TSMC chairman and chief executive officer C.C. Wei met US President Donald Trump in the White House on March 3, 2025.  After the meeting, both Trump and Wei held a news conference and announced that the TSMC will invest $100 billion in US.  TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.) is the world’s largest chipmaking company.  The plan will build three advanced foundries, two packaging plants, and a research and development center.  TSMC have already invested US$65 billion in Arizona to build three advanced wafer fab. The first fab in Arizona has started production using the 4-nanometer process.  In response to the concerns from the public, the Taiwan’s presidential office announced that the government knew about the deal in advance and would assist TSMC for its oversea investments.  The government is drafting a plan to forge resilient and diversified semiconductor supply chains with the US and other partners.  Also the government would ensure that the most advanced chipmaking technology stays in Taiwan.  Premier Cho Jung-tai said that TSMC’s new investment pledge in the US would help Taiwan’s industrial sector extend its global reach and make the country stronger.  After returning from US, Chairman Wei met with Taiwan’s president William Lai at the Presidential Office in Taipei.  Lai said that TSMC’s achievements have ensured that Taiwan is an integral part of the international community. The company’s accomplishments are a testament to its ability and a source of fierce pride for all of Taiwan, he said.  Wei said TSMC decided to invest in the US due to increased demand from US clients.  The decision to increase investment in the US would not affect the company’s investment in Taiwan, where 11 production lines are expected to be completed this year, Wei added.

Nineteen civil groups delivered boxes full of petitions to the Central Election Commission (CEC) on February 3, 2025.   These civil groups gathered in front of the entrance of CEC building in the morning.   The representatives from each group made the statement why they submitted petitions to recall 19 Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers.   The United Microelectronics Corp founder Robert Tsao summarized the civil movement as a “Holy War “.  Since KMT and TPP (Taiwan People’s Party) have been “arrogant” in pushing through controversial bills which would jeopardize the government’s daily functions, Tsao said the grassroots recall efforts are the true expression of the public’s will and it shows that the people are the masters of the nation.  “These are citizen groups acting independently, working at the grassroots level and going beyond partisan politics,” Tsao further said.  The most political observers were amazed at the wide spread response of citizens.  It was estimated that nine more groups would submitted the petition in week.  The CEC said it would conduct an initial review of the recall petitions and, if approved, forward them to local election committees for review.   There is a speculation that China instructs KMT and TPP to work together to undermine the ruling party’s (Democratic Progressive Party DPP) authority.  As pointed out by Tsao, China believes it can control Taiwan’s legislature by using money to buy off unscrupulous legislators, so it can subvert the country from within.   At a DPP news conference, caucus whip Ker Chien-ming said that the current legislative session would be a “recall vote session” because “both sides have launched large-scale recall votes.”  In addition, Tsao said the recall movement is a “holy war” to clear out Chinese collaborators.

President William Lai‘s first official visit of Pacific island allies went quite well.  In addition to visit Marshall Island, Tuvalu and Palau, Lai also stopped by Hawaii and Guam.  The first nation Taiwan’s president visited is Marshall Island.  Addressing parliament, Lai offered financial support for the national airline Air Marshall Islands.  This is to upgrade its aging fleet.  After arriving in the capital, Majuro, the Taiwanese leader held talks with the government and attended a banquet, Marshallese President Hilda Heine expressed her government’s commitment to “remain a staunch ally” of Taiwan.   “Taiwan and the Marshall Islands share a traditional Austronesian culture, as well as the values of freedom and democracy,” Lai told Heine.    Lai’s next stop is the Pacific nation of Tuvalu.  President Lai was greeted by Tuvaluan Prime Minister Feleti Teo, Governor-General Tofiga Vaevalu Falani.   Two nations signed a joint communiqué on advancing their relationship.  In a joint communique on “advancing the comprehensive partnership,” the two sides agreed to “reassess the ongoing bilateral cooperation projects in order to establish a more durable, lasting and mutually beneficial diplomatic relations.”    In Palau, Lai and Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr inspected a joint exercise in waters near the Pacific island nation where coast guard forces simulated a rescue mission involving a capsized fishing vessel.  Lai emphasized the importance of countries working together on maritime safety and humanitarian rescue. Whipps said the exercise demonstrated that the cooperation between Taiwan and Palau went beyond operational aspects and reflected their shared values and commitments.

During Lai’s two-day visit to Hawaii, Lai was welcomed by Ingrid Larson, managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), Hawaii Governor Josh Green, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi and Honolulu Police Department chief Arthur Logan.  President Lai also made a telephone call to former US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi, and met with other US government officials and members of the US Congress.   In Guam, Lai spoke with US congressional leaders, including House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of the Democratic Party and held a videoconference with Republican Senator Roger Wicker.

In an interview with Catherine Chang, a well-known journalist, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said  “If China's claims on Taiwan are about territorial integrity then it should also take back land from Russia signed over by the last Chinese dynasty in the 19th century”.  The interview was broadcasted by Taiwanese television station on September 1.  Talking about territorial integrity, Lai brought up the 1858 Treaty of Aigun in which The Qing, the last Chinese Dynasty, signed over a vast tract of land in what is now Russia's far east to the Russian empire, forming much of the present day border along the Amur River.  The Qing also signed over Taiwan to Japan in 1895 in another “unequal” treaty.  Since the Mao Zedong’s communists won the civil war in China, The People’s Republic of China (PRO) had viewed democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.   However, Taiwan's government (ROC) rejected those claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future.  Lai further said that China's intention to attack and annex Taiwan is not for the sake of territorial integrity.  It wants to achieve hegemony in the international area, in the Western Pacific - that is it's real aim.    Lai’s remark brought world-wide attentions.  It is the first time that a prominent political leader questioned China why doesn’t it take back the lands occupied by Russia that were signed over in the treaty of Aigun?  As usual, China's government says Taiwan has been Chinese territory since ancient times.  China's Taiwan Affairs Office refused to immediately respond to a request for comment.

Regarding Beijing’s continued refusal to engage with Taipei, Lai said he would continue to uphold former president Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) “four commitments.”  Lai emphasized that  Chinese President Xi Jinping should understand that initiating a Taiwan Strait conflict and disrupting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region “will not be accepted by the international community.”   Asked to comment on the Democratic Progressive Party’s loss of its majority in the legislature, he expressed optimism, he said: “I remain fully confident about the future development of Taiwan.”

The United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758  (also known as the Resolution on Admitting Peking) was passed in response to the  United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1668  that required any change in  China's representation in the UN be determined by a two-thirds vote referring to Article 18 of the UN Charter. The resolution, passed on 25 October 1971, recognized the People's Republic of China as "the only legitimate representative of China to the United Nations" and removed "the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek" (referring to the  Republic of China, whose central government had  relocated to Taiwan from the mainland) from the United Nations.

Speaking at a seminar held by the German Marshall Fund, on May 1, 2024, , US Deputy Assistant Secretary for China and Taiwan Mark Lambert called for support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the international community at a time when China is increasingly misusing Resolution 2758.  “Beijing mischaracterizes the resolution by falsely conflating it with China’s ‘one China’ principle, and wrongly asserts that it reflects an international consensus for its ‘one China’ principle,” is one of the main points emphasized by Lambert.

The following is the full text of resolution

2758 (XXVI). Restoration of the lawful rights of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations

The General Assembly,

Recalling the principies of the Charter of the United Nations,

 Considering that the restoration of the lawful rights of the People's Republic of China is essential both far the protection of the Charter of the United Nations and far the cause that the United Nations must serve under the Charter,

 Recognizing that the representatives of the Government of the People's Republic of China are the only lawful representatives of China to the United Nations and that the People's Republic of China is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council,

 Decides to restore all its rights to the People's Republic of China and to recognize the representatives of its Government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations, and to expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the place which they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations and in all the organizations related to it.

1976th plenary meeting,

25 October 1971.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Hsiao Bi-Khim, Taiwan’s vice president-elect, was in Washington this week for a low-profile visit.  Hsiao has been Taiwan's de facto ambassador to the United States since 2020 until last year before she joined the presidential race.   The Taiwan official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, told Reuters that Hsiao arrived in the United States this week and will spend the next few days there on a "personal trip" that includes packing up her personal belongings.   However, Taiwan's presidential office and Hsiao's ruling Democratic Progressive Party refused to provide additional information regarding this private trip.  Hsiao will be sworn in as vice-president in May.

Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for Beijing’s embassy in Washington, said Beijing firmly opposed any visit by Hsiao to the US “in any name or under whatever pretext”, according to a Reuters report on Tuesday.   Liu called Hsiao a “diehard ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist” and said Washington should “not arrange any form of contact” between US government officials and Hsiao.   Hsiao was on the top of China’s black list and has been blacklisted and sanctioned twice by Beijing for “colluding with the US” and “provoking confrontation” between Taiwan and the mainland.   Hsiao’s mother, Peggy Cooley, is American.    Hsiao attended high school and colleges in the US.  She is a fluent English speaker, developed connections with a host of US officials, lawmakers and think tank scholars during her three years as Taiwan’s representative to the US, which ended in November when she joined Lai on the campaign trail.

Taiwan’s presidential election was held on 13 January 2024 as part of the 2024 general elections.    He current Vice President Lai Ching-te, nominated by DPP, was elected by the voters with a plurality of 40.05%.   Lai’s running mate is Hsiao Bi-khim.   The opposition parties’ nominee  Huo Yu-ih (KMT) received 33.49 % of the vote.  While the third candidate Ko Wen-je (TPP) obtained 26.46 % of vote.   This presidential election had a turnout rate of 71.86%, which was a 3.04% reduction from the 2020 election. This marked the first time since the 2000 election that the winning candidate obtained less than 50% of the vote, and the first time that a party won more than two consecutive presidential elections since direct elections were introduced in 1996.   Although the ruling Democratic Progressive Party pulled off a historic third consecutive presidential victory, KMT won the legislate election.  Out of 113 seats, KMT captured 52 seats, while DPP only got 51 seats.  After his win, Lai told his supporters “This is a night that belongs to Taiwan. We managed to keep Taiwan on the map of the world. The election has shown the world the commitment of the Taiwanese people to democracy.”   This election brought the international attention.  It was estimated that near two hundred news reporters from more than thirty counties covered the election.  As comments by some prominent media, the election once again showed Taiwan’s vibrant democratic credentials.  Before the election, China launched numerous attacks on Lai and DPP.   Chinese leader Xi Jinping favored KMT candidate Huo.  Following Taiwan’s election result, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said no matter “whatever changes take place in Taiwan, the basic fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China will not change.”   US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the vote demonstrated “the strength of [Taiwan’s] robust democratic system and electoral process.”

Taiwan’s presidential election will be held on January 13, 2024.  Three major parties nominated their candidates.   The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) nominated Lai Ching-te as presidential candidate.  Lai is the current Vice President. His running mate is Hsiao Bi-khim, former Representative to the US.   The major opposition party, Kuomintang (KMT), nominated Hou Yu-ih, current New Taipei mayor, as the presidential candidate.   Hou chose Jaw Shaw-Kong, to be his running mate.   The Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) has nominated Ko Wen-je, former Taipei mayor, and Canthia Wu to run against DPP and KMT.   The 2024 presidential election will be the 8^th direct presidential election.   For the past several months, Terry Gou, Foxconn’s founding chairman, also seriously ran for president as an independent.    However, Gou dropped out in November due to the lack of public support.    In order to unseat DPP, KMT proposed a joint ticket (so called Blue-Whit Alliance) to TPP.  After several meetings, two sides failed to reach a final agreement.  Now Hou has to compete against Ko too.   After one month of serious campaign, the public opinions showed that Lai-Hsiao ticket is ahead of Hou-Jaw and Ko-Wu.  The domestic issues, such as economic development, energy policy, agriculture policy, education policy and housing are main topics during the campaign.  It was speculated that the defense policy and Taiwan-US and Taiwan-China relations could be the hottest  topics near the end of campaign.

During the recent APEC meeting in San Francisco, President Biden met Chinese President Xi Jinping several times.   A formal official meeting lasted for four hours on November 15.  The high-ranking officials from both sides also attended the event.    Biden told Xi that the US would continue to arm Taiwan and stressed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.   In addition, Biden also asked Xi to respect Taiwan’s electoral process.  From US’ point of view, the peace in Taiwan Strait is the most sensitive topic in the relationship with China.   According to the US official, Biden said he reaffirmed the US’ “one China” policy and insisted that any resolution must be peaceful.   “I’m not going to change that,” Biden said. “That’s not going to change”. Although Biden chided him for China’s massive military build-up around Taiwan, Xi said that China is not plan for a massive invasion of Taiwan in the near future.  Regarding the accomplishment of the meeting, “I believe they were some of the most constructive and productive discussions we’ve had,” Biden said at a press conference following the summit.   “We’ve made some important progress, I believe.” Biden highlighted the restoration of direct military-to-military contacts, saying they would prevent miscalculations between the two countries and also indicted he had the ability to speak to Xi directly.  In response to the reporter’s question at the end of the press conference, Biden said “Look, he is. He’s a dictator in the sense that he’s a guy who runs a country that is a communist country that’s based on a form of government totally different than ours”.

In Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Presidential Office yesterday thanked US President Joe Biden for reiterating Washington’s commitment to maintaining the “status quo” during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.