Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Beware of the ‘fifth column’

Taipei Times Editorial

During its 7am news show on April 20, Chinese Television System (CTS) — part of Taiwan Broadcasting System (TBS) — ran news tickers that said: “New Taipei City hit by Chinese People’s Liberation Army missiles,” “War on the brink of erupting” and “Vessel explodes in Taipei Harbor; facilities and ships destroyed.” More false tickers followed on that day, reading: “Oil field discovered in the Bashi Channel,” and “Fist-sized hailstones fall on Taipei at midnight, downtown traffic a mess.”

Four days later, the CTS midday news program misidentified Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) as “president.” Blunders continued on Tuesday, when President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) was called “Tsai EE” in a caption.

US bill aims to fast-track arms sales

Taipei Times

US Senator Marco Rubio speaks at the Heritage Foundation in Washington on March 29.
Photo: AFP

US Senator Marco Rubio on Tuesday introduced a bill aimed at fast-tracking the transfer of US weapon systems to Taiwan and improving joint military training to make sure Taiwan can defend itself in case of a Chinese invasion.

In a statement released by his office, Rubio said he proposed the bill because Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would not be the last time an authoritarian regime invades its neighbor.

Celebrating the Polish constitution

Cyryl Kozaczewski

On Constitution Day of the Republic of Poland, I would like to extend my greetings and pay respect to Taiwanese. In Poland, we celebrate our National Day on May 3 to commemorate the ratification of the basic legal act by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth parliament in 1791 that created Europe’s first and the world’s second modern constitution.

Poland is a successful central European economy with a rich history and culture. While strongly anchored in the European and transatlantic institutions, along with other allies and democratic partners, it is forced to face the consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This unprovoked aggression must be resisted, and Poland stands side by side with Ukraine and its people in this bitter hour of truth.

Memorial hall perfect home for legislature

Lee Hsiao-feng 李筱峰

Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (游錫堃) on April 18 announced that he would visit 19 possible sites for relocating the Legislative Yuan, rekindling a long debate about whether and where the legislature should move.

Parliaments are sometimes called “temples of democracy” and their appearance and environment are symbols of a democratic country.

The Legislative Yuan has since 1960 been located at the site of the former Taihoku Prefectural Second Girls’ High School, built during the Japanese colonial era. There is nothing wrong with using a high school to house the legislature provisionally, but 62 years and counting is anything but temporary.

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