In a quote I cited a few posts down, American correspondent William Shirer, who was in Berlin during the Hitler era, talked about how, no matter how hard you fought, after a while in a totalitarian state, you begin to absorb its habits of thinking and expression. The steady supply of correspondents who go to Beijing and adopt the Chinese view on Taiwan is an excellent example of this. Over at Taiwan Matters maddog blogs on an appallingly uninformed article from Jonathon Watts of the Guardian.Mr Chen is a political fighter, who has bounced back from many previous setbacks. With 16 months left in office, the question now is whether he is already a lame duck, or whether he will prove most dangerous at his weakest.Yes, that's right. China points 900 missiles at Taiwan, but it is Chen who is the dangerous one. Watch out! Mad Chen could do anything! He's so crazed, he could get a majority opposition legislature to vote for independence!
Showing once again, as if any further evidence were needed, that correspondents based in Beijing just don't get Taiwan. I'll be sure to write the Guardian (reader@guardian.co.uk) as you suggest, maddog.
[Taiwan] [KMT] [Democracy] [DPP] [PFP] [media] [US] [China] [Ma Ying-jeou] [Chen Shui-bian][corruption]
The correct contact address for the Guardian is as follows:
ReplyDeleteHow to contact the Guardian's readers' editor
It is the policy of the Guardian to correct significant errors as soon as possible and the paper has appointed a Readers' Editor to deal with questions and complaints from readers. The Guardian also has an Ombudsman to represent the interests of readers where the Readers Editor is unable to resolve a problem to the satisfaction of all parties.
Please quote the date of the article you have read. Readers may contact the office of the readers' editor by telephoning +44 (0)20 7713 4736 between 11am and 5pm Monday to Friday excluding UK public holidays.
Email: reader@guardian.co.uk
Fax: 020-7239 9997.
Ian Mayes
The Guardian
119 Farringdon Road
London EC1R 3ER
I've already posted on Tim's site letting him know.
Thanks, Kerim
ReplyDeleteIt's really annoying at how China is viewed as totally benign in the equation. It's as if everyone should just accept it as normal that China threatens Taiwan militarily, and therefore anyone that does anything to provoke China is the real trouble maker. The logic is that if you don't provoke China they aren't a threat.
ReplyDeleteIt's really annoying at how China is viewed as totally benign in the equation. It's as if everyone should just accept it as normal that China threatens Taiwan militarily, and therefore anyone that does anything to provoke China is the real trouble maker. The logic is that if you don't provoke China they won't do anything so it's your fault - not China's.
ReplyDelete