This is in response to the column by Chen Hurng-yu (
I am grossly disappointed by the viewpoint of the author. It is yet another opinion tainted by the stain of blind nationalism.
First of all, Singapore has a right to choose its allies and it is clear that it stands with China.
Obviously much of it has to do with the economic benefits of such an alliance. There is no question that Singapore has cozied up to larger allies and changed its domestic agenda for its own prosperity.
Remember the nation's plan to eradicate the existence of chewing gum? The reintroduction of that particular "banned substance" -- albeit only for medical reasons -- had a lot to do with solidifying a trade agreement with the US.
The bottom line is this. Regardless of Chen's insightful comments and the well thought out historical review of Southeast Asian politics, the ultimate premise of the column was that Singapore had "interfered" with Taiwanese domestic politics.
With all due respect, I think Taiwan has plenty of inept politicians who sufficiently handicap our nation's domestic policy all on their own.
Singapore has the right to choose who its allies are, and also to take any position it chooses on the public stage. If it's a position that Taiwan disagrees with, it should so with with class and integrity.
Does the author sincerely think it was justified for a leading government official to equate Singapore with a piece of snot?
Does he think that using a crass term about testicles is an appropriate way for Taiwan to respond to an opinion that we do not agree with?
As a nation, Taiwan has to realize the following things. First, politics is the art of making measured responses to difficult situations and finding opportunities in crisis.
Second, people are not going to respect a nation whose officials communicate at the same level as an uneducated thug.
As a journalist, a fellow Taiwanese and a person who has had the unusual experience of living in Singapore, Taiwan and the US for many years, I believe I can see the story from different perspectives.
And I can say this firmly: Taiwan and its people should not let blind nationalism and an unchecked desire for independence cloud the reality of its international situation.
Taiwan is not a large country by any stretch of the imagination. The economic chips have changed.
China is now both a major military and economic powerhouse in the region.
Obviously people in Taiwan acknowledge this or else why would so much of their capital investments be made there?
In this sense, Taiwan is not so different than Singapore. At the end, people make decisions to benefit their own needs.
Singapore needs an ally like China, and people in Taiwan know that if they want to benefit economically, then many have to live with the double standard of sleeping with the enemy.
Also, it should be noted that people in the US are tired of war. With this in mind, why should the US help protect Taiwan?
H.T. Wang
New York
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