Publishers

October 25:

Kuomintang (KMT) Chair-Elect Cheng Li-wun announced new Central Committee appointments. Chang Jung-kung, former director of the party’s Department of Mainland Affairs, and Hsiao Hsu-tsen, executive director of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, were named vice chairmen. Chang and Hsiao are aligned with former chairmen Lien Chan and Ma, respectively. The appointments are seen as a continuation of Lien and Ma’s cross-strait policy line. In an interview with Deutsche Welle, Cheng stated that without a return to normal peaceful and stable cross-strait relations, all other discussions are futile. However, she also emphasized that we have not abandoned our resolve to defend Taiwan with force. 

October 25:

The day marks Taiwan Retrocession and Battle of Guningtou, Kinmen, Victory Day. President Lai Ching-te did not mention Taiwan’s retrocession, instead focusing on the Battle of Guningtou during the Chinese Civil War in a Facebook post, advocating for “understanding, comprehension, forgiveness, and reconciliation” in facing cross-strait differences. The KMT held a grand commemoration of retrocession. Chair-elect Cheng stated that from the Cairo Declaration to the Treaty of Peace with Japan, Taiwan’s postwar legal status was establishing, calling the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) claim that Taiwan’s sovereignty remains unsettled absurd. 

October 28:

Mainland Chinese official media Xinhua published three consecutive articles under the byline “Zhong Taiwen,” signaling plans to implement “patriots governing Taiwan.” The articles claimed that the Chinese nation becomes stronger through unification, and that unification strengthens the nation. They called for cross-strait talks to formulate a reasonable “One Country, Two Systems” plan for Taiwan. “Zhong Taiwen” is understood to represent the Taiwan Affairs Office of the central committee of the Chinese Communist Party, reflecting Beijing’s stance on Taiwan policy.  

October 29:

Lyle Goldstein, a scholar at Washington-based think tank Defense Priorities, published an op-ed in TIME titled “The U.S. Must Beware of Taiwan’s Reckless Leader,” describing President Lai. The article sparked backlash from ruling DPP lawmakers, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Secretary-General Joseph Wu of the National Security Council also issuing rebuttals.

October 29:

At a promotion ceremony for senior military officers, President lai emphasized Taiwan’s determination to defend its homeland and firmly oppose annexation, aggression, and the advancement of unification. This marked his first public statement opposing the push for unification.

October 29:

NVIDIA confirmed its Taiwan headquarters will be located at the T17 and T18 sites in Taipei’s Shilin Science Park. Mayor Chiang Wan-an stated that the Taipei City Government aims to finalize the contract by June next year and will expedite administrative procedures to ensure NVIDIA’s smooth operations in Taipei.

October 30:

President Donald Trump of the United States met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea. After the meeting, President Trump said that Taiwan was not discussed. Mainland China’s official press release also omitted mention of Taiwan. Members of Taiwan’s delegation interpreted this as Beijing’s failed attempt to introduce the topic of cross-strait relations.

October 30:

CNN reported that the Lai administration is concerned about wavering American support for Taiwan and is actively assessing how to gain the trust of the Trump administration. One consideration is replacing Ambassador Alexander Yui, current representative to the United States, with a diplomat with stronger political acumen. In response, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung told the Legislative Yuan that U.S.-Taiwan communication remains strong, and there is currently no plan to adjust diplomatic personnel.