Folks in the opposition parties and pro-China media have been going all out to attack the Chen Shui-bian (
But their opposition to war is very questionable. Remember, they have frequently served as Beijing's mouthpieces and have never missed a chance to use China's military threats to intimidate pro-independence forces. Every time former president Lee Teng-hui (
Deep down, they are supporters of Chinese military power because they can use the threat of it to ensure their political influence. They habitually use Beijing's military threat to intimidate their political opponents.
Why did they become ardent anti-war advocates? It certainly was not out of any deep-seated belief in pacifism. The reason is very simple. They oppose Chen and therefore they oppose his policies. They oppose him because they suspect Chen is not loyal to China, because they view him as an advocate of independence and therefore an enemy of China.
Following the rise of Chinese nationalism across the Strait and the transition of political power in Taiwan, their feelings toward the US have become increasingly complex. In the days of KMT rule, former presidents Chiang Kai-shek (
However, with the rise of native Taiwanese awareness and following the KMT's loss of power, the pro-unification folks have fallen into despair. Their feelings toward Taiwan and its people have also become increasingly complex. On top of this come the economic incentives from China and the calls of Chinese nationalism. All these have changed the pro-unification people's feelings toward the US and Taiwan.
The US no longer appears to be Taiwan's protector against a possible Chinese invasion. On the contrary, it has become a new hegemony aiding pro-independence forces, attempting to stop the unification of China and preventing China from becoming stronger. For them, China is no longer a threat. It is their motherland.
For this reason, the pro-unification media and scholars in recent years have always subscribed to anti-US opinions around the world. By disseminating fears about a unipolar world, they have tried to vilify the US and its role as a global policeman. Meanwhile, they have tried to paint China as the world's future superpower.
At every key moment in Taiwan's domestic politics or the international situation, the pan-blue camp has echoed the Chinese nationalists across the Strait. All these have been occasioned by Chen and the US. In their eyes, Chen is an obstacle to China's unification, the US an obstacle to China becoming strong.
Since coming to power the DPP has copied the KMT's foreign policy verbatim -- pro-US, pro-West and providing more aid to diplomatic allies. That's because Taiwan has no other choice. Taiwan of course would like to be pro-China, pro-Russia or pro-the entire world, but none of these countries support this country in the least bit. Now the opposition is criticizing the DPP for adopting the very same policies of the former administration. Supporting the US is now called kissing America's backside. Providing aid to allies is now called "sugar daddy diplomacy."
As they accuse Lee and Chen of attempt to split China, what a shame that the opposition folks don't realize they are attempting to split Taiwan.
The gutting of Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA) by US President Donald Trump’s administration poses a serious threat to the global voice of freedom, particularly for those living under authoritarian regimes such as China. The US — hailed as the model of liberal democracy — has the moral responsibility to uphold the values it champions. In undermining these institutions, the US risks diminishing its “soft power,” a pivotal pillar of its global influence. VOA Tibetan and RFA Tibetan played an enormous role in promoting the strong image of the US in and outside Tibet. On VOA Tibetan,
Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), the leader of the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) efforts to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-cheng (李坤城), caused a national outrage and drew diplomatic condemnation on Tuesday after he arrived at the New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office dressed in a Nazi uniform. Sung performed a Nazi salute and carried a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf as he arrived to be questioned over allegations of signature forgery in the recall petition. The KMT’s response to the incident has shown a striking lack of contrition and decency. Rather than apologizing and distancing itself from Sung’s actions,
US President Trump weighed into the state of America’s semiconductor manufacturing when he declared, “They [Taiwan] stole it from us. They took it from us, and I don’t blame them. I give them credit.” At a prior White House event President Trump hosted TSMC chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家), head of the world’s largest and most advanced chip manufacturer, to announce a commitment to invest US$100 billion in America. The president then shifted his previously critical rhetoric on Taiwan and put off tariffs on its chips. Now we learn that the Trump Administration is conducting a “trade investigation” on semiconductors which
By now, most of Taiwan has heard Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s (蔣萬安) threats to initiate a vote of no confidence against the Cabinet. His rationale is that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led government’s investigation into alleged signature forgery in the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) recall campaign constitutes “political persecution.” I sincerely hope he goes through with it. The opposition currently holds a majority in the Legislative Yuan, so the initiation of a no-confidence motion and its passage should be entirely within reach. If Chiang truly believes that the government is overreaching, abusing its power and targeting political opponents — then
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