The Kaohsiung City Government’s decision to bring forward the screening of a documentary on exiled Uighur Muslim activist Rebiya Kadeer — amid complaints by the tourism sector that Chinese tour groups were canceling hotel reservations — was not well-received in some quarters.
Despite Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu’s (陳菊) claim that the decision was made to prevent controversy over the screening of The 10 Conditions of Love from escalating, the move nonetheless suggests that concessions had to be made because of pressure from China.
A film festival, which serves as a platform for artists to showcase creativity and freedom of expression, should be independent and free from political interference.
Taking into account Chen’s record as an activist who served time for her involvement in the democracy movement, it is unsurprising that her government’s decision resulted in a mixture of anger and disappointment among some supporters.
It is too early to tell whether the decision will have a negative impact on her political standing. What is clear, however, is that Taiwanese of all stripes must hold fast to their democratic entitlements. Cross-strait “harmony,” whatever the benefits, should not come at this price.
The nation’s image as a defender of freedom of speech may have been affected by the decision, but if so, it is not too late to rectify that. One way to do so would be for President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) government to grant Kadeer a visa.
Two civic groups — Guts United Taiwan and the Taiwan Youth Anti-Communist Corps — have issued invitations to Kadeer to visit Taiwan, which she reportedly has accepted.
Beijing’s reaction to any visit would likely be similar to its attempt to manipulate the Australian government after Kadeer was invited to attend the Melbourne Film Festival early last month.
Censorship and restrictions on movement are not a big deal in China — at least not for those who impose them. In Taiwan, however, they represent the fine line between creeping state control and a liberal society. Having tasted both in its troubled history, Taiwan should know the value of being steadfast on openness and avoiding illiberal conduct.
The embattled Ma administration now has a chance to prove that its talk about defending democracy is more than words.
Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) said on Tuesday that a decision would be announced by tomorrow on whether Kadeer would be issued a visa.
Despite Beijing’s claims, Kadeer is not a terrorist, nor would her presence in Taiwan threaten national security. As such, there is no legitimate reason why the Uighur leader should not be permitted to visit Taiwan — unless Taipei is prepared to bow to external forces that would dictate what is permissible and what isn’t inside our borders.
Former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo delivered a very short, succinct and accurate speech in regards to the US relationship with Taiwan in November last year. This information has again angered Beijing, which has stated that the existence of a free and independent Taiwan will not be tolerated. Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Wang Wenbin (汪文斌) has said Pompeo’s language is interfering with the sovereignty of China. Pompeo was stating the facts. Taiwan has never been a part of the People’s Republic of China or the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), therefore it is not a territory of China. The
Where is the world’s disposition today vis-a-vis the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)? Is it similar to that in Munich, September 1938 when Europe’s powers appeased Adolf Hitler over the “Sudetenland,” despite existing treaty commitments? In other words, analogous to the failure to recognize the PRC’s aggressive intent and to mobilize in response to serial CCP outrages, e.g., Tiananmen and South China Sea; suppression of Hong Kong in violation of a treaty agreement; the internment and genocide of the Uighurs, and its complicity in the death of nearly 3 million people globally via its Wuhan Coronavirus. Do these “passes” now amount to
The EU on Wednesday cohosted a Global Cooperation and Training Framework workshop with Taiwan and the US. They discussed the restructuring of the global supply chain and joint financing of small and medium-sized enterprises. This was the first time the EU, represented by European Economic and Trade Office in Taiwan Director Filip Grzegorzewski, cohosted such an event. Launched in 2015, the framework aims to help bring Taiwan’s expertise to the global stage. Essentially, it was designed to find ways to include Taiwan in global efforts, as it remains excluded from international organizations. With Taiwan’s successful containment of COVID-19 and its vital role
Foreigners who learn Mandarin mainly do so for one of two reasons — to do business in China, or to understand issues related to China. For those aiming to do business, it is sensible to learn the language in China. If it is to understand, learning in Taiwan is a good option, because such people are likely to be involved in national security or the military of their home countries. Taiwan is a much safer learning environment compared with China, and it is an information hub for issues related to China. There is access in Taiwan to the truth about the Chinese
RSS