US Senator Sherrod Brown is urging the administration of US President Barack Obama to become involved in the case of former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).
Brown has sent a plea for help to US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell.
US representatives Robert Andrews and Dan Lungren last week sent a report calling for medical parole for Chen to the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.
The report, prepared by a team of independent US doctors who visited Chen in prison last month, says that Chen’s health is deteriorating steadily.
Now Brown has sent the report to Campbell asking him to give it “careful consideration.”
“Earlier this year, the people of Taiwan held national elections,” Brown said in a letter to Campbell.
“As advocates for human rights, freedom, democracy and the rule of law around the world, it is critical that we continue to support Taiwan as it builds a society based on the ideals of freedom we hold so dear,” Brown said.
Commenting on the matter, Formosan Association for Public Affairs president Mark Kao (高龍榮) said: “There is a growing chorus of congressional concern about the deterioration of Chen’s physical and mental health.”
“Senator Brown is one of the strongest and longest Taiwan supporters on Capitol Hill,” he said.
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Monday called for greater cooperation between Taiwan, Lithuania and the EU to counter threats to information security, including attacks on undersea cables and other critical infrastructure. In a speech at Vilnius University in the Lithuanian capital, Tsai highlighted recent incidents in which vital undersea cables — essential for cross-border data transmission — were severed in the Taiwan Strait and the Baltic Sea over the past year. Taiwanese authorities suspect Chinese sabotage in the incidents near Taiwan’s waters, while EU leaders have said Russia is the likely culprit behind similar breaches in the Baltic. “Taiwan and our European
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
The US Department of State on Monday reaffirmed that US policy on Taiwan remains unchanged, following US President Donald Trump’s use of the term “unification” while commenting on recent trade talks with China. Speaking at a wide-ranging press conference, Trump described what he viewed as progress in trade negotiations with China held in Geneva, Switzerland, over the weekend. “They’ve agreed to open China — fully open China, and I think it’s going to be fantastic for China. I think it’s going to be fantastic for us,” Trump said. “I think it’s going to be great for unification and peace.” Trump’s use of the