Chinese intellectuals attach great importance to demeanor and conduct. Stressing reputation and dignity, their professional ethic eschews behavior that might shame themselves, their family or their country. In this light, the plagiarism charges against National Chung Hsing University President Peng Tso-kwei
The plagiarism charges involve a book published in 1991 and an article written for the National Science Council (NSC), in which Peng used materials written by US scholars without any attribution to the authors. The NSC confirmed in a recent report that Peng indeed plagiarized the material. The council is now demanding that Peng return its NT$170,000 research grant for the article. The NSC has also banned him from applying for any research funding for three years. While such actions may help the council recoup some of its losses, they can hardly deter similar behavior in the future. Meanwhile, both the education ministry and the university's election committee are trying to pass the buck, calling on each other to play the bad cop.
A scholar in agricultural economics, Peng has also served as chairman of the Council of Agriculture -- a prime example of scholar-turned-politician. His track record at the council was not bad. He won considerable praise when he stepped down as chairman in December 1999 to protest the KMT government's policy on farmland sales. Peng was seen as a responsible, open-minded and capable official. Many students and professors from Chung Hsing University even circulated brochures to show their support for Peng at the time.
But administrative ability and academic honesty are two separate matters. If the university and Taiwan's academia cannot uphold academic standards, there will be no future for academic research in this country.
Scholars from other schools accused Peng of plagiarism four months ago. At that time, Peng, who is also a member of the KMT's Central Standing Committee, accused his detractors of political conspiracy. Both the university's election committee and the education ministry turned a blind eye to the possible impact on the university president's reputation. The education ministry picked Peng as Chung Hsing's president, even though he was not the top choice among three candidates recommended by the election committee. Now, both the ministry and the committee will have to take responsibility for the fallout from their negligence.
In Western academic circles, scholars who do not churn out research papers are quickly "discarded." The pressure in Taiwan's academic world is relatively mild. Once instructors acquire the status of professor, research becomes more or less a matter of conscience rather than a requirement. The review of dissertations written by would-be professors is far from strict, whether within the universities or at the education ministry. Personal connections carry enormous weight in Taiwan's academia, rife as it is with factionalism. This explains the difficulties in raising academic levels up to international standards. Both the education ministry and the NSC should use Peng's case as an opportunity to impose stricter standards on dissertations and other research.
Taiwan must learn to respect intellectual property rights if the country is to develop a knowledge-based economy. The ideas and work of academic scholars should be protected from plagiarists. Peng's case should serve as a turning point for Taiwan to shed its reputation as a haven for intellectual piracy and to build a solid foundation for a knowledge-based economy.
Recently, China launched another diplomatic offensive against Taiwan, improperly linking its “one China principle” with UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 to constrain Taiwan’s diplomatic space. After Taiwan’s presidential election on Jan. 13, China persuaded Nauru to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Nauru cited Resolution 2758 in its declaration of the diplomatic break. Subsequently, during the WHO Executive Board meeting that month, Beijing rallied countries including Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Belarus, Egypt, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Laos, Russia, Syria and Pakistan to reiterate the “one China principle” in their statements, and assert that “Resolution 2758 has settled the status of Taiwan” to hinder Taiwan’s
Can US dialogue and cooperation with the communist dictatorship in Beijing help avert a Taiwan Strait crisis? Or is US President Joe Biden playing into Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) hands? With America preoccupied with the wars in Europe and the Middle East, Biden is seeking better relations with Xi’s regime. The goal is to responsibly manage US-China competition and prevent unintended conflict, thereby hoping to create greater space for the two countries to work together in areas where their interests align. The existing wars have already stretched US military resources thin, and the last thing Biden wants is yet another war.
As Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu’s party won by a landslide in Sunday’s parliamentary election, it is a good time to take another look at recent developments in the Maldivian foreign policy. While Muizzu has been promoting his “Maldives First” policy, the agenda seems to have lost sight of a number of factors. Contemporary Maldivian policy serves as a stark illustration of how a blend of missteps in public posturing, populist agendas and inattentive leadership can lead to diplomatic setbacks and damage a country’s long-term foreign policy priorities. Over the past few months, Maldivian foreign policy has entangled itself in playing
A group of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers led by the party’s legislative caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (?) are to visit Beijing for four days this week, but some have questioned the timing and purpose of the visit, which demonstrates the KMT caucus’ increasing arrogance. Fu on Wednesday last week confirmed that following an invitation by Beijing, he would lead a group of lawmakers to China from Thursday to Sunday to discuss tourism and agricultural exports, but he refused to say whether they would meet with Chinese officials. That the visit is taking place during the legislative session and in the aftermath