Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

US lawmakers plan TRA enhancement

Taipei Times

US Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, chairman of the US House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee, told a special hearing on Taiwan that she would soon introduce new legislation “to enhance the Taiwan Relations Act [TRA].”

While she gave no details, her intent is to boost US-Taiwanese relations and dramatically improve communications between Washington and Taipei.

She said Taiwan inspired all victims of Beijing’s oppression and struck fear into the hearts of “the cynical old men who still rule Beijing.”

Letting go of redundant agencies

Lee Hsiao-feng 李筱峰

“Please believe that this is for real,” President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) government said a few days ago, after the Cabinet passed an amendment to the Organic Act of the Executive Yuan (行政院組織法). The government wants the public to believe that its latest round of “government restructuring” will be real reform.

To this, one might like to say: “Perhaps you are ‘for real’ this time, but does this not imply that all the reforms you talked about in the past were fake?”

Real reformers need not worry about people not believing their reforms are in earnest. Real reformers are not only capable of putting aside vested interests, they also know how to transcend pre-existing concepts and put aside the burdens of tradition. Otherwise, reform may not be able to achieve all it is meant to do. The Ma administration’s latest round of “government restructuring” is a case in point.

Anomalies of China? They Keep Mounting.

Jerome F. Keating Ph.D.

Tibet has been "liberated" by China for over half a century right? Why then with this grand liberation does China have to close the borders of Tibet to foreigners once again? Such are the anomalies of China or are they?

Recently even tour groups were banned from entering Tibet, a strange ban for a liberated country. The occasion of course was the upcoming 90th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party. Beijing travel agencies were hoping this ban would be lifted by now, but not so. I guess the liberation effect is taking longer than expected.

US Congress: A friend to Taiwan

Nat Bellocchi 白樂崎

During the past weeks, US Congress has become more assertive on Taiwan policy. On May 26, a record 45 senators wrote a letter to US President Barack Obama urging him to “act swiftly and provide Taiwan with the F-16C/D aircraft that are critical to meeting our obligations pursuant to the TRA [Taiwan Relations Act] and to preserving peace and security in the Taiwan Strait.”

Yesterday, the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee was scheduled to hold a hearing on US policy toward Taiwan, examining developments over the past few years and looking toward the future.

More Articles...