Bikes need rules, too
I read with interest the article on postponing penalties for traffic violations by cyclists (“Taipei halts cyclist penalty plan,” March 18, page 2). The only thing I can say is that I hope this is not the end of the story. Rules controlling the growing number of cyclists in Taipei and increased awareness of courteous, responsible and safe riding are needed before it’s too late.
If officials back down from requiring that cyclists act courteously and responsibly on Taipei’s streets and bike paths, it will be another huge mistake for Taipei and society.
We all know that many places in Taiwan are nearly unlivable, almost hellish, because of the crazed motor vehicle culture that has long allowed — perhaps encouraged — motorists to drive in the most breathtakingly hazardous, irresponsible and impolite ways.
For a long time there was little or no enforcement of rules in these areas.
It seems to be improving a bit, but motorists have taken advantage of a largely lawless, take-no-prisoners milieu, and we all know what the results have been: clogged streets, rude behavior, dangerous thrill riding and flagrant defiance of traffic and vehicle laws. All of this has left visitors and citizens in Taipei and Taiwan shaking their heads in despair.
That Taipei is developing into a bicycle haven is something to be proud of. We cyclists hope we can seize the day and maybe drive a few of those nut-case Taipei motorists off the roads permanently.
But on a more positive note, I hope Taipei and its residents can improve the city’s bicycle environment and attitudes, and that past mistakes will not be repeated.
DAVID PENDERY
Taipei
Stop the insulting monikers
Rather than gradually being clarified in the West, Taiwan’s name — in terms of what title it should use overseas — is being muddied by repeated disinformation assaults.
When the Taipei Times reported that the overseas New7Wonders Web site lists Yushan as being in some country called “Chinese Taipei,” the geographical gaffe almost beggared belief (“Yushan park seeks Web ‘ambassadors,’” March 23, page 2).
For some international sporting events and the Olympics, Taiwan must use the unintelligible moniker of “Chinese Taipei,” mandated by certain international rules because of pressure from certain authorities.
But now some people overseas have been led to believe that Taiwan’s actual name is “Chinese Taipei.”
Don’t believe me? I recently received an e-mail from a well-known and well-traveled US public relations consultant in San Francisco, who, after I told her that Taiwan was not part of China but a separate, independent country, told me: “I understand your point that Taiwan is not part of China, but the official name of the country is, in fact, Chinese Taipei.”
She really wrote that.
Based on the example of this well-educated US woman’s misinformed knowledge of Taiwan, it would appear that there is much work to be done in telling the world what this nation is and what it’s name is.
DAN BLOOM
Chiayi City
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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