Taiwan Headlines - April 17, 2021

In a bit of a change of pace, in this episode we look into a lighter subject: The role of social media in local politics, and the amusing handles some politicians have taken.

NOTE: This episode was recorded 6 days ago and was only published now due to technical problems. Taiwan is to establish a “Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania” and CCP flips out. Halifax defense and security forum to meet in Taipei. US military plane lands with package for new AIT head Oudkirk, and CCP flips out again.

Three KMT-run counties and KMT want to buy vaccines, government says no. What’s curious is who is behind it, and who isn’t. KMT also suing Health Minister and CECC head Chen and head of the FDA over local vaccine approval.

Neither the DPP nor the CEC are doing the KMT any favours. Polling shows DPP and KMT continue to lose support, but lost supporters aren’t to ‘no party’, but other parties--and TPP is now less than 3% behind the KMT.

A recent My Formosa poll showed the demographic with strongest “faith in” Ko P came from...deep blues! That’s striking considering Ko pitches himself as a centrist. However, a just-released video suggests Ko may now be pitching himself to those voters.

New information has surfaced on subject of yesterday’s show: warring over elections. EY absentee voting proposal is only for referendums, and KMT & DPP appear to be politicking on whether it will apply in December. Chen’s recall date is now “tentative”. Important people involved: Jessica Chen (陳玉珍), Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文), Chen Po-wei (陳柏惟)

The third “revenge recall” is set for Taiwan Statebuilding Party lawmaker Chen Po-wei for Aug. 28--but the Aug. 28 referendums were bumped to December. KMT continues to push for absentee ballots, and shockingly the Executive Yuan will propose a draft.

This week saw a break in the trend of Monday having the lowest Covid case count. KMT raises death rate questions. KMT figures jump the vaccine queue, but a DPP accusation doesn’t hold up. Miaoli lifts lockdown on foreign workers.

The Japanese de-facto embassy raises the flag at a curious time. TSMC and Foxconn are making bold moves toward world domination. Food delivery drivers are to be offered to join a union, but will heavy traffic nix it? Transcript: https://report.tw/headlines-apr-21-food-delivery-driver-union/

Seven indicted over train crash and transport minister Lin is resigning and heading back to Taichung. The European trade office director slams the KMT...at a KMT event. The Canadian government is humiliated after bullying on China's behalf. Transcript: https://report.tw/taiwan-headlines-apr-17-2021/