Addressing common history
In the era of globalization, characterized by widespread access to the Internet and social media, swift rhythm of life, mass production and rapid consumption of the news, it is relatively easy to fall into the trap of following some simplified patterns while speaking about historical processes and events, especially if they took place in another part of the world.
The unfortunate fact is that today no one can feel safe from the danger of forming a personal opinion based upon a mixture of truthful and incorrect information circulating around us.
In this regard, we could not fail to notice the editorial and some emotional references to the tragic, but heroic story of the liberation of Europe by the Soviet soldiers in 1945, that go against well-known historical facts (“Prague’s mayor shows the way,” March 13, page 8).
First, it should be noted that the Prague Strategic Offensive of the Soviet Army was the last major military operation of World War II in Europe, bringing an end to the continued years-long Nazi occupation of the city and the country as a whole. The offensive was supported by the Czech Resistance and resulted in more than 53,000 Soviet and Allied soldiers killed and wounded in just five days.
World War II itself holds a very special — even sacred — place in the minds of many of the world’s nations. This is especially true for Russians, as our country lost more than 26 millions of its citizens from 1941 to 1945 while defending the right to exist and then playing a decisive role in liberating the occupied states of Europe.
The verdict of who represented the force of good and who represented the force of evil during that period was enshrined in the fundamental documents of the universally recognized and highly respected international legal body — the Nuremberg Tribunal held by the Allies in 1946.
This year we celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the end of World War II, and we truly believe that no one can distort the historical truth about our fathers and grandfathers, just because they cannot stand up for themselves.
Indeed, our common history is a highly sensitive and complex matter to be addressed in a careful and respectful way, so one should be extremely cautious in trying to make an assessment of fateful events that took place relatively recently, forged of blood and tears.
We sincerely hope that every person or organization capable of influencing others will be strictly devoted to maintaining this priority and refrain from mixing today’s politics with sensitive historical facts, flatly applying black and white labels just for the goal of a transient dramatic effect.
It is the only way to fight “fake news” and mitigate its harmful effect on society and international relations, thus promoting attentive and respectful attitude towards each other.
Sergey Petrov
Representative Office in Taipei for the Moscow-Taipei Coordination Commission on Economic and Cultural Cooperation
Re-evaluating mask ban
Like all non-Taiwanese living in Taiwan, I feel incredibly blessed to be living a relatively normal life as all our assumptions about economics and security come crumbling down in the US and elsewhere.
Thank you, Taiwan! I love you madly.
Today, as I was strolling through my local hypermarket, I was shocked to see an entire rack of 3M N95 respirator masks, the shortage of which is causing doctors, nurses and other key people around the world to face a greatly heightened risk of COVID-19 infection.
I bought a few and thought it was strange that no other shoppers seemed interested in them. They cost too much, I was told (NT$139, about US$4.60 US).
Clearly, an N95 respirator is overkill for ordinary Taiwanese these days.
However, we still cannot buy and ship them to our friends and loved ones abroad. I appreciate all that Taiwan’s strict policies have accomplished so far, but these particular masks are needed far more in other countries right now. The total ban on shipping masks abroad should be immediately re-evaluated on humanitarian grounds. Taiwan itself should not become guilty of hoarding.
[Editor’s note: From April 9, people are to be allowed to mail up to 30 masks to family members abroad.]
Peter Dearman
New Taipei City
In the US’ National Security Strategy (NSS) report released last month, US President Donald Trump offered his interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine. The “Trump Corollary,” presented on page 15, is a distinctly aggressive rebranding of the more than 200-year-old foreign policy position. Beyond reasserting the sovereignty of the western hemisphere against foreign intervention, the document centers on energy and strategic assets, and attempts to redraw the map of the geopolitical landscape more broadly. It is clear that Trump no longer sees the western hemisphere as a peaceful backyard, but rather as the frontier of a new Cold War. In particular,
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
As the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) races toward its 2027 modernization goals, most analysts fixate on ship counts, missile ranges and artificial intelligence. Those metrics matter — but they obscure a deeper vulnerability. The true future of the PLA, and by extension Taiwan’s security, might hinge less on hardware than on whether the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) can preserve ideological loyalty inside its own armed forces. Iran’s 1979 revolution demonstrated how even a technologically advanced military can collapse when the social environment surrounding it shifts. That lesson has renewed relevance as fresh unrest shakes Iran today — and it should
RSS