More than 400 independence advocates took to the streets yesterday in Taipei under the scorching sun, urging the public not to be “deceived” by the new government but to take the nation’s fate into its own hands.
Organized by the Taiwan Association of University Professors (TAUP), the marchers waved green flags with the shape of Taiwan in the center and shouted independence slogans. Banners read: “Be masters of Taiwan, not slaves of China.”
MYTH OR REALITY?
“There is no such thing as the Republic of China, only the nation of Taiwan,” TAUP chairman Tsai Ting-kuei (蔡丁貴) said in a speech. “As Taiwanese, we must stop allowing a foreign regime to rule over this land. We must have the courage to stand up against the Chinese Nationalist Party [KMT] government to prevent four years of insults to and humiliation of the Taiwanese population.”
Tsai said it was “deeply regrettable” that the pro-localization Democratic Progressive Party lost the presidential election to the pro-unification KMT. The defeat should motivate more people to fight for Taiwan’s sovereignty, he said.
“No one [else] can determine the fate of Taiwan. Not the Chinese. Not the Americans. Only the Taiwanese people can determine Taiwan’s future,” he said.
Ninety-one-year-old Su Beng (史明), often called the “father of the Taiwanese independence movement,” was unable to attend the rally for health reasons but asked his personal assistant to read a statement he wrote.
In the statement, Su asked the public to cherish the Taiwanese culture that their forefathers so painstakingly contributed to and warned the public against being “brainwashed” again by a “foreign regime.”
POST-WWII
He said that after World War II, more than 60 colonized and occupied countries in Africa, the South Pacific and elsewhere declared independence. Taiwan’s struggle for independence, however, is still being obstructed by Beijing.
“Taiwan has a better than average economy and industries. We have more than 20 million people, yet we are still living under the shadow of colonialism,” he said, citing the KMT, the Chinese Communist Party and the disunity of the Taiwanese public as major stumbling blocks to de jure independence.
One demonstrator said she was disheartened by President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) election victory in March.
NO CONFIDENCE
“I will never trust him to protect Taiwan’s national dignity,” said Lin Hsueh-chu (林雪珠), a Taipei City resident. “Opening Taiwan up to China will only bring Taiwan’s economy to an all-time low because China just can’t be trusted.”
Bai She-liu (白射榴), also at the rally, said he had taken time off from work to attend the march to “mourn Taiwan’s vanishing democracy.”
Aftershocks from a magnitude 6.2 earthquake that struck off Yilan County at 3:45pm yesterday could reach a magnitude of 5 to 5.5, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Seismological Center technical officer Chiu Chun-ta (邱俊達) told a news conference that the epicenter of the temblor was more than 100km from Taiwan. Although predicted to measure between magnitude 5 and 5.5, the aftershocks would reach an intensity of 1 on Taiwan’s 7-tier scale, which gauges the actual effect of an earthquake, he said. The earthquake lasted longer in Taipei because the city is in a basin, he said. The quake’s epicenter was about 128.9km east-southeast
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The New Taipei City Government today warned about the often-overlooked dangers of playing in water, and recommended safe swimming destinations to cool off from the summer heat. The following locations in the city as safe and fun for those looking to enjoy the water: Chienshuiwan (淺水灣), Baishawan (白沙灣), Jhongjiao Bay (中角灣), Fulong Beach Resort (福隆海水浴場) and Sansia District’s (三峽) Dabao River (大豹溪), New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Department Director-General Yang Tsung-min (楊宗珉) said. Outdoor bodies of water have variables outside of human control, such as changing currents, differing elevations and environmental hazards, all of which can lead to accidents, Yang said. Sudden
Tropical Storm Podul has formed over waters north-northeast of Guam and is expected to approach the seas southeast of Taiwan next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. The 11th Pacific storm of the year developed at 2am over waters about 2,660km east of Oluanpi (歐鑾鼻), Pingtung County — Taiwan's southernmost tip. It is projected to move westward and could have its most significant impact on Taiwan on Wednesday and Thursday next week, the CWA said. The agency did not rule out the possibility of issuing a sea warning at that time. According to the CWA's latest update, Podul is drifting west-northwest
RSS