Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

National glory and global tragedy

James J. Y. Hsu 許正餘

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his troops into eastern Ukraine in the name of protecting two Russian separatist regions there. Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine breaks international law and breaches Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Russian soldiers were reportedly told that they would be welcomed by the Ukrainians as liberators.

However, even in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city where ethnic Russians comprise 17 percent of residents, people fight Russian troops bravely and fiercely. They choose democracy and freedom over dictatorship and racially motivated national glory.

Asian response to Ukraine crisis

Sumit Kumar

As Russia continues to attack Ukraine, the international community, barring a few countries, has strongly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked war against a neighbor.

The US, EU members, Japan and others have imposed severe sanctions on Russia. The UN General Assembly met on Monday last week to discuss the Ukraine crisis. Its draft resolution has termed the Russian act as “deplorable.”

Amid these developments, the actions of Asian powers — China, Japan, India and others — are also being closely observed.

Defending Taiwan is up to Taiwanese: UMC founder

Taipei Times

United Microelectronics Corp founder Robert Tsao speaks to reporters in an undated photograph.
Photo: Chen Yu-fu, Taipei Times

Defending Taiwan is something Taiwanese must do on their own, United Microelectronics Corp (UMC, 聯電) founder Robert Tsao (曹興誠) said, adding that those who doubt the US’ commitment to Taiwan aim to “dampen morale” and “create panic within Taiwan.”

Tsao made the remarks in two articles shared by Democratic Progressive Party caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘), who posted them on Facebook on Saturday.

Taiwan, Ukraine and a 75th anniversary

John J. Tkacik, Jr.

Dear Reader, I intended to write about something that happened 75 years ago. But, last week saw a major war erupt in East Europe and I cannot ignore it. And, this week sees alarm spread across the globe that war may also break out in East Asia starting in the Taiwan Strait.

It is almost as if the second world war is repeating itself, except in mirror image: Putin’s Russia is not the victim, but rather the perpetrator, of aggression in East Europe. In East Asia, Xi Jinping’s (習近平) China plays the exact role of the Imperial Japan a century ago, demanding control of East Asia’s raw materials and maritime lines of communication, and menacing Southeast Asia, India, the Pacific isles and, needless to say, Taiwan.

More Articles...