Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Learning from others’ food safety mistakes

Warren Kuo 郭華仁

Since the presidential election, President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration has made an about-face on the issue of US beef imports, re-addressing its policy on the topic. It says it has invited a number of experts to discuss the matter, but has excluded Lin Ja-liang (林杰樑), a clinical toxicology specialist known for speaking his mind. Useful comparisons can be made with this and how the British government mishandled the outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), more commonly known as mad cow disease, years ago.

Falun Gong files lawsuit over Beijing mayor visit

Taipei Times

Falun Gong members protest the arrival of Beijing Mayor Guo Jinlong inside the arrivals hall at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport yesterday.
Photo: Chu Pei-hsiung, Taipei Times

Falun Gong practitioners filed a lawsuit against Beijing Mayor Guo Jinlong (郭金龍), who arrived in Taiwan yesterday afternoon, saying he had committed crimes against humanity, including his alleged involvement in the torture and abuse of Falun Gong practitioners and Tibetans.

A group of Falun Gong practitioners in Taiwan, accompanied by attorney Theresa Chu (朱婉琪), filed a lawsuit against Guo yesterday morning with the Taiwan High Prosecutors’ Office, asking it to launch a probe into Guo’s alleged crimes against humanity.

Senators call on Obama to be tough with Xi Jinping

Taipei Times

US President Barack Obama must show strong support for the vital security interests of Taiwan, a key strategic partner, when he meets Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (習近平) at the White House, US senators said in a letter to Obama.

The letter, signed by US senators John Cornyn, Robert Menendez and 10 other members of the upper house on Capitol Hill, said that as the rapid modernization and lack of transparency of China’s military troubled its neighbors, Obama should reinforce with Xi the US’ commitment to support the “robust democracy” and Washington’s “steadfast commitment” to Taiwan and its security.

Taiwan has to move on toward true democracy

Nat Bellocchi 白樂崎

The country held its elections in the middle of last month and Taiwanese must be congratulated for moving forward in an orderly fashion. President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) both ran hard campaigns. Ma won with a significant margin and Tsai was gracious in defeat.

Now the questions are what can be accomplished in the next four years and how can Taiwan move forward? Although Ma won, his margin was much smaller than in 2008, signifying that an increasing percentage of the populace feels uneasy about the direction of the country.

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