proceed with new nominations. With only eight grand justices remaining, the Constitutional Court will be unable to deliberate and rule due to an insufficient number of grand justices under the recently amended Constitutional Court Procedure Act.
December 25:
On December 20, amid physical confrontation, the Legislative Yuan passed amendments to the Public Officials Election and Recall Act, Constitutional Court Procedure Act, and Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures in the third reading. Regarding the newly passed amendments to the Fiscal Allocation Act, the Ministry of Finance estimates that the central government will need to release an additional NT$375.3 billion (about US$11.4 billion) to local governments. Premier Cho Jung-tai warned that in the event of typhoons or natural disasters, the Executive Yuan will not have the capacity to respond, and local governments will have to handle emergencies on their own, sparking criticism from local governments and the opposition.
The Office of the President stated on December 25 that it had received communication from the Legislative Yuan and will promulgate the amended law as scheduled. However, the Office of the President will respect the party caucus if it requests a constitutional interpretation and the Executive Yuan if it requests a reconsideration.
December 25:
At the year-end press conference, Minister Liu Chin-ching of the National Development Council stated that the economic growth forecast for the year remained steady at 4.2 percent, the second highest in the past 15 years. Private investment exceeded NT$5 trillion (about US$152.2 billion), and per capita income has surpassed that of Japan. Core inflation was controlled at 1.8 percent, making Taiwan's economic performance outstanding compared to international standards. Despite the high base of economic growth this year, economic growth next year is still expected to maintain at 3.2 percent, with major manufacturers continuing to expand their production facilities, showing optimism for the economic outlook next year.
December 26:
The Taipei District Prosecutors Office investigated Chairman Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) for revising up the Living Mall plot ratio and falsely accounting for political donations. Ko was indicted for taking bribes, seeking to gain illegal benefits, embezzling, and breaching trust, with a specific sentence request of 28 years and six months, deprivation of civil rights for 10 years, and fine of NT$50 million (about US$1.5 million). The court ruled that Ko be released on bail of NT$30 million (about US$910,000) and restricted from leaving the country. The TPP called the charges political persecution, with supporters rallying outside the court protesting "green terror" and political prosecution.
December 26:
The Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) released its latest index indicating that 67.3 percent of surveyed Taiwanese companies could partially pass on the high tariffs imposed by the incoming administration under U.S. President Donald Trump, while 20.5 percent could only absorb the costs themselves. Thirty (30) percent of companies are optimistic that the actual levy would not be as high. While an excess of 90 percent of exporters currently have no plans to manufacture in the United States, supply chains may dynamically adjust as trade policies become clearer after Mr. Trump takes office.
December 27:
Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of 28 years and six months on TPP Chairman Ko Wen-je embroiled in a bribery scandal. Using the QuickseeK analysis database, the Taiwan Public Opinion Center (TPOC) assessed online public opinion over the past month related to Ko. Results show that the daily average volume of related comments exceeded 10,000, with 40 percent of comments focused on questioning the evidence on cash flows and criticizing miscarriage of justice. Apropos Ko's case, the data reflects public doubts among Internet users about the judiciary's credibility.
