Change of pace needed
Recent developments in relations between China and some of Taiwan’s Latin American allies seem to show a shift in Beijing’s policy of a “diplomatic truce” unilaterally proclaimed by President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).
The foreseeable downgrading of Honduras’ diplomatic representation in Taiwan might not be the doing only of Honduras, but part of a new scheme by Beijing to turn Taiwan’s allies’ links with Taipei into “consular ties,” and under the “one China” policy allow them to open trade offices and then embassies.
Taiwan is at a crossroads of choosing its future, as the fast economic, political and military emergence of the People’s Republic of China, coupled with the decline of Japan, the rise of South Korea and the economic crises in the EU and US, are framing a new world.
The present course of prioritizing soft relations with China in the political arena, and the lack of prioritizing the development of first-class technology in the economic area seems to be leading Taiwan nowhere.
I am neither for nor against Taiwan’s integration into China or a “New China,” but I feel that the present course of original equipment manufacturing and putting all the eggs in China’s basket is quite dangerous.
Taiwan should consider forging a strong economic alliance with Japan that could give new impetus to the economies of both countries, help reduce Taiwan’s economic dependence on China and inject higher technology expertise into Taiwan.
China should remain an important objective of Taiwan’s politics and economy, but there is a need for more concrete planning, creativity and caution in relations with Beijing — framed by inevitability, need, opportunities and danger.
Francisco Perez
Taipei
Saudi Arabian largesse is flooding Egypt’s cultural scene, but the reception is mixed. Some welcome new “cooperation” between two regional powerhouses, while others fear a hostile takeover by Riyadh. In Cairo, historically the cultural capital of the Arab world, Egyptian Minister of Culture Nevine al-Kilany recently hosted Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority chairman Turki al-Sheikh. The deep-pocketed al-Sheikh has emerged as a Medici-like patron for Egypt’s cultural elite, courted by Cairo’s top talent to produce a slew of forthcoming films. A new three-way agreement between al-Sheikh, Kilany and United Media Services — a multi-media conglomerate linked to state intelligence that owns much of
The US and other countries should take concrete steps to confront the threats from Beijing to avoid war, US Representative Mario Diaz-Balart said in an interview with Voice of America on March 13. The US should use “every diplomatic economic tool at our disposal to treat China as what it is... to avoid war,” Diaz-Balart said. Giving an example of what the US could do, he said that it has to be more aggressive in its military sales to Taiwan. Actions by cross-party US lawmakers in the past few years such as meeting with Taiwanese officials in Washington and Taipei, and
The Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan has no official diplomatic allies in the EU. With the exception of the Vatican, it has no official allies in Europe at all. This does not prevent the ROC — Taiwan — from having close relations with EU member states and other European countries. The exact nature of the relationship does bear revisiting, if only to clarify what is a very complicated and sensitive idea, the details of which leave considerable room for misunderstanding, misrepresentation and disagreement. Only this week, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) received members of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations
Denmark’s “one China” policy more and more resembles Beijing’s “one China” principle. At least, this is how things appear. In recent interactions with the Danish state, such as applying for residency permits, a Taiwanese’s nationality would be listed as “China.” That designation occurs for a Taiwanese student coming to Denmark or a Danish citizen arriving in Denmark with, for example, their Taiwanese partner. Details of this were published on Sunday in an article in the Danish daily Berlingske written by Alexander Sjoberg and Tobias Reinwald. The pretext for this new practice is that Denmark does not recognize Taiwan as a state under