Chiang Pin-kung ‘misquoted’
The front page story about SEF [Straits Exchange Foundation] Chairman Chiang Pin-kung (江丙坤) (“SEF head regretful over son’s PRC ties,” April 15) misquotes the statement that the SEF issued on Tuesday. Chairman Chiang and his family never abused his position to secure any business for themselves, so in his mind what he feels regretful is particular media reports based on fake information which could potentially do disadvantages to future cross-strait talks.
SHAW-CHANG MAA
Deputy Secretary-General,
Straits Exchange Foundation
Ending reef madness
The coral reefs and aquatic species of Kenting, Green and Orchid islands and others in Taiwan are a precious eco-system worth saving. The causes of coral destruction and marine species depletion over the past decade have been manifold. Overfishing, sustained high sea temperatures, irresponsible tourism and run-off pollution all contribute to dwindling fish populations and coral reef destruction.
It’s a crying shame that the Taiwan government doesn’t step up its efforts to enact and enforce more conservation legislation.
As Taiwan aspires to gain a greater market share of tourism in Asia this is especially crucial. As a dive master and local guide, I have witnessed firsthand the devastation of local reefs over the last decade.
Although the task at hand is enormous, a primary step in saving our island’s precious coral ecosystem is to promote education. We should let every aquatic enthusiast know that when swimming, diving or snorkeling that they should: “Take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but bubbles.”
It is essential that everyone realizes that coral reefs provide shelter for approximately one quarter of all marine life and that to date over 11 percent of coral reefs have already been totally wiped out. At the current rate of coral destruction, 40 percent of reefs worldwide will cease to exist by the end of next year.
The effects of reef destruction will spark a chain reaction that will affect local fisheries, increase unemployment and cause the extinction of many unique and wonderful marine creatures.
When splashing around and enjoying the many wonders of exploring the underwater world, remember these basic rules: Dive responsibly and maintain good buoyancy to stay off the coral. Coral reefs take years to form and only seconds to die.
Some corals may also be quite dangerous to come in to contact with.
Don’t take or buy coral souvenirs, ensuring that people don’t profit from the intentional destruction of reefs.
When lazing around the beach, take time to make sure you don’t leave anything behind that could wash into the ocean. Waves and surf pummeling litter against coral can kill these delicate organisms.
Sign up to coral reef conservation Web sites and newsletters to stay informed and lobby your local government representatives to promote laws that increase conservation efforts and protect our marine resources.
It’s not too late to reverse the trend of reef destruction in Taiwan. Everyone can do their part. Let’s save the reefs and marine organisms so that future generations can enjoy them.
PAUL OLIVER
Kaohsiung
US president-elect Donald Trump continues to make nominations for his Cabinet and US agencies, with most of his picks being staunchly against Beijing. For US ambassador to China, Trump has tapped former US senator David Perdue. This appointment makes it crystal clear that Trump has no intention of letting China continue to steal from the US while infiltrating it in a surreptitious quasi-war, harming world peace and stability. Originally earning a name for himself in the business world, Perdue made his start with Chinese supply chains as a manager for several US firms. He later served as the CEO of Reebok and
US$18.278 billion is a simple dollar figure; one that’s illustrative of the first Trump administration’s defense commitment to Taiwan. But what does Donald Trump care for money? During President Trump’s first term, the US defense department approved gross sales of “defense articles and services” to Taiwan of over US$18 billion. In September, the US-Taiwan Business Council compared Trump’s figure to the other four presidential administrations since 1993: President Clinton approved a total of US$8.702 billion from 1993 through 2000. President George W. Bush approved US$15.614 billion in eight years. This total would have been significantly greater had Taiwan’s Kuomintang-controlled Legislative Yuan been cooperative. During
US president-elect Donald Trump in an interview with NBC News on Monday said he would “never say” if the US is committed to defending Taiwan against China. Trump said he would “prefer” that China does not attempt to invade Taiwan, and that he has a “very good relationship” with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平). Before committing US troops to defending Taiwan he would “have to negotiate things,” he said. This is a departure from the stance of incumbent US President Joe Biden, who on several occasions expressed resolutely that he would commit US troops in the event of a conflict in
Former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) in recent days was the focus of the media due to his role in arranging a Chinese “student” group to visit Taiwan. While his team defends the visit as friendly, civilized and apolitical, the general impression is that it was a political stunt orchestrated as part of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) propaganda, as its members were mainly young communists or university graduates who speak of a future of a unified country. While Ma lived in Taiwan almost his entire life — except during his early childhood in Hong Kong and student years in the US —
RSS