Tiananmen is still frightening
Remembering the bloodshed at Tiananmen Square on that dark night of June 4, 1989, still sends shivers down my spine. At this crucial time before the 2008 Olympics, the Tiananmen Massacre reverberates with kindred spirits throughout the free world. Since then the tyrannical Chinese Communist Party hasn't loosened its grip. Its war against freedom is relentless.
This is the land where assaults on dissident voices have multiplied at the dawn of the Olympics, where young and old are tortured and organ harvesting is a synonym for genocide.
On June 4 I will light a candle for the kind souls who lost their lives in the name of freedom. China must be liberated.
Marie Beaulieu
Victoria, Canada
The media's old tricks
It is with interest that I note recent coverage of US military "maneuvers" in a Taiwanese hotel room.
However, I think that someone might let the responsible reporters know that, just in case they have not been spending much time on planet Earth recently, that this is -- for better or worse -- what men do when they go out to bars.
The media might have kept us better informed as to the nature of the establishment where the cadet and the young "college student" made their acquaintance. I might be wrong, but I suspect it was not the sort of place where young coeds go to have a drink with friends while relaxing after preparing for their exams.
But now the military know that if they don't keep their noses clean they may get their behinds kicked; one also hopes the young woman now has a little more capital to go toward her college tuition.
The media have also neglected to inform us of what the woman is majoring in at college. If it is not media studies, then she might do well to consider switching to that department -- she has already learned that often one cannot just report the news. It must be made.
Tim Baker
Hualien
The news we watch every day, which is supposed to provide accurate and balanced information, is no longer neutral. Because of freedom of the press as protected by the Constitution, the Taiwanese media are able to report what they want. Having the freest press in Asia should be a good thing, yet the media take it for granted.
I believe local media are politically biased and function to strengthen their favorite party. This is to be expected, but when the media fabricate news, it is another story.
The desire for high ratings also makes the media untrustworthy. The press must give audiences what they want in order to attract them.
People love watching scandals and gossip, so their prevalence has become a trend. The more scandalous the news, the better the ratings. Gradually, press freedom suffers.
Maintaining balanced and significant news is a challenge. I would like to see more of it.
Nicole Juan
Kaohsiung
Bending to survive
Do we have the freedom of speech to express the idea of Taiwanese independence?
A statement on Taiwanese independence by President Chen Shui-bian (
Another familiar reaction is that of Beijing, which asserted its anti-secession stance. So, this sort of news is not really "news" to most people in Taiwan; we can all predict what will happen next.
In fact, the idea of independence seems to have become "taboo" in Taiwanese society. Except for some independence advocates, most of us avoid mentioning and expressing any comment related to the issue.
In response to many cases and incidents, we perceive we are being threatened by China and pressured by Washington. We therefore don't have the freedom to express the idea of independence, but have more than enough to express the idea of unification or maintaining the "status quo."
In addition, we realize and acknowledge the fact that Taiwan cannot match China. By degrees, the atmosphere of being threatened and feeling helpless oppresses many Taiwanese and saps their will to express themselves freely on the issue of independence.
Activists bravely propose independence, but they are treated as troublemakers and not respected as people who are exercising freedom of speech.
If we are deprived of free speech, including on the idea of independence, I doubt that we could determine Taiwan's future according to our will. The reality of survival is such that we are being forced to bend or contain orientations of the nation's future.
Wendy Chen
Kaohsiung
The meaning of abused pets
I am visiting Taiwan for the first time. I have always had dogs, and I am greatly dismayed at seeing all the homeless dogs roaming the streets. One dog had recently given birth; another one had a broken leg and obviously needed care. It made me cry. I prayed for someone to take care of them.
Dogs and cats in particular depend on humans for care. How is it we are so proud to call ourselves a higher species of animal and yet show no compassion for other animals on this planet?
Dogs and cats that are domesticated need to be treated with the same love and caring as babies and young children -- all their lives. Is there any hope for humans on this planet to live with one another when we cannot respect the other animals that share the planet with us? That we ignore a sick or injured dog on the street shows us why we can't learn to live with one another in this world.
Carl Rath
Norman, Oklahoma
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
RSS