I would like to express my total agreement with the article "Taiwan is not China" (Aug. 28, page 8). Indeed, the PRC has been recognized as China ever since it assumed the UN's "China seat." That Taiwan is not China is, therefore, a matter of common sense. Some Taiwanese, however, appear to wish to ignore the fact and insist that Taiwan still represents China. Citizens of Taiwan must understand the basic international position and the rules of the UN. I feel nothing but fury towards those Taiwanese diplomats in the Dominican Republic. How ignorant can they be? Those who claim that the ROC still represents China, are just like those who claim that a Republic of Taiwan (ROT) represents Taiwan. The only difference is that only 20 or so countries recognize the ROC, while none recognize the ROT. The number of countries who recognize the ROC is decreasing. Eventually, the only name that will be known will be "Taiwan," not "ROC."
By the same token, I would like to suggest that Chen Lung-chu (陳隆志) adopt the designation "Hua-jen" (華人) instead of "Chinese," for those people whose ancestors were from China. "Chinese," by definition denotes people who are from China. "Hua-jen" is more neutral and there is no nationality involved. By definition, Taiwanese are one type of Hua-jen, but not necessarily "Chinese." If, one day, China understands that Chinese are also Hua-jen, just like Hua-jen from Singapore, for example, they will respect Taiwan more. Yes, there is only "one China" in the world. But, there could be many countries with a majority of citizens who are Hua-jen.
Cheng Wen
Taipei, Taiwan
Foreign laborers' rights
In his article ("Foreign laborers' rights need work," Aug. 27, page 8), Jason Chin-hsin Liu (
If China does try to take control of Taiwan by force, the US may well come to the island's aid. But before committing itself, the US would consider the attitude of the Philippines -- which it would need as a forward base -- and of other countries in the region. Manila, Bangkok and Jakarta would, of course, consider many different factors before agreeing to or rejecting a US request for cooperation. But by failing to protect the rights of laborers from those countries, Taiwan risks incurring the antipathy of thier respective governments.
Southeast Asian neutrality would make US intervention less likely; if the US did go ahead on its own, the probability of success would be reduced. This is something Taiwan should not risk.
Steven Crook
Taipei, Taiwan
Two sets of economic data released last week by the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) have drawn mixed reactions from the public: One on the nation’s economic performance in the first quarter of the year and the other on Taiwan’s household wealth distribution in 2021. GDP growth for the first quarter was faster than expected, at 6.51 percent year-on-year, an acceleration from the previous quarter’s 4.93 percent and higher than the agency’s February estimate of 5.92 percent. It was also the highest growth since the second quarter of 2021, when the economy expanded 8.07 percent, DGBAS data showed. The growth
In the intricate ballet of geopolitics, names signify more than mere identification: They embody history, culture and sovereignty. The recent decision by China to refer to Arunachal Pradesh as “Tsang Nan” or South Tibet, and to rename Tibet as “Xizang,” is a strategic move that extends beyond cartography into the realm of diplomatic signaling. This op-ed explores the implications of these actions and India’s potential response. Names are potent symbols in international relations, encapsulating the essence of a nation’s stance on territorial disputes. China’s choice to rename regions within Indian territory is not merely a linguistic exercise, but a symbolic assertion
More than seven months into the armed conflict in Gaza, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take “immediate and effective measures” to protect Palestinians in Gaza from the risk of genocide following a case brought by South Africa regarding Israel’s breaches of the 1948 Genocide Convention. The international community, including Amnesty International, called for an immediate ceasefire by all parties to prevent further loss of civilian lives and to ensure access to life-saving aid. Several protests have been organized around the world, including at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and many other universities in the US.
Every day since Oct. 7 last year, the world has watched an unprecedented wave of violence rain down on Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territories — more than 200 days of constant suffering and death in Gaza with just a seven-day pause. Many of us in the American expatriate community in Taiwan have been watching this tragedy unfold in horror. We know we are implicated with every US-made “dumb” bomb dropped on a civilian target and by the diplomatic cover our government gives to the Israeli government, which has only gotten more extreme with such impunity. Meantime, multicultural coalitions of US