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The EU wants tax havens to roll back their secretive ways for one very simple reason. They compete for capital
By Christopher Lingle
There has been a lot of noise and some heat raised over the issue of tax laundering and gnashing of political teeth in raves against tax havens. While much of the focus of publicity will be on stopping money laundering associated with criminal activity, the subtext of it all will be to restrain tax competition. Despite the initial aim to limit "harmful tax competition," a repackaging spin puts the purpose as a means to increased regulatory rigor and enhanced fiscal transparency.

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The group that has almost single-handedly institutionalized the protection of human rights around the world has come of age
By Jonathan Power
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By Wang Chien-chuang 王健壯
Before George W. Bush was elected president of the US, governor of Texas was the only work experience listed on his political resume. Moreover, he only served one-and-a-half terms as governor, which means he had a total of about six years of political experience before entering the White House.

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By Shu Chung-hsing 舒中興
Ever since Taiwan experienced the first ever peaceful transfer of political power in ethnic Chinese history last year, global attention on the change seems to have focused on the development of Taiwan's domestic political and economic situation. When it comes to cross-strait relations, a core issue bearing on Taiwan's national interests, substantive development has been limited due to China's negative treatment of Taiwan, as well as to the government's "non-regression means improvement" principle.

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By Wang To 王拓
The welcome that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) received during his stopover in New York City en route to Latin America amounts not only to a breakthrough in Taiwan's diplomatic efforts, but is also proof that the US recognizes Taiwan's democratic achievements since last year's peaceful transfer of political power. Unlike the treatment received by former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) in the US in 1995, Chen's visit shows the importance the Bush administration attaches to Taiwan. The US has gradually leaned toward Taiwan in the triangular US-China-Taiwan relationship, as Sino-US ties have become increasingly tense and antagonistic. Thus, Taiwan has become a powerful bargaining chip a US seeking to counter China's growing strength.

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