Snyder ‘wrong’ again
Regarding Mr Charles Snyder’s reply to my letter (Letters, May 15, page 8), once again he has misrepresented the facts.
Our office holds regular press conferences with the local Taiwan press with the same frequency as in previous years. Each meeting is led by either Representative to the US Jason Yuan himself or his deputy. These briefings continue to be informative and valuable to the press. The last press conference was held on April 16.
YING CHANG
Director, Press Division
Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US
Tsai not obliged to meet Ma
As a professor who seems to support democracy, it was strange of Lii Ding-Tzann to blame Democratic Progressive Party Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) for not communicating with President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九)(“Return ‘soft’ democracy to politics,” May 11, page 8).
Lii wrote that Tsai should meet Ma to discuss significant issues such as signing an economic cooperation framework agreement with China. Lii seems to put the blame squarely on Tsai’s shoulders: “What hope does a country have when its leaders are unwilling to sit down and discuss issues?”
Lii is ignoring the essence of democracy. Ma has refused to allow the content of the agreements between the Straits Exchange Foundation and the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait to be published and discussed openly. What, then, is the point of a meeting between Tsai and Ma? Tsai can do nothing about this problem and Ma will continue to do as he pleases. The legislature, meanwhile, seems to have lost its capacity to supervise the Ma administration.
Ma wants to meet with Tsai as a show of democracy, but his administration is abusing its power. Lii is ignoring the fact that Taiwan’s democracy is ailing. His take on the matter is anti-democratic.
KUOJUNG NI
Hsinchu City
Chinese students welcome
I am very positive about universities recruiting competitive students from China (“College associations back admission of Chinese students,” May 15, page 4).
Many parents are worried their children will face fierce competition if our government allows Chinese students to attend universities in Taiwan, but what our college students need is a sense of crisis. Competition and challenge will reignite their motivation to learn. If protected too much, students will remain silent and passive.
We are the only country in the world turning away China’s top university students. In a globalized world, no one can inhibit academic and business interaction between countries. We should not isolate ourselves.
Students in Taiwan are very creative, while Chinese students are industrious. We can learn from each other. Chinese students will not jeopardize our right to an education but will stimulate our motivation.
Some people are concerned that Chinese graduates will take job opportunities away from their Taiwanese counterparts. If our students can’t cope with this competition, how will they tackle global competition?
Allowing Chinese students to attend university in Taiwan may cause panic at first, but Taiwan’s students stand to benefit in the long run.
DEBBIE HOU
Taipei
Biker video not the problem
Concerning the article on a foreign biker who posted footage on the Internet of himself riding his motorcycle (“Motorcycle race video sparks anger,” May 11, page 2), the person responsible for making the video, mordeth13, has long been a member of the online video blogging community.
He was one of the first to have done this — fitting a camera inside a helmet can be a bit difficult depending on what model you own. I would encourage you to focus on what he has noted and taped in many of his other videos, including the overly relaxed attitude of the police force, coupled with the carelessness of many a local.
The rate of motorcycle-related deaths in Taiwan is incredibly high, not because of the sale of bigger and faster bikes, but because of the lack of education and enforcement concerning motorcycle safety.
In the US, statistics show that half of all motorcycle deaths involve people driving under the influence of alcohol or without a valid license. Likewise, only one-third of all motorcycle fatalities involve people under 30 years old, whereas 50 percent involve people above the age of 40.
More training should be required in Taiwan before a person is allowed to ride a scooter or a motorcycle. Simple things like wearing gear and not drinking would cut deaths dramatically. News articles about people who post footage on YouTube of themselves speeding, on the other hand, won’t do a thing.NAME WITHHELD
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