Thunder Tigers’ display
A performance by the air force’s Thunder Tigers Aerobatics Team, who are to pass over the Presidential Office Building in Taipei on Friday to welcome home Taiwan’s Olympic heroes, has drawn attention from all parts of society.
Some forces have called the event a “waste of resources,” “political propaganda” or “a danger to national security.” They have even attempted to use the event to stir up cross-strait tensions.
However, the display has value domestically and bolsters Taiwan’s international image and its confidence in its national defense capabilities.
The display will not just be an ordinary flying show, as it will symbolize the country’s recognition of the efforts of its Olympic athletes, who have won glory for it. Their efforts and medals represent Taiwan’s elevated status in the global sports arena. With a grand performance on Friday, not only can the Olympic heroes appreciate the respect the country has for them, but everyone can share the sense of honor and pride.
To a certain extent, it will be a patriotic education, reminding people not to forget the hard work and sacrifices behind the scenes while enjoying the victory.
The Thunder Tigers’ display also serves an important function of national defense education. Given the increasingly complex global situation, it is especially important that people understand national defense.
The difficulty of the Thunder Tigers’ maneuvers allows the public to have close contact with the capabilities of the military, and to get a sense of the professionalism and skills of the air force, which enhances the public’s sense of national security and inspires more young people to devote themselves to the cause.
As for safety, the Thunder Tigers pilots have proved their high degree of professionalism and strict risk control measures. So there is no need to worry too much about safety issues.
The Thunder Tigers display will be not only a ceremony, but also a demonstration of Taiwan’s national defense strength, a tribute to the Olympic heroes and an important part of Taiwan’s patriotic education.
Through this display, we will not only show the world Taiwan’s self-confidence and strength, but also boost the pride and cohesion of the country, which is the most important thing for the nation and Taiwanese.
Wang Tien-yu
Taipei
Labubu, an elf-like plush toy with pointy ears and nine serrated teeth, has become a global sensation, worn by celebrities including Rihanna and Dua Lipa. These dolls are sold out in stores from Singapore to London; a human-sized version recently fetched a whopping US$150,000 at an auction in Beijing. With all the social media buzz, it is worth asking if we are witnessing the rise of a new-age collectible, or whether Labubu is a mere fad destined to fade. Investors certainly want to know. Pop Mart International Group Ltd, the Chinese manufacturer behind this trendy toy, has rallied 178 percent
My youngest son attends a university in Taipei. Throughout the past two years, whenever I have brought him his luggage or picked him up for the end of a semester or the start of a break, I have stayed at a hotel near his campus. In doing so, I have noticed a strange phenomenon: The hotel’s TV contained an unusual number of Chinese channels, filled with accents that would make a person feel as if they are in China. It is quite exhausting. A few days ago, while staying in the hotel, I found that of the 50 available TV channels,
Kinmen County’s political geography is provocative in and of itself. A pair of islets running up abreast the Chinese mainland, just 20 minutes by ferry from the Chinese city of Xiamen, Kinmen remains under the Taiwanese government’s control, after China’s failed invasion attempt in 1949. The provocative nature of Kinmen’s existence, along with the Matsu Islands off the coast of China’s Fuzhou City, has led to no shortage of outrageous takes and analyses in foreign media either fearmongering of a Chinese invasion or using these accidents of history to somehow understand Taiwan. Every few months a foreign reporter goes to
There is no such thing as a “silicon shield.” This trope has gained traction in the world of Taiwanese news, likely with the best intentions. Anything that breaks the China-controlled narrative that Taiwan is doomed to be conquered is welcome, but after observing its rise in recent months, I now believe that the “silicon shield” is a myth — one that is ultimately working against Taiwan. The basic silicon shield idea is that the world, particularly the US, would rush to defend Taiwan against a Chinese invasion because they do not want Beijing to seize the nation’s vital and unique chip industry. However,
RSS