Editorial

Presidential diplomacy deserves support

Taiwan News, Staff Writer
EDITORIAL
Date: 2016-05-26

Within a week after its inauguration, the administration of President Tsai Ing-wen has already 6757419 (1)gone off to a quick start, pushing proposals for reform in areas as diverse as the judiciary, transportation and national parks.

Most noted though has been its involvement on the foreign front, where some pressing matters which erupted before the May 20 swearing-in already needed a solution, or at least proposals to move in the right direction.

While boasting of having improved relations with Japan to their warmest level in several decades, the administration of President Ma Ying-jeou left office amid one of the periods of highest tension with Tokyo.     [FULL  STORY]

Kenya leaves Ma’s China policy in tatters

EDITORIAL
Taiwan News
Date: 2016-04-14
By: Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Kenya is one of the most unlikely countries to have emerged as a player in 6747949relations between Taiwan and China. It is not even one of Taiwan’s rare diplomatic allies on the continent, and while some Taiwanese have no doubt visited because of its reputation for interesting wildlife and beautiful beaches, it mostly does not register with the average Taiwanese citizen.

Yet the country now has emerged as the place to undo years of efforts by President Ma Ying-jeou and his Kuomintang administration to present their China policy as a success which has raised Taiwan’s profile in the world.

At the origin of the sudden crisis are dozens of people from Taiwan and China who were allegedly active in the African country perpetrating telephone and online scams, allegedly mostly targeting residents of China.

A local court acquitted many of them, leading observers to believe they would either be allowed to stay in the country, or return to their native country, in the case of 45 of them, Taiwan.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan “I Believe” video something to be proud of

Editorial
April13, 2016
By: Editor

I have been to Taiwan many times.  I have grown to love the smells, sights and people of Taiwan.  The Taiwanese have a good reason to be proud.  They have developed the most technologically advanced engineering and manufacturing facilities bar none.  Their democracy has developed into the most democratic in all of Asia.  Their human rights policies are a model that other Asian nations would be smart to follow.  The people of Taiwan are the warmest and friendliest people that you will find anywhere.  And did I mention the food?  The food is to die for.

Sadly I don’t meet the immigration qualifications required under Taiwan’s immigration laws. They are almost as stringent as the USA’s.   If I could, I would immigrate to Taiwan in a heartbeat.  If I could die in Taiwan I would truly believe that my life had been truly full.

Choice of premier to be applauded

Taiwan News
EDITORIAL
By: Taiwan News, Staff Writer
Date: 2016-03-17

President-elect Tsai Ing-wen made one of the most important 6742081announcements of the transition period leading up to the May 20 inauguration this week. She publicly confirmed the choice of former Finance Minister Lin Chuan as her premier.

The selection was never much of a surprise, and more of a confirmation of expectations. Lin spent the past presidential election campaign as one of Tsai’s closest advisers, and also headed the New Frontier Foundation, a think tank with close links to the Democratic Progressive Party.

The fact that the two have been cooperating closely was welcomed as a positive sign by the current holder of the position, Premier Simon Chang. General reactions to Lin’s selection were on the whole favorable, with the exception of some business leaders who see Lin as a supporter of higher taxes due to his stint as finance minister.     [FULL  STORY]

Making Pingxi sky lantern festival green and sustainable

Taiwan News
EDITORIAL
Date: 2016-02-04
By: Taiwan News, Staff Writer

The annual Pingxi Lantern Festival has always been the highlight 6733387of Lunar New Year’s activities in New Taipei City. It was even praised by CNN and National Geographic magazine as one of the “must-go” festivals in the world, attracting a large amount of travelers from around the world to come join the festive tradition.

However, in the eyes of local environmental groups, the festival is more than just an icon of Taiwanese culture. Environmentalists are worried that sky lanterns are creating too much garbage and damage to the environment, as many of the lanterns launched end up littering the countryside. In addition, these newly designed lanterns often do not decompose naturally on the ground, placing great burdens on the environment.

The Environmental Quality Protection Foundation (EQPF) recently noted that traditional lanterns with thin bamboo stick frames and cotton paper lampshades are made from decomposable materials that can be burnt completely before falling to the ground. However, their supply cannot keep up with the demand as these lanterns are getting increasingly popular.     [FULL  STORY]

The people have spoken

Taiwan News
Editorial
Date: 2016-01-19
By: Taiwan News, Staff Writer

The Kuomintang’s crushing defeat on Saturday’s general elections was so

Editorial - The people have spoken

Editorial – The people have spoken

evident that it could only mean one thing – the people have spoken. It was a harsh reminder to politicians, or the KMT for that matter, that while the economy continued to stagnate with low pay, fewer job opportunities and unaffordable housing, the island’s populace has become so frustrated with its governance that they are longing for change.

The extent of Democratic Progressive Party’s gains surprised many observers, despite signs in recent months that support for President Ma Ying-jeou and his cohorts were flagging. After eight years of KMT rule, its ineptitude has again “helped” turn the tide of reign back to the opposing party.

In the end, the DPP won 68 legislative seats, up from the previous 40, while at-large seats it managed to secure 18, compared to 13 in 2012. The DPP’s leader and current president-elect, Tsai Ing-wen, described her party’s success in the polls as the best in its history – the DPP’s first-ever absolute majority in the legislature.     [FULL  STORY]

Huang An Should Suffer Consequences Over Tzuyu Issue

EDITORIAL
Date: January 16, 2016
By:  The Publisher of Eye On Taiwan

Let me state up front that I am not a Taiwanese resident or citizen.  However, I respect and support the free and independent citizens of Taiwan.

I read about a 16 year old teenager Chou Tzuyu who was recently harassed by

her record company for displaying her country’s national flag.  She was coerced into apologizing to the Chinese people for doing it.

images

Huang An

What upset me most was what a 53 year old Taiwanese singer did to her.  The singer is Huang An.  He lives in Communist, dictatorial China and is apparently very popular there.  He apparently blew ms. Tzuyu in to her record company by protesting her actions.  Tzuyu was criticized by Huang An (黃安), who is based in China and has gained an online following there partly because of his strong stance against Taiwan independence.

Huang questioned why Tzuyu had not commented on the Taiwanese media reports, and referred to her as a supporter of Taiwan independence.

In a microblog on Sina Weibo, Huang urged his fans to stand against “anyone endorsed by Taiwanese independence supporters.”

In my opinion Huang An should be barred from ever returning to Taiwan even to attend a family funeral.  Furthermore, his passport and Taiwanese citizenship should be revoked immediately.  I hope that people will boycott his Mother’s restaurant in Taiwan.  He must learn that there are consequences for his disloyal actions to his country.  He should be reminded that many soldiers died so he could have the privilege to live in a free democratic country.  I say shame on him for he is a traitor.

 

Taiwan’s choice for change

Taiwan News
Editorial
Date: 2016-01-14
By: Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Politicians running for election always want you to believe that the next 6728643election is historic, a unique opportunity for change, a time to make your voice heard and change the fate of your country.

In 1996, after numerous other types of elections, Taiwanese voters received the first-ever opportunity to choose their own head-of-state. The result was a vote of confidence in incumbent President Lee Teng-hui, who received more votes than his three various opponents put together, partly thanks to intimidation from China in the shape of missile tests.

On the second occasion however, voters opted for change, for the first time voting a representative of the Democratic Progressive Party into office. Chen Shui-bian narrowly defeated independent James Soong, while the candidate of the government, Vice President Lien Chan, finished a distant third. A clearer message for change was not possible.     [FULL  STORY]

EDITORIAL: The spirit and letter of the law

Taipei Times
Editorial
Date: Nov 28, 2015

Former Council of Labor Affairs minister Jennifer Wang (王如玄) has become the latest politician to discover, much to their chagrin, that running for higher office brings with it a greater scrutiny of their professional and personal life.

While she and the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) might have expected her to face criticism after KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) chose her as his running mate for the Jan. 16 presidential election, they probably were not expecting the firestorm that has erupted over her living arrangements and real-estate dealings.

That they did not expect it reflects poorly on Chu, Wang, the KMT and society at large.

Wang, a lawyer by training and vocation, insists that she has done nothing illegal and that most of the real-estate purchases made by her or family members took place when she was a private citizen.

Her complaint that criticism over the subsidized apartment in Taipei’s Daan District (大安) where she and her husband live — including questions about their eligibility and the rent they pay — does not take into account the additional monthly fees that they pay or the money they spent to renovate it shows a disconnect from reality. Given the couple’s combined salaries and assets, they could have easily afforded to rent or buy an apartment if they needed to be closer to work.     [FULL  STORY]

Opinion: Ma is digging his own grave

Taiwan News
Editorial
Date: 2015-11-05
By: Lin Yi-shen, Taiwan News, Contributing Writer

Provided that there are no mishaps, President Ma Ying-jeou will get what he wants – a

Opinion: Ma digs his own grave. Central News Agency

Opinion: Ma digs his own grave. Central News Agency

meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore this coming Saturday. Not only will Ma make history, he is bound to drag the Kuomintang down to demise and into oblivion.

For the past seven years, Ma’s self-centeredness and egoistic ways have put the nation and its people struggling to make ends meet, whose well-being are being jeopardized as they fair the worst economic turmoil since Ma’s tenure in office. In hindsight, he’d rather forego the dignity and respect of the people by kowtowing to the Chinese.

To those familiar with international affairs and cross-strait relations, Ma’s premeditated trip to Singapore is nothing but another of his shoddy deals with Beijing, and a so-called “black-box” process conducted under the table.     [FULL  STORY]