Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Democrat and Republican conventions bring call for new Taiwan policy

Michael Richardson

The Republican and Democrat parties have concluded their national conventions and both mentioned Taiwan in their platforms. Although the Republican platform reference is longer and talks about defense of the island, both political documents tend to support the longstanding “strategic ambiguity” that clouds Taiwan’s international status.

The party platforms do make it clear that Taiwan’s status remains unresolved but they both lack a timetable to resolution.

US mayor lectures Chinese official on freedom of speech

Taipei Times

Beijing is fighting to have an artist’s mural promoting independence for Taiwan and Tibet removed from a brick wall in the small town of Corvallis, Oregon.

Two officials from the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco have written to the mayor of Corvallis about the mural and last week visited the town to lodge a formal complaint.

“As you are aware, the First Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees freedom of speech in this country and this includes freedom of artistic expression,” Corvallis Mayor Julie Manning has told them.

Taiwanese and Tibetans strengthen bonds

Phayul.com

DHARAMSHALA, September 8: In growing exchanges between Taiwan and Tibet, a Taiwanese group is currently in Dharamshala, the exile Tibetan headquarters, visiting Tibetan offices and meeting with exile leaders.

Organisers of the trip, the Gu Chu Sum Former Political Prisoner’s Movement of Tibet and the Taiwanese Friends of Tibet group, yesterday held a joint press conference, addressed by Professor Chang Yen Hsien, head of the Taiwan Association of University Professors.

Rubbing salt in the wound

Taipei Times Editorial

It is a shame to realize that you can get away with murder in Taiwan, never reaping the penalties for your misdeeds, at least if you were a senior military officer at the time of the crime.

Former ministers of national defense Chen Chao-min (陳肇敏) and Lee Tien-yu (李天羽), former air force commander-in-chief Huang Hsien-jung (黃顯榮) and the many other military officers involved in the Chiang Kuo-ching (江國慶) travesty of justice can rest assured that they are unlikely to ever see the inside of a courtroom as defendants.

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