April 27:
A Brookings Institution survey revealed that Taiwanese public opinion of the United States has declined significantly. Positive views of the U.S. dropped from 54.3 percent in July last year to 33.5 percent. Even among Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) supporters, trust in the U.S. has fallen by 14 percentage points. When asked whether the United States would assist Taiwan in the event of a conflict with China, 37.5 percent believed that it would, while 46.7 percent thought it would not. Analysts suggest that U.S. involvement is key in motivating Taiwanese people to strengthen military defense. If Taiwan's public perceives that the U.S. will not intervene, then it could have a significant impact on how civil society responds to a potential Taiwan Strait conflict.
April 28:
As President Lai Ching-te approaches his first anniversary in office, the opposition staged a large protest in front of the Presidential Office Building, accusing Lai of authoritarianism and mobilizing 250,000 demonstrators. According to the latest poll by Formosa News, public satisfaction with the Lai administration has reached a death cross, with 47.1 percent expressing approval and 47.3 percent disapproval, a significant drop of 8.5 percentage points compared to March. Additionally, 70 percent of respondents believe that the government is interfering with media operations; 60 percent think that high-ranking officials are abusing their power; and 57 percent suspect that political influence is affecting judicial investigations.
April 28:
Amid the economic impact of the tariff war, business leaders urged President Lai Ching-te to intervene and halt large-scale recall efforts, advocating for national unity in response to external challenges. However, DPP Spokesman Chuo Kuan-ting publicly stated that President Lai, as party chairman, had ordered that all 35 recall cases against Kuomintang (KMT) legislators proceed to the second phase of petitioning. Lai also instructed Secretary-General Lin Yu-chang to receive reports directly if citizens complained about legislators or local party offices did not actively support the recall process. The DPP later denied Chuo's statement.
April 29:
Authorities launched a rare investigation into alleged forged documents related to recall petitions, specifically signatures attributed to deceased individuals. Raids were conducted on the opposition party's offices across Taiwan. Critics suspect Prosecutor General Hsing Tai-chao and Director-General Chen Pai-li of the Investigation Bureau, Ministry of Justice, ordered the probe, while opposition parties claim secret meetings were held to determine the investigative strategy. The Investigation Bureau acknowledged holding video conferences with its regional offices but insisted that the meetings were merely to remind officials to maintain administrative neutrality.
April 29:
Premier Cho Jung-tai announced his support for establishing a sovereign wealth fund, marking the first time he has publicly endorsed the initiative. During a legislative session, Premier Cho explained that the government had previously taken a conservative approach, citing concerns about financial sustainability. However, given Taiwan's current economic strength and development of the technology industry, conditions are now favorable for considering the creation of a national sovereign wealth fund. The Central Bank also expressed an open attitude towards the proposal, but emphasized that foreign exchange reserves should not be used without proper compensation.
April 30:
Taiwan's exports reached a record high of $129.6 billion in the first quarter, driven by a surge in shipments ahead of tariff changes. Despite this, the manufacturing sector remains pessimistic about future economic prospects. The Taiwan Institute of Economic Research reported that the manufacturing business climate index fell to 12.12 points in March, dropping 4.54 points. The indicator shifted from the "yellow-red light," which signifies economic growth, to the "yellow-blue light," indicating economic downturn.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labor released new statistics on unpaid leave, showing that for the first time, companies are implementing furloughs in response to U.S. tariff policies. The report counted three companies and over 200 affected employees. However, local governments reported different numbers, with five affected companies in Taoyuan City and four in New Taipei City.
May 1:
The prototype of Taiwan's domestically-built submarine, Hai Kun, missed its scheduled SAT sea trials in April. Former Navy advisor Kuo Hsi revealed that water leakage in the cabin caused engine failure, and the ship's integrated management system has only completed 10 percent of its testing progress. Additionally, media reports stated that an unstable shore power supply burned multiple subsystem components. The Navy Command declined to comment, while military experts urged the Navy to provide timely explanations to maintain public trust.
May 1:
Following President Lai's announcement about reinstating the military court system, DPP legislators proposed amendments to the National Security Act, including establishing a specialized national security court. The opposition criticized the move, arguing that such a court would resemble the military tribunals of Taiwan's authoritarian past. They expressed concerns that while military law would govern service members, the National Security Act could be weaponized against civilians, potentially laying the groundwork for martial law.
