It isn't often that we find the Bible a useful guide to modern Taiwan politics but "As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly" (Proverbs 26:11) seems as pithy a description as you could find of the antics of the not-so-loyal opposition the Saturday before last. As Lien Chan (
If Taiwan's own Curly, Mo and Larry want to press ahead as staunch advocates of an ideological stance that all but a handful of Taiwanese find utterly irrelevant and some find positively distasteful, that might be their affair, crazy though it seems. But just when we thought things couldn't get any weirder, yesterday they did, when DPP Chairman Frank Hsieh (
But now we have a new style to contend with. Well, not exactly new, but it hasn't been around for a decade or so, which we might call One China Classic. Classic is for those who deplore the absence of such exhortatory slogans as "retake the mainland" from modern Taiwanese life. It is in essence that there is one China in the world, and that is the Republic of China of which the mainland is a part. Hsieh leans toward this interpretation apparently, because that is what is laid down in the Constitution which all Taiwan's politicians have a duty to abide by.
Anybody who thought Chinese culture lacked a sense of irony must now hang his head in shame. What could be a more subtle way of showing the folly of a particular viewpoint than to pretend to agree with it, perhaps advocate it yourself. Hsieh, as a previous independence supporter could justly plead that he was not well versed in the rich subtleties of One China Classic and how advocating it is going to improve Taiwan's standing in the world or improve relations with that recalcitrant part of China that doesn't accept rule from Taipei. He, therefore, would need those better versed in this robust ideology such as Lien and Soong to show him the way to "one China" enlightenment. Perhaps we could televise his education sessions. What better way for a skillful dialectician to show up Classic for the deranged fantasy that it is and has been since 1949? In fact, Hsieh might even be able to show that any model of "one China" is nonsensical given the obvious existence of two nation states on either side of the Taiwan Strait. Could he thereby build a consensus for the only way of looking at cross-strait relations which mirrors reality, the "two states" model of Lee Teng-hui (
Then again, maybe Hsieh actually believed what he said yesterday. In which case we should all worry where this retro chic is going to end. With us all wearing bell bottoms perhaps.
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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