In response, the KMT is doubling down. They claim there is enough money from last year's defense budget, the Lai administration must allocate funds for in increase in miltary pay, and that Greene understands very well that President Lai is the one responsible.
www.kmt.org.tw/2026/02/blog...
"[W]e urge Taiwan’s political parties to work in good faith across party lines to fully fund Taiwan’s self-defense...Instead of pursuing photo opportunities with the Chinese Communist Party, leaders in Taiwan must focus on approving funding for critical military reforms..."
Meanwhile, Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Jim Risch (R-ID) issued a joint statement saying:
"We are deeply disappointed that President Lai’s Special Defense Budget remains stalled in the Legislative Yuan..."
www.foreign.senate.gov/press/dem/re...
He reportedly when on to say that 'Song Tao and Wang Huning he dealt with in China were at the “ministerial” and “full national–level” ranks, whereas in Taiwan he is constantly being confronted with demands from officials junior even to a department director—something he finds baffling.'
The context is that Greene has repeatedly publicly said that the US supports and welcomes the Lai administration's special defense budget that the KMT/TPP have refused to even put on the Legislature's agenda. The State Department has confirmed this is the US position.
focustaiwan.tw/politics/202...
After getting back from his big meeting with Wang Hu-ning in Beijing, KMT deputy chairman Hsiao Hsu-tsen had this to say about the US ambassador to Taiwan: "Raymond Greene is just a bit more than section chief, if that—he may not even be a division director."
news.ltn.com.tw/news/politic...
They exercised great patience and restraint in waiting for the politicians in the other branches to get their act together. But 15 months of an inoperative Court was too long. So they acted with great reluctance. Decisions like repair any damage done to the Court's reputation. Good case choice.
That's why the five justices who courageously struck down the increased quorum requirement under the KMT/TPP-amended Constitutional Court Procedure Act did the right thing. It is intolerable to the rule of law in a system like Taiwan's not to have a functioning Constitutional Court.
Yes. And this decision shows that the real work of the Court lies in cases like this that affect the rights and interests of ordinary citizens--can the State apply the maximum treble penalty for a one late payment that was arguably not your fault? Or should it impose a lesser multiple?
Taiwan's Constitutional Court held that penalties for failing to pay supplemental health insurance premiums were partially unconstitutional and ordered revisions to Article 85 of the National Health Insurance Act within two years. The Court is operating again.
news.ltn.com.tw/news/politic...
Ghost Nation: Taiwan's Place in the World from an Economic Security Lens The Economic Security Intelligence Lab (ESIL) at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST), The University of Tokyo, is pleased to host a seminar featuring journalist and author Chris Horton titled: Ghost Nation: Taiwan's Place in the World from an Economic Security Lens 【🗓️ Event Details】 Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 Time: 15:00-16:00 (Registration begins at 14:30) Language: English Venue: 2nd floor Conference Hall, Building #4, Komaba II Campus, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo
New event!
📆9th Feb
🕒15:00 JST
Join Chris Horton & Anthena Tong for Book Talk "Ghost Nation: Taiwan's Place in the world from an Economic Security Lens" at the University of Tokyo
Reg:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Her cover of Fats Waller's I Love to Whistle (translated into Mandarin) is probably her most famous song and was later covered by many early Taiwanese Mandopop artists like Fong Fei-Fei.
youtu.be/SQLyUk8ksME?...
@janus.bsky.social She was from Puli in Nantou County. Largely self-taught multi-instrumentalist from a musical family. More information here and another cool pic. "Ho Lan was one of Taiwan’s most distinctive singers of the 1970s and 1980s.”
www.taiwan-panorama.com/Articles/Det...
Great reporting. Bravo Focus Taiwan!
There's a lot of love in Taiwan despite horror stories about the treatment or plight of migrant workers, undocumented or otherwise. "Because she was undocumented, she was not covered under Taiwan's compulsory NHI system, and Ellie avoided prenatal checkups for fear of being reported and deported."
But also very moving. Dr. Shih saved her life with his great skill. And then, after initially being upset that she had not made arrangements for her huge bill, he helped publicize Harmony Home's fundraising campaign. And a single donor stepped up with NT$1.05 million to finish paying the bill.
The State Department's statement 一如國務院與AIT多次公開聲明，我們也已向台灣方面明確表示，歡迎台灣宣布400億美元的特別國防採購預算 clearly shows that Huang misrepresented what he was told in the US during his trip there.
Sadly, the public probably won't notice or care.
www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/20...
And I have always thought that was generally prudent although possibly a holdover from the bad old days where there was no point in addressing the Taiwanese public because their views were essentially irrelevant. But this time I think AIT, State, and the senators are right to express their views.
While I certainly oppose American (other any other country's) interference in Taiwanese politics, the Taiwanese people need to know what the American government's opinion is on this existential security issue. As far as I can recall, AIT has always refrained from this sort of thing.
I saw a similar letter in the UDN recently.
udn.com/news/story/7...
'Episodes from their Taiwanese school years point to the roots of their nihilism. All are products of Taiwan’s suffocating educational culture, their success determined by Squid Game-like series of examinations, rankings and school competitions.'
www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/ar...
Some interesting points in this column about how at least in terms of numbers, young voters don't matter very much in today's Taiwan. There just aren't that many of them. And they may be divided by gender politically.
www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/ar...
Ah, but you see it must be transparent...
Historical meditations on 'pirates':
'For example, an image of the American punitive action against the indigenous people in 1867 was styled in Harper’s Weekly as “Attack of United States Marines and Sailors on the pirates of the island of Formosa, East Indies.'
www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/ar...
Agree.
The sneering and contempt of the Blue/White coalition for the bluebirds is actually a good thing. They underestimate the potential strength of the civil society forces now tightly allied againt them. This gives the bluebirds an important tactical advantage going forward.
Although the context is different and the bluebirds are focused on more overtly political issues, the acquisition of organization experience and hardening through defeat are quite similar. If something unexpected presents the opportunity, they will be well-positioned to act effectively.
In many ways it parallels the flowering of social movements and activism in the years before the Sunflower Movement. By the time the Sunflower movement came along, there were thousands of trained and experienced activists who had won and lost many small battles. They were ready for something bigger.
Excellent account of the Great Recall Movement. It did not succeed in its aims, but don't believe for a second that it was a waste of time or some kind of politcal disaster. It trained up, remobilized pro-Taiwan social movements and cultural leaders, and cultivated solidarity. They will rise again.
The 'silicon shield' doesn't do this. Instead of being a figure of speech that refers to something conceptually similar in the real world, it is in fact a rhetorical attempt to persuade you that its premises and theory of deterrence are real and concrete when in fact they are highly debatable.
