On Jan. 6, the Liberty Times published an interview with Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮). Lu candidly pointed out that the 2004 presidential election will not be a matter of whether the ruling party should be changed, but a matter of whether the pan-blue camp will be able to make a come back. Lu said that one cannot expect the new government to correct all the wrongs left behind by the 55-year-long KMT rule in but just two-and-a-half years. It definitely would be a serious mistake to welcome back the old power-bearers just because of momentary pan-green setbacks, Lu said.
About a week before Lu's interview was the 15th anniversary of former president Chiang Ching-kuo's (蔣經國) death. The pan-blue camp was quick to mobilize. They lined up to participate in rites held in honor of Chiang. They did not forget to use the opportunity to harshly criticize Chen Shui-bian's (
The show climaxed when General Wang Sheng (
This farce gave the younger generation a needed opportunity to learn about a key player of the White Terror era. Wang also reminded the older generations about the nightmare of martial law, the Garrison Command, Green Island, the assassination of Cheng Wen-cheng (
Wang was already by Chiang's side during Chiang's days as an executive commissioner in China. After the KMT's retreat to Taiwan, pursuant to Chiang's order, Wang organized a school (today's Political Warfare College,
After the US severed its diplomatic relationship with the ROC, Wang organized the "Liu Shao-kang Office" (
Nearly 90 and long forgotten, Wang was invited by the KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
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
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.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, people have been asking if Taiwan is the next Ukraine. At a G7 meeting of national leaders in January, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida warned that Taiwan “could be the next Ukraine” if Chinese aggression is not checked. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said that if Russia is not defeated, then “today, it’s Ukraine, tomorrow it can be Taiwan.” China does not like this rhetoric. Its diplomats ask people to stop saying “Ukraine today, Taiwan tomorrow.” However, the rhetoric and stated ambition of Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) on Taiwan shows strong parallels with