Events from the year 2021 in Taiwan, Republic of China.
Incumbents President: Tsai Ing-wen Vice President: Lai Ching-te Heads of Five Yuan Executive Yuan/Premier: Su Tseng-chang Legislative Yuan: Yu Shyi-kun Judicial Yuan: Hsu Tzong-li Examination Yuan: Huang Jong-tsun Control Yuan: Chen Chu
General 24th happiest country in the world and the first in Asia on the 2021 World Happiness Report. 43th in 2021 World Press Freedom Index. Top destination for expats, according to the Expat Insider Survey by InterNations. Taiwan ranks 8th in "World Competitiveness" in the World Competitiveness Yearbook published June 17 by Swiss International Institute for Management Development.
Events Drought.
January 6 January - Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung, Slovenian Prime Minister and acting Minister of Health Janez Janša, hold a virtual meeting. 10 January - United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lifts all restrictions on Taiwan-U.S. official exchanges. January 11 - New passport released, making "Republic of China" smaller and emphasizing "Taiwan" on the cover. January 13 - Ministry of the Interior National Immigration Agency announces the 7th automatic 30-day visa extensions for foreigners who have legally stayed in Taiwan for 180 days or more. January 14 - President Tsai Ing-wen meets with United States U.N. Ambassador Kelly Craft via videoconference. January 18 - Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu accepts copy of credentials from Haiti ambassador Hervé Denis. January 19 - President Tsai meets British Office Taipei Representative John Dennis January 20 - Head of TECRO Hsiao Bi-khim represents Taiwan at the inauguration of the 46th U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. January 21 Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu attends Palau presidential inauguration. The EP passes three resolutions calling for expanded partnership with Taiwan and support for Taiwan's participation in international organizations. January 23 - Taiwan-Japan friendship event at Taipei 101. January 24 2 Taiwanese satellites are launched, in collaboration with SpaceX. The Flying Squirrel and Yushan. CECC continues to monitor the new domestic COVID-19 cluster in Taoyuan and quarantines an estimated 5,000 individuals. Taiwan's badminton duo win men's double at the Toyota Thailand Open. Jan 26 - Jan 31, All physical components of the 2021 Taipei International Book Exhibition (TiBE), canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Online parts were held as scheduled. January 27 President Tsai Ing-wen launches a campaign regarding book reading in support of Taiwanese book publishers. TECO Prague representative, Ke Liang-ruey, meets with Prague mayor Zdeněk Hřib and announces that Prague and Taiwan will have increased cooperation in science and education. January 28 Number of international students in Taiwan surpass 130,000. Taiwan and United Kingdom ink a memorandum of understanding on agricultural cooperation. Taiwan is ranked at 2nd place by The Economist in Asia-Pacific personalized health index. January 29 The Ministry of the Interior begins a study to change the national emblem due to its similarity with the Kuomintang party symbol. Tainan begins self-driving bus test with passengers. Taiwan has their 8th COVID-19 fatality. January 31 - Andrzej Duda signs law regarding legal cooperation in criminal matters between Taiwan and Poland.
February February 1 MOTC bans all eating and drinking on the THSR, on all TRA trains, on long-distance buses, on domestic flights, on ferries, and in post offices. Artworks by late Taiwanese artist Hong Rui-lin are donated to the MOC. A survey by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs found that the majority of opinion leaders in the United States, supported sending US troops to defend Taiwan from a Chinese invasion, while most of the American public opposes doing so, both regardless of partisan affiliation. The establishment of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University after merging between National Yang-Ming University and National Chiao Tung University. February 4 Taiwan established a trade office in Guyana. The first American naval vessel entered the Taiwan Strait under Biden. Semiconductor chip shortages, and Taiwan, which has one of the world's largest chipmaking industries, is at the center of efforts to resolve the shortage. Taiwan plans to increase childcare subsidies and tax deductions, have more benefits for parents, and expand the number of spots at affordable preschools and day care facilities in an effort to lift the country's birthrates. February 5 Taiwanese film director Ang Lee received the Legion of Honour. Guyana yields to Beijing's pressure and cancels representative office deal with Taiwan, saying the deal was a misunderstanding. Taiwan's Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua meets with “very senior U.S. officials,” such as Matt Murray (Deputy Assistant Secretary for Trade Policy and Negotiations Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs), the first high-level exchange between the Biden administration and Taiwan, to discuss mainly chip shortages. Ministry of the Interior National Immigration Agency announces the 8th automatic 30-day visa extensions for foreigners who have legally stayed in Taiwan for 180 days or more. Taiwan moves to enhance the performance of their water storage facilities. February 6 - Progress made on Taiwan La Fayette-class frigate scandal. February 9 - All Formosat satellites (Formosat-1, Formosat-2, Formosat-3, Formosat-4, Formosat-5, Formosat-6, Formosat-7) reach mission orbit. February 11 - NT$60 billion stimulus and bailout plan announced. February 12 Lunar New Year / Chinese New Year. The National Airborne Service Corps begins to ask for payment for first aid and transportation due to a surge of rescue operations.
February 18 U.S. Senator Rick Scott reintroduces the Taiwan Invasion Prevention Act bill. U.S. lawmakers introduce bill to allow Taiwan attend WHO meetings as an observer. Taiwan's first space development draft act is approved. A Taiwanese NCSIST developed Teng Yun drone crashes. February 19 National security staff reorganization is announced. President of Academia Sinica, James Liao, is awarded with Samson Prime Minister's Prize for Innovation in Alternative Energy and Smart Mobility for Transportation. February 24 - Taiwan-Poland legal agreement takes effect. (from Jan. 31)
March March 1 Regulations on foreign visitors are partially lifted, restrictions apply. Taiwan allows non-R.O.C. citizens to visit Taiwan for non-urgent medical care with proper documents. China bans Taiwanese pineapples, saying that the fruit has harmful organisms, creating a "Freedom Pineapple" movement. March 3-March 6 Taipei Cycle postpones all physical parts of the exhibition, online parts are still to be held on schedule. March 4 Freedom House scores Taiwan 94/100 in Freedom in the World report. 8 Taiwanese Illustrators are selected for the 55th Illustrators Exhibition of Bologna's Children Book Fair. March 5 - Taiwan, US, and Eswatini have their first Partnership Opportunity Delegation. March 6 - Taiwan wins mixed doubles at WTT Contender Doha 2021. March 7 A man in Taoyuan kills two people with a firearm HP CEO travels to Taiwan. March 11 - Many Taiwanese fruit are found to meet standards for consumption at Tokyo Olympics. March 12-April 4 - Taipei Rose Festival March 13 - CPBL 2021 Chinese Professional Baseball League season opening day. March 17 - 25th Taiwan-France Cultural Award awarded. March 18 - Salmon chaos: Restaurant chain Sushiro offers free sushi to people with the word for salmon (鮭魚) on their ID, resulting in many people requesting name changes. March 19 First batch of Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine arrive at Taiwan. Taipei City Police Department adds Teddy bears to all patrol vehicles. Acer is hit with a Ransomware attack, with the cyber threat actors, REvil, demanding for $50,000,000 USD, a precedent. March 20 - Taiwan is ranked as 24th happiest country by in the world by the World Happiness Report, listed on page 22 as "province of China". March 22 - Two F-5E collide midair, 1 pilot dead, the second missing. March 23 - Panama registered container ship Ever Given operated by Taiwanese Evergreen Marine, becomes stuck in the Suez Canal, disrupting global shipping.
March 27 - Yuguan Island Art Festival begins, ends on April 18. March 29 - Suez Canal obstruction resolved. March 10–15 - 2021 Taipei Fashion Week. March 30 - Palau president and first lady visits Taiwan.
April April 1 Travel Bubble between Taiwan and Palau launched. Large Solar power plant opens. April 2 - Hualien train derailment killed 49 and injured 216. April 4 - First batch of vaccines from COVAX arrive in Taiwan. 6 April - IMF reevaluates Taiwan's GDP forecast from 1.5% to 4.7%. 7 April - MOFA minister accepts copy of credentials from Belize ambassador Candice Pitts. 8 April - An agricultural internship program between Taiwan and the Philippines is launched. 9 April 2021 Dajia Matsu Pilgrimage Procession. United States announces new guidelines for government contacts with Taiwan to reflect deepening unofficial relations. Formosa Club in West Asia is launched. 80th anniversary of Taiwan-Honduras diplomatic ties. 10 April Annual traditional market festival. Man is run over by Puyuma Express train, found dead. 12 April Mayors of Taoyuan, Taipei, New Taipei, and Taichung are vaccinated. HFX controversy over whether to award John McCain Prize to Tsai Ing-wen and risk provoking Beijing. 13 April Regarding to the Japan cabinet's decision to dump radioactive water of the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean, Taiwan's Foreign Ministry expressed concern and the Atomic Energy Council expressed strong opposition. First indigenous Amphibious transport dock, Yu Shan, is launched. Seafarers Act amended to include waters known for piracy, not just warzones. Travel bubble between Palau and Taiwan (from 1 April) canceled due to low demand. Renovated historic site, the Keelung Fort Commander's Official Residence, opens. April 14 Arrival of a bipartisan American delegation. Ordnance found on Kinmen. April 15 Amendments to foreign professional recruitment law passed (less requirements, tax breaks, etc.) US delegation sent by Biden meets with President Tsai. Anti-corruption workshop between IB and IRS. April 16 CPC Corporation will begin to drill for water, amidst drought/water shortage. April 16 - April 17 - Live fire exercise between many military branches. April 17 - Travelers from Taiwan who present proof of negative coronavirus tests from select hospitals will be exempt from Hawaii's quarantine. April 18 Body of missing pilot (March 22) found. Matzu procession (April 9) ends. Taiwan wins bid from TWIF to host 2026 World Indoor Tug of War Championships. Two relatively large earthquakes in Taiwan (5.8 and 6.2). April 19 National Center of Photography and Images (NCPI) opens in Taipei. Taiwanese weightlifter Kuo Hsing-chun wins three gold medals and sets new records for the 59 kg category. April 19 - Reservations for self-pad coronavirus vaccination available. April 20 Taiwan Solidarity Act introduced in the United States' congress. Despite need of vaccines, Paraguay does not end diplomatic ties with Taiwan for China. Tainan joins Kaohsiung and Hsinchu and closes swimming pools, car washes, and other things that require much water to preserve water during the drought. Greenpeace urges the Environmental Protection Administration to go carbon neutral by 2050 and have a carbon price of US$35 per Tonne. Candice Pitts presents credentials to Tsai Ing-wen, the 32nd anniversary of Belize-Taiwan official diplomatic relations. Zengwen Reservoir, the largest in Taiwan (by volume) is at less than 11% capacity. April 21 Amang's Verse novel Raised by Wolves: Poems and Conversations is awarded the annual prize by PEN America.