Comic strip no accident
We strongly object to the offensive comic strip that the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) published on July 20 to promote the government’s proposed economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China and we demand its immediate withdrawal.
The ethnic profiling and stereotyping in the comic is unmistakably insulting and discriminates against Hoklo-speaking Taiwanese.
This outrageous comic consequently resulted in an ethnic uproar.
So far, the best that the government has done is urge the public not to be offended.
What is worse is the explanation offered by the MOEA deputy minister, who said: “The comic characters were the result of long, painstaking efforts by public relations experts.”
It is crystal clear that this was no accident. The officials involved approved the publication of the comic strip.
A spokesman for the Democratic Progressive Party said: “The comic strip is extremely offensive and derogatory. It describes those who oppose the ECFA as stupid and unaware of current events. This is glaring racial and class discrimination.”
The citizens of a democracy have the fundamental right to question their government’s policies. It is the government’s responsibility to persuade the public to support its policies. In the case of the proposed ECFA, the government has not even made known the content of the proposed agreement with China, let alone explain it.
The public is naturally concerned and nervous about likely damage to Taiwan’s sovereignty and economy from the ECFA. Unfortunately, the government has chosen to insult the people who have spoken up against the proposed agreement.
There is no place in a democracy for such state-sponsored discrimination against any ethnic group.
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) cannot remain silent on this public relations disaster. As the elected leader of Taiwan, he cannot avoid his responsibility to rid members of the government of their mentality of ethnic discrimination. We ask that Ma learn from US President Barack Obama, who rushed to quell racial uproar in Boston.
BEN LIU
President, North America Taiwanese Professors’ Association,
Princeton, New Jersey
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
The past few months have seen tremendous strides in India’s journey to develop a vibrant semiconductor and electronics ecosystem. The nation’s established prowess in information technology (IT) has earned it much-needed revenue and prestige across the globe. Now, through the convergence of engineering talent, supportive government policies, an expanding market and technologically adaptive entrepreneurship, India is striving to become part of global electronics and semiconductor supply chains. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vision of “Make in India” and “Design in India” has been the guiding force behind the government’s incentive schemes that span skilling, design, fabrication, assembly, testing and packaging, and
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.