`Wolf' doesn't belong in class
We read regularly about whether the so-called "Hwakang Wolf" should be paroled from prison so that he may attend National Taiwan University. The debate seems to take for granted the fact that he has already been accepted by this institution, and ignores the frightening fact that what is arguably the finest university in the nation appears happy to admit a convicted and dangerous felon.
As I have been told by academics, this country's laughingly out-of-date examination and enrollment system assures that students who simply achieve among the highest scores on tests gain automatic admission to elite schools. Clearly, this concept needs some rethinking as such a fine institution and Taiwan itself are not only doing serious damage to their reputations at home and abroad, but they are sending a very negative message about what is considered important in student selection.
Perhaps it is time for Taiwan to do as they do in most modern educational systems -- judge candidates as worthy of acceptance based on test scores and also other factors such as interviews, character, recommendations and activities.
One can only imagine the scandal, fury and uproar if a top Western university such as Harvard or Cambridge publicly acknowledged that it was ready to admit a serial rapist. Would an excuse such as "well, he passed the tests" suffice? One would think not. Maybe it's time for Taiwan to emerge from the educational dark ages. One's character and place in society are not dictated by test scores alone.
Jonathan Gardner
Taipei
Once again, we are in a hot debate again of whether or not to grant parole to the serial rapist known as the "Hwakang Wolf" who wants to attend the sociology department at National Taiwan University in September.
I could summarize the reasons in favor of granting the parole application as follows: the Wolf has served seven years of his 17-year sentence, meeting the requirement of serving time for parole application. He has every right to receive education just like anyone else does. No one is perfect, so even a repeat offender should be given a chance to start a new life.
However, these are flawed arguments when considering the nature and severity of the crimes committed by the Wolf.
The Wolf was convicted on 27 counts of raping female college students and nine charges of theft. His crimes were definitely more severe than the punishment meted out by the judge, as I am sure many of his victims who felt a lot of shame and did not come forward and press charges against him.
In light of the many lives literally destroyed by this criminal, he should be jailed a multiple of the 17-year sentence without a chance of parole. If the Ministry of Justice grants the Wolf parole it will be doing a disservice and injustice to out society.
It is the Wolf himself, not our society, who deprived him of his right to receive an education. In fact, his attendance at the university will constantly pose a threat to female students and may wreak havoc on the most prestigious education institute in the country. Thus, this Wolf will deprive many students of their right to receive an education in a safe peaceful environment.
It is a disturbing fact that our prison system cannot prevent escapes and there is a lack of mechanisms in our society to effectively rehabilitate and prevent a parolee from offending again.
The officials in the Ministry of Justice should understand that not all criminals can be reformed. A medical expert has said that the Wolf has a 70 percent to 80 percent chance of committing the same crime again.
Taking the nature of the crime into consideration, it is obvious that our government and society have a duty to protect those who need to be protected, instead of the Wolf, who has no right to attend a university at this stage.
Guo Bih-rang
Kaohsiung
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