Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

New rules needed on Taiwan: Berman

Taipei Times

US Representative Howard Berman, the most senior Democrat on the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, wants to lift restrictions on Taiwanese political leaders visiting the US.

In a speech to the Formosa Foundation in Los Angeles on Saturday, Berman blamed pressure from China for keeping the restrictions in place.

“It’s a crazy thing. Why does some foreign government get to tell the American government and the American people whether or not and under what circumstances a leader from Taiwan can come to this country?” he said.

The ROC is in its death throes, but not Taiwan

Lee Min-yung 李敏勇

Taiwan and China have very different views of Taiwan as a “nation.” As history has unfolded, there has been a move from focusing on “China” toward focusing on “Taiwan.” After Taiwan’s democratization, this change was necessary, both as a result of a stronger sense of self for the nation and as a means of helping Taiwanese deal with the way in which the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is holding Taiwan hostage with the remnants of an empty and foreign Republic of China (ROC).

Taiwanese gave the KMT the chance to return to power in 2008, because they believe in the democratic principles underlying the change of government and also because, in campaign mode, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) used slogans such as “I love Taiwan” and promised to focus on the nation’s economic development. Fighting for votes, he said that if he failed to do a good job, he would be willing to face the test that democratic elections represent.

Rally held to commemorate 1951 San Francisco Treaty

Taipei Times

Thousands of people attended a rally yesterday afternoon in Taipei to voice their opposition to the so-called “1992 consensus” and express their concern over Taiwan’s sovereignty under President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration.

Thousands of people gathered in front of the Presidential Office to mark the 60th anniversary of the signing of the San Francisco Peace Treaty as part of the rally, which was organized by the Taiwan Nation Alliance.

The aim of the parade was to say to both the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the international community that Taiwan does not belong to China, organizers said.

President Ma’s real ‘three noes’

William J.K. Lo 羅榮光

Just as the country was getting ready for Typhoon Nanmadol, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) called a press conference at which he expounded on the so-called “1992 consensus.” He also touched on his “three noes” policy of “no unification, no independence and no use of force.” From the point of view of Taiwanese, Ma’s real “three noes” are “no justice, no use of force and no independence.”

First, there is no justice. In the three years since Ma assumed office, the most distinctive feature of his administration has been injustice in economic, land and judicial affairs. The gap between rich and poor has grown quickly because only business owners and conglomerates have been given the chance to prosper. Farmers are forced to sell their land for exploitation by big business.

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