Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Flag furor shows China’s true colors

Taipei Times Editorial

When singer Deserts Chang (張懸) held up a Republic of China (ROC) flag given to her by a Taiwanese student at a concert in Manchester, England, and told the audience that it was the flag of her country, Chinese students in the audience were upset. The incident set off a battle between Internet users on each side of the Taiwan Strait and raised the question that if Chinese citizens become irate at the sight of a Taiwanese flag at a concert, how the two sides will ever be able to discuss peace with dignity and equality.

Holding up the national flag after being handed one by a compatriot at an overseas event was a natural reaction, nothing more, nothing less.

Taiwan, Singapore sign free-trade pact

Taipei Times

Minister of Economic Affairs Chang Chia-juch, second left, and Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lin, right, hold a news conference in Taipei after Taiwan and Singapore signed a free-trade agreement in Singapore earlier yesterday.
Photo: Pichi Chuang, Reuters

Taiwan yesterday signed a far-reaching free-trade agreement (FTA) with Singapore — the first of its kind with a Southeast Asian country — in a move the government said would boost the nation’s efforts to pursue further economic engagement with trading partners bilaterally and multilaterally.

“This is a milestone achievement for Taiwan’s progress toward economic liberalization and our participation in regional economic integration,” Minister of Economic Affairs Chang Chia-juch (張家祝) told a press conference at 11am in Taipei.

Ma Ying-jeou sets world shoe toss record in Taiwan amidst growing call to resign

Michael Richardson

Ma Ying-jeou, the president of the Republic of China in-exile, has finally taken his place on the stage of world leaders despite Taiwan’s unresolved international status. Out of the murk of strategic ambiguity Ma has emerged as a clear winner in the shoe-toss competition. In less than a year Ma has gone from backstage into the limelight as protestors heave their shoes at Ma whenever opportunity presents.

Ma Ying-jeou’s entry into the exclusive shoe club began last December at International Human Rights Day in Taipei. Human rights activists, angered at Ma over the mistreatment in prison of former ROC President Chen Shui-bian, shouted Ma off the stage at a museum event while one man, Peter Wang, gave both of his shoes and a handbag a toss before he was carried out of the room.

Translation may become tool for China

Taipei Times

The inclusion of the translation industry in the controversial cross-strait service trade agreement could allow China to dominate Taiwan’s linguistic development and pave the way for its cultural assimilation, Taiwan Democracy Watch secretary-general Chen Kuan-yu (陳冠宇) said yesterday.

Chen issued the warning following the conclusion of the Ninth Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Culture Forum on Oct. 27, during which representatives from the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Chinese Communist Party called for the pact’s speedy passage and implementation.

More Articles...