The Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) response to allegations that it harbors sympathy for China boggles the mind.
Instead of getting red in the face, the KMT's lawmakers need to take a long, hard look at why many Taiwanese question their motives -- and at why they react in such a manner.
The latest KMT outburst occurred yesterday, when a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said that Taiwan's diplomatic relations with Costa Rica, which began in 1944, have reached a crossroads.
Foreign Minister James Huang (
According to foreign ministry officials, Costa Rica has been in close contact with China as it needs Beijing's support to realize its goal of becoming a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Upon learning that Taiwan-Costa Rica relations might be in danger, KMT legislators, as usual, were quick to fault the DPP government.
KMT Legislator John Chiang (
However, the KMT never seems to utter a harsh word against China, which, after all, schemes incessantly to reduce Taiwan's space in the international community.
Of course the administration and the foreign ministry should not be exempt from criticism.
But in cases such as the ties with Costa Rica where Taiwan is clearly being set upon by China, the KMT invariably chooses to slam the government instead of aiming at the real target -- the despots in Beijing.
Taiwan is an independent state. The first reaction of patriotic Taiwanese should therefore be to denounce China's malignant suppression, not condemn their own government.
It is no secret that China is adopting a two-track strategy toward Taiwan, offering friendship on the one hand while increasing its military intimidation and hindering Taiwan's diplomatic space on the other.
During former KMT chairman Lien Chan's (
But most Taiwanese would prefer that China stop its efforts to constrict Taiwan's international space over any "help" that the dictators in Beijing might deign to provide.
However, as China is unlikely to leave Taiwan alone, the KMT should at least stop harboring fantasies about Chinese benevolence.
Taiwan's political parties should cast aside partisan differences and work in concert to safeguard the nation's diplomatic future interests and dignity.
Or is that too much to ask of the KMT?
Trying to force a partnership between Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) and Intel Corp would be a wildly complex ordeal. Already, the reported request from the Trump administration for TSMC to take a controlling stake in Intel’s US factories is facing valid questions about feasibility from all sides. Washington would likely not support a foreign company operating Intel’s domestic factories, Reuters reported — just look at how that is going over in the steel sector. Meanwhile, many in Taiwan are concerned about the company being forced to transfer its bleeding-edge tech capabilities and give up its strategic advantage. This is especially
US President Donald Trump’s second administration has gotten off to a fast start with a blizzard of initiatives focused on domestic commitments made during his campaign. His tariff-based approach to re-ordering global trade in a manner more favorable to the United States appears to be in its infancy, but the significant scale and scope are undeniable. That said, while China looms largest on the list of national security challenges, to date we have heard little from the administration, bar the 10 percent tariffs directed at China, on specific priorities vis-a-vis China. The Congressional hearings for President Trump’s cabinet have, so far,
US political scientist Francis Fukuyama, during an interview with the UK’s Times Radio, reacted to US President Donald Trump’s overturning of decades of US foreign policy by saying that “the chance for serious instability is very great.” That is something of an understatement. Fukuyama said that Trump’s apparent moves to expand US territory and that he “seems to be actively siding with” authoritarian states is concerning, not just for Europe, but also for Taiwan. He said that “if I were China I would see this as a golden opportunity” to annex Taiwan, and that every European country needs to think
For years, the use of insecure smart home appliances and other Internet-connected devices has resulted in personal data leaks. Many smart devices require users’ location, contact details or access to cameras and microphones to set up, which expose people’s personal information, but are unnecessary to use the product. As a result, data breaches and security incidents continue to emerge worldwide through smartphone apps, smart speakers, TVs, air fryers and robot vacuums. Last week, another major data breach was added to the list: Mars Hydro, a Chinese company that makes Internet of Things (IoT) devices such as LED grow lights and the
RSS