Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Is Chen Shui-bian Being Made a Surrogate Scapegoat for Taiwan? Part I of III

Jerome F. Keating Ph.D.

There are crimes and then there are crimes; there are trials and then there are trials; there are standards and then there are standards; unfortunately, however, there are also double standards. These concepts have all come into play in the complex and twisted corruption case of Taiwan's former president Chen Shui-bian. This is a case that will have few winners and justice will be lucky if it is even half served, for at heart, what is on trial here is more than just Chen himself though he certainly is. On trial is the legacy of a one-party state system of corruption and double standards, a party where some still carry the bitterness and vindictiveness of lost entitlement and unrealized dreams, a nation that struggles to emerge from a belabored past that includes a lack of transitional justice, stolen state assets, and finally the complicity and betrayal of lost ideals on all sides. If that is not enough, on trial may even be the after effects of a hybrid culture on Taiwan trying to adjust to the realities and differences of a post-modern judicial world.

Formosan Association for Human Rights urges Congress to help Chen Shui-bian

Michael Richardson

Chen Shui-bian before his imprisonment
Photo credit: ATF/Getty

Taiwanese-American groups are stepping up efforts to help former Republic of China in-exile President Chen Shui-bian. Chen, in his fourth year of imprisonment, is serving a lengthy sentence following a controversial trial for alleged political corruption involving so-called “soft money” while in office.

Unraveling the mystery of Taiwan’s constitution

Bo Tedards

It is sad, but unsurprising, that the Taipei Times misunderstands the position of the Republic of China (ROC) Constitution regarding “one China” (Editorial, April 3, page 8). Sad because people are prevented from gaining useful understanding; unsurprising because hardly anyone in Taiwan understands this issue clearly.

Politicians can perhaps be excused for simply mouthing whatever they think will win them votes, but when even so-called “legal experts” can make blatantly incorrect statements, we have a real problem.

The ‘China dream’ may become a nightmare

Huang Tien-lin 黃天麟

Taiwan faces many problems, primarily caused by the alarming number of Taiwanese businesses relocating to China. It is getting harder to earn a decent living in Taiwan; average income levels are lower than they were 12 years ago, unemployment is high, exports are falling and GDP per capita is now lower than that of South Korea. The government cannot keep using deregulation as an excuse while ordinary people suffer.

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