|
| | |
Mass Exodus of Voluntary Military Personnel:
1/4 Leaves Service
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
Voluntary military recruitment continues to decline, sounding alarm bells. The government keeps calling for war preparedness but avoids discussing prevention, making young people even less willing to serve. |
|
|---|
|
Warning Sign: Soldiers Prefer to Pay Penalties to Retire Early
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration has invested substantial time and effort discussing how to strengthen Taiwan’s defense capabilities. Yet, it has offered very little discourse on how to prevent war. In such a social climate, who would still be willing to stay in the military? Young people’s indifference toward national defense is, in fact, rooted in their distrust of war.
|
|
|---|
|
The Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) claim of a major diplomatic breakthrough in Europe is ungrounded. Critics say that it is just flashy display, and the real challenges, especially cross-strait issues, remain unresolved. |
|
|---|
|
European Diplomatic Breakthrough Mere Spectacle, Diplomatic Challenges Unchanged
The Office of the President, Executive Yuan, ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and DPP supporters have recently been aggressively touting Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim’s speech at the European Parliament as a major diplomatic breakthrough. Coupled with former President Tsai Ing-wen’s visit and speech in Germany, as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung’s recent trip to Europe, it appears as if Taiwan’s diplomacy has achieved significant progress—opening a new “European front” beyond the United States. But a closer look at the facts shows that this is nothing more than a marketing tactic that confuses the public and amplifies propaganda—a firework show of diplomacy funded at great expense.
|
|
|---|
|
Experts caution Taiwan against becoming Japan’s pawn in its China strategy. Overreliance on the “Taiwan contingency” narrative could increase Taiwan’s own risks. |
|
|---|
|
Taiwan Should Not Become Japan's Pawn in China Strategy
In response to a question from Constitutional Democratic Party lawmaker and former foreign minister Katsuya Okada regarding a “Taiwan contingency,” Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of Japan stated that such a scenario could constitute a “threat to Japan’s survival,” and under Japan’s current security laws, the exercise of collective self-defense would be possible. She emphasized that a “Taiwan contingency” is a serious situation, and Japan must prepare for the worst-case scenario.
|
|
|---|
|
Director Raymond Greene of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) met with new KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun. Both sides agreed that cross-strait peace is vital to regional stability, and the AIT invited Cheng to visit the United States. |
|
|---|
|
November 8:
The Budget Center of the Legislative Yuan revealed that Taiwan’s voluntary military recruitment has failed to meet targets for three consecutive years. Alarmingly, one in four enlisted soldiers opts for early discharge. Opposition lawmakers attribute this trend to poor military benefits and rising cross-strait tensions, suggesting that the perceived risk of war is prompting personnel to leave service even at a financial loss. |
|
|---|
|
November 8:
Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun of the Kuomintang (KMT) attended a memorial service for victims of the 1950s White Terror. Controversy arose when a photo of senior Chinese Communist spy Wu Shi appeared at the venue. Cheng clarified that according to the organizers, Wu would not be featured, emphasizing that the event was meant to honor political prisoners, which she distinguished from Wu’s espionage activities. |
|
|---|
|
November 8:
Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim delivered a speech at the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) conference held at the European Parliament. Mainland China condemned the event, accusing it of harming China’s core interests and violating the “One China” principle and lodged a formal protest. |
|
|---|
|
November 9:
Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae of Japan stated in parliament that a “Taiwan contingency” could constitute “a situation threatening Japan’s survival,” thereby justifying the exercise of collective self-defense under current security laws. She is the first sitting Japanese premier to make such a statement publicly. The Japanese government later reaffirmed its unchanged stance on Taiwan. Mainland China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanded a retraction and warned Japan of consequences. |
|
|---|
|
November 10:
The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, Executive Yuan, reported that the average regular monthly wage for the first three quarters reached NT$47,751 (about US$1,533), a 3-percent year-on-year increase—the highest growth for the same period in 25 years. However, 69.7 percent of employees earned below this average, marking the highest disparity on record. |
|
|---|
|
November 11:
Director Raymond Greene of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) met with newly elected KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun. Both agreed that cross-strait peace is vital not only for regional stability but also for global peace, and that any changes to the status quo should reflect the will of people on both sides. Greene also invited Cheng to visit Washington at an appropriate time. |
|
|---|
|
November 13:
According to Politico, the United States asked Taiwan to invest at levels comparable to Japan and South Korea, between $350 billion and $550 billion. Spokeswoman Michelle Lee of the Executive Yuan responded that Taiwan’s investment model differs from those of Japan and South Korea, making direct comparisons inappropriate. |
|
|---|
|
November 13:
Following the investigation of Legislator Shen Po-yang by its authorities, mainland China issued wanted notices for Internet celebrities “Ba Jiong” and “Minnan Wolf,” offering rewards of up to about US$32,000 for information. The Mainland Affairs Council warned that cooperating with such bounties could violate Taiwan law. |
|
|---|
|
|
|
|---|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
