Democratic Progressive Party

Following the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) recent win of an unprecedented third term in office, Taiwan's legislature has elected Han Kuo-yu, a politician aligned with the China-friendly opposition Kuomintang (KMT), as its new speaker. The appointment signals a divided government in Taiwan, with potential regional implications.

Taiwanese authorities arrested Lin Hsien-Yuan, an online journalist, who worked for a media outlet called Fingermedia, a few weeks ago over a poll showing pro-China parties on course to win the upcoming January 13 election.

Aspiring Taiwanese independent presidential candidate Terry Gou has resigned from the board of Foxconn, the Apple supplier he founded nearly a half-century ago.

The company issued a news release late on Sept. 2 saying Gou had resigned for personal reasons.

Chinese military exercises near Taiwan are targeted at forces promoting the island's formal independence and are a "just" move to protect peace and stability, China's Taiwan Affairs Office said on Oct. 13.

It also said the exercises are aimed at interference by external forces.

The Taiwan Parliament has legalized same-sex marriages today, the French press reported, quoted by NOVA TV. 

This is the first such case in Asia. Parliament legalized same-sex marriages for two years after the Taiwan Constitutional Court ruled in May 2017 that they did not contradict the Taiwanese constitution.

Taiwan aspires to create a "new era" of peace with China, which should set aside the baggage of history and have positive dialogue, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said in a letter to Pope Francis, adding military action cannot resolve problems. 

China and Taiwan began operating the first telephone hotline between the two nations on Dec. 30, set up as a confidence building and tension reducing measure, with senior officials exchanging New Year's greetings.

The step was agreed during a historic meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou in Singapore last month. 

China on June 18 said it would welcome only an anti-independence candidate at Taiwan's presidential election in January, offering its first comment on the likely contender for the island's pro-China ruling Nationalist Party.