As the world goes on alert for Y2K and prepares for the entry into a new millennium, the time may be ripe to take a look back at an event-filled year for Taiwan.
Perhaps the three top events Taiwan witnessed in 1999 were Lee Teng-hui's
No matter from what viewpoint you look at it, Taiwan and China are two separate countries. Yet China has always pretended Taiwan is part of its territory. In the past, the KMT also pretended that Taiwan and China were one country. This time, President Lee's open remarks calling cross-strait relations "special state-to-state" amounted to saying, "The emperor has no clothes."
Lee's remarks burst the political myths of the past and as a result, got on the nerves of Beijing and Washington. But they also encouraged the international community to re-evaluate China-Taiwan relations in a new light, undercutting Beijing's footing for its "one country, two systems" model.
The second most important event, the Sept. 21 earthquake, was one of the most disastrous tremors in Taiwan's history. It left over 2,400 people dead and cost billions. But, in its wake, the quake also attested to the resilience and vitality of the Taiwanese people. Private donations, both corporate and individual, reached several billion NT dollars. Many charitable, religious and academic organizations mobilized their resources and entered the disaster areas almost immediately after the earthquake to launch disaster relief operations.
Domestically, the government's earthquake relief work came under criticism for its slow response and inefficiency, but it received considerable applause abroad. Even the president and vice-president went to the disaster areas to help. The earthquake gave Taiwan a shock education in its own societal and political power and raised an awareness among Taiwanese that we are all in the same boat.
The main character in the third event, James Soong, used to be a most trusted confidant of both Chiang Ching-kuo (
Soong is a seasoned, ambitious politician. He is also an architect and former enforcer of the KMT's money politics. His performance in these tasks gave him considerable public support at the local level and strong support among mainlanders and military veterans. Soong's popularity is a major challenge to Lee's chosen heir, Lien Chan (
History never looks like history when we are living through it. It always looks confusing and messy. History is never really written just by chance, but also by choice. Our choice will create the gist of the next era. We should wisely and conscientiously make the choice that will accompany us into the new millennium.
The Chinese government on March 29 sent shock waves through the Tibetan Buddhist community by announcing the untimely death of one of its most revered spiritual figures, Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche. His sudden passing in Vietnam raised widespread suspicion and concern among his followers, who demanded an investigation. International human rights organization Human Rights Watch joined their call and urged a thorough investigation into his death, highlighting the potential involvement of the Chinese government. At just 56 years old, Rinpoche was influential not only as a spiritual leader, but also for his steadfast efforts to preserve and promote Tibetan identity and cultural
The gutting of Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA) by US President Donald Trump’s administration poses a serious threat to the global voice of freedom, particularly for those living under authoritarian regimes such as China. The US — hailed as the model of liberal democracy — has the moral responsibility to uphold the values it champions. In undermining these institutions, the US risks diminishing its “soft power,” a pivotal pillar of its global influence. VOA Tibetan and RFA Tibetan played an enormous role in promoting the strong image of the US in and outside Tibet. On VOA Tibetan,
Former minister of culture Lung Ying-tai (龍應台) has long wielded influence through the power of words. Her articles once served as a moral compass for a society in transition. However, as her April 1 guest article in the New York Times, “The Clock Is Ticking for Taiwan,” makes all too clear, even celebrated prose can mislead when romanticism clouds political judgement. Lung crafts a narrative that is less an analysis of Taiwan’s geopolitical reality than an exercise in wistful nostalgia. As political scientists and international relations academics, we believe it is crucial to correct the misconceptions embedded in her article,
Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), the leader of the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) efforts to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-cheng (李坤城), caused a national outrage and drew diplomatic condemnation on Tuesday after he arrived at the New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office dressed in a Nazi uniform. Sung performed a Nazi salute and carried a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf as he arrived to be questioned over allegations of signature forgery in the recall petition. The KMT’s response to the incident has shown a striking lack of contrition and decency. Rather than apologizing and distancing itself from Sung’s actions,
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