The world is a dangerous place. With Russia announcing a new generation of “invincible” intercontinental cruise missiles, heightened tensions over North Korea’s nuclear provocations and China’s boisterous behavior in the region, national defense remains a priority everywhere.
Taiwan’s predicament is exacerbated by China’s refusal to concede that the nation has the right to defend itself, or that it is indeed a nation.
Russia continues to push territorial boundaries, stoking concerns in Europe. North Korea has threatened the US, South Korea and Japan. Who would have concerns about Taiwan having expansionist ambitions? Which country fears an attack by Taiwan?
Ministry of National Defense spokesman Chen Chung-ji (陳中吉) on Tuesday reiterated the government’s pledge to increase defense spending every year. Only a country that harbors ill will toward Taiwan would find this cause for concern.
He said that Taiwan would continue to purchase foreign-made weapons and develop domestic weapons to “satisfy the needs of defensive warfare and assure the security of Taiwan.” Which country would argue with that?
He said the objective is “to maintain regional stability and peace.” Why would that be taken as anything more than a noble aspiration?
Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and National People’s Congress (NPC) spokesman Zhang Yesui (張業遂) took a similar postition on Sunday.
“China proceeds from a defense policy that is defensive in nature. China’s development will not pose a threat to other countries,” he said.
Again, which country could criticize that?
Well, first, few governments believe him. His words betray conceit: China’s defense policy is defensive in nature. The clue is in the name.
There is a reason that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is pushing to expand his country’s right to engage in military activities, and why his attempts to remove constraints in Japan’s post-war pacifist constitution are winning increased support at home.
North Korea’s recent missile flyovers served to bolster his resolve, but they did not start it. China’s increased provocations on territorial claims in the region played a large role in spurring Abe in this direction.
Second, for Taiwan the larger problem is in Zhang’s “assurance” that China’s development will not pose a threat “to other countries.”
China does not consider Taiwan to be a country.
Under pressure from Beijing, there are few countries in the world that do not go at least partly along with this delusion, by paying lip service to the “one China” principle. Beijing criticizes any government dealing with Taipei in any official capacity, accusing them of interfering in its domestic affairs.
So let us suspend belief for a second and enter the delusion. Where else in the world would a government promulgate laws legitimizing military offensives against its own people, place missiles directed at an area populated by its own people or routinely hold military drills overtly preparing to attack its own people, and not be met with international condemnation?
In January, the US House of Representatives passed the Taiwan Travel Act, which would allow for visits between high-ranking Taiwanese and US officials. The US Senate passed the bill last week. It still requires US President Donald Trump’s signature to be made law, but the US is to be commended for taking this step.
While perhaps a small concession, the bill is important because it implies recognition of Taiwan’s autonomy and because any progress in international relations for Taiwan is necessarily incremental, given Beijing’s anger at the slightest change.
Zhang can say that China presents no danger to other countries. Like any other nation, China has the right to develop the capability to defend itself.
However, do not for a second believe that “other countries” was meant to include Taiwan.
Xiaomi Corp founder Lei Jun (雷軍) on May 22 made a high-profile announcement, giving online viewers a sneak peek at the company’s first 3-nanometer mobile processor — the Xring O1 chip — and saying it is a breakthrough in China’s chip design history. Although Xiaomi might be capable of designing chips, it lacks the ability to manufacture them. No matter how beautifully planned the blueprints are, if they cannot be mass-produced, they are nothing more than drawings on paper. The truth is that China’s chipmaking efforts are still heavily reliant on the free world — particularly on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing
Keelung Mayor George Hsieh (謝國樑) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) on Tuesday last week apologized over allegations that the former director of the city’s Civil Affairs Department had illegally accessed citizens’ data to assist the KMT in its campaign to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) councilors. Given the public discontent with opposition lawmakers’ disruptive behavior in the legislature, passage of unconstitutional legislation and slashing of the central government’s budget, civic groups have launched a massive campaign to recall KMT lawmakers. The KMT has tried to fight back by initiating campaigns to recall DPP lawmakers, but the petition documents they
A recent scandal involving a high-school student from a private school in Taichung has reignited long-standing frustrations with Taiwan’s increasingly complex and high-pressure university admissions system. The student, who had successfully gained admission to several prestigious medical schools, shared their learning portfolio on social media — only for Internet sleuths to quickly uncover a falsified claim of receiving a “Best Debater” award. The fallout was swift and unforgiving. National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and Taipei Medical University revoked the student’s admission on Wednesday. One day later, Chung Shan Medical University also announced it would cancel the student’s admission. China Medical
Construction of the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County’s Hengchun Township (恆春) started in 1978. It began commercial operations in 1984. Since then, it has experienced several accidents, radiation pollution and fires. It was finally decommissioned on May 17 after the operating license of its No. 2 reactor expired. However, a proposed referendum to be held on Aug. 23 on restarting the reactor is potentially bringing back those risks. Four reasons are listed for holding the referendum: First, the difficulty of meeting greenhouse gas reduction targets and the inefficiency of new energy sources such as photovoltaic and wind power. Second,
RSS