Wulingren blogs on a sneaky marketing tactic by a beer maker in Taiwan Dragon Well Beer Initechnology hikes to Bitan and reveals new route. Great images.... Wild at Heart needs your John Hancock on the HuShan Dam petition... Taiwanonymous discovers sausage on a bone, the latest in...er..innovative fast food thinking....
One of the most important developments of the last few years has been the steady movement of Taiwan and Japan toward each other, impelled by the geostrategic logic of responding to an expansionist China gunning to become a regional power and annex Taiwan. Rueters has a review of the longtime Taiwanese love affair with Japan --The Japanese tourists sometimes choose Taiwan over China as a holiday destination because of Chinese hostility toward Japan, said Ryoji Takagaki, an official at Japan's de facto embassy in Taipei.It will be interesting to see what happens to Japan-Taiwan ties if Ma Ying-jeou becomes President in 2008.Commercial ties are also close.
Japan is Taiwan's second largest trading partner. According to Taiwanese government data, trade between the two countries totaled $36.4 billion in the first seven months of 2006.
DELICATE BALANCE
Even though Japan's agreement with China forbids formal contact with Taiwan, informal political visits are common.
About 100 Japanese legislators visit Taiwan every year to learn about the island. The governor of Tokyo has visited many times.
"There are legislators who prefer Taiwan and don't like China," Takagaki said. "You know Japan's situation. They prefer democratic, free countries."
Officials from Taiwan and Japan say they are trying to work out a deal on fishing rights near a group of disputed islands north of Taiwan.
Taiwan Review offers a review of China-Taiwan relations over the years....ending with a comparison of the respective positions of Chen and Ma on cross-strait relations....In April, President Chen Shui-bian met with Kuomintang Chairman and Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou at the Office of the President to exchange opinions on various subjects. Excerpts of their views on cross-strait policies follow:
Chen: The major difference between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait is their political systems. All people and political parties in Taiwan share the same belief that Taiwan's sovereignty belongs to the 23 million people of Taiwan and that the anti -secession law China just passed is unacceptable. The decision to cease the functioning of the National Unification Council [NUC] and the application of its Guidelines means to return to the people the right to make the ultimate decision.
Ma: On cross-strait relations, we believe that it's best to maintain the status quo. In addition to my "five noes," which are actually the "four noes and one not" Mr. President brought up, we believe that there should also be "five wants." These are: to reopen cross-strait dialogues on the foundation of the "1992 consensus"; sign a 30-to-50-year peace agreement including military confidence-building measures; normalize economic and trade ties; establish a modus vivendi for Taiwan's participation in the international community; and to greatly expand cultural exchanges.
The "1992 consensus" is the foundation on which to reopen cross-strait talks. The consensus was that both sides accept the "one China" principle, but each side has the freedom to interpret what "one China" means. What's important about the "1992 consensus" is the content, not the term. It's not written down in any official and formal way, but nevertheless served as the most important basis for later dialogue between the two sides of the Strait. If there hadn't been this consensus, there wouldn't have been the Singapore dialogue in 1993.
Chen: I've personally checked with people who were directly involved with the 1992 Hong Kong meeting. The fact is that the term "1992 consensus" doesn't exist. There was no consensus on allowing "different interpretations." For China, the "1992 consensus" refers to its "one China" principle, where Taiwan is seen as its province. It's totally different from the KMT's perception that each side can retain its own interpretation of "one China." It's difficult to use a non-existent consensus as a foundation for dialogue.
The "four noes and one not" in my inaugural speech were conditional upon China's having no intention to use military force against Taiwan. The situation has now changed. China's missiles targeting Taiwan have increased from 200 in 2000 to the current 784 and are still increasing. This is not a friendly gesture but a preparation for war. Intelligence has shown that China has even set a timetable for taking Taiwan by force. We cannot simply pretend that we see nothing and hear nothing.
The core value of my "four noes and one not" policy is not to protect the policy itself but to protect Taiwan's democracy, freedom and human rights. Therefore, the true "four noes and one not" are that Taiwan should not be downgraded, not be treated as a local government, not have its government downgraded, not see its sovereignty diminished and that there is no such thing as the "one China" principle.
A cross-strait peace agreement implies the coexistence of the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China, some thing to which the PRC, based on its one-China principle, would not agree. Even former US President Bill Clinton told me that he did not agree with the naive idea of signing a cross-strait interim agreement proposed by one of his staff members.
Putting sensitive political disputes aside, we have been actively negotiating with China on cultural and economic exchanges such as direct charter flights and allowing tourists from China. Considering our national security and the interests of the Taiwanese people, however, I believe we have to be very careful in handling these issues.
Ma: Our interpretation that "one China" is the Republic of China is based on the former conclusion of a National Unification Council meeting. The key is that each side doesn't deny the other, though they don't recognize or agree with the other. On his visit to China in April 2005, former KMT Chairman Lien Chan met with Hu Jintao and they agreed on seeking the possibility of signing a cross-strait peace agreement--but there was no mention of unification. China has been deploying more missiles, and Taiwan is also buying more defensive weapons, but an arms race is not the solution. The ability to defend our nation is important, but political negotiations are also necessary to solve disputes.
I understand the precondition of the "four noes and one not" policy, but don't agree with your using China's increase of its missiles and the passing of the anti-secession law as excuses to announce the cessation of the functioning of the NUC and its Guidelines. The anti-secession law was in place for a year and the missiles have been increasing all the time prior to your announcement. In fact, the NUC had not met since you took office. It was really not necessary to make a formal announcement that provoked China and jeopardized the mutual trust between Taiwan and the United States.
Chen: The NUC was established in 1990. It was set up by a decision of the KMT rather than by legislative resolution, and is therefore without any legal basis. The Guidelines, as drawn up by the NUC, are merely generalized, principled political statements. They weren't enacted by a legitimate body empowered by the law to do so, nor were they legally binding. Clearly, they do not accord with the democratic system nor the rule of law in today's Taiwan. In addition, setting unification as the ultimate goal of our national cross-strait policy clearly ruled out other possibilities. Taiwan is shared by its 23 million people, and only they may decide its future.
Welcome to my collection of Taiwan Images. This collection represents several years worth of surfing and digging for anything relating to Taiwan history. There are currently 919 images on my server taking up 76mb of disk space. Many of the photos came from online auctions sites and places like that. I think it is somewhat important to gather and save these images as a collection for historical purposes since there really are no other sites doing so that I know of. (In the English webworld that is, perhaps in the Taiwanese webworld there are many?) I know about [reed.edu], but what they have is mostly earlier 1700-1900 book scans. I am especially interested in the history between the 1940’s and 80’s and comparing what Taipei city use to look like 30 years ago and today. I’m also interested in Taipei city wall info and anything to do with the Dutch era (~since I am 1/2 Dutch). I am not a historian or scholar, I am only doing this as a hobby that interests me.Reed.edu is a great site as well.
Burakov: You think that a man is what he says.A reporter with the Chinese-language United Daily News was removed from his post yesterday after he shouted at President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), demanding he step down from the presidency while covering an award presentation ceremony in Taipei. In front of dozens of TV cameras, the reporter, identified as Ting Wan-ming (丁萬鳴), shouted "President Chen step down!" at the president while waving a placard saying "Depose Chen" after Chen delivered a speech at a ceremony marking the presentation of awards to producers of "products very well made in Taiwan" for the year. Ting was immediately subdued by three security guards and his poster and folder was also removed and checked. Chen was escorted by other guards as he swiftly left the scene without looking back or saying a word about the melee.
Ting told other reporters later that he was speaking for "more than 60 percent of the Taiwanese people" who think Chen should be removed from office as he has lost the trust and respect of the people. Ting said he shouted at President Chen on impulse as he wished to remind President Chen what people think about him. "President Chen does not seem to able to hear what people say about him these days as he is always surrounded by guards wherever he goes," Ting said. "Only on these kind of occasions can we tell him what we think about him and his leadership." Ting was released after he was questioned by police and officials from the National Security Bureau (國安局).
But here is the mystery (or maybe it is no mystery): Whatever happened to all the people who were up at arms to defend the right of Epoch Times reporter Wang Wenyi to disrupt Hu Jintao's speech on the White House lawn and to tell him that his days are numbered? Why are they not defending Ting Wan-ming? Unless such cases are permitted selectively, depending on whether your speech is deemed noble or ignoble by them ...
The Bushman gets up close and personal with some wind power generators. Here too. ESWN has story of UDN reporter who was demoted after a political outburst at President Chen. Taiwanonymous finds that the most well-known expat among the locals isn't whom we expats might think.
Hardly did I complain yesterday about the possibility of violence arising over the Shih Ming-te protest, when a minor incident broke out on a TV talk show in which a Shih supporter attacked a Chen supporter. Jason at Wandering to Tamshui has the call, along with video. (Taiwanecho pointed me to a more high quality version) I make a few pointed comments on the lack of vision and elitism of Lung Ying-tai's writing on Shih and Chen over at Taiwan Matters!. Doubting to Shuo talks about resigning and moving on. Sounds like you have a great school there, Mark. Ni Howdy points to the new teaching regs for cram school teachers over at Tealit. Brian David Phillips, hypnotist, professor, blogger, gives a show tonight at the Farmhouse.
My review.... Syd's novel is a great portrayal of life in Taiwan in the 60s and 70s, with many interesting characters.
When Taiwanese millionaire Ko-sa Ong shows up in Washington with Jade Phoenix by his side, Nick Malter, his best friend, and his lost “Angel” would all rather be in some other country.
But Taiwan is no ordinary country in the 1970s. Against all odds, Ko-sa has everything he could want except a son and a nation. Jade Phoenix has nothing after her father, a senior Nationalist general, commits suicide. Nick Malter, an American reporter, peers under the veils that cloak the Chinese and their women. Love blooms in a wilderness of misunderstanding.
Ko-sa and Nick share an abiding hatred of Chiang Kai-shek and the cynical American Secretary of State who would forever deny the Taiwanese their country. They risk all for each other, but both give up everything for the love of Jade Phoenix.
A stroke of the pen shatters dreams of nationhood and foreign devils challenge ancient Chinese customs in this extraordinary cross-cultural adventure. Betrayal and trust forge uncontrollable urges, fierce loyalties, and love that extends beyond life itself.
"...They imagine they are the wave of the future, but it's only sewage flowing downhill"Pandora’s Box Award: This goes to Shih Ming-deh hands down. Right now, Shih Ming-deh is strangely silent on his past. It is not because he is in prison and can have no visitors. It is not because he is poor; (he now allegedly has NT$100 million dollars). It is not because he is in a dictatorship and the press is muzzled. No the press is free and is beating down his door.
Shih is silent because he must face the accountability of his own life; he is called to defend his personal past and cannot. Times have changed Shih! Reality bites. While your friends kept your secrets in the past, once you open the box, turnabout is fair play. For the naïve readers in the Western world, what is on the news is only the tip of the iceberg.
That's what you get in The Mandarin Club, a post-Cold War novel of espionage, diplomacy, politics, lobbying and what-if.
What if the long-simmering dispute between the Chinese Communist government and Taiwan - the one determined to end Taiwan's independence, the other determined to defend it - metastasized into a crisis?
What if Taiwan were reported to be developing a clandestine nuclear capability against Chinese attack?
What if military hard-liners in the Chinese Communist government were deploying missiles in Fujian province, 60 miles from Taiwan across the Taiwan Strait?
What would the United States do? What could it do, its military still bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan, its economy in hock to China?
"America will fall like the Roman Empire some day, in an ocean of debt, one big Disneyland in ruins, infested with stray cats like the Colosseum," a Chinese Defense Ministry official declares.
The author of the book, Gerald Felix Warburg, ran a consulting/lobbying firm that has longtime links to both Taiwan and China. During the 1990s his people worked for the Lee Teng-hui KMT. They later rose to positions in the Bush Administration, but the money flows caused a ruckus in Taiwan.
Soft-core porn on Pepsi cans? Jon Benda says Guess I'll have to stop drinking Pepsi for a while... The Levitator has two excellent translations up, one asking Is The KMT An Underground Party? Translation of ... while the other wants to know Does Taiwan really have press freedom? This is ... ESWN translates a half-assed apology defending the media's behavior in case of pitcher Wang of the Yankees. nostalgiaphile takes a sharp-eyed look at Confucianism in China in China's Confucian Confusions and More on Confucian Nostalgia
