War is not the answer
Chin Heng-wei's (
Clearly, the US had a wide range of options at its disposal. There are international laws and bodies designed specifically to deal with such situations. The lawful approach would have required compiling evidence against the alleged perpetrators, presenting this evidence to an international body such as the World Court, bringing the suspects to trial and, ideally, to justice.
This approach, coupled with an analysis of the root causes of terrorism (all kinds, not just the terrorism of our "enemies"), would have been the logical course of action, if the goal of the "war against terror" was indeed to reduce the amount of terrorism in the world.
The US, however, in keeping with its traditional foreign policy, chose to scuttle any possibility of a legal diplomatic solution. The US chose to ignore the law, threatening attack and then following through. The results were predictable: more deaths (by starvation and bombs), coupled with an increased risk of further terrorist attacks.
Thus, the belligerence of the US and the complicity of its allies, is in fact counterproductive in terms of the stated goal of reducing the amount of terrorism in the world. That is to say nothing of its illegality and immorality.
Answering acts of terror with more terror will only result in a horrific cycle of unrestrained violence. It is precisely for this reason that bodies such as the UN and laws such as Article 51 of the UN Charter, (which guarantees the right of self-defense to UN member states in the event of an armed attack on such a state but reserving "the authority and responsibility of the Security Council under the present charter to take at any time such action as it deems necessary in order to maintain or restore international peace and security") are in place.
Dan Ransom
Tainan
Lee was right to come back
The humiliating setback Taiwan suffered during the recent APEC meeting, like the threat issued by China's premier on the eve of last year's election, should have served as a wake up call for all of Taiwan's people, including those in the pro-unification camp. Unfortunately, judging by the response from the media, opposition parties and general public, Taiwan's relationship with China will be "business as usual." The public's feelings toward China, as reflected by the media, are as naive and feverish as ever.
China may have toned down its rhetoric against Taiwan and cross-strait trade does continue to increase. China may share common languages, culture and blood lines with Taiwan. But it is not a friend.
China is still an enemy. Its attitude toward Taiwan is haughty, arrogant and irrational. Its goal is to eradicate Taiwan's government and bring the Taiwanese to their knees.
However, what drives the cold war between China and Taiwan isn't the power of military forces arrayed, the peoples' wishes or even geographic necessity. It is the resolve of a nationalistic China. Taiwan's people and government lack the resolve to define this relationship with and deal with China.
The APEC setback prompted the pro-unification camp to increase their efforts, in collusion with China, against a democratically elected government. Again, instead of being united against the enemy, the resulting finger pointing has all been focused inward. Taiwan is divided and hapless in the face of this ferocious and barbaric enemy.
Taiwan is becoming an increasingly polarized society. Politicians bicker over power and vendettas. Yet the people remain nonchalant. No wonder former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) chose to step out of retirement to fight -- for Taiwan's democracy, freedom and prosperity are in jeopardy.
John Yang
Columbus, Ohio
Cowardice and hypocrisy
As a French citizen living in Taiwan, I feel deeply ashamed by my country's refusal to issue a visa to President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) so he could receive a freedom award in Strasbourg -- and even more by the restrictions imposed on his wife if she goes to collect the prize on his behalf.
We French often like to boast that freedom is everything to us, and to criticize others about their own human rights record. A love of freedom, though, that doesn't go any deeper than the linings of our wallets. For us, the very thought that by letting the Taiwan president on our soil, we shall indispose Beijing and might thus loose some of the money to be made in the China trade, is unbearable. Love of freedom? We should say we love cowardice, greed and hypocrisy, at least that would be the truth.
Elisabeth Cazer
Tamshui
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,
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,
US President Trump weighed into the state of America’s semiconductor manufacturing when he declared, “They [Taiwan] stole it from us. They took it from us, and I don’t blame them. I give them credit.” At a prior White House event President Trump hosted TSMC chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家), head of the world’s largest and most advanced chip manufacturer, to announce a commitment to invest US$100 billion in America. The president then shifted his previously critical rhetoric on Taiwan and put off tariffs on its chips. Now we learn that the Trump Administration is conducting a “trade investigation” on semiconductors which
By now, most of Taiwan has heard Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s (蔣萬安) threats to initiate a vote of no confidence against the Cabinet. His rationale is that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led government’s investigation into alleged signature forgery in the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) recall campaign constitutes “political persecution.” I sincerely hope he goes through with it. The opposition currently holds a majority in the Legislative Yuan, so the initiation of a no-confidence motion and its passage should be entirely within reach. If Chiang truly believes that the government is overreaching, abusing its power and targeting political opponents — then
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