Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

A manifesto for Taiwan’s youth

J. Michael Cole 寇謐將

It is difficult to imagine how one could not have been moved by the thousands of young people who gathered on Saturday last week, armed with determination, humor, wit and a cornucopia of effigies, placards, banners and costumes, to protest against what they fear is the eventual emergence of a “media monster” should the Want Want China Times Group be allowed to expand its empire.

Although calculating turnout is never an exact science, it is fair to say that the crowd, made up almost entirely of young people, numbered in the thousands and was substantially larger than the organizers — journalist associations, student organizations and various civic groups — had expected.

China fails to remove Tibet mural

Phayul.com

Building owner David Lin stands proudly in front of the mural promoting independence for Tibet and Taiwan. (Photo/Corvallis Gazette-Times/Andy Cripe)

DHARAMSHALA, September 11: A mural depicting images of Tibetans self-immolating and monks being beaten by Chinese riot police in a small US city has generated quite a media hype, courtesy China.

The 10-foot-by-100-foot mural painted by Taiwanese-born artist Chao Tsung-song and commissioned by property owner David Lin, on a brick wall in Corvallis, Oregon started drawing attention after China raised objections at the work, in written as well as in person, with local authorities.

Democrat and Republican conventions bring call for new Taiwan policy

Michael Richardson

The Republican and Democrat parties have concluded their national conventions and both mentioned Taiwan in their platforms. Although the Republican platform reference is longer and talks about defense of the island, both political documents tend to support the longstanding “strategic ambiguity” that clouds Taiwan’s international status.

The party platforms do make it clear that Taiwan’s status remains unresolved but they both lack a timetable to resolution.

US mayor lectures Chinese official on freedom of speech

Taipei Times

Beijing is fighting to have an artist’s mural promoting independence for Taiwan and Tibet removed from a brick wall in the small town of Corvallis, Oregon.

Two officials from the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco have written to the mayor of Corvallis about the mural and last week visited the town to lodge a formal complaint.

“As you are aware, the First Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees freedom of speech in this country and this includes freedom of artistic expression,” Corvallis Mayor Julie Manning has told them.

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