January 1
Taiwan's one-year compulsory service has been officially implemented, and there have been constant doubts on the island
From January 1, 2024, the period of compulsory service for men in Taiwan will be reinstated from 4 months to 1 year. Since the DPP authorities decided on this policy a year ago, there have been many voices of doubt on the island, and some Taiwan media have said that the policy was launched in a hurry. Taiwanese young people said that they want to enter the workplace as soon as possible, and the gap of 8 months of service will have a great impact on subsequent employment.
Chen Binhua, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said a few days ago that the DPP authorities have turned a deaf ear to and turned a blind eye to the public opinion on the island, and they have gone their own way and insisted on going their own way in order to prepare for war and act as cannon fodder for "Taiwan independence" in order to coerce Taiwan's young people into the battlefield. Previously, the DPP authorities launched the so-called "3+1 plan for school and service", and only five people applied for it, which shows that more and more Taiwan people, especially young people in Taiwan, have clearly seen that "Taiwan independence" means war, and the DPP authorities' so-called promise that "young people will not go to war" is just to cheat votes. Its collusion with external forces to manipulate "seeking independence by force" will only exacerbate the tension and turbulence in the Taiwan Strait, seriously damage the security and well-being of the Taiwan people, and sacrifice the future of Taiwan's youth.
Image source: Taiwan's "United Daily News"
January 2nd
The blue camp questioned the DPP authorities' fraud in giving the green light to high-end vaccine procurement
Kuomintang Taichung City "legislator" candidates Liao Weixiang, Lin Jiaxing, Luo Tingwei and others questioned the DPP authorities' "green light" for high-end vaccine procurement. On the 2nd, he went to the Taipei District Prosecutor's Office and reported that Chen Mingzheng, chairman of the high-end vaccine company, Chen Canjian, general manager, and Liu Junxiong, a former "legislator" of the Democratic Progressive Party, were suspected of "fraud, profiteering, and insider trading".
According to the report, the Kuomintang caucus held a press conference on the 2nd, and Liao Weixiang, Lin Jiaxing, Luo Tingwei and others exposed the list of shareholders of high-end vaccine companies, and more than 1,000 people belong to the senior executives, cadres and party members of the Democratic Progressive Party. Liao Weixiang said, "Last week, three audio recordings of the board of directors of high-end vaccine companies were released, and high-end vaccine companies also issued a statement draft, which fully confirmed the authenticity of the audio recordings."
This matter has also sparked public discussion on the island, some Taiwanese netizens left a message saying, "Sure enough, they all have party certificates", and some netizens said, "'Green Youyou' (Green Friends) is really easy to earn~" "Lose your conscience and end up being punished by God" "Will the list of shareholders be sealed for 30 years?"
Taiwan's high-end vaccine. Taiwan's "United Daily News" data map
January 4th
Lai Qingde's campaign video was suspected of plagiarizing the award-winning work
The Democratic Progressive Party's 2024 Taiwan leadership election candidate Lai Qingde's campaign film "Let's Be Together on the Road" caused controversy as soon as it was released, and was questioned for plagiarizing the Golden Harvest Award-winning works, including the advertising title, shooting content, delivery of car keys, etc., which are partially similar to "On the Road" filmed by Hong Kaixian.
It is reported that the "Best Student Cartoon" "On the Road" of the 45th Golden Harvest Awards tells the story of a father and son walking on the highway, and the son keeps asking questions to his father along the way, and it is not until the destination that the son discovers the changes in his father.
In this regard, Luo Jingren, director of "We Are Together on the Road", said that they adopted the expression technique of "road movie".
The film was also adapted by netizen KUSO (spoof) to launch "Quarrel and Overturn on the Road", and edited and interspersed with the past Tsai Ing-wen and Lai Qingde's "primary election" The two fought each other, Lai Qingde once choked Tsai Ing-wen and asked Tsai Neng to ask her Internet army to stop attacking her, and Tsai Ing-wen shouted that Lai should be held responsible as a political figure.
The Democratic Progressive Party's candidate for the 2024 Taiwan leadership election, Lai Qingde's campaign film "We Are Together on the Road", sparked discussion and controversy. (Photo/Taken from the Internet) Image source: Taiwan's "China Times News Network"
January 9th
The Ministry of Commerce responded to the suspension of the ECFA tariff concession progress on some products
According to the announcement of the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council on December 21, 2023, from January 1, 2024, the mainland has suspended the application of the "Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement" (ECFA) agreement tax rate to 12 tariff items such as propylene and paraxylene originating in Taiwan, and implemented in accordance with the current relevant regulations. Since the announcement was issued, the DPP authorities have not taken any effective measures to lift trade restrictions on the mainland, but have instead engaged in political manipulation in an attempt to slack blame and evade responsibility. At present, in accordance with the relevant provisions of ECFA and relevant policies and regulations, the relevant departments are studying and further adopting measures such as suspending the tariff concessions of ECFA for early harvest agriculture and fishery, machinery, auto parts, textiles and other products.
Image source: Screenshot of the official website of the Ministry of Commerce
January 9th
Taiwan's defense department apologized for mistakenly issuing the mainland's "missile air raid siren."
Taiwan's defense department issued an air defense alert on the 9th, mentioning that the satellite launched by the mainland flew over the southern part of Taiwan, but the English version translated the satellite as "missile" (missile). Taiwan's defense department later announced that it had negligently failed to update the original system's wording and accurately express that the launch was a satellite rather than a missile, and apologized to the public. In this regard, some netizens on the island sarcastically said, "Today is the funniest"; Some people also believe that Taiwan's defense department is "cooperating with the DPP to create panic."
According to the report, the alert issued by Taiwan's defense department on the afternoon of the 9th claimed that the mainland launched a satellite in the afternoon and flew over the southern part of the country, and the public is requested to pay attention to safety. If an unknown object is found, the police will be called to deal with it. Taiwan's TVBS news network reported that many people on the island received more than 1 text message, and some even received 3 messages in 3 seconds, "the people are panicking".
The Xichang Satellite Launch Center successfully launched the Einstein probe satellite using the Long March-2C carrier rocket on the 9th. (Schematic map/China News Service)
January 13th
The results of the two elections in Taiwan in 2024 have been announced
The 2024 election of Taiwan's leaders and representatives of the people's will will be held on the 13th.
The results of the vote count showed that Democratic Progressive Party candidates Lai Qingde and Hsiao Mei-qin were elected as the principal and deputy leaders of the Taiwan region. Of the 113 seats in Taiwan's legislature, 52 were won by the Chinese Kuomintang, 51 by the Democratic Progressive Party, 8 by the Taiwan People's Party, and 2 by those who are not affiliated with the party or recommended by the political party.
Democratic Progressive Party candidates Lai Qingde and Xiao Meiqin were elected as the chief and deputy leaders of the Taiwan region Image source: Taiwan's "China Times News Network"
January 15th
Nauru announces "severance of diplomatic relations" with Taiwan
The Nauru government issued a statement on the 15th local time, announcing that it would recognize the one-China principle and sever so-called "diplomatic relations" with the Taiwan authorities.
The statement pointed out that the Nauruan government recognizes the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China in accordance with UN Resolution 2758 and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. Nauru will sever its "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan with immediate effect, and will no longer have any official relations with Taiwan and will not conduct any official exchanges.
Nauruan Parliament Building
January 15th
Former chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Shi Mingde died
Shi Mingde, former chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party, died at Taipei Veterans General Hospital on the 15th at the age of 83.
Shi Mingde, born in Kaohsiung City on January 15, 1941, graduated from the Taiwan Army Artillery Academy in 1961. In December 1979, he was arrested and imprisoned for the "Beautiful Island Incident" and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was released from prison on 20 May 1990 under amnesty. In 1992, Shi Mingde ran for Taiwan's public opinion representative and was elected with the highest number of votes in Tainan City. In November 1993, Shi Mingde took over as chairman of the DPP, and in May 1994, he was re-elected as the sixth chairman of the party.
In March 1996, due to the DPP's defeat in the Taiwan regional leadership election, Shi Mingde resigned as party chairman. In 1998, Shi Mingde was elected as the fourth Taiwan Public Opinion Deputy. On 14 November 2000, Shi Mingde officially announced his resignation from the DPP because of his dissatisfaction with Chen Shui-bian, becoming the second party chairman to quit the DPP after Hsu Hsin-liang.
In 2006, Shi Mingde launched a political appeal campaign in Taiwan, demanding that Chen Shui-bian, then the leader of the Taiwan authorities, take responsibility for many malpractices and voluntarily step down. The movement was called the "Million People Anti-Corruption Campaign" or the "Red Shirt Movement."
Shi Mingde data map. Image source: Taiwan's "United Daily News"
January 15th
Taiwan's overnight market held a "subject three" dance competition to set off discussions
The Ningxia Tourist Night Market in Taipei City has set off discussions from all walks of life on the island because of the "Subject 3" dance competition, and some people have jokingly called the related events "Dance to unify Taiwan". Taipei Mayor Jiang Wanan said that if a song can "dance to unify Taiwan", then Taiwan's pop culture has long been "unified with the other side", and I hope everyone can have confidence in their diversity.
There are also Taiwanese netizens who initiated discussions on the Internet, and a Taiwanese Internet forum PTT netizen posted on PTT with the title of "How Little Apple became popular in Taiwan back then", believing that it is not the first case that the mainland's audio-visual culture has become popular in Taiwan, and even named the song "Little Apple", which was popular in the past, and it could be said that this song could be heard on the streets and alleys at that time.
The Ningxia Tourist Night Market in Taipei City held a "Subject 3" dance competition, which set off discussions from all walks of life on the island. (Photo/Photo of this newspaper) Image source: Taiwan's "China Times News Network"
January 18th
Han Kuo-yu announced that he would run for Taiwan's "president of the Legislative Council" and would partner with Jiang Qichen
Han Kuo-yu, former mayor of Kaohsiung City and elected "legislator" of the Kuomintang non-district district, said on social media on the 18th that he would partner with Kuomintang "legislator" Jiang Qichen to run for "president and vice president of the Legislative Yuan".
Han Kuo-yu said that he is grateful to Jiang Qichen for agreeing to fight side by side, partner with "Han Jiangpei", and work together to correct and return to the role of supervision, checks and balances that the "Legislative Yuan" should have, rather than the "Legislative Council" in the past eight years.
Han Kuo-yu also said that as long as the People's Party is willing to cooperate, Jiang Qichen is more willing to give priority to the People's Party as a candidate for the post of "vice president" in order to promote great unity in the opposition.
Han Kuo-yu and Jiang Qichen are running for the chairmanship and deputy head of the legislature of the Taiwan authorities. (File photo) Image source: Taiwan's "China Times News Network"
January 20th
Taiwanese "Flowers" drama fans "can't get out"
The TV series "Flowers" has a bumper harvest of ratings and word-of-mouth, and has become the object of heated discussion among the audience on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The show recently ushered in the finale, and many Taiwanese drama fans "couldn't get out" and called "too much stamina".
From the plot to the shooting skills, from the main creative team to the "CP" in the play, from the actors' makeup to the episode "Memory Killing", Taiwanese media are still reporting on "Flowers", and Taiwanese netizens are also posting their impressions and "second creation" works on social platforms.
January 21
Tuvalu may "follow" Nauru to "sever diplomatic relations" with Taiwan authorities
Following the severance of so-called "diplomatic relations" between Nauru and the Taiwan authorities, Tuvalu, the Pacific "friend" of the Taiwan authorities, will hold a general election.
In this regard, Wu Zhaoxie, responsible person of the foreign affairs department of the Taiwan authorities, said in an exclusive interview with the Australian media a few days ago that the Taiwan authorities have solid relations with the three "friendly countries" in the Pacific. The foreign affairs department of the Taiwan authorities also claimed that they have close cooperation with Tuvalu in many fields and will continue to strengthen cooperation in the future.
However, in this regard, netizens on the island did not buy this response, and some netizens commented, "As long as Wu Zhaoxie says that it is stable, it will definitely 'break off diplomatic relations'."
The South Pacific island nation of Tuvalu held a general election on the 26th. (Photo/Associated Press)
January 29th
Taiwan's legislature has started a "battle for the dragon's head."
The election of Taiwan's new "president and vice president of the Legislative Yuan" will be held on February 1, and January 29 will be a crucial three days. On the 29th, the Kuomintang "Han Jiang Pei" and the Democratic Progressive Party's "Kun Chang Pei" went to the People's Party "legislator" to seek support. The People's Party, which holds the key minority of 8 seats, is expected to show its cards as soon as the 30th.
Quasi-"legislator" Han Kuo-yu and "legislator" Jiang Qichen, who represented the Kuomintang in the race for "president and vice president of the Legislative Yuan," called on the People's Party caucus in the morning, and the two sides held closed-door talks. Han Kuo-yu said in an interview after the meeting that they talked almost everything in it, and that they had "a very common understanding" of the four reform proposals put forward by the People's Party.
On the other hand, the DPP's "Legislative Yuan" caucus held a meeting in the morning to formally elect "President of the Legislative Yuan" You Xikun and "Vice President" Cai Qichang and "You Changpei" for re-election. In the afternoon, the two met with the People's Party caucus, and the two sides held a closed-door meeting for 35 minutes. Before the meeting, You Xikun also posted an open letter to the "legislators" of the People's Party on Facebook, specifically responding to the People's Party's demands for the reform of the "Legislative Yuan", and expressed his acceptance of all of them.
Han Kuo-yu (2nd from left) and Jiang Qichen (1st from left) visited the People's Party's "Legislative Yuan" caucus on the 29th, and Han Kuo-yu hugged and greeted the People's Party's "legislator" elect Huang Guochang (2nd from right). Image source: Taiwan's "Central News Agency"
January 30th
The Civil Aviation Authority optimizes the operation of the M503 route
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) announced on January 30 that it would cancel the north-to-south flight bias of the M503 route and enable the M503 route, W122 and W123 connecting routes, and operate from west to east. In this regard, Chen Binhua, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, answered reporters' questions on the 30th, saying that the M503 route is located in the Shanghai Flight Information Region, and the establishment and launch of this route is a routine task of the mainland's civil aviation domain management.
Chen Binhua said that since the opening of the M503 route in March 2015, it has been running smoothly, safely and reliably, and has played a positive role in improving flight operations, meeting people's livelihood needs and promoting economic development.
He said that the cancellation of the flight bias of the M503 route from north to south and the use of the M503 route W122 and W123 connecting routes from west to east are to alleviate the pressure on the growth of flights in relevant regions, ensure flight safety, reduce flight delays, protect the rights and interests of passengers, meet the needs of air transport development in the Asia-Pacific region, and are also conducive to improving cross-strait flight operations and further facilitating cross-strait personnel exchanges, which is in line with the common interests of compatriots on both sides of the strait.
Chen Binhua, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council
January 31
The People's Party elected its party's "legislator" Huang Shanshan to run for the head of Taiwan's legislature
On February 1, Taiwan's new legislature will hold an election of the chairman and deputy responsible person, the People's Party holds the key eight seats, and the voting intention has attracted much attention, and the chairman of the People's Party, Ke Wenzhe, led eight "legislators" to hold a press conference on the morning of the 31st, announcing that the People's Party caucus will elect Huang Shanshan, a "legislator" of the party, to run for the head of the legislature.
In terms of the chairmen and deputy responsible persons, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has launched "You Changpei" (You Xikun and Tsai Chi-chang) to seek re-election, while the Kuomintang has launched "Han Jiang Pei" (Han Kuo-yu and Jiang Qichen). The two groups of candidates recently visited the People's Party caucus to seek support, and the People's Caucus officially announced its voting intentions on the 31st.
Huang Shanshan, a member of the People's Party caucus, is pictured from Taiwan's ETtoday news cloud
*Source: China News Service, Xinhua News Agency, Global Times, etc