Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Taiwan to cut 9,200 troops amid warm ties with PRC

Taipei Times

A Ministry of National Defense official yesterday said Taiwan planned to slash the number of its troops by 9,200 this year amid warming ties with China, adding that the cut would be offset by more advanced weaponry.

The reduction is part of a five-year plan aimed at trimming the size of Taiwan’s armed forces by 60,000, or more than 20 percent from the present level of 275,000 troops.

However, the ministry said Taiwan’s defensive capabilities would not be undermined as it seeks more high-tech and powerful weapons.

Politicians demand answers for blaze

Taipei Times

Lawmakers at the local and national levels were scrambling yesterday to find answers to a deadly blaze in Greater Taichung and laid blame on municipal authorities for allowing the ALA pub to pass 21 safety inspections in the past five years.

Greater Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (胡志強) apologized for the Sunday morning fire that killed nine people and injured 12.

Investigators have uncovered evidence showing multiple inconsistencies with the fire safety checks.

Charles Glaser’s fallacious arguments

Nat Bellocchi 白樂崎

In the upcoming issue of Foreign Affairs, George Washington University professor Charles Glaser makes the case for the US avoiding conflict with a rising China by backing away from its commitments to Taiwan. In his view, this would remove “the most obvious and contentious flashpoint” and smooth the way for better relations in the decades to come.

To be honest, never in my long diplomatic life have I run into a more shortsighted, uninformed and fallacious set of arguments as can be found in Glaser’s essay. Foreign Affairs does itself and its readers a disservice by publishing such a flawed article.

WikiLeaks cables from AIT show good relationship with Chen Shui-bian on policy

Michael Richardson

A pair of “Confidential” diplomatic cables from the American Institute in Taiwan dated August 23-24, 2006, reveal a close relationship between the United States and the administration of Chen Shui-bian, former President of the Republic of China in-exile.

Chen is now serving a lengthy prison sentence on corruption charges following a controversial trial marred by a mocking skit performed by court personnel. Last year Chen told EXAMINER during an interview at his jail that he was innocent of the charges and had done nothing either his successor or predecessor had done with campaign funds and expense accounts.

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