Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Service pact needs redo, not review

Taipei Times Editorial

The cross-strait service trade agreement is finally being reviewed by the legislature, article by article, in a process that neither the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) nor the opposition parties dare take lightly.

On Tuesday night, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators prepared for the review in the legislature’s Internal Administration Committee conference room, while the KMT caucus met earlier in the day to strengthen party morale. KMT lawmakers were warned that anyone who did not show up for the review meetings would be disciplined by the party, because the agreement must be passed.

Notion of the motherland is dead

Lee Min-yung 李敏勇

The idea of the motherland was destroyed by the 228 Incident. There was much anticipation, but the motherland disappeared in a maze of confusion as the 228 Incident destroyed the Taiwanese soul. It was not until the Kaohsiung Incident occurred in 1979 that people stood up again, but what they faced was not a straight road to reconstruction.

Perhaps some will say that what was destroyed was the idea of the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) motherland.

Be cautious, but not afraid

John Hsieh

Taiwan is similar to Ukraine in the split of state recognition, but quite different in international political status. Russia invaded Crimea with the excuse of protecting their citizens living abroad. They are welcomed by Crimeans who favor Russia. This is almost identical to people in Taiwan who favor unification with China.

However, Taiwan and Ukraine are not the same. First, Ukraine is a member country of the UN and Taiwan is not. Second, if there were riots or societal turbulence in Taiwan, China could not easily troop in right away, regardless of its 2005 antisecession law, which does not have any legal basis under international law. It would directly challenge the US’ Taiwan Relations Act, authorized by the San Francisco Peace Treaty.

Protect the rights of Tibetans in Taiwan

Huang Song-lih and Shih Yi-hsiang 黃嵩立，施逸翔

On March 10 every year, Tibetans around the world and their supporters come together to commemorate Tibetan Uprising Day. This year marks the 55th anniversary of the uprising.

For Tibetans, neither Dharamsala, India, or free and democratic Taiwan is their homeland. Tibet is their home. In 1959, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) invaded Tibet, forcing the 14th Dalai Lama to flee, which triggered an exodus of Tibetans across the Himalayas into India, away from ruthless persecutions and killings. This was done to save Tibetan culture and Tibetan lives, in the hope that they would some day be able to return to their peaceful homeland.

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