Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Police must adapt to era of ‘critical citizens’

Lin Chia-ho 林佳和

As Italian philosopher Giorgio Agamben said: “The real problem, the central mystery of politics is not sovereignty, but government; it is not God, but the angel; it is not the king, but ministry; it is not the law, but the police.”

Protests are common in Taiwan and police’s handling of such activities often draws attention. This was the case during the Sunflower movement in 2014, a protest during the opening ceremony of the Taipei Universiade last year, and the arrest of protesters and lawyers during a march in December last year against the amendments to the Labor Standards Act (勞動基準法), who were forced into police cars and “dropped off” at random locations.

Taiwan-US relations smooth and strong, envoy says

Taipei Times

Representative to the US Stanley Kao talks to reporters during attending a Lunar New Year parade in Washington’s Chinatown on Sunday.
Photo: CNA

Communications between Taiwan and the US remain smooth and bilateral relations strong, despite a US official’s comment that the US does not recognize the Republic of China (ROC) as a nation, Representative to the US Stanley Kao (高碩泰) said on Sunday.

US Navy says it will not be deterred by artificial islands in South China Sea

Taipei Times

US Navy personnel work in flight desk control tower as US Navy aircraft sit on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson, anchored off Manila, Philippines, on Saturday.
Photo: AP

A US Navy officer aboard a US aircraft carrier brimming with F18 fighter jets on Saturday said that US forces would continue to patrol the South China Sea wherever “international law allows us” when asked if China’s newly built islands could restrain them in the disputed waters.

Taiwan’s geopolitical importance

Parris Chang 張旭成

For decades Taiwan has enjoyed widespread bipartisan support in the US Congress, no matter what the stance of the executive branch.

In 1979, when then-US president Jimmy Carter established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), derecognized the Republic of China (ROC) and the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) regime, and terminated the US-ROC Mutual Defense Treaty, Congress enacted the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) — over Carter’s objection and amid the PRC’s protest.

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