The non-profit, government-funded organisation plays a key role in Taiwan’s engagement with the world. Its stated goals are to build partnerships with civil society groups, think tanks, and non-governmental groups in democratic countries, support democratisation in Asia, and to further Taiwan’s democratic development through international exchanges.
DPP does not reflect mainstream Taiwan, Beijing’s point man tells industry group
DPP does not reflect mainstream Taiwan, Beijing’s point man tells industry group
Han is expected to assume the role later this month.
The TFD is typically chaired by the island’s legislative president, with the minister of foreign affairs and secretary general of the president’s office serving as the vice-chairman and director, respectively.
Its other board members are legislators – nominated proportionally to party representation in the legislature – as well as representatives from academia, non-governmental organisations and the financial sector.
In 2022, after then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, Beijing banned the TFD from cooperating with mainland organisations, businesses and individuals, saying it had “wantonly carried out ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist activities in the international arena”.
Whether those sanctions could be lifted under Han’s chairmanship remains to be seen, but his leadership could have a positive impact on Taiwan’s contact with the mainland, said Tso Chen-Dong, professor of international relations at National Taiwan University, in an interview with local media.
Han’s pro-Beijing politics are viewed with extreme scepticism by the independence-leaning DPP, particularly following a 2019 visit to Hong Kong and mainland China in which he met then-Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam and several Communist Party officials.
KMT deputy chief Andrew Hsia starts mainland China trip with call for dialogue
KMT deputy chief Andrew Hsia starts mainland China trip with call for dialogue
But the near-even split in the island’s new legislature means TFD’s activities probably will not change much under the new government, said Chen Fang-yu, a professor of political science at Soochow University in Taipei. However, the KMT’s slight majority means the organisation’s budget could face challenges.
The KMT’s legislative majority during Ma’s tenure allowed then-legislative president Wang Jin-pyng to turn the TFD into a “foundation for cross-strait relations”, Chen said.
“Many people found that the TFD became a travel agency to always give funding to cross-strait relations, not the promotion of human rights or democracy.”
“However, because the DPP is the ruling party, that won’t happen. I don’t think Han Kuo-yu has the ability to turn TFD into a role similar to under Ma Ying-jeou.”
While the media has speculated that the DPP might attempt to block Han from assuming the chairmanship, the party’s leadership has come out to dismiss those rumours.
The real gridlock will happen over negotiations for the roles of CEO and three vice-CEOs, Chen said, as they play a direct role in running the organisation. Those negotiations are expected to continue throughout the month.
