Chien full of bluster
Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien (
But it is obvious that this kind of empty bluster is a regression to the unrealistic insistence that the ROC is the sole representative of China that was the cornerstone of foreign policy under the KMT. The ministry should have no objection to Nauru recognizing the PRC -- it is the legitimate representative of China.
The ministry should rather request that Nauru continue relations with Taiwan under its true name -- Taiwan. Even less is there a legitimate reason for the ministry to take the initiative by cutting relations with Nauru, which shows similarities with the UN fiasco of 1971.
Given that Chien, a protege of former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), was appointed by the Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) administration, and especially since he has determined that he will join the DPP, it is high time that he cleaned the cobwebs out of his brain on the matter of the status of Taiwan. I would expect your paper, with its strong stand on Taiwan sovereignty, to take him to task on this.
Friends of mine who work as translators in the ministry say it has hardly caught up with the Lee administration's policies, much less with A-bian's. But it is clear that world events will not wait for such glacial slowness in adjustment to the fact that the ROC was virtually eclipsed by the PRC after 1949, except to serve as a US prop in the containment of commu-nism. It is imperative that Tai-wan now move quickly, if judiciously, to dismantle the ROC facade.
Chien's performance in the Nauru case again shows why the opulent foreign ministry should be pared down and its work largely contracted out to non-governmental organizations that can build people-to-people international relations quickly and flexibly, without the historical burden of the Chiang regime and its World Anti-Communist League henchmen. Perhaps in some not-to-distant future the ministry could be reconstructed with the participation of those who have always stood up for Taiwan's right to its own name.
Linda Gail Arrigo
Taipei
Chen mobilizes the DPP fleet
Like most observers, I was deeply alarmed when the DPP announced that President Chen would serve as its chairman. It is a perfect recipe for dictatorship -- the coalition of a presidency and a party chairmanship.
Surprisingly, upon reviewing his alignment of the DPP organization, I was greatly impressed by this smart move. He has converted a chaotic political party into a powerful fleet that may be used to fight for Taiwan's sovereignty.
This nation's young democracy has been in stormy seas for the past two years. Chen realized that in order to win a sea battle, a commander must change his war plan from time to time.
Now with two strong fleets, the central government and the DPP, under his command, we hope he can lead the nation out of the situation and win the battle.
Jim Chung
Southfield, Michigan
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
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s (李顯龍) decision to step down after 19 years and hand power to his deputy, Lawrence Wong (黃循財), on May 15 was expected — though, perhaps, not so soon. Most political analysts had been eyeing an end-of-year handover, to ensure more time for Wong to study and shadow the role, ahead of general elections that must be called by November next year. Wong — who is currently both deputy prime minister and minister of finance — would need a combination of fresh ideas, wisdom and experience as he writes the nation’s next chapter. The world that
The past few months have seen tremendous strides in India’s journey to develop a vibrant semiconductor and electronics ecosystem. The nation’s established prowess in information technology (IT) has earned it much-needed revenue and prestige across the globe. Now, through the convergence of engineering talent, supportive government policies, an expanding market and technologically adaptive entrepreneurship, India is striving to become part of global electronics and semiconductor supply chains. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vision of “Make in India” and “Design in India” has been the guiding force behind the government’s incentive schemes that span skilling, design, fabrication, assembly, testing and packaging, and
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.