Thanks for the kind words. Here's something I saw this morning.
Taiwan’s Tech King to Nancy Pelosi: U.S. Is in Over Its Head
“Fifty billion dollars – well, that’s a good start,” quipped the 91-year-old Morris Chang, warning that Washington’s new bipartisan industrial policy may not add up.
Re: Your Question, here's an article I read in January.
https://thediplomat.com/2023/01/the-international-effect-of-taiwans-local-elections/
This is where things get complicated, as party lines are not quite set for 2024. The KMT is still struggling to find a common stance with regards to China, and its cross-strait links remain controversial, as exemplified by KMT Vice Chair Andrew Hsia’s controversial China tour in August last year.
The TPP, a newcomer in national politics, initially pledged to go beyond pan-Green and pan-Blue divides. Yet, it has alienated some of its DPP-leaning proponents, notably by claiming that “the two sides of the Taiwan Straits are one family” at a city diplomacy forum.
Yet, the DPP may face the biggest challenge – first, because its attempts to bring China into the debate for the 2022 local elections resulted in an electoral pushback.
Initiatives like the “never surrender pledge” or presidential support for opening an International Affairs Office in Taipei or in New Taipei faced tough criticisms, and did not bring support at the ballot box. Moreover, the apparent weakness of China’s attempts to meddle in the 2022 elections, compared to 2018, did not help to push forward the DPP’s discourse.
Second, and maybe more importantly, party positions with regards to China are moving. During the debate between the three main contenders in Taipei’s mayoral race, Chiang Wan-an of the KMT mentioned the Republic of China, but also declared that it was in his DNA to defend Taiwan’s democracy and rule of law. Independent candidate Huang Shan-shan, who was backed by the TPP, stressed that democracy and authoritarianism cannot coexist.
Unification with China is decreasingly attractive for many Taiwanese voters, as surveys have now shown for years.
Thus, if other political parties appoint candidates whose approach to cross-strait relations is more nuanced than in the past, Tsai Ing-wen’s party may struggle to set itself apart on China issues in 2024.
Because of the strategic importance of the chip industry I follow news in Taiwan. I have never forgotten its impact on the computer industry after an earthquake in the 90's caused memory prices and video card price to triple overnight due to production slowdowns.
The WORLD runs on chips made in Taiwan.
