The assassination attempt against Chen and Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) was, ironically, a turning point for Taiwan. In the aftermath, the pan-blues threw their chance away by questioning the integrity of Chen and the pan-greens' campaign tactics -- all without regard for due evidence, logic, humanity and above all, respect for a democratically-elected president.
The assassination attempt was abominable to say the least. Yet the pan-blues did not seize the opportunity to show a righteous and empathetic side, for there clearly was none. In response, the electorate clearly revolted and justice has again been served. Regrettably, the melodramas continue to unfold from the pan-blues who simply refuse to respect the values of democracy.
In every democracy, the majority decision wins. Whether this is a system preferred by all is debatable, but under Taiwanese laws at least, Chen has been rightfully re-elected by the electorate regardless of how small the margin of victory. This salient fact is what everyone must come to accept and be at peace with.
On what should have been a day to celebrate Taiwan's slowly maturing democracy, the pan-blues' relentless antics marred even the re-election of the better and evidently more honorable candidate.
Instead of resorting to Oscar-quality performances, Lien and Soong should use legal channels to resolve the issue of the ballot recount -- as any responsible "leader" who claims to respect the laws that govern Taiwan would in the same position -- rather than seeking for the only acceptable election result by any means possible, including creating civil unrest in the country they claim to love.
The pan-blues should tread carefully to ensure their already-shaky existence -- for every step of the way, the Taiwanese electorate will be watching.
Melbourne, Australia
Concerns that the US might abandon Taiwan are often overstated. While US President Donald Trump’s handling of Ukraine raised unease in Taiwan, it is crucial to recognize that Taiwan is not Ukraine. Under Trump, the US views Ukraine largely as a European problem, whereas the Indo-Pacific region remains its primary geopolitical focus. Taipei holds immense strategic value for Washington and is unlikely to be treated as a bargaining chip in US-China relations. Trump’s vision of “making America great again” would be directly undermined by any move to abandon Taiwan. Despite the rhetoric of “America First,” the Trump administration understands the necessity of
In an article published on this page on Tuesday, Kaohsiung-based journalist Julien Oeuillet wrote that “legions of people worldwide would care if a disaster occurred in South Korea or Japan, but the same people would not bat an eyelid if Taiwan disappeared.” That is quite a statement. We are constantly reading about the importance of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), hailed in Taiwan as the nation’s “silicon shield” protecting it from hostile foreign forces such as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and so crucial to the global supply chain for semiconductors that its loss would cost the global economy US$1
US President Donald Trump’s challenge to domestic American economic-political priorities, and abroad to the global balance of power, are not a threat to the security of Taiwan. Trump’s success can go far to contain the real threat — the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) surge to hegemony — while offering expanded defensive opportunities for Taiwan. In a stunning affirmation of the CCP policy of “forceful reunification,” an obscene euphemism for the invasion of Taiwan and the destruction of its democracy, on March 13, 2024, the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) used Chinese social media platforms to show the first-time linkage of three new
Sasha B. Chhabra’s column (“Michelle Yeoh should no longer be welcome,” March 26, page 8) lamented an Instagram post by renowned actress Michelle Yeoh (楊紫瓊) about her recent visit to “Taipei, China.” It is Chhabra’s opinion that, in response to parroting Beijing’s propaganda about the status of Taiwan, Yeoh should be banned from entering this nation and her films cut off from funding by government-backed agencies, as well as disqualified from competing in the Golden Horse Awards. She and other celebrities, he wrote, must be made to understand “that there are consequences for their actions if they become political pawns of
RSS