Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Taiwan's democracy radio Ocean Voice raided by ROC police third time this year

Michael Richardson

The Voice of Ocean Taiwan, 95.9 FM in Taichung, Taiwan was again shut down from broadcasting following a police raid to the station’s Shin-Ser tower for the second time this month.

The Republic of China in-exile five times has refused to grant the pro-Taiwan independence Ocean Voice radio station a license to operate despite the empty frequency Ocean Voice uses. Ocean Voice Executive Director James Chang explains why the station has operated 15 years without a license.

Amendment threatens democracy

Taipei Times Editorial

In its second reading of the amendment to the Personal Data Protection Act (個人資料保護法), the legislature passed the new, expanded version covering medical care, genetics, sex, health checks, criminal records, contact information and financial situation, as well as social activities and other personal data.

In addition, media and elected officials publishing personal information must obtain the approval of the party concerned before doing so. Even if it is necessary and in the public interest, one cannot identify the individual concerned.

Two years on, history repeats itself

Cao Changqing 曹長青

On Wednesday last week, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit Yushu County in northwestern China’s Qinghai Province. At the time of writing, the death toll had surpassed 2,000, with the number of injured exceeding 10,000. Earthquakes are natural disasters and as such are very difficult to predict. However, both this one and the major quake that devastated parts of Sichuan Province two years ago have led to a human tragedy exacerbated by the political system in China.

First of all, experts issued a warning before the earthquake hit, but China Earthquake Administration (CEA) officials did not take it seriously. The same thing happened with the Sichuan earthquake, when at least two seismologists issued a warning that was later suppressed by the authorities, who were concerned that the news would have an effect on the Olympic torch relay prior to the Games in Beijing.

Tung, Ma, Article 23 and an ECFA

J. Michael Cole 寇謐將

In its strategy for the unification of Taiwan and China, Beijing has not only been transparent about its intentions, it has also relied upon tactics that proved effective in the past.

After a lull in such efforts for the greater part of former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) administration, Beijing reignited its drive following the election of the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) as Taiwanese president.

More Articles...