TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan has aptly chosen the Chinese character "Que" (缺), meaning shortage or lack of something, as its word of the year.
This choice mirrors the year's challenges, including egg and labor shortages, diminishing savings owing to inflation, and waning diplomatic relations, striking a chord with many Taiwanese in the lead-up to the General Elections.
Delving into the year's events, here are the top five pivotal moments that defined Taiwan in 2023:
End of an Era: Taiwan and Honduras Cut Diplomatic Ties
On March 26, Honduras cut ties with Taiwan and switched to China, marking the end of 82 years of diplomatic relations with the island nation.
Honduras became the ninth nation in the past seven years to sever formal diplomatic ties with us, further isolating the nation with only 13 diplomatic allies.
#MeToo Movement Gains Momentum in Taiwan
Taiwan experienced a wave of sexual allegations after a former DPP staffer revealed her account of harassment on social media in late May, igniting a broad outcry against sexual misconduct from politics, academia, and sports, to the entertainment industry to report their experiences and how authorities handled them.
A total of 94 non-anonymous reports were recorded in a month after the news unfolded, driving the government to implement decisive actions and significant reforms.
Pride in Defense: Taiwan's 'Haikun' Submarine Unveiled
Costing approximately US＄1.54 billion, Taiwan unveiled on Sept. 28its first domestically-built submarine, the "Narwhal" submarine, or "Hai-kun" in Chinese, showcasing the island's commitment to strengthening its defense and global presence amid increasing cross-strait tensions.
President Tsai Ing-wen commended this landmark achievement during its launch ceremony, stating, "History will forever remember this day," but left out specifics on the project's timeline and considerable costs.
End of Globalization: TSMC's U.S. fab struggles
Aiming to minimize risks, TSMC's growth into Japan, the U.S., and Germany, marked as the end of "globalization" by founder Morris Chang, saw some growing challenges, such as in Arizona with labor shortages, rising costs, and union pushback.
TSMC Chairman Mark Liu's unexpected decision to retire next year highlights the company's growing challenges amid delays and public scrutiny.
Opposition Alliance Fiasco: The Blue-White Divide
Taiwan's 2024 presidential election will take place on Jan. 13, yet the unmemorable Nov. 23 meeting, aimed at forming an alliance among Taiwan's opposition parties, will not be forgotten.
While the entire discussions were live-streamed, the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) failed to form a united ticket, despite sharing the same goal to take down the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), putting the month-long party coalition negotiations to an end.
As Taiwan navigates these challenges, the echoes of 2023 will reverberate into 2024. The newly elected president will likely set the stage for the economic and political future of Taiwan.