A case of political injustice was brought to light yesterday, when the Academia Historica published Lei Chen's (
Just like the "Young Marshal" Chang Hsueh-liang (
Even though he spent the prime of his life in prison, Lei made a major contribution to freedom and democracy through his image of a brave man in Taiwan's authoritarian era. The Free China bi-weekly that he published promoted the ideas of freedom and democracy and became an important stronghold for press freedom. The KMT's secret police and the Presidential Office's military committee called Free China "the most vehemently anti-party and anti-government magazine," urging that the magazine be shut down and its publishers arrested. Lei was also the first person to publicly oppose the KMT's dream of "reconquering the mainland" and call on the party to give up any idea of attacking China and instead pursue Taiwan's development. That what was what really angered Chiang Kai-shek and led him to order that Lei must be sentenced to at least 10 years in prison.
Lei was also the first person to publicly challenge the KMT's one-party rule although his plan to establish the "China Democratic Party" failed. However, his challenge to authoritarianism sowed the seeds for Taiwan's democracy and later encouraged the tang-wai movement, which evolved into the DPP.
But Lei is not just a model for the people of Taiwan. As long as totalitarian governments exist, there will be wise people who point out the alternatives and brave people who challenge the authorities. Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Lech Walesa of Poland and Xanana Gusmao of East Timor are the embodiments of the universal values of freedom, democracy and human rights. Their personal sacrifice and dedication have changed human society.
The American social scientist Francis Fukuyama labeled the victory of freedom and democracy over communism as "the end of history," but the misfortune brought by totalitarianism has not come to an end. Many people still suffer under autocratic rule, as exemplified by the lop-sided socio-economic development in China.
China has implemented "socialism with Chinese characteristics" and moved toward a market economy. But the fact that the Chinese people have yet to enjoy freedom, democracy and human rights is being obscured by the country's economic progress. Democratic reforms lag far behind economic progress. Although pro-democracy activists, such as Wei Jingsheng (
When US budget carrier Southwest Airlines last week announced a new partnership with China Airlines, Southwest’s social media were filled with comments from travelers excited by the new opportunity to visit China. Of course, China Airlines is not based in China, but in Taiwan, and the new partnership connects Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport with 30 cities across the US. At a time when China is increasing efforts on all fronts to falsely label Taiwan as “China” in all arenas, Taiwan does itself no favors by having its flagship carrier named China Airlines. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is eager to jump at
The muting of the line “I’m from Taiwan” (我台灣來欸), sung in Hoklo (commonly known as Taiwanese), during a performance at the closing ceremony of the World Masters Games in New Taipei City on May 31 has sparked a public outcry. The lyric from the well-known song All Eyes on Me (世界都看見) — originally written and performed by Taiwanese hip-hop group Nine One One (玖壹壹) — was muted twice, while the subtitles on the screen showed an alternate line, “we come here together” (阮作伙來欸), which was not sung. The song, performed at the ceremony by a cheerleading group, was the theme
Secretary of State Marco Rubio raised eyebrows recently when he declared the era of American unipolarity over. He described America’s unrivaled dominance of the international system as an anomaly that was created by the collapse of the Soviet Union at the end of the Cold War. Now, he observed, the United States was returning to a more multipolar world where there are great powers in different parts of the planet. He pointed to China and Russia, as well as “rogue states like Iran and North Korea” as examples of countries the United States must contend with. This all begs the question:
Liberals have wasted no time in pointing to Karol Nawrocki’s lack of qualifications for his new job as president of Poland. He has never previously held political office. He won by the narrowest of margins, with 50.9 percent of the vote. However, Nawrocki possesses the one qualification that many national populists value above all other: a taste for physical strength laced with violence. Nawrocki is a former boxer who still likes to go a few rounds. He is also such an enthusiastic soccer supporter that he reportedly got the logos of his two favorite teams — Chelsea and Lechia Gdansk —
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