A_musing Ac_dropout

CSB daughter named as defendent

2009-06-05T09:36:00.000-07:00

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hk81rMqMtrOr3tec76947E_cx05w

TAIPEI (AFP) — The daughter of former Taiwan president Chen Shui-bian has been named a defendant in a corruption case that has embroiled the ex-leader and his closest kin, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Chen Hsing-yu was suspected of perjury for giving conflicting testimony during a probe into alleged embezzlement by former president Chen, said a spokesman for the prosecution.

That's great to see some progess in CSB corruption case. Everyone knows the whole family is dirty. It is good to see the ROC justice system conduct a through investigation on the whole family to make sure future politicians don't feel they can just abuse their position for personal gain in such a blatant manner.

Forumosa.com a bad forum

2009-06-05T09:26:00.001-07:00

Forumosa.com is a weird forum. They ban long time members without really telling them why. But given the fact that in the real world Taiwan Independence is a dying movement, it is understandable that their mods and admins, who lean quite dark green, are behaving in a more and more erratic fashion, like their real life counterparts.

Well thank you all for your support and remember as long as you remember Forumosa.com TaiwanPpolitics section is suppose to be a Taiwan Independence safe haven you shouldn't run a foul with the mods there.

Li Ao Bejing University Speech, Part II

2005-09-23T22:13:00.000-07:00

為什麼沒有鋪紅地毯？
How come they did not roll out the red carpet?

我必須和大家說，接下來這個演講的時候是劉長樂頭家告訴我，最後我問他一句話，把他問得愣住了，我說有沒有鋪紅地毯？我進門的時候，他說你沒有，柯林頓有，連戰有，你沒有，我說為什麼我沒有？他說，北大尊敬你，把你當成學術演講，所以不鋪紅地毯－－－校長，是不是這個意思？我說好，我做學術演講，講得好就是學術演講，講不好，講一半，鋪紅地毯還來得及。
I need to tell everyone, before starting this lecture Mr. Liu Zhang Le told me, finally I asked him, and he was shocked. I asked are they rolling out the red carpet when I enter? He said no. Clinton got it, Lein Chan got it, you don’t get it. I asked why? He said, Beijing University is treating you as an Academic Lecturer, so there is no red carpet. Principal, is this your intention? I said okay. I will be an Academic Lecturer. If it is a good speech it will be an Academic Lecture. If it is a bad speech, I'll stop in the middle, there will still be time to roll out the red carpet.

為什麼我要這樣說？不然人家說北京大學勢利眼，怎麼不給李敖鋪紅地毯，怎麼給當官的，或者說是政治人物鋪紅地毯，我在這兒有很多人眼睛看著我，說李敖罵過國民黨，罵過民進黨，罵過老美，罵過小日本，今天你在北京，你敢罵共產黨？很多人不懷好意，幸災樂禍看著我。我告訴你，我先不罵共產黨，我先讚美共產黨和國民黨曾經打倒的勢力，那就是北洋軍閥，為什麼讚美北洋軍閥，大家知道嗎？北京大學怎麼出來的，北洋軍閥，什麼人叫蔡元培校長做北京大學校長？那時候他是國民黨人的身分，是北洋軍閥，北洋軍閥有這個肚量把全國最好的大學交給和他敵對的一個政治勢力的首敵，我們現下罵北洋軍閥，我們有什麼資格罵北洋軍閥呢？
我們不要罵北洋軍閥，我們要做歷史性的反省。

Why did I have to said like that? Or else people will say Beijing University is snobbish. Why not give Li Ao the red carpet treatment? How is it official, or how to you determine it’s a political lecture and roll out the red carpet? As I am here many people’s eyes are on me, thinking Li Ao criticized the KMT, criticized the DPP, criticized the Americans, criticized the Japanese. Today he came to Beijing University, will he dare criticize the CCP? Many people have doubts, taking pleasure at my possible misfortunes while looking at me. I tell you, I will not criticize the CPP first. I will first praise the joint effort of the CCP and KMT to overthrowing Northern Warlords. Does everyone know why the Northern Warlords? How did Beijing University come about? The Northern Warlords. How did a person called Cai Yuan Pei become Beijing University's Principal? At the time he was of the KMT party. It was the Northern Warlords. The Northern Warlords had the tolerance to put the Nation's best University under the control of the enemy, a member of their number one political enemy at the time. Now we criticize the Northern Warlords. What qualifications do we have to criticize the Northern Warlords? We must not criticize them, but we must evaluate them from a historical perspective.

(More tomorrow, maybe)

Li Ao Beiing University Speech

2005-09-22T22:38:00.000-07:00

各位終於看到我了，主任，校長，總裁，各位貴賓，各位老師，各位小朋友﹗

We finally get to meet me, host, principals, officers, VIP, teachers, and students.

來演講緊張不緊張？緊張，站在大庭廣眾面前，很多人可以指揮千軍萬馬的軍隊，可是你讓他講幾句話，他就縮了不敢講話，什麼原因？膽小！美國人打贏南北戰爭的將軍葛蘭特，指揮千軍萬馬打贏仗，林肯總統請他上台給他勳章，讓他幾句話，他講不出口，為什麼？怕這玩意，一講演就緊張。

Am I nervous coming here to make a speech? I am nervous, standing in front of a large audience in the auditorium. Many people here can control a mighty military, but you allow me to speak a few words. I would shrink and not dare speak, for what reason? Cowards! When Americans won the Civil War between the North and South, General Grant, who controlled a mighty military force, was presented a medal by President Lincoln. He was allowed to speak a few words, but he didn’t say a word. Why? Because he was afraid of the situation, and froze when he was about to speak.

沒小抄調侃連戰
Roasting of Lien Chan

前天晚上我編了一個故事，北京大學一個女孩子進了一個小房間，突然看到一個男的在一個小房間裡嘴巴裡面念念有詞，來回走動，這個女孩子就問他，你在幹嗎，他說我在背講演稿，她說你在哪兒講演，他說我要在北京大學講演，女孩子說，你緊張嗎？他說我不緊張，女孩子說，如果你不緊張，為什麼你到女廁所來幹什麼？這個人就是連戰。

A few nights ago I wrote a story. At Beijing University a female student enters a small room. All of sudden she see a boy in the room mumbling something while pacing about. She asked “What are you doing?” The boy replied, “I’m preparing for a speech.” The girl asked in response, “Where are you giving the speech?” The boy in return says, “At Beijing University.”
“Are you nervous?” The girl asked.
“No I am not.” The boy replied
“If you are not nervous, why are in you in the girls restroom?” The girl asked.
This is the man Lien Chan.

台灣有一位很有名的歌星，崔苔菁（吹台青），你們不曉得這三個字的意思，吹是吹牛，台是台灣人，青是青年，台灣要靠混，靠吹牛，又是青年人混，連戰就是這種人。他可以糊弄別人，糊弄不到我們，可以糊弄你們，至少前一陣子糊弄你們。今天一個重要的標準，就是你們任何人覺得連戰講演好的人，我就要警告你們，今天你們可能很失望，為什麼呢？因為我無法花一個小時把這個觀念轉過來，因為你們上了連戰的當以後，我很難把這個觀念轉過來。

Taiwan has a famous singer, Cui T'ai ching. You guys don't know the meaning of 3 words making up the name. Cui is as in “Bullshiting.” T'ai as in “Taiwanese.” Ching as in “Youth.” Taiwan depends on confusion, depends on bullshitting. Especially confusing young people. That's the type of person Lien Chan is. He can try to deceive other people, but he cannot deceive us. He can deceive you, like he tried the last time he came here. Today's very important to understand is you perceived Lien Chan speech reflected on him being a good person. I'm here to warn you, you may be very disappointed today, why? Because I have no way within 1 hour to change your opinion, because you've all been tricked by Lien Chan, it is very difficult for me to change your opinion around.

我在這兒埋怨一個人，埋怨我的頭家，鳳凰電視台的劉長樂先生，為什麼要埋怨他？他把我「故求」（弄）到北京來，對不起，我一看到你們就講很多鄉音，「故求」到北京來，可是我已經在中國大陸、在鳳凰電視台上講了有400多場，你們對我相當的熟悉，用一個熟悉的眼光來看我，我今天把這個講演講成功，這是高難度的，你們對連戰完全不了解，你們看到他嗎？所以對我熟悉，對我是個困難，這個困難是劉長樂頭家造成的，所以我今天有所抱怨。

I'm here to complain about one person, the person is my boss. Phoenix Television's Mr. Liu Zhang Le. Why do I want to complain about him? He sent me to Beijing because I demanded it. Sorry, after seeing you all I've reverted to my native accent. Coming to Beijing, but I'm already on the mainland, on Phoenix Television speaking on over 400 channels. You are all fairly familiar with me, looking at me with familiar eyes. I will succeed in today's speech, this is very difficult, you guys don't fully understand Lien Chan. You saw him right? Therefore you are familiar with me, this is very difficult for me. It's all the fault of the boss Mr. Liu Zhang Le. So that's my complaint for the day.

現下開始講正題了，羅馬教皇講了一句話，他說你演講的時候不能用稿子，為什麼不能用稿子，用稿子表示你記不住，如果你自己都記不住，你怎麼樣讓聽眾記得住呢？你這個演講就失敗了，所以大家看，沒有稿子，也沒有小抄，可是我帶了一些證據是有的，等會會顯示証據。

Now we start on the topic, Roman Catholic Pope said something once. He said when you give a speech one cannot use drafts. Why can’t you use notes? Using notes means you cannot remember. If you cannot remember, how do you expect the audience to remember? Your speech disappears. People will see no notes, no little slips of paper with reminders. But I did bring some evidence (props), which I will use later in the speech.

(more tommorow maybe)

2005-09-04T21:25:00.000-07:00

Racist comments about Taiwan

2005-06-16T10:03:00.000-07:00

Once again the racist editors of the Taipei Times has let an unsigned editorial comment propagate hateful racial messages on Taiwan.

The Sino-Japanese relationship has deteriorated lately as a result of Japanese textbooks -- which critics say whitewash its war record last century -- and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine. Now, the resulting Chinese nationalism has also infected unification proponents in Taiwan. Afraid of antagonizing China, Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) has decided to postpone a visit by Tokyo Mayor Shintaro Ishihara that was meant to promote Japanese tourist visits to Taipei.

Unless the author has been ill informed Taiwan is really the Republic of China. Chinese Nationalism has always been part of the ROC. In fact, many Hoklos on Taiwan consider themselves to be Chinese.

In addition the action of Mayor Ma are not about displeasing PRC. South Korea and PRC have both officially complained to Japan about their history books, in addition to RIC complaints.

Mayor Ma postponed the visit could have also been attributed to recent flare ups between Japanese Coast Guards and Taiwan fishing boats over disputed territory over Diaoyutai.

Ma is not the only one influenced by Chinese nationalism. It has now affected independent Legislator May Chin (高金素梅) as well. The difference is that Chin opposes both Japan and Taiwanese independence under the cover of her Aboriginal status. She has now led a group of descendants of Aboriginal soldiers who served in the Japanese army to Japan to demand that the names of Aboriginal soldiers be removed from the Yasukuni Shrine.

The author once again is confused. Chinese nationalism is very much part of Taiwan society. It is Taiwan Independence and Taiwan Identity, which is relatively new in Taiwan.

By the terms of the 1895 Treaty of Shimonoseki, these Taiwanese soldiers -- as well as their fellow Han servicemen -- became Japanese. They died on the battlefield for Japan, and the Japanese government, treating them as the emperor's warriors, included them in the reverence paid at the shrine. There is nothing wrong with that.

If the aboriginal Taiwanese and Han servicemen were pressed into service as second-class Japanese citizens, perhaps it is also the rights of their descendents to decide who should and who should not worship them.
There is something wrong if one cannot protect the dignity of one's ancestors. If one has an objection of having an ancestor being associated with known War Criminals, it should not be an issue to have the name of one’s ancestors removed.

Chin's appeals are also understandable. Since Taiwan already has become an independent country, these Taiwanese soldiers in the Japanese army are no longer second-rate colonial citizens of the Japanese empire. Their souls already have a motherland. If their descendants demand that the Japanese government remove their names from the Yasukuni Shrine and return them to their old homeland, the Japanese should not put up obstacles, but help them achieve their wishes.

The last part of the paragraph makes sense. The first part of the paragraph is in some sort of quasi denial. The aboriginal Taiwanese names are forever enshrined in a monument dedicated to memorial of their servitude to the Japanese Empire.

May Chin's visit to Japan is controversial in Taiwan because everyone here knows that she is simply a pro-unification politician who often hides beneath the cloak of her Aboriginal status. It was director Ang Lee's film The Wedding Banquet that raised her to stardom. The daughter of an Aboriginal mother and Mainlander father, she had always been unwilling to reveal that she was half Aboriginal, and few people knew her background. That changed after the government relaxed the conditions for recognition of Aboriginal decent, allowing it to flow either from the maternal or the paternal line. She took her mother's maiden name to create a double-barreled surname, entered a campaign for the legislature as a recognized Aborigine and got elected with a large majority.

What does May’s past career and political position on the Strait Issue have anything to do with Japan’s WWII war crimes and treatment of Aboriginal Taiwanese? The fact of the matter is she is of aboriginal descent, she objects to fact Aboriginals were pressed into servitude to serve in the Japanese military, and their names are now enshrined with War Criminals.

Since May Chin's father is a Mainlander, it's not surprising that she never fails to echo the pan-blue camp's political arguments, but she does this as though she is representing the Aboriginal community. Of course, it's not politically correct to interpret May Chin's actions based on her ethnic background. But in Taiwan, this can often prove quite a objective standard. The question is whether May Chin is qualified to speak for the Aboriginal community.

Not only is it not politically correct to question someone’s motivation based on ethnic heritage. It is just plain racist. Is the author trying to justify racism on Taiwan?

The absurdity of the situation is that many Aborigines are unaware that their ethnic identity is in danger of being usurped. For example, the Paiwan and Rukai tribes in Pingtung take the hundred-pace snake as their totem. The offspring of Mainlander veterans and Paiwan and Rukai women often opt for Aboriginal status, but when they return home for tribal festivals, the hundred-pace snake has been replaced by the Chinese dragon in their ceremonial regalia.

The absurdity of this comment is that everyone on Taiwan has gone through Sinification for thousands of years. Waves of Han Chinese immigrated to Taiwan and brought over Chinese culture for thousands of years. Only recent politics have tried to vilify the most recent wave of Chinese immigrants due to the lost of the mainland to the CCP.

It is worrying to see that the totem of the Aboriginal people is being replaced by a Chinese symbol. This makes us think of Hong Kong movie star Jackie Chan's recent remark that Shanghai women should marry foreigners to help spread Chinese culture around the world. That Chinese are able to advocate interracial marriage as a tool of cultural conquest is really quite frightening.

This is the most Sino-phobic paragraph I have read in awhile. A-mei a famous Chinese singer of aboriginal descent has no problems with being Sinicized, all her album are for the most part in Mandarin.
As for the Jackie Chan comment, ever heard of “yellow fever” where non-Asian males have a fetish for Asian females. It is the most common fetish in North American concerning inter-racial relationship. It is not as if Jackie Chan is promoting a phenomenon that doesn’t exist. He is just promoting the trend as being positive for Chinese culture.

Once again this editorial is a prime example on the racist mindset of Taiwan Independence.

There is a double standard being applied. He implies that it is okay for Japan to treat Taiwanese aboriginals during the colonial period brought on by an Unfair Treaty, but it is not okay for Sinicization to occur on Taiwan over thousands of years of Han immigration, let alone through ROC take over after Japanese surrender in 1945.

In addition, the author criticizes aboriginal right to protest Japan’s encroachment on their dignity. But is deafening silent on the most recent news of Hoklo Taiwanese problems with Japanese Coast Guards over fishing rights in disputed territories over Diaoyutai.

Does the author believe only Hoklo Taiwanese have to right to protest Japan encroachment on Taiwan dignity? And that mixed individual of Aboriginal and WSR descent are really 3rd class citizens on Taiwan.

AC_Dropout.

The Beginning of a Totalitarian State

2005-06-02T06:33:00.000-07:00

NA begins new session today amid high hopes

As the assembly prepares to vote on the president's first wave of constitutional reforms, Chen yesterday called on his ruling Democratic Progressive Party National Assembly delegates to toe party line and vote in support of constitutional amendment package.

"There can be no dissenting or miscast votes," the president said, rallying the troops.

Chen said the constitutional amendments in the package, such as halving the nation's legislature and setting up a two vote system within a single seat electoral district, would have an impact on the DPP and there would be a period of adjustment.

"But everyone must cast aside their individual interests and the interests of political parties for the sake of long term national security and Taiwan's everlasting development," Chen said.

DPP chairman Su Tseng-chang also urged the delegates to toe the party line when voting on the constitutional amendments.

"No people should be absent from the voting, not one single vote should be in dissent," Su said.
Chen asked the delegates several times if anyone disagreed with the reforms.

When they all answered: "No", the president asked them to raise their right hands and pledge to vote in support of the reforms.

Doesn’t these scenes remind a person of a similar one in the movie, Star Wars Episode III, where the chancellor declares for the sake of security he must be anointed Emperor. In response Natalie Portman states, “This is how liberty dies. In thunderous applause.”

So is Taiwan Independence a movement about individual liberty and interest, or is a movement to consolidate power for the minority interest group, namely Taiwan Independence movement.

If the DPP party line was so self evident, so compelling, what is the point of going through this indoctrination process akin to the Nazi of Germany? Why would the president of ROC ask party members to give up their individual freedom to choose?

DPP threatens to sue as candidate makes allegations

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) officials yesterday warned that the party would take legal action against members who make false accusations about the DPP's primary race.

"We can understand that candidates are highly concerned about their polls, but the DPP will take the necessary action to deal with libel," Wu said.
"We will not allow a specific person's irresponsible remarks to hurt the primary system which the DPP has used for decades, and which has won credibility," Lee said.

Taipei councilor found guilty of libeling president

Taipei City Councilor Lee Ching-yuan (李慶元) of the New Party was found guilty on appeal of libeling President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) by the Taiwan High Court on Tuesday.

In addition to the six-month prison sentence given to him by a lower court last July, the Taiwan High Court also suspended his civil rights for two years.

The prison time can be converted into a fine, according to the court. The case stemmed from a book co-authored in 2000 by Lee and former New Party candidate for president Li Ao (李敖). In the book, Lee claimed that Chen Shui-bian, who was running for president on the ticket of the Democratic Progressive Party, had had an extramarital affair.

The Taiwan High Court based its sentence on the Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Law rather than the Criminal Code because the case took place during the lead-up to the 2000 presidential election and the plaintiff was a presidential candidate.

I find these two articles even more disturbing about the nature of how the DPP uses ROC legal system to shut down dissent and critism. DDP party member are threatened with legal action when questioning DDP polling methods. If the party members allegation is correct that malfunctioning monitor skewd the polls against him, shouldn't the DPP just launch an investigation to confirm or refute said party members claims. But to threaten the party member with legal action seems somewhat unwarranted and over zealous.

In the second article, an author (who was also a political opponent of CSB) is jail for writing about CSB possible sex life. The guy’s wife been in a wheel chair for almost 30 years, people would understand if he had a mistress on the side. But instead he silences his critics with harsh legal actions. As a public figure CSB will come under attack for political cartoonist as well, should they be jail and their civil liberties suspended too?

Not only that the law which is enforced is a law which is not normally enforced. I'm just wondering what would happen to Michael Moore if he did a documentary against CSB in 2000.

Is CSB sex life so sensitive it warrants going to jail for anyone brash enough to make a comment on it.

Okay so I guess I will have a gander. CSB wife has been in a wheel chair for a few decades. I too am curious to where a healthy male like CSB gets his sexual release. Many powerful and rich men have mistresses. I too suspect CSB keeps mistress as do half the politicains on Taiwan.

Please feel free to sue blogger.com President CSB.

AC_Dropout

2005-04-18T08:34:00.000-07:00

I believe the recent protest against Japan is not unique to China, because South Korea also resents Japan’s WWII actions. However, South Korea’s protest was sparked by territorial dispute of island chains (Takeshima in Japanese and Dokdo in Korean) that Japan lays claim to in their new history books.

I don’t believe the protest in China against Japan are government sponsored, but more akin to individuals in authority (i.e. police, CCP, etc.) sympathize with the protestor on this issue, hence varying degree of enforcement from city to city.

In addition the protestors are not challenging the PRC government directly, unlike FLG and Tiananmen protest. The protestors in this case are protesting a foreign government’s political ambition in the UN and interpretation of a sore point in history, akin to Taiwan’s recent anti-secession protest, but as other poster pointed out with less government participation than Taiwan’s recent protest.

I also believe if it was not for the fact Japan is the only other influential country in the region with an apparent pro-Taiwan policy, many Taiwanese would not mind protesting Japan and reminding them the atrocities they committed on Taiwan (i.e. recent egg throwing welcome at CKS airport of a Taiwan political leader visiting a war shrine in Japan). That being the case, it is not prudent for pan-Green or pan-Blue to openly sponsor an anti-Japan protest.

However, I would like to point out in recent development of BB Batteries plight and the conflicted “spin” if Taidu proponents try to use the current events of local discontent in China to their advantage.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2005/04/18/2003250928

If one takes sides on the issue local protestors against big business on environmental pollution, it becomes difficult to side with Taiwan own business BB Batteries, since they will have a negative environmental impact even while complying with PRC regulation on waste water usage.

One the other hand if one supports PRC regulation and BB Batteries, then one inadvertently must have an opinion of resource allocation in the protection from rioters. If Japan and Taiwan both makes request from PRC to protect their property, the government will prioritize these needs. Given the publicity Japan has brought on the issue with their demand for protection and apology from China, they have force China to recognize their needs instead of Japan over those of Taiwan.

In addition the solution to these type of issue is adeptly cited in the article was being something the MAC should responsible for, however, given the ROC administration lack of interest in negotiating these issues which have nothing to do with Taiwan sovereignty, there have been no fruitful dialogue or results.

AC_dropout

Chen Chien-ming: TSU lesson in Anger management

2005-04-11T06:55:00.000-07:00

Chen Chien-ming attempted to defend Su's visit, saying Su paid his respects to
about 28,000 Taiwanese soldiers enshrined there ahead of Tomb Sweeping Day.
"We do not agree with the acts and invasions of the Japanese militarism
(during World War II) but we should not let hatred persist,"
But only
yesterday

Chen Chien ming “asked that Kao-Chin direct her hatred
away from Taiwan or Japan and focus it on China.”

This is come from the party that are often so angered by the mythos of 228 and White Terror that they are dismissing Japanese atrocities on Taiwan.

Many people of Taiwan were so angered by this insensitive action that they threw eggs at Su when he returned from his trip at Chiang Kai Shiek International airport.

Perhaps instead of dictating what should or should not anger the people of Taiwan, the TSU and the TI sympathizers should come to understand the atrocity of Japanese actions on Taiwan which anger many people on Taiwan still to this day.

AC_dropout

TSU & Lee Tung Huei: Lost Japanese Identity

2005-04-04T13:36:00.000-07:00

http://english.www.gov.tw/index.jsp?action=cna&cnaid=8311

NATIVE LAWMAKER AGAINST TSU CHAIRMAN'S PLAN TO VISIT YASUKUNI SHRINE
2005/04/04 17:13:07
Taipei, April 4 (CNA) Aboriginal Legislator May Kao-Chin from the Non-Partisan Solidarity Union protested in strong words Monday against the forthcoming visit to Japan's Yasukuni Shrine by Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) Chairman Su Chin-chiang. Wearing head gear adorned with the Chinese characters for "protest" and historical pictures, Kao-Chin lodged the protest at the headquarters of the TSU, lambasting Su's plan to visit the Japanese temple dedicated to war dead as "selling his soul to the devil for political gain."
Local newspapers reported Monday that Su plans to pay tribute to the nearly
30,000 "patriotic" Taiwanese commemorated at the Yasukuni Shrine who were killed during World War II fighting for Japan.
If they were indeed "patriotic, " Kao-Chin asked which side they supported - - Taiwan or Japan? Japan, Kao-Chin added, killed numerous Taiwanese, including aborigines, before and during its rule of Taiwan. Kao-Chin likened Su's upcoming visit to the Yasukuni Shrine to the Jews worshipping their Nazi rulers and murderers. Discounting Kao-Chin's broadside, TSU Secretary-General Chen Chien-ming said that Su is not going to pay tribute to the Japanese war dead, but to the soldiers who came from Taiwan.
Noting that the people of Taiwan were not only the victims of atrocities committed by the Japanese, they were also victims of Chinese brutality, Chen called for tolerance toward diverse voices and different opinions in society. Chen asked that Kao-Chin direct her hatred away from Taiwan or Japan and focus it on China. The Yasukuni Shrine, situated in central Tokyo just outside the moat to the Imperial Palace, is dedicated to about 2.46 million people who have died in Japan's conflicts between 1853 and 1945. Of the total enshrined, 1,068 are convicted war criminals. Su will be traveling to Japan in the near future, mainly to mark the establishment of a TSU branch in Japan. (By Deborah Kuo)
ENDITEM/mw

The TSU headed by their "spiritual leader" Lee Tung Huei, former President of Taiwan, must be the most destructive elements in Taiwan society. Not only are they insensitive to the fact that only a small minority of Taiwanese ever accepted the Japanese identity of being second class citizens on Taiwan, they cannot accept the fact that many people on Taiwan embrace their Chinese heritage and culture over the imposed Japanese colonial identity.

There argument of Taiwan Independence is very divisive on Taiwan, because it usually starts with controversial political positions, such as:

Taiwanese, not Chinese [both culturally and politically]
Japan's colonial period was better than KMT nation building period on Taiwan

One needs to question, like Legislature May Kao-Chin, where do these individual loyalties lie? Is it with the Japanese they so long admire and wish for the return of on Taiwan? Or is it to Taiwan and the ROC, the current government on Taiwan, which ironically gave the TSU political equality to have a voice, which the Japanese never allowed for natives of Taiwan.

Taiwan's past has always been intertwined with Chinese roots. Taiwan's future is also has China in it horizons. Those that reject their Chinese identity on Taiwan and the Chinese government on Taiwan are truly voices of a lost cause.

Even the Koreans, who were also colonies of imperial Japan, know they were never on equal footing with the Japanese. Many Zainichi suffer horrible discrimination to this day in Japan. They have enough sense to protest Japanese Presidents that have made visits Yasukuni Shrine. It is unfortunate the Japanese quisling on Taiwan, don't have that same kind of sense.

MAC Legal Eagle: Smoke and Mirrors

2005-04-01T09:22:00.000-08:00

MAC (Mainland Affairs Council) is on the Taidu war path against the KMT. The ROC civil law, which the 34 KMT delegates are alleged to have violated, is Article 5-1 of the Act Governing Relations Between Peoples of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area.

The law specifically states:

Article 5-1

Any individual, juristic person, organization, or other institution shall
not execute any agreement involving the governmental powers of the Taiwan Area
or political issues with any individual, juristic person, organization, or other
authorities or institution of the Mainland Area unless authorized by the
Mainland Affairs Council, Executive Yuan or each competent authorities concerned
in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

Laws are enact to restict individuals and organizations. Punishments are explicitly stated to deter these behaviors. The punishment for violating 5-1 of the Act Governing Relations Between Peoples of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area is quoted as such:

Article 79-3
Any person who violates the provisions of Article 5-1 shall be
punished with an administrative fine of not less than two hundred thousand but
not more than two million New Taiwan Dollars; where the matter of violation is
serious or the person commits the same or similar violation again, it shall be
punished with imprisonment of not more than five years, or detention, or in lieu
thereof or in addition thereto, a fine of not less than five hundred thousand
New Taiwan Dollars

It seems like this was meant to deter white collar crime and not a political crime. The framers of this law knew that there would be repeat offenders and they would be tolerated in society to some extent. This law is meant to deter individuals who deal with the mainland from proceeding too quickly on serious matters. If it was meant to deter a serious political crime, the punishment would be harsher, as we could all imagine.

But no law exist in a vacuum, to uncover the true purpose of this law we need to look at this section.

Article 79-1
Any person who is entrusted to assist the handling of matters relating to any dealing between the peoples of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area or to negotiate or execute agreements and acts beyond the entrusted scope to cause damage to the national security or interests shall be punished with imprisonment of not more than five years, or detention, or in lieu thereof or in addition thereto, a fine of not less than five hundred thousand New Taiwan Dollars.

“To cause damage to national security or interest,” is a very intereting concept. If one is a Taidu (Taiwan Independence) supporter it can be seen how the KMT meeting with the CCP would damage Taiwan Independence interest.

It could be argued that Taiwan Independence has already caused much damage to Taiwan’s national security and interest. With the passing of the Anti-Seccession Law in China, tension across the Strait is at an all time high.

This is a breakthrough moment because the KMT Chairman, Lien Chan (連戰), is planning to visit Beijing in June. In addition, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and the People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) have also expressed an interest in meeting with Chinese authorities. The beginning of true political interaction between PRC and ROC could be on the horizon.

So instead of looking for ways to punish these people, (who took a risk going to the PRC, China, and ironically, could now be facing dangers in ROC, Taiwan) we should be thanking them for opening a dialogue between China and Taiwan that has been long over due.

"The Party is not the Nation" is a common theme the DPP uses to criticize the KMT, for their past political behavior. Taidu interest is not the only national interest on Taiwan. It is time for the DPP to heed their own slogan.

AC_dropout

Taidu logic: brokering peace can lead to jail time.

2005-03-31T12:48:00.000-08:00

Taidu on Taiwan is really devoid of reality sometimes. Take for instance the recent visit of the KMT 34 member delegation to the PRC, headed by Chiang Pin-kun (江丙坤), vice-chairman of the KMT.

PK Chiang is schedule to meet with Chen Yunlin (陳雲林) director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of China's State Council. This has been deemed by the PRC to be a historic “Party-to-party” meeting since 1949.

To make a long story short, in the mid 1920’s the KMT party expelled the Communist party from ROC political system. This started what is known as the Chinese Civil War. By 1949 the KMT retreated to Taiwan and the Communist established the PRC on the mainland. There has never been any resolution to this Civil War.

Sounds great. No? CCP recognizes the KMT, KMT recognizes the CCP, Strait Issue stabilizes and peace ensues.

This is too easy for the Strait Issue.

Now comes the Taidu fanatic from the Mainland Affairs Council Vice Chairman, Chiu Tai-san (邱太三) , following accusations the KMT had secret meeting in Thailand that help broker this historic event, claims any agreement between the KMT and CCP is punishable with a minimum sentence of 7 years in prison up to a maxium sentence of life in prison. In addition, according to the statute , violators can be fined up to NT$2 million (US$63,492).

The particular law in question is Article 5-1 of the Act Governing Relations Between Peoples of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area.

This is bad on so many levels.

What Chiu Tai-san finds offensive is the 10 point consensus between the CCP and the KMT. The consesus covers a number of issues and outlines areas of interest were the KMT and CCP could agree on. These include subjects like cross-strait charter flights, agricultural cooperation, protection for China-based Taiwanese business people, tourism, journalistic exchanges and the opening of the Chinese financial market.

The consensus points did not become laws in either PRC or ROC, these points are not even a treaty. It is just a symbolic gesture that the KMT and CCP now have common interest. The ground work for possible peace.

It is interesting to note that no one advocated jail time or a 2 million dollar fine when the President CSB (DPP) and James Soong (TSU), individuals from idealogical opposite parties, agreed to a 10 point consensus a few weeks ago.

Let us just forget the fact that the Taidu advocates within the DPP usually don’t even recognize ROC constitution, name, and anthem. Let alone recognize ROC civil laws.

Taidu leadership really are just paying the “peaceful resolution” of Strait Issue lip service, if all they can do is condemn KMT actions of this nature.

Taidu leadership really must be delusional if they feel provoking the PRC at every opportunity is the “dignified” solution to Strait Issue.

The 10 point consensus the KMT and CCP came to will not cause Taiwan lose any dignity. It is for the most part a potpourri of issues that have nothing to do with the sovereignty issue of ROC.

Face to face interaction like this one, is exactly what the PRC and ROC need to do to avoid war.

The government should be encouraging more interaction like this one, especially from the Taidu ridden political parties on Taiwan, instead of using scare tactic to keep ROC and PRC apart and away from the negotiating table.

AC_dropout

Chi Mei Group founder Hsu Wen-lung (許文龍) Acknowledges "One China"

2005-03-31T09:05:00.000-08:00

Those of us familiar with the Taishang community in PRC probably know about this story. To summarize Hsu Wen Lung was identified as an "unwelcome" Taidu advocate after CSB re-election in 2004. The connection was that the hospital used to treat CSB gunshot wound, caused by the alleged assassination, was owned by Hsu Wen Lung, who is also a long time friend of CSB.

Shortly after the PRC issued a statement to the effect that Taidu supporters like Hsu Wen Lung were no longer welcomed to invest in the Mainland. Many of Chi Mei bank loan applications were then denied or held in indefinite status of review on the mainland. Hsu Wen Lung even stepped down as head of the Chi Mei group in order to distance himself from the company, in order to preserve the business.

As this article illustrates, Hsu Wen Lung has powerful friends and is politically active on Taiwan.

Hsu is an entrepreneur with a strong sense of Taiwanese identity. During former president Lee Teng-hui's (李登輝) administration, Hsu wrote to Lee asking when he would fulfill his promise to change the country's official name. Lee wrote back, telling him to learn from the Japanese shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, and wait patiently for the right moment to act.

Later, in the run-up to the 2000 presidential election, Hsu was a key member of then-presidential candidate Chen's National Policy Advisory Committee, and was made a senior policy adviser to the president after Chen was elected.

However, Mr. Hsu seems to be doing a 180 on his political position on Taiwan with the following statements,

It is because people who dare to invest in the mainland are people who will not engage in Taiwan independence. Since we don't engage in Taiwan independence, the development of Chi Mei in the mainland will definitely become more prosperous.

I think both Taiwan and the mainland belong to one China, and the people on both sides of the strait are fellow countrymen.

I think Taiwan's economic development cannot separate from the mainland. Taiwan independence will only push Taiwan toward war and bring disaster to the people.

Even the DPP, a pan-Green party that Mr. Hsu supported are turning against him in his time of need.

What Hsu said was none-sense. What was he talking about? He’s such businessman-like. I really look down on him,” said DPP Lawmaker Chen Ching-jun.

Once agian this just illustrates even Taidu leadership will turn on Taidu supporters, instead of working on a viable solution to the Strait Issue.

It would seem only the PFP, a party with an antithesis ideology to Mr. Hsu, sympathizes with his plight.

PFP Lawmaker Chou Hsi-wei said, “It’s the government’s fault. The government failed to take care of the businessmen in China. They have to fully rely on their own.

Chou Hsi-wei quote echos in the Taishang community. Under the DPP stewardship, ROC doesn't seem to be concerned with all the needs of Taiwan's citizens. With billions of dollars at stake and millions of jobs at risk, Taidu leadership just ignores the fundimental issues and dismisses citizens when they step out of line.

It is time for Taiwan, especially the DPP administration, to wake up like Hsu Wen Lung.

AC_dropout

When is hundreds of thousand a million on Taiwan?

2005-03-31T08:10:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I wonder are the spin doctors in the DPP are so desperate for the Taidu cause that they need to spin facts so hard? Here is the latest spin about the 326 protest on Taiwan, from that unbias news media Taipei Times.

Crowd estimates confirm figure of a million marchers

As for the disputes over the turnout for the march, according to a survey
conducted by the alliance on March 28 and 29, about 5.5 percent of those polled
(1,293 people over 20 years of age) said that they joined in the march.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, there are about 16.74 million
people over 20 years old.

From these numbers, the alliance calculated that about 930,000 people participated in the historic event.

Initial reports had the participation levels at 500,000 by the ROC police. Mayor Ma later cited that the participation level was at 270,000. Most news outlet just cite "hundreds of thousands."

People familar with sampling know the greatest flaw in the process is getting a good sampling. Which is why there is an error factor known as standard deviation used in reporting populations derived from statistical extrapolation.

I don't know the protocol that was used to derive the sampling. But it is obvious that political rallies of this nature do not have random distribution of people of various ages. For the most part people will form clusters with friends or social groups on these marches. These groups will usually have people of the same demographics. So if you're unluck you might run into a group of pre-schoolers being pushed by their parents. Or you might run into a group of foreigners. Or a group of Japanese students. And for the truly fortunate there will be a group of highschool and college girls closely bunched together passing you by (One can dream).

Another obvious flaw given their sampling results, is that it can also be concluded that 94.5 of the population was under the age of 20. Unless my eyes were playing tricks on me most of the marchers were over 20 and not being pushed around in baby carriages.

Is the Ministry of the Interior is now playing the game of Chinese age vs. Western Age? Where Chinese age is usually 2 years older than the Western age (1 year for passing the first Chinese New Year and 1 year for the time in the womb). However, that is a blog for another day...when is 20 not really 20.

My opinion is that the crowd was on the lighter side of 500,000. I mean for pete sake the President asked people to bring their pets to this event. Are we so desperate that every cat and dog is counted to as well to reach one million participants?

AC_dropout