I am surprised and saddened by the reversal of the Taipei Times' editorial stance ("Furor a storm in a teacup," March 20, page 8) after the excellent job done on the initial reporting of the "Taiwanese Nazis" situation.
First, the editorial refers to the "sometimes tasteless" use of Hitler imagery in advertisements and Nazi kitsch. Let's put that one to rest: The Nazi and Hitler stuff we see here is tasteless all the time.
Second, the editorial refers to "the global network of pro-Jewish activists" who are supposedly effective in finding and exposing these neo-Nazi activities. It's not really "pro-Jewish" people so much as "anti-Nazi," "anti-racist" and "anti-bigoted" people who feel this way. "Pro-civilization" might be a way to consider those who feel strongly about a racist regime that murdered and enslaved tens of millions of people, and we remain united in applying the strongest taboos against present-day manifestations of Nazism. We also stand united against the 228 Massacre and the horrors of the White Terror period here in Taiwan.
Third, your editorial seems to gloss over the racist views of one co-founder about exterminating the children of foreign workers while lauding the other co-founder's views about "nationalism, traditional Chinese values and limit the numbers of immigrant workers coming to Taiwan." Where there's smoke, there's fire -- and considering that the Nazis are most notorious for their exterminations of millions of Jews, Russians, Roma, homosexuals and other people, I just don't accept the suggested premise that we should cut the neo-Nazis any slack just because "only one" co-founder openly advocates killing our children.
The Taipei Times' initial reaction was to provide careful, balanced coverage of a difficult topic that is sure to come up again as Taiwan continues to engage the international community in trade, cultural and educational activities. The problem is not that it was reported or that it became international news; the problem is that Taiwan has students who think they can learn anything positive from the morally bankrupt, murderous and racist Nazi regime.
John Eastwood
Taipei
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.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, people have been asking if Taiwan is the next Ukraine. At a G7 meeting of national leaders in January, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida warned that Taiwan “could be the next Ukraine” if Chinese aggression is not checked. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said that if Russia is not defeated, then “today, it’s Ukraine, tomorrow it can be Taiwan.” China does not like this rhetoric. Its diplomats ask people to stop saying “Ukraine today, Taiwan tomorrow.” However, the rhetoric and stated ambition of Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) on Taiwan shows strong parallels with