Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

February 28, 2-28, Taiwan Remains a Day of Mixed Emotions

Jerome F. Keating Ph.D.

One can always look at Taiwan in terms of the past or in terms of the present. Never is that brought home more than on February 28th. In terms of the present, today many are celebrating the victory of the DPP party in 3 of the 4 by-elections held yesterday. Again as a statement of no-confidence in the Ma administration's policies, and despite heavy campaigning by the KMT including President Ma, the voters by way of the ballot box re-iterated the fact that Ma's approval ratings and performance ratings remain low, a low that is somewhere between 20 to 30 per cent. So Taiwanese can be happy that they can democratically and freely express their disapproval. But 2-28 means more.

Are we on the brink of a new 228?

Lin Yun-mei 林詠梅

Taiwan today faces a repeat of the tragic 228 Incident that took place 63 years ago.

Following the end of World War II, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government sent Chen Yi (陳儀) to head its occupation of Taiwan. Chen, his underlings and the armed forces under his command plundered Taiwan at will, with no notion of the rule of law.

Where are the jobs?

Taipei Times Editorial

The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) reported on Monday that Taiwan’s GDP expanded by 9.22 percent in the fourth quarter of last year from a year ago. This was higher than the previous forecast of 6.89 percent issued in November and much stronger than the market had estimated.

On a seasonally adjusted, annualized quarter-on-quarter basis, the momentum of GDP growth was strong, too, as the figure surged by 18.02 percent in the fourth quarter, following a revised growth rate of 10.18 percent in the third quarter and 18.10 percent in the second quarter.

Where do Ma’s loyalties lie?

Taipei Times Editorial

It wasn’t difficult to find out how President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) spent his Lunar New Year holiday. Anyone who browsed news channels over the nine days could easily find Ma criss-crossing the nation, either busily campaigning for Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) candidates for Saturday’s legislative by-elections or giving away red envelopes containing chocolate gold coins to temple visitors — often with KMT candidates standing close by.

It was festive and appropriate seeing the president spread holiday cheer and send out New Year greetings, but it is disturbing to see him perform his public duty with obvious partisan colors, blurring his roles as president and KMT chairman.

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