Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Beware of China’s peace offensive

Joseph Wu 吳釗燮

Tension in the West Pacific rose substantially in recent months when China decided to show its support for North Korea after the sinking of a South Korean naval ship, while also displaying its territorial ambition over the South China Sea. The changing regional dynamics and the attitude of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government are reason enough to warrant a deeper look at the developing relations between Taiwan and China because the interests of many countries in the region may be affected in a fundamental way.

Peace, human rights can bridge Taiwan and Okinawa

Taiwan News Editorial

Despite the proximity of Taiwan with the island chain of Okinawa, all too few people in both territories are truly aware of how close are their mutual connections remain despite a veneer of occasional tourism and recurrent disputes over fishing rights.

A step toward building a new type of bridge between Taiwan and Okinawa was taken in late August with the visit to Taiwan late last month by Himeyuri Peace Museum Director Miyara Ruri, Okinawa Prefectural Peace Museum Director Okawa Yoshiko and Sakima Art Museum Director Sakima Michio.

Protest law referred to Grand Justices

Taipei Times

In a stunning turn of events in a 23-month-long court battle, a judge has decided to suspend the hearing and ask for a constitutional interpretation on whether illegal restrictions have been placed on the public’s right to assembly and on freedom of speech.

Taipei District Court Judge Chen Ssu-fan (陳思帆), presiding over a case where a university professor was arrested for holding a sit-in without a permit, said on Thursday night that the controversial Assembly and Parade Act (集會遊行法) would be passed on to the Council of Grand Justices to determine the constitutionality of several of its clauses.

Serving the public should come first

Taipei Times Editorial

Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) was about to celebrate one year in office when he received an unwelcome “gift:” CommonWealth magazine’s poll on public satisfaction with the mayors and county commissioners of 25 cities and counties gave the six top spots to Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members. Even the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) model leader, Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (胡志強), fell 13 spots to 18th.

Although the survey ranks the political performance of local leaders, national administrative efficiency is the basis for the ranking.

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