The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) will each stage a rally on Sept.15 to drum up support for their respective referendum proposals.
The DPP said its UN referendum rally is expected to attract 500,000 people, while the KMT, holding its own rally in Taichung, expects to draw a crowd of hundreds of thousands.
KMT Secretary-General Wu Den-yih (
Regardless of this, people should be encouraged to take part in the rally of their choice.
The KMT's version of the referendum -- suggesting that the nation use the name "Republic of China" (ROC), or any other "practical" title that would uphold the country's dignity, to "return" to the UN -- does not make any sense. The China seat in the UN was long ago taken over by the People's Republic of China and for Taiwan to "rejoin" the UN under the name ROC is a fantasy. However, people who prefer this version to that of the DPP are welcome to take their support and enthusiasm to Taichung.
On the other hand, people who favor the DPP's UN referendum proposal -- suggesting the nation apply for UN membership under the name "Taiwan" -- should take their passion and zeal for the bid to Kaohsiung.
At this point, it is no longer a popularity contest over which rally on the day attracts the largest turnout. It is not even about the DPP or the KMT anymore, but rather the collective voice of Taiwanese being heard by the international community, regardless of their political affiliation, in their joint desire that their nation be admitted to the UN.
Taiwan's claim is an unpopular one. But that does not mean the dignity and desires of Taiwanese should be neglected and brushed aside by others in the international community. Just because Taiwan is being ostracized -- and has the unfortunate fate of being situated next to a vicious neighbor -- does not mean Taiwanese have to stay mute in the face of China's saber-rattling.
The rallies to be staged on Sept. 15 offer a great opportunity for China, as well as the rest of the world, to hear the collective voice and desires of Taiwanese. What they want is to be treated with the same respect and be afforded the same human rights as peoples who already have representation at the UN.
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) were born under the sign of Gemini. Geminis are known for their intelligence, creativity, adaptability and flexibility. It is unlikely, then, that the trade conflict between the US and China would escalate into a catastrophic collision. It is more probable that both sides would seek a way to de-escalate, paving the way for a Trump-Xi summit that allows the global economy some breathing room. Practically speaking, China and the US have vulnerabilities, and a prolonged trade war would be damaging for both. In the US, the electoral system means that public opinion
They did it again. For the whole world to see: an image of a Taiwan flag crushed by an industrial press, and the horrifying warning that “it’s closer than you think.” All with the seal of authenticity that only a reputable international media outlet can give. The Economist turned what looks like a pastiche of a poster for a grim horror movie into a truth everyone can digest, accept, and use to support exactly the opinion China wants you to have: It is over and done, Taiwan is doomed. Four years after inaccurately naming Taiwan the most dangerous place on
In their recent op-ed “Trump Should Rein In Taiwan” in Foreign Policy magazine, Christopher Chivvis and Stephen Wertheim argued that the US should pressure President William Lai (賴清德) to “tone it down” to de-escalate tensions in the Taiwan Strait — as if Taiwan’s words are more of a threat to peace than Beijing’s actions. It is an old argument dressed up in new concern: that Washington must rein in Taipei to avoid war. However, this narrative gets it backward. Taiwan is not the problem; China is. Calls for a so-called “grand bargain” with Beijing — where the US pressures Taiwan into concessions
The term “assassin’s mace” originates from Chinese folklore, describing a concealed weapon used by a weaker hero to defeat a stronger adversary with an unexpected strike. In more general military parlance, the concept refers to an asymmetric capability that targets a critical vulnerability of an adversary. China has found its modern equivalent of the assassin’s mace with its high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) weapons, which are nuclear warheads detonated at a high altitude, emitting intense electromagnetic radiation capable of disabling and destroying electronics. An assassin’s mace weapon possesses two essential characteristics: strategic surprise and the ability to neutralize a core dependency.
RSS