Shiny, happy democracy
I find your editorial's ending comment that "think how we might have to step outside the democratic system in order to save it. And how might that be done?" very alarming ("Chen's loss would be China's win," June 2, page 8).
Taiwan has gone through 50 years of struggle to achieve a glimmer of democracy, even if it is immature. It is for Taiwan-ese to treasure and nurture it into something shining and bright.
You have every right to denounce the blue camp and the so-called defeatism and pro-China politics. It is your job to convince people in Taiwan using your logic and rationale. Suggesting anything outside the democratic system to achieve it, however, is irresponsible and inflammatory.
Lee Yisheng
San Francisco, California
Confidence beats humanity
I feel uncomfortable whenever I read a news story that refers to the people of Taiwan as Taiwanese. Englishmen created the -nese ending to describe people of the countries they think inferior. If Englishmen could create such a word, why can't the people of Taiwan?
I have no better idea on this matter, but I truly wish one day to see a new word used to describe the people of Taiwan. A word which is full of pride and indicative of Taiwan's national identity. For example, "Tai-waner" (like New Zealander) or just simply "Taiwan." (Well, we can leave this matter to future generation.)
What I am concerned about is Taiwan getting into the World Health Organization (WHO) as an independent nation. Many countries are abetting China's vices. China is always the biggest bully.
Taiwan has had to fight and stand up for herself through all these hard years. We built up our own strong economy and we're experts in almost everything. Yet sadly, we're not very good at expressing our national pride.
If the WHO is willing to let the people of Taiwan suffer from SARS because China said it is already helping Taiwan, then why do we bother trying to join an organization which doesn't care for us?
We have the technology and people to succeed in everything and we will always have those things. We have to fight for our national identity and not be at the mercy of other countries.
Taiwan should not just stand up in front of the big bully, it should stand up in front of all countries. Humanity is not a reason for the world to accept Taiwan. Our love and sense of Taiwan is.
Tseng Kytkat
Taipei
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) were born under the sign of Gemini. Geminis are known for their intelligence, creativity, adaptability and flexibility. It is unlikely, then, that the trade conflict between the US and China would escalate into a catastrophic collision. It is more probable that both sides would seek a way to de-escalate, paving the way for a Trump-Xi summit that allows the global economy some breathing room. Practically speaking, China and the US have vulnerabilities, and a prolonged trade war would be damaging for both. In the US, the electoral system means that public opinion
In their recent op-ed “Trump Should Rein In Taiwan” in Foreign Policy magazine, Christopher Chivvis and Stephen Wertheim argued that the US should pressure President William Lai (賴清德) to “tone it down” to de-escalate tensions in the Taiwan Strait — as if Taiwan’s words are more of a threat to peace than Beijing’s actions. It is an old argument dressed up in new concern: that Washington must rein in Taipei to avoid war. However, this narrative gets it backward. Taiwan is not the problem; China is. Calls for a so-called “grand bargain” with Beijing — where the US pressures Taiwan into concessions
They did it again. For the whole world to see: an image of a Taiwan flag crushed by an industrial press, and the horrifying warning that “it’s closer than you think.” All with the seal of authenticity that only a reputable international media outlet can give. The Economist turned what looks like a pastiche of a poster for a grim horror movie into a truth everyone can digest, accept, and use to support exactly the opinion China wants you to have: It is over and done, Taiwan is doomed. Four years after inaccurately naming Taiwan the most dangerous place on
The term “assassin’s mace” originates from Chinese folklore, describing a concealed weapon used by a weaker hero to defeat a stronger adversary with an unexpected strike. In more general military parlance, the concept refers to an asymmetric capability that targets a critical vulnerability of an adversary. China has found its modern equivalent of the assassin’s mace with its high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) weapons, which are nuclear warheads detonated at a high altitude, emitting intense electromagnetic radiation capable of disabling and destroying electronics. An assassin’s mace weapon possesses two essential characteristics: strategic surprise and the ability to neutralize a core dependency.
RSS