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Home Editorials of Interest Jerome F. Keating's writings Ma Ying-jeou, the Dalai Lama and Taiwan Part III, the Parting Shot

Ma Ying-jeou, the Dalai Lama and Taiwan Part III, the Parting Shot

The Dalai Lama's visit is over and much went as according to script. Ma Ying-jeou and the KMT leaders avoided him; the DPP leaders welcomed him, China protested but not too much so that it would not put Ma in a bad spot (they put the blame on the DPP). On the ground, the people in the south were comforted, the Dalai Lama showed them more sympathy and empathy than Ma ever did. Overall the country was glad he came, but as always there were some protesters; in a democracy, you always will have protesters. During the same time period there was even a larger protest against the United State--that protest was about how Taiwan (because of its unresolved status after the 1952 Treaty of San Francisco) still belonged to the USA. But protests aside, there was one other interesting aspect.

In addition to comforting the people of the south and praying with them, the Dalai Lama left Taiwan with one other important point. In subtle and indirect ways, he several times reminded Taiwan that it was now a democracy and that it should never forget that fact. Further, he prayed that one day the People's Republic of China (PRC) would also some day be a democracy. That is a tall order but who could disagree with it except the leaders who controlled the people of China. Why not democracy? It was a parting shot and one on the mark.

Source:
Jerome F. Keating's writings



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Newsflash

The Formosa Club — a coalition of Taiwan friendship groups — on Tuesday congratulated Vice President William Lai (賴清德) on his victory in Saturday’s presidential election and voiced concern over apparent Chinese involvement in Nauru severing diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

Nauru switched recognition to China two days after Taiwan’s presidential and legislative elections, which the Formosa Club said in a statement was based on Beijing’s claim that Taiwan is part of China, a misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758.

The incident “highlights the fact that China has utilized the distorted interpretation of this resolution to isolate Taiwan internationally,” wrote 25 cochairs of the club, which comprises cross-party European and Canadian legislators.