The right time to celebrate
We all saw the reaction of certain Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers to former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) being handcuffed: They wanted to celebrate with firecrackers.
It so happens that presidential candidates and politicians have opponents with whom they must debate. It so happens that presidents do not gain the support of everyone in the country. Political opponents do not have to love each other — but they can show respect.
Most importantly, lawmakers produce and guard laws, and they should never forget the principle of ei incumbit probatio qui dicit, non qui negat — the burden of proof rests on he who asserts, not on he who denies.
The reaction of KMT lawmakers, mocking the former president, and their statements celebrating his arrest are shameless and should be condemned by the Harvard-educated president, the leaders of the party and the media. It is yet another below-standard performance made in Taiwan.
The time to celebrate will come when the KMT and President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) deliver all the promises they made during the election campaign. Then we, the people, will let off firecrackers instead of venting disappointment.
Hanna Shen
Taipei
Cuffing potential
The arrest and detention of former president Chen Shui-bian is a joke.
First, in any civilized country, fraud or corruption is a white-collar crime. Was there a need to handcuff Chen, who was head of state just six months ago and who has not been convicted of any crime?
It is ludicrous that the prosecutors’ request to remand Chen in custody was based on their assumption that the former president might tamper with evidence in the bribery case against him. If Chen were guilty, he would have tampered with evidence weeks ago.
Chen is not perfect, but Taiwanese should ask themselves whether it is Chen or Ma who would have been able and willing to stand up and protect Taiwan’s interests at all costs.
The answer is clear: It was Chen.
Jason Lee Boon Hong
Singapore
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.
As Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu’s party won by a landslide in Sunday’s parliamentary election, it is a good time to take another look at recent developments in the Maldivian foreign policy. While Muizzu has been promoting his “Maldives First” policy, the agenda seems to have lost sight of a number of factors. Contemporary Maldivian policy serves as a stark illustration of how a blend of missteps in public posturing, populist agendas and inattentive leadership can lead to diplomatic setbacks and damage a country’s long-term foreign policy priorities. Over the past few months, Maldivian foreign policy has entangled itself in playing