Eliminate appointed seats
It is very clear now that the "People" in the name of the PFP represents the "People" in the People's Republic of China, rather than the people of Tai-wan. Otherwise, how could the party explain the fact that they had a legislator representing the PRC in the World Health Organ-ization's SARS conference in Kuala Lumpur last week?
It is obvious that PFP Legislator Kao Ming-chien (高明見) must have dual citizenship, that of the Republic of China and the PRC. He should either renounce his PRC citizenship or give up his legislative seat. Isn't that what the law requires of all legislators?
If he or the PFP doesn't do anything, shouldn't the Legislative Yuan expel him?
It is high time that Taiwan amended its laws to get rid of the appointed legislators. This loophole has allowed the PFP to sneak PRC agents into Tai-wan's highest decision-making body.
Each and every member of the legislature should be elected, not appointed, so that he or she is held accountable to his or her constituents.
Chau H. Wu
Frankfurt, Germany
End the ambiguity
Why it is so difficult for Taiwan to get the international recognition it deserves? Why didi the politics in Taiwan become a problem, rather than a solution itself after the first power transfer in 2000? Why does the freedom and democracy seem to bring only chaos and bitterness to the Taiwanese people? The answers to all these questions lay with Taiwan itself.
East Timor is a tiny country. However, the world recognizes its sovereignty and respects the choice and resolve of its people. Taiwan is a bigger country, yet ironically its people are unable to make any referendum choice regarding its future.
Ambiguity and the status quo only will only delay solutions and invite more problems, which in turn ensures continuing struggles internationally and domestically and the suffering of the people of Taiwan.
The second and third questions obviously originated from partisan confrontation and blue camp's scorched-earth strategy. These can be resolved only through a referendum and presidential election. If a blue camp electoral victory can be realized by victimizing the peo-ple, the nation will have a long nightmare of victimhood. Obviously, the strategy is blackmail of the Taiwanese.
Taiwan is a success story. But these days the nation's sovereignty, security, dignity and prosperity are at stake. They all center around the issue of national identify. The time has come for the Taiwanese to make a decision.
Yang Ji-charng
Columbus, Ohio
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.
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