Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Centerline breach threatens security

Taipei Times Editorial

Since President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) launched his re-election campaign, he has not been able to stop bragging about how great cross-strait relations are. However, the breach of the Taiwan Strait centerline by two Chinese fighter jets is putting the Ma administration’s China policy to the test.

When two People’s Liberation Army Sukhoi-27 fighters crossed the centerline in their alleged pursuit of a US U-2S high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft a few days ago, the two Su-27s did not return to Chinese airspace until they were intercepted by two Taiwanese F-16 aircraft.

Following media reports, the Ministry of National Defense confirmed the incident, saying it was in “full control” of the situation.

Chen questions the validity of the term ROC in jail writings

Taipei Times

“What is the Republic of China [ROC]?” was the question posed yesterday by former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) in the latest of his jailhouse writings.

Chen referred to remarks by his predecessors as evidence that doubts on the legitimacy of the term ROC continue to linger. His comments come shortly after the concept of being “Taiwanese” was raised as an issue by the ongoing presidential campaigns.

“Former president Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) once said on March 13, 1950 ... that ‘our Republic of China was destroyed when we lost the mainland at the end of last year,’” Chen wrote in a statement published by his office.

US to continue flights in Strait

Taipei Times

US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen has warned China about intercepting US reconnaissance flights over the Taiwan Strait.

He was speaking in Washington following the revelation this week that two Chinese Su-27 fighter planes entered Taiwanese airspace last month as they attempted to drive away a US U-2 spy aircraft.

Military sources said one of the Chinese fighters did not leave Taiwanese airspace until after the Taiwan Air Force scrambled two F-16 aircraft to intercept it.

Ma Ying-jeou the misunderstood

Taipei Times Editorial

Last week, for the fifth time in less than three years, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) was “misquoted” by foreign media over matters pertaining to his cross-strait policy. Whether he gives his interviews in English or in Mandarin, the response from Ma’s office is always the same: Either the world doesn’t get it, or it is out to get Ma as part of some obscure multinational plot to discredit him.

Considering how much time he and his speechwriters have had to flesh out a comprehensive and intelligible cross-strait policy, it is hard to believe that Ma does not by now have clear formulations with which to explain his plan for dealing with Beijing. One would also assume, with a presidential election just around the corner, that Ma’s office would make every effort to ensure that reporters are able to reproduce their interviews with the president with clarity and accuracy. Besides, Japanese reporters, the latest victims in the streak of misquote accusations, have a reputation for being cautious about checking facts.

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