It may just be because of where I sit that the Chinese government appears to be controlling the debate over its "Anti-Secession" Law, which was passed on Monday. The international media have been picking up and regurgitating the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) line, which holds that the law "seeks a peaceful reunification with Taiwan," according to Tuesday's China Daily, and that the "law is meant to strengthen and promote cross-strait relations," which is what Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (
True to form, the Beijing government is distorting and ignoring the crux of its disagreement with Taipei over the "one China" principle and attempting to mischaracterize its belligerent declaration as a conciliatory gesture meant only to caution the "small minority" of Taiwanese independence seekers.
The disagreement over the "one China" principle is not a dispute between the people of China and "secessionist forces" -- it is the struggle between a small cadre of CCP officials in Beijing who are attempting to impose their will on a nation of people who have fought long and hard for democratic representation and desire only to exert their fundamental right to self-determination.
Democracy is still in its nascent stage in Taiwan, but it is not too soon for the Taiwanese to recognize that the primary function of a democracy is not to protect the rights of the majority, but rather to safeguard the rights and aspirations of the minority. In this respect the Beijing government has failed miserably. Taiwan need look no further than across the strait to Hong Kong, where "one county, two systems" is fast being replaced by "one country, one dictatorship."
Now is the time for Taiwan to be proactive instead of reactive to China's bullying tactics. It is incumbent upon the government of President Chen Shui-bian (
It is also incumbent upon those of you who take to the streets on March 26 to make it clear that Taiwan not only marches against the Anti-Secession Law but also marches for the hopes and aspirations of those Chinese people whose voices have been silenced.
Edward Ewing
Tianjin, China
To The Honorable Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜): We would like to extend our sincerest regards to you for representing Taiwan at the inauguration of US President Donald Trump on Monday. The Taiwanese-American community was delighted to see that Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan speaker not only received an invitation to attend the event, but successfully made the trip to the US. We sincerely hope that you took this rare opportunity to share Taiwan’s achievements in freedom, democracy and economic development with delegations from other countries. In recent years, Taiwan’s economic growth and world-leading technology industry have been a source of pride for Taiwanese-Americans.
Next week, the nation is to celebrate the Lunar New Year break. Unfortunately, cold winds are a-blowing, literally and figuratively. The Central Weather Administration has warned of an approaching cold air mass, while obstinate winds of chaos eddy around the Legislative Yuan. English theologian Thomas Fuller optimistically pointed out in 1650 that “it’s always darkest before the dawn.” We could paraphrase by saying the coldest days are just before the renewed hope of spring. However, one must temper any optimism about the damage being done in the legislature by the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), under
To our readers: Due to the Lunar New Year holiday, from Sunday, Jan. 26, through Sunday, Feb. 2, the Taipei Times will have a reduced format without our regular editorials and opinion pieces. From Tuesday to Saturday the paper will not be delivered to subscribers, but will be available for purchase at convenience stores. Subscribers will receive the editions they missed once normal distribution resumes on Sunday, Feb. 2. The paper returns to its usual format on Monday, Feb. 3, when our regular editorials and opinion pieces will also be resumed.
This year would mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the India Taipei Association (ITA) in Taipei and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) in New Delhi. From the vision of “Look East” in the 1990s, India’s policy has evolved into a resolute “Act East,” which complements Taiwan’s “New Southbound Policy.” In these three decades, India and Taiwan have forged a rare partnership — one rooted in shared democratic values, a commitment to openness and pluralism, and clear complementarities in trade and technology. The government of India has rolled out the red carpet for Taiwanese investors with attractive financial incentives
RSS