In reference to your editorial ("Cure needed for the political flu," Oct. 25, page 8).
Pope Benedict XVI said on April 21 that his "primary task" would be to work without fail to reunify all Christians and that sentiment alone was not enough.
"Concrete acts that enter souls and move consciences are needed," he said.
Taiwan now desperately needs political leaders who possess the Pope's vision and determination. Otherwise, the nation will go down the drain in the not too distant future.
Fortunately, I have seen one political figure whose words and deeds have entered souls and moved consciences. This person is none other than Chen Chu(陳菊), the former chairwoman of the Council of Labor Affairs, who stepped down in the wake of the Thai workers riot. When she tendered her resignation last month, she said, "As a public official, I should not simply criticize myself but must take responsibility based on the most rigorous standards and values for which I decided to participate in the democratic movement. ... I should use the most modest attitude to take full responsibility in order to rebuild the confidence of the people in the government."
She also said that the Thai workers incident had "undoubtedly caused harm to our national image" and "I must again apologize to our citizens and all workers."
"I have made this decision only based on my concept of political responsibility and my self-demands on human rights standards," she said, adding that her resolve to uphold human rights was "more important than political interests or election."
By taking the heat and bowing out gracefully, Chen has set a good example for others to follow. She is a lady with a brave conscience, which I believe is the best kind of cure for Taiwan's political flu.
A house divided cannot stand. The public is exhausted by the language of the political rivals. People cannot stand the mudslinging any longer. The nation has come to the point where Taiwan's leaders, from all political backgrounds, need to prove their bravery with words and concrete acts in order to save our beloved island from sinking further into the mire.
David Tzou
Taipei
When it became clear that the world was entering a new era with a radical change in the US’ global stance in US President Donald Trump’s second term, many in Taiwan were concerned about what this meant for the nation’s defense against China. Instability and disruption are dangerous. Chaos introduces unknowns. There was a sense that the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) might have a point with its tendency not to trust the US. The world order is certainly changing, but concerns about the implications for Taiwan of this disruption left many blind to how the same forces might also weaken
As the new year dawns, Taiwan faces a range of external uncertainties that could impact the safety and prosperity of its people and reverberate in its politics. Here are a few key questions that could spill over into Taiwan in the year ahead. WILL THE AI BUBBLE POP? The global AI boom supported Taiwan’s significant economic expansion in 2025. Taiwan’s economy grew over 7 percent and set records for exports, imports, and trade surplus. There is a brewing debate among investors about whether the AI boom will carry forward into 2026. Skeptics warn that AI-led global equity markets are overvalued and overleveraged
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday announced that she would dissolve parliament on Friday. Although the snap election on Feb. 8 might appear to be a domestic affair, it would have real implications for Taiwan and regional security. Whether the Takaichi-led coalition can advance a stronger security policy lies in not just gaining enough seats in parliament to pass legislation, but also in a public mandate to push forward reforms to upgrade the Japanese military. As one of Taiwan’s closest neighbors, a boost in Japan’s defense capabilities would serve as a strong deterrent to China in acting unilaterally in the
Taiwan last week finally reached a trade agreement with the US, reducing tariffs on Taiwanese goods to 15 percent, without stacking them on existing levies, from the 20 percent rate announced by US President Donald Trump’s administration in August last year. Taiwan also became the first country to secure most-favored-nation treatment for semiconductor and related suppliers under Section 232 of the US Trade Expansion Act. In return, Taiwanese chipmakers, electronics manufacturing service providers and other technology companies would invest US$250 billion in the US, while the government would provide credit guarantees of up to US$250 billion to support Taiwanese firms
RSS