Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Judge who ruled pro-Chen indicted for malfeasance

Taipei Times

A Taipei District Court judge who found former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and his wife, Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍), not guilty in a bank merger case was indicted yesterday by Taipei prosecutors on suspicion of negligently leaking the name of a witness to the public.

Judge Chou Chan-chun (周占春) and his secretary, Liu Lee-ying (劉麗英), were charged with malfeasance for being negligent in the disclosure of a witness’ name who was involved in a case involving illegal drug production and transportation heard by Chou, Taipei prosecutors said.

Taiwan’s political isolation must cease

Nat Bellocchi 白樂崎

Much has been said and written about the Nov. 27 elections for the mayors and councils of the five special municipalities. While on the surface things stayed the same, the outcome signifies a comeback for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and a leveling of the playing field for the 2012 presidential race.

In other words, Taiwan’s democracy is here to stay.

Activists promise to follow negotiator

Taipei Times

A group of Taiwanese independence advocates yesterday vowed to follow China’s top negotiator “every step of the way” when he visits Taiwan next week to show their anger in a series of protests.

China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait Chen Yunlin Chairman (陳雲林) is scheduled to arrive in Taipei on Monday for the sixth round of talks since 2008.

Richard Holbrooke never got his Fourth Communiqué about Taiwan

Michael Richardson

A diplomat’s work is never done and Richard Holbrooke always had too much on his plate. The hardworking envoy died of a broken heart, a torn aorta, after falling ill at work at the State Department in Washington, D.C. Two emergency surgeries failed to repair the damage and now funeral services are being planned for the former United Nations ambassador instead of his customary heavy travel schedule.

Unmentioned in the obituaries, ignored in the laudatory media commentary, and simply unknown to many was Holbrooke’s failed efforts to resolve Taiwan’s status. Holbrooke used Taiwan’s “strategic ambiguity” to full advantage when he helped steer President Jimmy Carter away from official recognition of the Republic of China. However, Holbrooke understood the limits of the unresolved status and urged the passage of the Taiwan Relations Act to shore up the United States’ role as “principal occupying Power” of the island.

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