Fausto Chou

The 2024 Taiwan presidential and legislative elections have concluded. Despite the election of Lai Ching-te from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as the President of the Republic of China (ROC), his vote count was merely 5.58 million, almost approaching the 5.44 million votes the DPP received in 2008 when facing corruption allegations. The Kuomintang (KMT) nearly became the loser of this election as they failed to secure a majority in the parliament as the largest opposition party and lost the presidential race. The Taiwan People's Party emerged as the biggest winner, successfully obtaining 8 seats in the legislature under the unfavorable electoral system for smaller parties, becoming a critical minority in the parliament, meaning that any future legislation must garner support from the TPP. I discussed the election earlier on Asharq News based in Dubai. Democratic Progressive Party received 8.17 million votes in the previous election, but Lai Ching-te has now dropped to 5.58 million. His victory can be attributed to the division within the opposition alliance. This election represents the influence of the majority of Taiwan's elderly population on the outcome, but the younger generation is starting to hold significant power in determining Taiwan's future. I emphasize that this election once again demonstrates Taiwan's democracy and showcases the successful implementation of a democratic system within the Chinese-speaking world. To the guest from Beijing who continually emphasize the "Taiwan Local Leader" and "Taiwan is part of China," I express that I understand their position representing Communist China. However, anger cannot resolve the differences between our two sides across the Taiwan Strait. Please acknowledge the fact that the Republic of China has continued to exist in Taiwan since 1949. The fact is, Taiwan is not a part of the People's Republic of China. Today, the people of Taiwan are voting for the 16th President and Vice President of the Republic of China. I believe if the Chinese Communist Party could recognize this, we could have fruitful communication. Additionally, Lai Ching-te earlier stated that he would adhere to the Constitution of the Republic of China, meaning that mainland China is part of Taiwan and maintaining the status quo. Lai Ching-te did not promise Taiwan's independence or the establishment of the Republic of Taiwan. In response to the host's question about the possibility of a military invasion by the Chinese Communist Party after this election, I stated that I believe the CCP government would not be so foolish to attack Taiwan, impacting its own economy and tarnishing its international image. Second, I reiterate that Taiwan's pursuit of separation is not against peace; it is a fact: the Republic of China is in Taiwan. I believe, like me, the guest from Beijing is against war and desires peace. ROC President-elect Lai Ching-te once invited Chinese leader Xi Jinping to have dinner together in Kinmen, which I consider as a friendly gesture towards you.

The 2024 Taiwan presidential and legislative elections concluded last night. At 3:20 AM today, I participated in a recording for Alhurra, delving into the future situations involving Taiwan, the United States, and China. Firstly, I expressed gratitude for the U.S. government's congratulatory messages on Taiwan 's election results. However, I pointed out that the U.S. is only willing to maintain unofficial relations with the Republic of China 🇹🇼 or Taiwan, treating it like any other entity in its "marriage" with Communist China 🇨🇳 . Before this election, a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Blinken and Liu Jianchao, Head of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party, set the stage for Taiwan's involvement in Sino-U.S. diplomatic relations. I believe Taiwan should serve as a bridge for communication between China and the U.S., rather than becoming a conflict zone. During the program, I emphasized President-elect Lai Ching-te's commitment to the ROC Constitution, signifying that mainland China is part of Taiwan, maintaining the status quo. Lai Ching-te did not promise Taiwan's independence or the establishment of the Republic of Taiwan. It's crucial to acknowledge the fact that the Republic of China has persisted in Taiwan since 1949. Taiwan is not a part of the People's Republic of China. Today, the people of Taiwan are electing the 16th President and Vice President of the Republic of China. Furthermore, I highlighted that the majority of Taiwanese voters in this election were more concerned about domestic issues, such as economic problems and energy matters, rather than cross-strait and diplomatic relations.

Earlier, I participated in a live news program on Saudi Arabian news channel Asharq News, discussing the Chinese Communist Party's surprise announcement on the morning of April 8th (Taiwan time) that they would conduct military exercises in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding areas from April 8th to 10th, as part of the so-called "encirclement" preparations for Taiwan. I mentioned that according to the Republic of China's Ministry of National Defense, the PLA dispatched 42 aircraft and 8 vessels to enter Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone this morning. 29 aircraft clearly crossed the median line of the strait. This operation is similar to the large-scale military exercise near Taiwan by the PLA after then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan last year. The timing of this exercise is during the current President of the Republic of China, Tsai Ing-wen's visit to Central America and transit through the United States, and after former President Ma Ying-jeou's visit to China and return to Taiwan. I also mentioned that the PLA's actions are currently under the surveillance of the Republic of China's Ministry of National Defense, and the PLA only briefly crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, with its warships returning ahead of schedule.

Earlier, I participated in a live news program on Asharq News from Saudi Arabia, discussing President Tsai Ing-wen's visit to the United States. I think the Taiwanese president's visits to Central American allies and transit through the United States have occurred dozens of times since 1996. If President Tsai and Speaker McCarthy meet in California, it would be the third time a Taiwanese president has met with the Speaker of the House. These are not particularly newsworthy events. John Kirby, the White House National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, also said earlier that this is an unofficial visit, and no meetings with US officials have been arranged for President Tsai. Moreover, President Tsai is not visiting Washington D.C. this time, so this transit through the United States is the same as previous ones and nothing extraordinary. I also mentioned in the program that former President Ma Ying-jeou visited China and said during a meeting with the secretary of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Chinese Communist Party that "when I was president of Taiwan, the cross-strait in Taiwan was the most peaceful time. Yes, President Ma used the term "President of Taiwan," which is not allowed by the CCP, and I did not see President Ma being silenced. This is a diplomatic breakthrough of sorts.

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Taiwan on August 2 and visited Taiwan on the 3rd, ignoring threats from the Chinese Communist Party. In a special interview with the U.S. Agency for Global Media's Alhurra TV in the early hours of August 2, Taiwan journalist Fausto Chou explained the historical significance of Pelosi's arrival in Taiwan, the reaction of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), and Pelosi's typical itinerary for the 3rd.

The Nikkei reported on December 23 that TSMC is actively evaluating plans to build its first European plant in Germany. TSMC's senior management will visit the country early next year to start the final discussion on the local government's support content. The factory construction will begin in 2024 at the earliest. Fausto Chou, a journalist for Eat News from Taiwan, said in an interview with Asharq News, a Middle East TV channel, that TSMC's plant in Germany would have less impact on Taiwan's interests because it is a mature process of 22nm to 28nm, rather than the advanced process of 3nm to 4nm set up in Arizona, USA. Chou said that what most people in Taiwan oppose is mainly that TSMC is "forced" to set up factories in the U.S. because it is not in the interest of business and not in the interest of Taiwan. In 2020, the then-Trump administration forced TSMC to set up a plant in the U.S. because "iPhone manufacturing in China was affected by the pandemic." In 2022, the Biden administration again forced TSMC to set up a plant in the U.S. on the grounds of the Taiwan Strait crisis and national security. In 2022, the Biden administration again moved TSMC to set up a plant in the United States on the grounds of the Taiwan Strait crisis and national security. In any case, under the isolationism of "Make America Great Again," bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. has become a bipartisan consensus between Democrats and Republicans, which is contrary to globalization and free trade, and this is the main reason why TSMC's founder, Morris Chang, and current chairman, D.Y. Liu, have been opposing the establishment of factories in the U.S. in the past. Chou mentioned that if the advanced manufacturing process is moved to the U.S. and the U.S. does not protect Taiwan with a contractual commitment, this makes the U.S. military not send troops to increase the risk of Taiwan if China invades Taiwan is the genuine concern of the Taiwanese.

Fausto Chou, an Eat News reporter from Taiwan, was asked in an interview on the Middle East television channel Asharq News' news commentary program about the President of Taiwan's stated plans for cooperation between the U.S. National Guard and Taiwan's military as the U.S. deepens security ties in the face of growing threats from China that the Taipei government has complained about. This comes after Taiwan deployed combat aircraft to warn China of 30 aircraft sent to its air defense zone, the second major Chinese incursion this year. What kind of cooperation can the United States offer Taiwan without violating Washington's commitment to the one-China principle? How will China accept this decision, and how might it react? What is the context in which we should interpret China's invasion yesterday? To this, Chou responded, "On October 14 of last year, as a young male in Taiwan, I began my four-month military training obligation. I can tell you that during this time, I was told by a Special Forces officer that U.S. Special Forces were already training Taiwan's Special Forces in Taiwan, even though the U.S. and Taiwan's military denied it at the time. Last week, US President Biden came to East Asia and met with the president of South Korea and the prime minister of Japan. At a press conference, President Biden said that the US would respond 'militarily' if China attacked Taiwan. This is not a Kinsley gaffe by President Biden, is U.S. foreign policy since the Trump administration has clear China as the current enemy of the United States, and as the former chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, President Biden is well clear of this." Chou mentioned that the question of how the U.S. will defend Taiwan militarily? There are two different views within Taiwan. One is Taiwan unlike Ukraine, the U.S. Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act in 1979, a law that allows the U.S. government to sell arms to Taiwan, and the U.S. has no similar law for Ukraine. In addition, overseas Taiwanese have influence in Washington, D.C., including sponsoring members of Congress, which gives Taiwan protection from the United States. Another opinion is that Taiwan, like Ukraine, is not a member of any U.S.-led military alliance, such as NATO. So if China invaded Taiwan, the U.S. would only provide Taiwan with weapons, not send U.S. troops to defend Taiwan. Chou concluded by saying that right now, no one knows what the Americans will do because there is no war in the Taiwan Strait. And the Chinese regime is too busy with their fantasy "Zero Covid" policy these months to pay attention to the affairs of other countries. Don't forget that China had a "one child policy" which made their parents very protective of the only child in the family. Do you think they will let their children go to war just to cooperate with the Chinese Communist regime to attack Taiwan? Asharq News is an Arabic news channel launched in 2020 by the Saudi Research and Marketing Group in collaboration with Bloomberg News.