August 21: Mainland China announced that due to the detection of scale insects, it will suspend the import of mangoes from Taiwan. The Ministry of Agriculture responded that China's approach does not conform to international norms and will continue to develop foreign high-end markets to ensure farmer incomes.
This is the first time that the mainland has suspended the import of Taiwanese fruits this year. The timing of the announcement was when Vice President William Lai concluded his visit to diplomatic ally Paraguay and transited through the United States. Taiwanese scholars believe that Beijing is using this to counter the administration of President Tsai Ing-wen. Mainland scholars on Taiwan studies believe that the main reason is Taiwan's inappropriate behavior in cross-strait economic and trade exchanges.
August 22: In the presidential run-off election of Guatemala, Taiwan's diplomatic ally, the center-left corruption fighter Bernardo Arévalo won the election unexpectedly. In an interview with Reuters, Mr. Arévalo stated that he has no intention of severing diplomatic relations in Taiwan and believes that it is "absolutely feasible" to develop relations with China at the same time. He also stated that private enterprises in Guatemala are very interested in expanding exchanges with China because China is the most important trading partner of Central America.
August 22: The Central American Parliament (PARLACEN) passed a resolution revoking the Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China (Taiwan) as a permanent observer and replacing it with the "People's Republic of China." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the most solemn protest. In order to safeguard national sovereignty and dignity, it decided to withdraw from PARLACEN with immediate effect.
August 22: Hsu Yao-chang, former Miaoli County Executive affiliated with the Kuomintang (KMT), blurted out at a rally for Terry Gou "Unshelf the KMT." The KMT's Disciplinary Committee sent a letter asking Hsu to explain. Hsu then issued a statement of quitting the party, shocking Taiwan's politics.
August 23: The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) released indices for industrial production and manufacturing production, both of which recorded negative growth for 14 consecutive months, also the longest recession in history. The MOEA predicts that manufacturing production will continue to dip in August, with a year-on-year decrease of between 14.5 percent and 18.5 percent.
August 24: The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) announced the resumption of cross-strait group tours, adopting a gradual approach. Taiwan will initially open up to 2,000 people per day, with a one-month preparation period, and depending upon the response by mainland China, determine the implementation date. This means that under the premise of reciprocally opening up, which the government has repeatedly emphasized, if the mainland does not propose a corresponding opening plan, then there is no solution to resuming cross-strait group tourism.
August 24: KMT presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih will visit the United States from September 14 to September 21. He will meet with members of the Congress and Chairman Laura Rosenberger of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and speak at a think tank. According to relevant sources, the United States is paying attention to Hou's U.S.-Taiwan, diplomatic, national defense, and cross-strait policy platforms, including the earlier controversy surrounding Hou's comments on the duration of conscription. The U.S. will also observe Hou's "national security team."
August 24: The Executive Yuan passed the central government's general budget for 2024. The overall scale of national defense expenditures will reach NT$606.8 billion (about US$19 billion), a record high. Increased projects are mainly military investment projects of NT$34.9 billion (about US$1.1 billion), and the scale of defense expenditures is close to 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).
