The loss of a great leader
On behalf of and from the Army Aviation Association of America and Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association in Hawaii, we extend our sincere condolences for the loss of the Black Hawk helicopter on Jan. 2. As helicopter pilots, we share the grief caused by such accidents.
Please convey our thoughts to the families of those who died, those who were injured, the military officers and service members of the Republic of China, and to the people of Taiwan. You lost a great leader in the death of Chief of the General Staff General Shen Yi-ming (沈一鳴) in that crash.
Fifty years ago, our nations served side by side in Vietnam. We have a long history of standing with you in peace, in conflict and in disaster.
At Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor, the story of the American Volunteer Group and Colonel Claire Chennault forming the Flying Tigers is remembered as another group of aviation pilots who fought side by side with you for freedom. We pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives so that others could enjoy our way of life — government by the people, for the people.
I met Shen several times when he visited Hawaii as the commander of your air force, and I personally share your admiration for this leader and your loss.
Please express our regards with the families, your government and your people as you lay these heroes to rest.
We pray for Shen, the pilots and crew of the Black Hawk helicopter, and those who lost their lives in the crash. We pray for the well-being of the people of the Republic of China, and we hope always that one day we will enjoy peace on this Earth. Until that time, we will stand strong with you in defending our democracies and our freedom.
Kenneth H. DeHoff Jr., Executive director emeritus Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor
Honolulu, Hawaii
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
RSS