Taiwan’s 2024 Elections: How will China Respond?

Written by T.Y. Wang. Lai’s victory, nevertheless, is a rebuke to Beijing’s sovereignty claim of the island and a hard pill for Chinese leaders to swallow. In the aftermath of the election, observers are pondering how Beijing will react to Taiwan’s electoral outcomes. Chinese leaders view Lai as a “separatist,” and his affiliated DPP is a secessionist political party. A win by Lai, in their mind, means Taipei will continue its policy of pursuing Taiwan independence in spite of Lai’s pledge to continue the incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen’s policy of maintaining the status quo. Prior to the election, Beijing had magnified a “war and peace” narrative, intensified its military and economic pressure on Taiwan and warned the island citizens to make a “correct choice” in the elections.

Does “Hong Kong Influence” Linger in the 2024 Taiwan Election?

Written by Sanho Chung. It has been widely recognised that Hong Kong’s Anti-Extradition Movement in 2019 was the turning point of the 2020 General Election in Taiwan. In the last general election, Beijing’s hardline crackdown on the protests in Hong Kong gave rise to the Taiwanese’s mistrust of China and finally brought a big win to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which was expected to lose both their majority over the Legislative Yuan and their presidency. But after three years of National Security Law (NSL) enactment in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong issue in this general election seems no longer as focal as it was. How should we make sense of this huge contrast in attention? Has “Hong Kong Influence” faded out totally?

Cybersecurity and National Security in Taiwan and Japan

Written by Margaret Siu and Tommy Hall. In an era where digital technology permeates every aspect of our lives, national security strategies increasingly hinge on robust cybersecurity measures. This is particularly evident in the approaches of Taiwan and Japan, two democratic governments at the forefront of integrating advanced technological defences against emerging digital threats. The evolving cybersecurity strategies of Taiwan and Japan are not merely reactive measures to emerging threats but are emblematic of broader global trends where digital security is inextricably linked to political stability. Their experiences offer vital insights for other governments grappling with similar challenges, emphasising the importance of agility, technological innovation, and international cooperation in crafting national security strategies for an interconnected digital world.

Digital Governance Perspectives for Taiwanese and Japanese Civil Society

Written by Tommy Hall and Margaret Siu. In the digital age, politics and technology are more intertwined than ever, especially in East Asia. With nations like Taiwan wrestling with the balance between free speech and foreign interference and Japan pivoting towards advanced tech solutions for national security, the right balance remains elusive, and the stakes perennial. By exploring these critical intersections between online spaces and national politics, this work spotlights the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for these East Asian democracies, as well as connecting the East Asian experience to the world at large.

Hong Kong’s National Security Law 3 years on – Taiwan should build a defence

Written by Michael MO. Hong Kong’s pro-democracy struggle was a hot-button issue in 2020’s Taiwan presidential election campaign. Both President Tsai and former head of Executive Yuan Su Tseng-chang took the city as a case in their speeches to remind the Taiwanese to defend the island and not turn Taiwan into another Hong Kong. Three years on, specific policies to guard the country against the potential legal and political harassment from the extraterritorial application of the NSL remain non-existent. While the issues of Hong Kong may no longer be a concern in the presidential race, the need to build a robust defence to protect Taiwanese interests in Hong Kong should still be on the political agenda of the island.

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