“History does not repeat itself, but it rhymes” (attributed to Mark Twain).The USSR was the international bully during the Cold War as it sought to make the world safe for Soviet-style Communism. China is now the global bully as it applies economic power and invests in Mao’s (毛澤東) magic weapons (the
Following the second failed recall elections on Aug. 23 against seven Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators and the nuclear power referendum, 19 Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) local councilors called on President William Lai (賴清德) to win back public support.The appeal came as a recent My F
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For decades, the US dollar’s position as the world’s leading reserve currency has provided the US with extraordinary advantages: the ability to borrow at low interest rates, run large current-account deficits, and finance budget shortfalls by printing money without necessarily triggering inflation.
Wednesday night brought a grim return to Russia’s form: one of the heaviest air raids on Kyiv since the full-scale invasion began. Moscow eased off its strikes on major cities in the run-up to the Alaska summit, and it held off its attack on the Ukrainian capital until Keith Kellogg, US President Do
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in China yesterday, where he is to attend a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) and Russian President Vladimir Putin today. As this coincides with the 50 percent US tariff levied on Indian products,
The meaning of “one China” has undergone a decisive transformation. What once revolved around the question of who held China’s seat at the UN has expanded into a system of political and economic compliance. Beijing no longer seeks recognition alone; it expects adherence to the rules of its own desig
When Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) stood in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa on Thursday last week, flanked by Chinese flags, synchronized schoolchildren and armed Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops, he was not just celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the “Tib
Maternity and infant products brand Mamaway (媽媽餵) recently published a promotional video comparing infant formula to cola and bubble tea, suggesting that it might cause children to become hyperactive. When the topic of breastfeeding is raised, mothers can often be seen tearfully recounting their pos
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In a series of tax reforms designed to ease the burden on consumers’ wallets, Denmark has made several household essentials cheaper: electricity, coffee, chocolate, cream puffs and books. Okay, so the cream puffs, or vandbakkelser, might not be strictly necessary. In fact, the removal of the country
The problem with European regulators, a German businessman recently told me, is that they are too scared of downside risks. “In any innovative new business sector, they overregulate and stifle any upside potential,” he said. In contrast, Americans care more about the upside potential, and thus hold
What is the EU for? Every seven years, its leaders formulate a quantitative answer when they set out the bloc’s long-term budget. Now more than ever, they need to get it right. The EU is facing some of the greatest challenges in its history, including defending against a belligerent Russia, combatin
A new pension fund system implemented in July 2018 under then-president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) — which included phased annual decreases of the maximum income replacement ratio, higher worker contributions and an increased pensionable age of 65 — aimed to extend the Public Service Pension Fund’s solvency
In recent years, Taiwan’s visibility in Danish news has grown. As the risk of military escalation has risen, so too has media attention. While coverage has expanded, it has not necessarily become deeper or more diverse. That imbalance is clear in a study I conducted of five major Danish outlets, ana
In order to meet public expectations, the Executive Yuan has announced a Cabinet reshuffle involving the change of 16 officials, declaring the official launch of the new “Artificial Intelligence Action Cabinet 2.0.”As a civil servant, I understand deeply that the government must first address public
Public discourse surrounding Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China tomorrow and Monday has been characterized by widespread misconceptions concerning both the state of India-China relations and the broader strategic environment. As Modi travels to Tianjin for the Shanghai Cooperation
As September approaches, the Ministry of Education is set to implement a new “centralized management” approach for cellphone use in elementary and junior-high schools. The policy — which states that devices must be turned off or switched to airplane mode and stored away during school hours, except w
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