The Liberty Times Editorial: Punishing Taiwanese independence
However, Taiwanese “fellow travelers” of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) who oppose Taiwanese independence and promote unification are keen to speak on the Chinese government’s behalf. The song and dance made by “fellow travelers” on both sides of the Taiwan Strait stems from their shared nationalistic tendencies. On June 21, China issued “22 guidelines” about punishing Taiwanese independence activists, with severe penalties, including the death sentence. China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said that the Chinese authorities would track down “die-hard Taiwan independence separatists” wherever they might be. Times have changed, and Beijing has long since denied the existence of the median line of the Taiwan Strait or any tacit agreement that such a line exists.
Source:Taipei Times
July 17, 2024 21:48 UTC
China’s carbon emissions might have peaked
“We are at a moment where clean energy growth is larger than demand growth,” said Bernice Lee, research director at international affairs think tank Chatham House. If China’s rapid deployment of solar and wind continues, the country’s carbon emissions are “likely to continue falling, making 2023 the peak year,” Asia Society Policy Institute senior fellow Lauri Myllyvirta said in a report last week. Yet the trajectory for China’s emissions would depend on the government’s response to a slowing pace of growth, and whether it continues to pursue Xi’s long-term objective of prioritizing higher-tech industries. Authorities would also have to reconfigure China’s electricity system to address grid limitations that mean a small, but rising volume of wind and solar power is going to waste. About 3.3 percent of solar generation was curtailed this year through May, compared with 2 percent in the same period last year.
Source:Taipei Times
July 17, 2024 17:27 UTC
Trump’s pick for VP says China is US’ ‘biggest threat’
Trump’s pick for VP says China is US’ ‘biggest threat’BloombergFormer US president Donald Trump’s choice of US Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate makes his break with the foreign policy old guard of his party complete. Vance even went so far as to brand China the biggest threat to the US in one of his first interviews since being named Trump’s running mate, underscoring the likely hawkish stance of their administration toward Beijing if elected. Vance, right, greets attendees on the first day of the Republican National Convention at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Monday. Vance’s views would be a boon to Taiwan and other Asian nations, which have warned about growing Chinese encroachment.
Source:Taipei Times
July 17, 2024 03:36 UTC
An insight into China’s ‘six wars’
Conflicts would involve Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, India, Japan, Mongolia and Russia. Given the chronological order of the six wars, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) must win the Taiwan conflict to achieve its full set of goals. Rather than a full-scale military engagement with India, China plans to launch a lightning-fast attack on Arunachal Pradesh. In the sixth and final war, China takes on Russia, the world’s No. If China loses the war for Taiwan, the other wars would be postponed, if for no other reason than because the war with Japan depends on China already holding Taiwan.
Source:Taipei Times
July 16, 2024 21:48 UTC
China’s border dispute with India
China’s border dispute with IndiaBy Khedroob ThondupThe Sino-Indian border dispute remains one of the most complex and enduring border issues in the world. This op-ed explores the historical and geopolitical nuances that contribute to this unresolved border dispute. The crux of the Sino-Indian border dispute lies in the differing interpretations of historical boundaries. The lack of a mutually recognized legal framework, such as the McMahon Line for India, and China’s insistence on historical claims complicate the dispute. The Sino-Indian border dispute over Arunachal Pradesh stands out as an unresolved issue in China’s border history due to its unique historical, cultural and geopolitical complexities.
Source:Taipei Times
July 16, 2024 21:48 UTC
Revisiting the ‘five principles’ of Xi
Revisiting the ‘five principles’ of XiBy Gerrit van der WeesOn Friday last week at an event to mark the 70th anniversary of the “Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence,” Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General-Secretary Xi Jinping (習近平) gave a speech highlighting the importance of the five principles for China’s relations with other countries. The five principles are: mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty; mutual non-aggression; mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs; equality and cooperation for mutual benefit; and peaceful coexistence. However, there is a problem: Xi does not apply the principles, even in relations with the countries with which they were originally agreed to. It would be good if Xi not only talked about the five principles, but also implemented them faithfully. It would even be better if the rulers in Beijing applied the five principles to relations with Taiwan.
Source:Taipei Times
July 03, 2024 17:12 UTC
KMT, TPP launch NCC task force
The probe, the first using the controversial powers, would investigate allegations that the government influenced the NCC to approve Mirror Media’s application to establish Mirror TV. The task force was authorized to start its investigation yesterday and continue until Dec. 31, a deadline that can be extended if task force members consent, the motion says. Established in March, the Transportation Committee’s investigative task force said its mandate has ended, effective immediately, adding that it would turn over all its findings. The committee’s task force said that the NCC was uncooperative throughout the investigation and had used technicalities to delay the process. The government’s establishing three separate committees to investigate one media company was unprecedented and harms journalistic liberties, the channel said, referring to the committee formed in March, a task force that TPP Legislator Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) said he would establish and the current special cross-committee task force.
Source:Taipei Times
July 03, 2024 17:12 UTC
CDC reports 932 COVID hospitalizations, 64 deaths
CDC reports 932 COVID hospitalizations, 64 deathsFLU CONTINUES: Hospitals reported 101,091 visits for flu-like illnesses last week, while 68 severe cases and 16 flu-related deaths were also reported, the CDC saidBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterThe Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday reported 932 hospitalizations due to COVID-19 and 64 related deaths for last week, adding that the number of people who had contracted new SARS-CoV-2 subvariants KP.2 and LB.1 has increased. The number of people hospitalized due to COVID-19 increased from 815 in the previous week to 932 last week, while 90 percent of the 64 deceased were aged 65 or older, CDC physician Lin Yung-ching (林詠青) said. JN.1 was still the dominant variant among local and imported cases in the past four weeks, while KP.2 was the second-most common, Lin said. One of the COVID-19 related deaths last week was a teenage boy with epilepsy, who did not receive the updated vaccine, Lin said. Flu-induced pneumonia is more common, but complications of encephalitis and myocarditis at the same time are relatively rare, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
July 02, 2024 21:38 UTC
Ko Wen-je’s bad or daft historical references
Ko Wen-je’s bad or daft historical referencesBy Hong Tsun-ming 康駿銘Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), whose online influence has waned, has made another startling remark. Most historical events had their distal causes, proximal causes and triggers, rather than being isolated events that happened all of a sudden. This sequence of events was the key to Hitler’s monopoly of power and the death of the Weimar Republic. In each case, China’s rulers use one-sided, decontextualized and unsubstantiated statements to fan up populist support for whatever they do. The silliest label the two parties use is “green communist.” If the KMT and the TPP think communism is so evil, why do they keep sucking up to the Chinese Communist Party?
Source:Taipei Times
July 02, 2024 16:42 UTC
Traveler with name similar to TSP lawmaker questioned in HK
Traveler with name similar to TSP lawmaker questioned in HKBy Lin Nan-ku and Kayleigh Madjar / Staff reporter, with staff writerA Taiwanese traveler whose name sounds similar to former Taiwan Statebuilding Party (TSP) legislator Chen Po-wei (陳柏惟) was reportedly held and questioned when entering Hong Kong. Police officers walk past the China and Hong Kong flags as the territory marks the 27th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule in Hong Kong today. Photo: APDemocratic Progressive Party Legislator Wang Ting-yu (王定宇) on Saturday reiterated the story to reporters, saying it does not matter whether traveling through China, Hong Kong or Macau, they all pose a danger. The comments come after Beijing announced new legal guidelines aimed at punishing “Taiwanese independence diehards” with penalties as severe as execution. Taipei on Thursday last week raised its travel advisory for China, Hong Kong and Macau to “orange,” suggesting against nonessential travel.
Source:Taipei Times
July 01, 2024 16:35 UTC
TAIEX Q3 technical setback expected
Cathay Securities Investment Trust Co (國泰投信) chairman Jeff Chang (張錫) said the TAIEX is expected to face technical headwinds in the third quarter after a high-flying first half of the year. In particular, TSMC is expected to challenge the critical threshold of NT$1,000, meaning the stock could face volatility in the third quarter, Fan said. Meanwhile, many stocks on the main board would go ex-dividend in the third quarter, which is expected to cut about 600 points from the TAIEX, he said. Fan said that AI-related stocks are expected to attract buying in the fourth quarter amid ample liquidity. AI development has extended from cloud applications to end-user gadgets including AI PCs and AI phones, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
June 30, 2024 18:42 UTC
India win tight T20 World Cup final
India win tight T20 World Cup finalGOING OUT STRONG: Virat Kohli, who is retiring from the format, had struggled during the tournament, but was thrilled to lead his team to victory when it matteredAFP, BRIDGETOWNIndia on Saturday won the ICC T20 World Cup title in dramatic and emotional fashion with Virat Kohli starring in a thrilling seven-run victory over South Africa at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown. South Africa ended on 169-8, with Hardik Pandya taking 3-20 for India — another reminder of his outstanding ability, particularly in “death bowling.”India’s Virat Kohli, left, Hardik Pandya, center, and Arshdeep Singh celebrate their win against South Africa in the ICC T20 World Cup final at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown on Saturday. Photo: APThe win is the second T20 World Cup title for India following their triumph in the first edition in 2007 and it also ends their 11-year wait for a major title going back to the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. That meant South Africa needed 20 from the final two overs and Arshdeep Singh bowled a masterful length to allow just four. It was a bitter end for South Africa who had reached their first World Cup final after ending a streak of seven defeats in semi-finals in both World Cup formats.
Source:Taipei Times
June 30, 2024 18:40 UTC
Keelung mayor recall hits threshold
Keelung mayor recall hits thresholdSTRUGGLE FOR KEELUNG: The KMT would organize a task force in the coming days to deal with the recall challenge, party Secretary-General Justin Huang saidBy Weng Yu-huang And Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writerA campaign to recall Keelung Mayor George Hsieh (謝國樑) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has garnered 36,000 signatures, passing the signature threshold required to initiate a recall vote, campaign spokeswoman Lee Yen-jung (李晏蓉) said yesterday. To make room for clerical errors, organizers aim to obtain 40,000 signatures before submitting the petition on Friday next week to the Keelung City Election Commission, she said. Keelung Mayor George Hsieh, second left, poses with event guests at the Nuannuan Waterfront Park festival in Keelung yesterday. The Public Officials Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法) stipulates that a recall election process for the mayor of an administrative region can be initiated if at least 10 percent of the jurisdiction’s voters signed a petition for it. The Keelung City Government estimated that if the petition is valid, a recall election would be held between September and December.
Source:Taipei Times
June 29, 2024 23:10 UTC
The UN is betraying Afghan women
The UN is betraying Afghan womenThe international community must abandon the idea that the rights of women can be traded offBy Ruth Pollard / Bloomberg OpinionIt is the ultimate act of bad faith. An egregious breach of trust — one that places security and counterterrorism concerns above the rights of women, girls and minorities. Importantly, Bennett says that nations should “avoid normalization or legitimization of the de facto authorities” until the human rights situation improves, especially for women and girls. Human Rights Watch Women’s Rights Division associate director Heather Barr said it is “enraging” that the UN has done this. “This is one of them.”Not surprisingly, Afghan women and human rights defenders are calling for nations to boycott this meeting.
Source:Taipei Times
June 29, 2024 16:40 UTC
China is planning ‘major’ economic reforms, Xi says
China is planning ‘major’ economic reforms, Xi saysAFP, BEIJINGChinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) yesterday said that the Chinese Communist Party was planning and implementing “major” reforms, ahead of a political conclave that is expected to put economic recovery high on the agenda. Chinese policymakers have struggled to reignite growth since late 2022, when restrictions put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic were lifted. Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing yesterday. Photo: APPolicymakers “are planning and implementing major measures to further deepen reform in a comprehensive manner,” Xi said in a speech at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. “We will ... form a more market-oriented, legal and international business environment.”“China’s door will only open wider and wider, and will never be closed,” he added.
Source:Taipei Times
June 29, 2024 13:43 UTC