Taiwan is facing a political situation that is not without its ironies. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has joined hands with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to isolate President Chen Shui-bian (
Worst of all, a beleaguered Chen, the pillar of "Taiwan consciousness," has begun lashing out at his allies and comrades. People are looking for comfort and many have turned to former president Lee Teng-hui (
The situation could get even more thrilling. People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (
The recent wave of "China fever" has revealed an amazing amount of spinelessness among the nation's politicians. Lien has proven his willingness to lick Beijing's boots while Chen's inability to strategize and his constant flipflopping and waffling have proven to be his Achilles' heel. Both men have proven they care more for power than this nation and that neither has what it takes to be a statesman.
It's hard to believe that Soong has any admirable qualities, but at least he has dared to talk in China about the Republic of China (ROC) that he believes in, something Lien was too lily-livered to do. Of course, Soong could end up prostrating himself before Hu today.
The only person who has remained consistent is Lee. Now that Chen has revealed his feet of clay, Lee is the only champion of "Taiwan consciousness." His basic position on the cross-strait issue has remained unchanged -- in office and out -- even if some of the details have changed.
But this is no consolation when with the National Assembly elections just two days away. If the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) loses votes to the TSU, then reform of the legislature, of which the DPP has been such a strong proponent, will come to nothing. The TSU is unlikely to support changes detrimental to the survival of small political parties like itself. The final result of Taiwan's "China fever" will then not only be the collapse of the DPP hopes for legislative reform, but continued paralysis for the administration.
And what will happen when Chen's position becomes untenable? If the opposition gains an even greater advantage in Saturday's elections this can only delight China. The real casualty of Chen's political demise will be the nation's democracy.
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