In a world increasingly defined by unpredictability, two actors stand out as islands of stability: Europe and Taiwan. One, a sprawling union of democracies, but under immense pressure, grappling with a geopolitical reality it was not originally designed for. The other, a vibrant, resilient democracy
On Monday last week, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Taipei chapter director Huang Lu Chin-ru (黃呂錦茹) and her key staff were indicted for allegedly misusing personal information and forging documents. The indictment said that the KMT broke the law by forging signatures in their recall petitions. Howe
Mr Ma: Stop abetting ChinaDear Mr Ma,Twice, the people of Taiwan entrusted you with the highest office. That trust is gone — replaced by disbelief, and a deep sense of betrayal.At the recent Straits Forum, they stripped you of your title, calling you simply “Mr Ma.” As a stage prop in a carefully sc
EDITORIAL CARTOON
Japan wanted change in its corporate sector. It got it — for better or worse. A decade from the introduction of the country’s first Corporate Governance Code, there is so much mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in Tokyo these days that it is tough to even keep track. From private equity to acti
When we think about the future of warfare, it is tempting to imagine a world dominated by advanced technologies: artificial intelligence-powered drones, hypersonic missiles and satellites coordinating every move. However, the war in Ukraine has shown that high-tech capabilities alone do not win wars
The Central Election Commission (CEC) on Friday announced that recall motions targeting 24 Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers and Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao (高虹安) have been approved, and that a recall vote would take place on July 26.Of the recall motions against 35 KMT legislators, 31 were review
A foreign colleague of mine asked me recently, “What is a safe distance from potential People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force’s (PLARF) Taiwan targets?” This article will answer this question and help people living in Taiwan have a deeper understanding of the threat.Why is it important to under
A pig carcass that was recently found on a beach in Kinmen County tested positive for African swine fever (ASF), and disease control and prevention agencies are once again finding themselves strained.The ASF Central Emergency Operation Center said it incinerated the pig carcass and buried its ashes
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Confronted by an unprecedented and alarming situation, it can be hard to resist simplistic explanations.Blaming thunder and lightning on warring gods, as the ancients did, misses the real reason: that clouds can build up electrical voltages thousands of times higher than you would find in a power li
On the eve of the 1991 Gulf War, a TV reporter asked general Norman Schwarzkopf, then-commander of US Central Command, if he would topple then-Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. Stormin’ Norman replied with a memorable succinctness: “Easy say. Hard do.”Schwarzkopf knew what he was talking about. The ge
The Presidential Office yesterday announced that President William Lai (賴清德) would today be embarking on a series of stops across the country to engage with members of the public about 10 issues. He would be doing so to promote unity among Taiwanese, the governing and opposition parties, and the nat
Taiwan is often compared to other countries, but never to Spain. Yet the two countries have, in many ways, followed a similar path toward democracy. That makes the comparison interesting. Both nations face a paradox: They successfully abolished dictatorship without erasing the illegality of the regi
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has long touted its “one country, two systems” formula as a successful model of governance — one that it says not only allows Hong Kong and Macau to retain their systems and freedoms, but also demonstrates the party’s tolerance for diverse institutions. However, fro
Internet celebrity Holger Chen (陳之漢) might call himself a peace ambassador, but really, he is just a clown in someone else’s circus. A loud one. The kind that hurls vulgarities when cornered and marvels at vending machines like he has just discovered fire.During his recent trip to China, Chen bent o
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June marks Pride Month, a time of celebratory parades, parties and rainbow-drenched gatherings across the US. This month also marks the 10th anniversary of the Obergefell v Hodges decision — the landmark US Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage in every state.That case, which include
Under attack from US President Donald Trump, the cause of greening the US’ power grid now relies to a large degree on some of his most recent converts in Silicon Valley. This has nothing to do with politics; rather wealth, scale and urgent need are working together to advance renewable energy and nu
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