Angered by certain Taiwanese politicians and the many media institutions that are biased in favor of them, a group of students from National Taiwan University and Shih Hsin University recently decided to put their education to use by making a series of satirical videos called Special Report. The students raised money from others who shared their political views -- including at least one goose meat vendor -- and they spent their summer vacation producing a series of videos that they hoped might become as popular as the award-winning lampoon programs that appear on Taiwanese television.
The primary targets at whom these young social critics took aim were legislators belonging to the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and People First Party (PFP) -- along with TV anchors and journalists who support them. They criticized a few Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) politicians as well.
The students controlled every aspect of the videos' production, from scriptwriting to camera work. When it came to casting, they used only actors and actresses who could speak Hoklo, also known as Taiwanese. And they did extensive research of newspaper, magazine and TV reports so that they could satirize the public figures described therein. The students understood very well how to make a video, but they did not understand the political environment in which the Taiwanese media operate. Only three years have passed since Taiwan underwent a major political transformation, and over 90 percent of Taiwan's media is still controlled by pan-blue forces. As a result, Taiwan Television, which had initially pledged to air the videos, changed its mind under political pressure from the KMT and the PFP. The students then sought air time at other TV stations, but they were turned away. Finally the Southern Taiwan Society, a pro-green political organization, agreed to help them sell the videos.
The students also might not have understood the reaction that their work would provoke. PFP chairman James Soong (
On Monday afternoon, the Government Information Office directed government agencies to stop confiscating the videos. In effect, they proclaimed that Special Report was perfectly legal.
In the midst of all this controversy, the people of Taiwan should take the opportunity to reflect on the reasons that the students who made these videos were so discontented to begin with.
Consider ethical standards in politics. Commonwealth magazine, a respected pro-blue business publication, recently published the results of a public opinion poll that focused on the moral integrity of politicians. The poll found that Soong -- who was the central figure in the Chung Hsing Bills Finance embezzlement scandal -- had a higher reputation for ethical behavior than did President Chen Shui-bian (
Special Report can be seen as a kind of public counter-force to the sorry state of political ethics in Taiwan. Even though the mainstream media shunned the videos as long as they could, the Taiwanese people have made their feelings clear by snapping up copies of the videos all across the island.
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.