On May 5, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), the world’s largest contract chipmaker, said in a statement that the company’s top priority right now is to reallocate production capacity to increase automotive chip supply to support the global auto industry. In addition, it was reported that TSMC will build five more wafer fabs in Arizona in addition to the one already planned.

TSMC’s statement was made after Reuters reported on May 5 that United States Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has pressed TSMC and other Taiwanese chipmakers to supply more chips to the U.S. automakers since there’s so many American jobs on the line. Raimondo told an event that the long-term solution would be “simply making more chips in America.”

Ford Motor Co stated that the chip shortage might slash second-quarter production by half, costing it about US$2.5 billion of lost production this year. General Motors Co stated that it would extend production halts at several North American factories because of the shortage. United Auto Workers legislative director Josh Nassar said that the chip shortage had caused layoffs of “tens of thousands of workers.” 

At an investor news conference held earlier in mid-April, TSMC CEO C.C. Wei said the company has been working hard to address the automotive chip shortage challenge faced by its clients. Wei said on the back of rising production, the impact of the shortage on TSMC’s clients is expected to ease significantly in the third quarter of this year.

Last week, Reuters cited unnamed sources as saying that in response to a request from the U.S. government, TSMC will build five more wafer fabs in the U.S. state of Arizona in addition to the one (a $12 billion USD investment) announced in 2020. TSMC has already obtained a large piece of land in Arizona to ensure its investment plan has space for possible future expansion.

References:
[1] Focus Taiwan: https://focustaiwan.tw/business/202105050018
[2] Taipei Times: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2021/05/06/2003756931
[3] Taipei Times: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2021/05/05/2003756869

Despite Strong International Support, Taiwan Is Not Invited to WHA

Although the international community had expressed strong support for Taiwan’s participation in the upcoming World Health Assembly (WHA), the World Health Organization (WHO) still refused to send Taiwan an invitation.

On May 6, the French Senate adopted a resolution, with a vote of 304-0 and 19 abstentions, supporting Taiwan’s participation in international organizations, including the WHO.

French Senator Alain Richard, the chairman of the Senate’s Taiwan Friendship Group, said that Taiwan’s bid to participate in the WHO should be supported in light of its outstanding efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic. Taiwan should also be supported in its bid to take part in other international organizations and treaties, such as the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), he added.

Commenting on the passage of the resolution, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, secretary of state at France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, said the French government supports Taiwan’s participation in international organizations. Maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is important to the people of the world, he added.

On May 7, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also urged the WHO to invite Taiwan to participate in the WHA as an observer, saying that China’s objections are to blame for Taiwan’s exclusion from the organization.

In a press statement, Blinken said: “There is no reasonable justification for Taiwan’s continued exclusion from this forum, and the United States calls upon the WHO Director-General to invite Taiwan to participate as an observer at the WHA – as it has in previous years, prior to objections registered by the government of the People’s Republic of China.” “[Taiwan’s] exclusion from the WHA would be detrimental to our collective international efforts to get the pandemic under control and prevent future health crises,” Blinken added.

Blinken’s remarks came just days after he and other G7 foreign ministers issued a joint communique backing Taiwan’s participation in the WHA and calling for a peaceful resolution of cross-Taiwan Strait issues.

Nonetheless, Taiwan was not invited to participate in the 74th WHA later this month, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said on May 11, noting that this is the fifth straight year Taiwan has been excluded. The deadline for online registration for the upcoming virtual WHA meeting was May 10, and Taiwan had not received an invitation.

Responding to Beijing’s claim that the Chinese government had made appropriate arrangements for Taiwan to participate in the WHA under the “One China principle,” MOFA emphasized that only the Taiwan government, duly elected by the people of Taiwan, can represent the country in the international arena.

References:
[1] Focus Taiwan: https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202105070005
[2] Taipei Times: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2021/05/09/2003757078
[3] Focus Taiwan: https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202105110009

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Joint Letter to WHO by Three Taiwanese-American Organizations

On April 2, 2020, three Taiwanese-American organizations, the North American Taiwanese Medical Association (NATMA), the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA), and the North America Taiwanese Professors’ Association (NATPA) issued a joint letter to the World Health Organization (WHO) in response to their earlier statement on Taiwan’s participation dated March 29.

In the joint letter, the three organizations rebuked WHO’s claim that “the question of Taiwanese membership in WHO is up to WHO Member States, not WHO staff.” They argued that it is the WHO Secretariat that has been playing a decisive role in excluding Taiwan’s participation. Their manipulation of meeting agenda regarding Taiwan’s participation during past annual Assembly precludes the decisions by Member States and a transparent democratic process.

The three organizations further asserted that the human rights of the people of Taiwan is not a matter to be determined or voted by the WHO Secretariat nor the Member States, for its violation against the WHO’s Constitution and the idea of “health for all.” It is also in the interests of the international community to embrace Taiwan, a country to give more than to receive. The island nation’s expertise and passion are indispensable to global health.

FAPA President Dr. Minze Chien states: “The joint letter with NATMA and NATPA shows Taiwanese Americans’ solidarity with the people of Taiwan. When the Congress is back in session, FAPA will do its utmost to help pass S.249, a bill to direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to regain Taiwan’s observer status in the WHO. We will also continue to advocate for the ultimate goal of Taiwan’s full membership in the global health body.”

台美人社團聯合致函世界衛生組織

北美洲台灣人醫師協會、台灣人公共事務會以及北美洲台灣人教授協會於四月二日聯名去函世界衛生組織，回應世衛官方三月二十九日有關台灣之聲明。

台美人社團於信中反駁世衛官方「台灣於世界衛生組織的會員身份由成員國決定，而非世衛工作人員」之說法。世衛秘書處藉由控制大會議程，在排除台灣參與的過程中長期扮演關鍵角色。這個做法規避全體世衛會員國的決議以及透明的民主程序。

台美人社團更強調，台灣人民的人權不應交由世衛秘書處或成員國恣意決定。此違反了世衛官方的宗旨及其Health for All的理想。同時，台灣的參與亦符合國際社會的利益。台灣的專業以及熱情對全球公共衛生領域不可或缺。

台灣人公共事務會會長簡明子博士對此聯名函表示：「這次與北美洲台灣人醫師協會和北美洲台灣人教授協會的合作彰顯了台美人社群對台灣人民的支持。FAPA將在美國國會開議後全力推動參院第249號法案，要求美國國務卿擬定策略替台灣爭取世衛觀察員身份。同時，我們也會持續推動台灣成為完整世衛會員國的最終目標。」

Full Text of the Letter

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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U.S. Representative Introduces “UN for Taiwan” Legislation

In light of the opening of the annual General Assembly session in New York on Tuesday, September 15, U.S. Representative Scott Garrett (R-NJ) introduced H.Con.Res.76 on September 9 concluding “That it is the sense of Congress that Taiwan and its people deserve membership in the United Nations.”

The resolution quotes from the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act stating: “Nothing in this Act may be construed as a basis for supporting the exclusion or expulsion of Taiwan from continued membership in any international financial institution or any other international organization.”

It also lauds the “close relationship that has existed for the past 50 years between the United States and Taiwan, which has been of major economic, cultural, and strategic advantage to both countries” and emphasizes Taiwan’s long time desire to join the United Nations.

FAPA President Mark Kao, Ph.D. states: “Taiwan is an independent country that fulfills all conditions for statehood:  a permanent population, a defined territory, government, and capacity to enter into relations with other states.There are no legal obstacles for Taiwan to join the UN, just one political obstacle: the People’s Republic of China. The PRC opposes Taiwan’s membership in the UN for such membership would constitute international recognition of the reality that Taiwan is an independent country. The time is now for the international community to form a coalition to jointly stand up against China and support Taiwan’s entry into the UN.”

Dr. Kao concludes:  “This coming Saturday September 12, Taiwanese Americans will gather on New York’s Times Square to rally in support of Taiwan’s membership in the UN.”

美眾議員提案支持台灣加入聯合國

為因應9月15日於紐約開幕的年度聯合國大會，紐澤西州共和黨議員蓋瑞（Scott Garrett）於眾議院提出編號H.C.R.76的法案。此法案主要內容為表達「美國國會認同台灣及其人民有權享有聯合國會員身分」的支持。

本決議案引述一九七九年台灣關係法之條文：「本法律任何條款均不得被解釋為，美國贊成把臺灣排除或驅逐出任何國際金融機構或其他國際組織。」

該決議案更進一步強調「美國與台灣過去五十年來的緊密關係，對兩國在經濟、文化及戰略方面，均有相當助益」，並強調台灣長久以來期望加入聯合國的意願。

台 灣人公共事務會會長高龍榮博士指出：「台灣是個獨立國家，符合國家需要的所有條件，包括固定的人口、既定的國界、政府，以及與其他國家發展關係的能力。台 灣加入聯合國沒有任何法律障礙，只有一項政治攔阻－中華人民共和國。中國反對台灣加入聯合國，因為若台灣成功加入聯合國，將意味著國際間認同台灣為一獨立 國家。現在便是國際社會共同反制中國，支持台灣加入聯合國的最佳時機。」

高博士總結道：「台美人將於本週六（9月12日）在紐約的時代廣場發起遊行，支持台灣加入聯合國。」

Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore (Flickr)

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Senator Sherrod Brown Calls For Taiwan’s Full WHO Membership After H7N9 Deaths In Hong Kong

In light of the recent deaths of two Hong Kong citizens who were infected with the H7N9 bird flu virus after visiting Shenzhen, long-time friend of Taiwan Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry dated February 6, 2014 calling for full WHO membership for Taiwan.

Senator Brown wrote: “Taiwan’s exclusion not only creates a dangerous gap in the exchange of information between countries, but puts global health monitoring and security at risk due to Taiwan’s proximity to China during this time of virulent outbreak.”

He added: “In April 2002, President Bush signed Public Law No. 107-10, which included a clause mandating the Secretary of State to endorse “meaningful participation” for Taiwan in the World Health Assembly (WHA). Regrettably, very little progress has been made since that time, and seen in the observer status.”

The Senator concluded: “As global health threats emerge, the public health of our nation increasingly depends on cooperation and communication between every nation. It is in America’s best interest to ensure that Taiwan is a full member of the WHO.”

FAPA President Mark Kao, Ph.D. states: “Taiwan’s participation in the annual weeklong WHA meeting as an observer, and not a WHO full member, is a pyrrhic victory with limited benefits. The bottom line is that China continues to play politics with the lives of the people of Taiwan by blocking Taiwan’s full access to the WHO.”

Dr. Kao concludes: “Taiwan’s membership in the WHO is not only in the interest of the people of Taiwan, it is of critical importance to the rest of the world as well. What if someone carrying the H7N9 virus gets on a plane in Taiwan and disembarks in any other country? The world can no longer afford to let Taiwan be the missing health link in the chain of Pacific Rim countries.”

香港爆發感染H7N9死亡案例後布朗議員呼籲支持台灣加入世界衛生組織

香港爆發兩民眾行訪深圳感染H7N9禽流感死亡案例後，長期友台的俄亥俄州民主黨參議員布朗（Sherrod Brown）於2月6日致函美國國務卿凱瑞，呼籲支持台灣加入世界衛生組織成為正式會員。

布朗議員寫道：「將地理位置靠近中國的台灣排除於世衛之外，不只在國際資訊交換面上留下一個危險的漏洞，也在這一波流感危機中，將全球的衛生監控與安全置於風險中。」

他並表示：「布希總統於2002年曾簽署107-10號公共法，其中的一項法條賦予國務院『支持台灣有意義參與世界衛生大會』的責任。遺憾的是，從那以後，這項任務並未有太多進展。」

布朗議員總結道：「在新一波疫情崛起的同時，美國人民的健康，仰賴世界各國共同合作；支持台灣加入世界衛生組織符合美國的最大利益。」

台灣人公共事務會會長高龍榮博士表示：「台灣以觀察員而非世衛的正式會員身份參與為期一週的世界衛生大會，表面上是一項勝利，但其代價卻非常高昂，而效益卻極低。最關鍵的仍是中國使弄政治操作阻止台灣獲得世衛所提供的資訊等手法，持續擺弄台灣人民的健康和性命。」

高博士總結：「台灣成為世衛正式會員不只是台灣人的權益，對於世界更是至關重要。若有台灣人感染了H7N9後旅遊至其他國家，怎麼辦？世界各國不能再任由台灣繼續被排擠於環太平洋諸國之外，成為衛生保健網的漏洞。」

Sen. Brown’s Letter