Academics from the Democratic Action Alliance (
However, the alliance -- an organization with close ties to the People First Party (PFP) -- could not present a single representative from the Academia Sinica to answer questions at a press conference on Monday.
The motive behind the planned demonstration is also questionable -- is it truly an anti-arms race movement or is it an effort to rebuild the PFP's political momentum? According to a recent newspaper survey, the PFP's approval rate has fallen continuously since the March presidential election and is now last among the four main parties.
If the members of the alliance -- who praise themselves as a symbol of justice -- truly care about cross-strait peace, why don't they urge China to withdraw its more than 500 ballistic missiles deployed against Taiwan? On Feb. 28, 1 million people formed a human chain across this nation to protest China's threat. Did these anti-war activists and retired generals stand up to say "no" to China then?
Apparently the alliance members have forgotten that several of the items on the arms budget were first approved by the former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government. The submarine purchase was approved as part of the Navy's 20-year military construction plan in 1995, the P-3C maritime patrol aircraft purchase was approved in 1997 and the Patriot PAC-3 anti-missile system purchase was approved in 1998.
If such purchases are inappropriate, why didn't these generals oppose the plans back then? Their motives are questionable now -- unless they want people to place their faith in Chinese President Hu Jintao (
China's annual arms procurement budget is in the vicinity of US$50 billion to US$70 billion. In the past four years Beijing has been the world's top arms buyer. China's military expansion is such that even the US and Japan are feeling the threat and have adjusted their military deployments to counter it. Why should Taiwan, which has lived under the threat from China for so many years, not increase its defensive capability to make Beijing think twice before launching an attack?
Confronted by the tyrannical Chinese regime, Taiwan has little choice but to buy arms to counterbalance Beijing's threat. Ordinary Taiwanese understand this, so why can't academics and retired generals? Where is their national consciousness? How can they make proposals that will weaken this nation and threaten the safety of their compatriots?
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
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
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
As former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) wrapped up his visit to the People’s Republic of China, he received his share of attention. Certainly, the trip must be seen within the full context of Ma’s life, that is, his eight-year presidency, the Sunflower movement and his failed Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, as well as his eight years as Taipei mayor with its posturing, accusations of money laundering, and ups and downs. Through all that, basic questions stand out: “What drives Ma? What is his end game?” Having observed and commented on Ma for decades, it is all ironically reminiscent of former US president Harry