The Chinese-language China Times has mobilized a group of academics to condemn the renaming of the erstwhile Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, calling it political revenge that will lead to more conflict, instead of promoting transitional justice. They even say that President Chen Shui-bian (
One of the academics, a National Chengchi University professor, claimed that Chen is harping on about the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) stolen assets to divert attention away from his corruption case. The professor suggests that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) should establish a commission to unearth the truth behind incidents that occurred during the martial law period.
These academics have distorted the DPP's pursuit of transitional justice, saying it is only an election trick and a smokescreen for Chen's personal political crisis.
But this is not true. Based on investigations conducted by the Cabinet's Research, Development and Evaluation Commission in conjunction with experts on Taiwanese history, the National Archives Administration held an exhibition on documents related to the 228 Incident in March 2001. In the same year, the Compensation Foundation for Improper Verdicts published a book on the legal and historical aspects of political incidents during the martial-law era. Subsequently, in June 2003, the 228 Memorial Foundation held a seminar to discuss recently discovered historical materials related to the 228 Incident. This led to the release of the Report on the Responsibility for the 228 Incident in February 2006, which found that Chiang was primarily responsible for the incident. This should be the most significant reference in the handling of the memorial hall.
Moreover, the Council for Cultural Affairs has operated the Green Island Human Rights Memorial Park for several years, and the military turned a former detention center in Taipei City into Jingmei Human Rights Park last month. Those who are concerned with the issue can criticize the government for its slow and inadequate efforts, but they should not discredit such efforts unless they do not support transitional justice.
I have been among those who criticized the government for doing too little, too slowly. However, having participated in the process and observed it closely, it has become impossible for me to criticize the government. Since the transfer of power in 2000 entailed only the replacement of high-ranking officials, the bureaucratic system still runs according to the old methods.
What is worse, the special legislation necessary for the investigation of truth and responsibility has been boycotted since the 1990s by the pan-blue camp, which enjoys a majority in the legislature.
Admittedly, the transformation of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall into National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall was somewhat flawed. Still, we should accept this in light of the political environment. It is notable that even Chiang's great grandson, Demos Chiang (
Chen Yi-shen is an associate research fellow at the Institute of Modern History at Academia Sinica.
Translated by Eddy Chang
Taiwan’s victory in the World Baseball Softball Confederation Premier12 championship is an historic achievement. Yet once again this achievement is marred by the indignity of the imposed moniker “Chinese Taipei.” The absurdity is compounded by the fact that none of the players are even from Taipei, and some, such as Paiwan catcher Giljegiljaw Kungkuan, are not even ethnically Chinese. The issue garnered attention around the Paris Olympics, yet fell off the agenda as Olympic memories retreated. “Chinese Taipei” persists, and the baseball championship serves as a reminder that fighting “Chinese Taipei” must be a continuous campaign, not merely resurfacing around international
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) appears to be encountering some culture shock and safety issues at its new fab in Arizona. On Nov. 7, Arizona state authorities cited TSMC for worker safety violations, fining the company US$16,131, after a man died in May. The Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health released its six-month investigation into the fatality and cited TSMC for failing to keep the workplace free from hazards likely to cause death or serious harm. At about the same time, the chip giant was also sued for alleged discriminatory hiring practices favoring Asians, prompting a flurry of debate on whether TSMC’s
This month, the National Health Insurance (NHI) is to implement a major policy change by eliminating the suspension-and-resumption mechanism for Taiwanese residing abroad. With more than 210,000 Taiwanese living overseas — many with greater financial means than those in Taiwan — this reform, catalyzed by a 2022 Constitutional Court ruling, underscores the importance of fairness, sustainability and shared responsibility in one of the world’s most admired public healthcare systems. Beyond legal obligations, expatriates have a compelling moral duty to contribute, recognizing their stake in a system that embodies the principle of health as a human right. The ruling declared the prior
US president-elect Donald Trump is inheriting from President Joe Biden a challenging situation for American policy in the Indo-Pacific region, with an expansionist China on the march and threatening to incorporate Taiwan, by force if necessary. US policy choices have become increasingly difficult, in part because Biden’s policy of engagement with China, including investing in personal diplomacy with President Xi Jinping (習近平), has not only yielded little but also allowed the Chinese military to gain a stronger footing in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. In Xi’s Nov. 16 Lima meeting with a diminished Biden, the Chinese strongman signaled little
RSS