Keep Taiwan, Uncle Sam
Charles Glaser is a pinhead for suggesting the US consider making concessions to China, including the possibility of backing away from its commitment to Taiwan to avoid military competition with China (“Abandon Taiwan: US academic,” March 2, page 3).
If Taiwan were abandoned, Taiwanese would suffer from the US’ betrayal, they would lose their freedom and democracy and go back to an era of totalitarianism like under the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) during the Martial Law era. Taiwan, known as a “beacon of democracy,” would become the first democratic country to convert to communism in the 21st century.
Internally, Taiwanese are also very much concerned that the KMT government is too “inclined toward China,” like a conspirator. If Taiwan were lost to China’s hands, the US would become a country without credibility, a paper tiger and a passe superpower in the eyes of its allies around the world.
The US strategic defense line along the Western Pacific rim would lose a vital link — Taiwan — and even the security of the US itself would be jeopardized.
Since the US owes China billions or trillions of US dollars and has been importing most commercial products from China, Glaser might as well suggest importing military supplies from China to avoid military competition. He should understand that a balance of military power is one of the means of maintaining world peace.
Japan and South Korea would be seriously victimized if Taiwan were given up by the US. Oil and liquefied natural gas supply routes to Japan and South Korea might be hindered or even blocked by China.
The resentment of Chinese against Japanese due to the Nanking Massacre during World War II still persists. Mass demonstrations in China against Japan are sometimes utilized to stabilize the Chinese government.
Be strong and uphold the Taiwan Relations Act, Uncle Sam.
CHARLES HONG
Columbus, Ohio
The tragedy of tragedy
It seems a tragedy in itself when it takes major injury and loss of life such as the Greater -Taichung pub fire to move government officials to enforce existing laws and create new ones.
Where have these paid public servants been hiding? Isn’t it a bit obvious that there is a difference between a beverage store and a pub?
My sincere condolences to the families of those killed and injured. We must not let this happen again.
TOM KULECK
Taichung
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