2017 - 2nd Quarter
Taiwan, Linear History and Planet Earth
The US' withdrawal from the Paris Agreement has naturally set the tongues of commentators and pundits all over the world wagging, because of its abruptness and its implications. ...
The DPP and Tsai Need to Up Their Game
Time and tide wait for no man and for no political party in Taiwan. The first year of Tsai Ing-wen's presidency has come and gone, things are not bad, but they are not good either. ...
Taiwan and the Korean Conundrum
North Korea is an increasing trouble spot; few will dispute that matter. However to more clearly understand this issue one must start with the realistic premise that despite what any world leaders might or might not be saying about cooperation and working deals, the leadership of the People's Republic of China does not want and will not accept a unified Korea. ...
Capital, Piketty and Taiwanese Democracy
The world that we live in is far different from that, which experienced the Cold War mentality and ideological struggles at the end of World War II. At that time, the Allied Powers had defeated the Axis Alliance and a new struggle appeared between communism and democracy. ...
Taiwan Needs Some KMT Straight Talk
As May 20 approaches, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is again gearing up to select its chairperson. Concern fills the air and candidates are putting forth their positions. Former Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin states that the KMT must win at least two of the six special municipalities in next year's local elections if it wants to stay in the game. ...
Taiwan Can Find Strength in Self-Reliance
The supposed big meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping has come and gone and as far as Taiwan was concerned, it proved to be much ado about nothing. ...
The Unfolding Epic KMT Tragedy
With President Tsai Ing-wen's recent directive to declassify absolutely all government documents relating to the 228 Massacre, Taiwan has passed another milestone in its pursuit of truth about its past. Linked to this is the continued removal of statues of former president Chiang Kai-shek, who clearly bears responsibility for the massacre. ...
Decoding Taiwan-China Rhetoric
On his recent trip to the US, Taiwan's former president Ma Ying-jeou disavowed the claim that his China policies were responsible for the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) election losses of 2014 and last year, but more importantly Ma went out of his way to resurrect the alleged "bedrock importance" of Taiwan's "one China" relationship with the People's Republic of China (PRC). ...