Taiwan is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, technologically advanced, with a relatively stable democratic system of government and a well-educated, peaceful society. Its products are sold in every corner of the world, and it fields world-class talent in almost every realm of human endeavor, from film-making to biomedical research.

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By Jerome Keating
Perhaps no ethnic group in China's history has wandered more or has more frequently experienced second-class citizenship than the Hakka people. Displaced by wars and rejection, they have migrated from place to place so often that they are sometimes called the "Jews of the East." The name "Hakka" in Mandarin means "guest" -- unfortunately, more often than not the connotation suggests "unwelcome guest." This history of marginalization along with the recent formation of the Taiwan Society Hakka makes these people the most appropriate candidates to lead the way in achieving a unified Taiwanese identity.

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By Yu Maochun 余茂春
Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) recently toured Africa, seeking to secure dependable sources of natural resources, but also to promote China's "peaceful rise." Such tours are designed to give notice that China is emerging on the world stage, as well as to make it look respectable as a major world power. But China's quest for international respect is not well served by its embrace of rogue nations like Sudan, Venezuela and Myanmar, much less by its secretive military build-up and its recent adventure in outer space.

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Security cameras are being developed that will not only watch the world, but also interpret what they are seeing
By Stephen Manning
The next time you walk by a shop window, take a glance at your reflection. How much do you swing your arms? Is the weight of your bag causing you to hunch over? Do you still have a bit of that 1970s disco strut left?

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By David Barboza
In China's wild, cowboy stock market, record-breaking run-ups have been followed by mini-market crashes that have been largely confined within this country's borders.

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By Hans-Werner Sinn
In January, the EU expanded eastward once again. Following the "Big Bang" enlargement of 2004, which added 75 million new EU citizens, the accession of Romania and Bulgaria has added 30 million more. What does this mean for the labor markets of Western Europe? Politicians tend to argue that, although some plumbers migrate to the west and companies relocate to the east, the west will enjoy more jobs in net terms as a result of the likely expansion of its exports. That reasoning is familiar, but is it correct?

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By Ben Goren
Now that three out of the "big four" of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) have declared their intention to run in DPP presidential primary, it is a good time to remind the DPP's leadership that a clean, honest and fair campaign is essential -- not only to improve the party's image with the general population, but to avoid giving opposition parties fuel for their own campaigns.

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