Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

A Chinese parade of guest list diplomacy

Paul Lin 林保華

On Tuesday last week, China released the guest list of foreign dignitaries that were to attend yesterday’s military extravaganza.

Most of the heads of state on that list were from former communist countries, many of which are Central Asian nations that gained their statehood after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. China’s face hinges on the number of heads of state that turned out and how much weight they all carry. Domestically, China can exercise fascism, but internationally, diplomacy is needed.

The struggle over ‘Taiwaneseness’

Taipei Times Editorial

It is almost a historical irony that former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) and former vice president Lien Chan (連戰) have both sparked debate with their — arguably mutually exclusive — attitudes toward the nation’s history with China and Japan from 70 years ago.

While what underlies both historical narratives — underlining Taiwan’s particular connections with the two nations — is an argument belonging to a past era, there are significant differences between their views on the present and future.

The KMT’s wartime conundrum

Jerome Keating

“I sing of arms and of a man,” wrote Virgil in the opening lines of the Aeneid. However, as the world celebrates the 70th anniversary of the ending of World War II, complexity fills the air in Taiwan and different questions are asked. The nation finds different songs ringing out; celebrating different arms and different men. Just whose arms and which men is the nation celebrating?

Recall campaigners demand Grand Justice ruling

Taipei Times

The Central Election Commission (CEC) should request the Council of Grand Justices to rule on whether recall campaigning restrictions are unconstitutional, Appendectomy Project campaigners said yesterday at a protest outside the commission’s offices in Taipei.

“We hope the CEC can go along with public opinion and accept the recommendation of the Taipei City Election Commission to send this case to the Grand Justices,” Appendectomy Project spokesman Lin Tzu-yi (林祖儀) said.

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