2009 - 4th Quarter
Taiwan's Prosecutors Continue to Abuse Their Power
Taiwan's prosecutors continue to abuse their power in the Chen Shui-bian case as they set out on yet another fishing expedition. They recently announced a fourth round of indictments (22 people) in Chen's case. So far they have called in just about anyone and everyone that ever shook hands with Chen or offered to buy him a cup of coffee. ...
The Peaceful Need for Japan and Taiwan to Support Each Other
No one has ever defined what the status quo in the Taiwan Strait actually is, was or should be though everyone talks about it. So the charade continues that there is a status quo and that everyone supports it (peace included). Despite that, China regularly adds to the number of missiles it has pointed at Taiwan; it makes military threats ...
Taiwan, As the World Turns in December: Ma Turns to his Spin-doctor King Pu-tsung
The December 5 election results were not a big loss for the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), but they did show the continuing ineptness of Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou. As both President and KMT Party Chairman, Ma could blame no one else. He put his image on the line as he campaigned heavily throughout the country, and especially so in the ...
A Cause for Concern, Does Ma Ying-jeou Know What Time It Is?
The elections of December 5th are past and one marked result is the fact that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has regained power in its former stronghold, Yilan County. Ma Ying-jeou as both President of the country and Chairman of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) had zealously and extensively campaigned there to prevent this, putting both his own reputation and ...
Another Side of Taiwan, the Scots and St. Andrew's Ball
At the end of November each year, the Scots around the world celebrate their culture, heritage, and nationalism with a meal and both Scottish and regular dancing at St. Andrew's Ball. Taiwan is no exception and we always try to make it a point to join them in their fun, merriment and fellowship. To see photos of this year's celebration ...
Taiwan Under Ma Ying-jeou, More Smoke and Mirrors as the Cross-strait Sell Out Continues
As Ma Ying-jeou works his shady cross-strait deals, he tries to flash the carrot of how China will save Taiwan. Forget the fact that the Chinese dumped poisoned milk products etc. on Taiwan. Forget the fact that the great China tourist influx failed. There, not only did the numbers not materialize, but even the few tourists that came, how shall ...
Kissinger, the International Republican Institute (IRI), Freedom and Democracy and Other Conundrums
The International Republican Institute (IRI) needs to do some serious soul-searching. Its stated purpose is to advance freedom and democracy worldwide; it promotes open elections, good government and rule by law. It supports the United Nation's Declaration of Human Rights where "Freedom is not the sole prerogative of a lucky few but the inalienable and human right of all human ...
Taiwan, Where's the Beef Protest Photos
In the previous posting, mention was made of the protest made by thousands of Taiwanese on the slipshod way that Ma Ying-jeou was handling Taiwan's international affairs. In this particular case, the problem was the questionable deal made on accepting tainted beef products that could endanger the health of Taiwan's citizens. Why was Ma so quick to make a deal, ...
Taiwan: Where's the Beef? It's not with the USA but with Ma. Who Else?
A week past on Saturday November 14, thousands of Taiwanese took to the streets of Taipei to express their growing concern over the present government's continued mismanagement of the nation's international affairs. In line with this, the Legislative Yuan has been deadlocked on an amendment to the Act Governing Food Sanitation. The issue of course has been the recent agreement ...
The UN Snubs Taiwan Again: Who is the Joke of Ma Ying-joke On?
With the recent revelation of the United Nations past snubbing of Taiwan (it rejected in June the two human rights covenants signed by Ma Ying-jeou), the pitiful saga of Taiwan's President Ma continues. It is no wonder that many continue to call him Ma Ying-joke, for despite this and numerous other humiliations, Ma still claims that his China-friendly, China-centric policy ...
Ma's Poor Performance Draws Yet a 5th Letter of Protest from International Scholars.
The quality of justice in Taiwan continues to erode and the freedom of the press declines; people wonder why its president, Ma Ying-jeou, like a one-trick pony is stuck. Abuses abound yet all Ma can think of is to try and push his dangerous and non-transparent ECFA deal on the people. Freedom House and Reporters without Borders express disappointment and ...
USC's Annenberg School for Communication Brings Soft Power to Taiwan: Part II
In session two of the conference, Jeffrey Cole Ph.D. Director of the Center for the Digital Future at USC addressed new trends in media technology advances and their relevance for Public Diplomacy (PD). He pointed out how the environment and the ways you reach people are constantly changing. He contrasted how people in previous decades would suffer withdrawal if there ...
USC's Annenberg School for Communication Brings Soft Power to Taiwan: Part I
"National Security, Public and Cultural Diplomacy, Smart Power: Future Directions for Smart Nations," isn't that a mouthful. Yet that was the long and unusual title for the conference on October 29, 2009, a conference sponsored by Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). Four of the six featured speakers came from the University of Southern California's (USC) Annenberg School for Communication ...
Nagano Link Back Up
To see delightfulpictures of Nagano from my earlier posting, the link is back up. Enjoy the scenery; it is a peaceful place and worth visiting. Go to the left and click on Nagano. ...
November, Week One: As the World Turns in Taiwan
A variety of things are happening as the world turns in Taiwan, November 2009. First there is the import of "health threatening" beef products from a signed agreement with the USA. The Ma government approved the signing, but now is hesitating and looking for an out as members of Ma's own party, the opposition party and the general population are ...
The KMT's Diane Lee Finally Admits, She Lied.
The political bias and imbalance of Taiwan's Courts and its System of Justice were once again made evident in Taiwan when Diane Lee returned to court this past week. Lee, a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) ex-legislator finally admitted that she, in violation of the law, has all along held dual-citizenship between the United States and the Republic of China on ...
Who is Worse, the Thief or the Fence?
The word fence has different meanings. As a noun, it can denote a barrier or divider. Robert Frost has the well known line, "Good fences make good neighbors," in his poem "Mending Wall." In a different realm, the verb "to fence" describes a sport of swordsmanship where opponents use blunted foils, epees or sabers to register hits on each other. ...
Taiwan's Dream Community Parade, Fun for All
What are dreams made of? Taiwan has its answer. From media reports, one may be tempted to think that Taiwan is all politics and business, but there are other more delightful sides as well. One such side is the Dream Community under direction of Gordon Tsai which on October 17th held its eighth annual carnival parade in the streets of ...
Ma Ying-jeou Recycles His Old Promises but Taiwan is None the Richer
The world continues to turn in Taiwan, and Ma Ying-jeou is once again the official Chairman of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT). For those whose memory is short, Ma had been chairman from 2005 to 2007 when he had to step down because he was indicted for corruption. Fortunately, Ma got his secretary to take sole and total responsibility for ...
Nagano, Relax and Enjoy the Scenery,
There are times when one has to get away with no other purpose than just to relax and refresh the spirit. Nagano, Japan is one such place that offers a quiet retreat into nature amidst its mountains and lakes. There, one can hike up mountain paths to waterfalls or temples and be alone to contemplate what is before one. As ...
Is Ma the Incompetent Becoming Ma the Fawning Dog?
6-3-3, how those numbers must haunt the mind of Ma the Incompetent. Or let us rephrase, how they would haunt the mind of Ma the Incompetent if he were a person who felt responsible for the truth, accuracy and sincerity of what he says. Unfortunately, there are many in Taiwan who don't have that opinion of Ma. Even the foreign ...
What's This? The Republic of China on Taiwan Has No National Day Celebrations?
Tomorrow is 10/10 day, the National Day of the Republic of China (ROC) and for the first time (as far as I remember), the ROC is not going to have a celebration and parade honoring its founding and/or honoring Taiwan. China just spent billions to honor its national day by parade and festivities, and many KMT supporters even attended those ...
The PRC's Seven Axioms of Peaceful Rising
The People's Republic of China (PRC) recently celebrated its 60th anniversary with plenty of fanfare and a superb show of military power. The cost while not spelt out was undeniably large. In the previous year, Beijing hosted the 2008 Olympics and put on a US $43 billion dollar spectacle to awe the world. So, it is no wonder that even ...
Taiwan's Aborigines Suffer More Than Morakot
Typhoon Morakot did more than expose the incompetence and lack of leadership in the Ma administration; it highlighted another salient issue in Taiwan, the plight of its aboriginal people. Like many indigenous people suffering the fates of past colonialism, these people are pulled in opposite directions. Tugging on the one side is the wish to maintain their traditional life styles ...