Brennpunkt Taipeh – News aus Taipei, Taiwan

With the government (Executive Yuan) facing a major reshuffle, Lee Hong-yuan (李鴻源) looks set to be Taiwan's next interior minister. That sounds like good news for those who like their politicians to actually know what they are talking about. Lee (CV here) is currently Public Construction Commission Minister. He is holding a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering acquired in the U.S. and has been a professor at Taiwan National University's Department of Civil Engineering since 1991. In case you're interested here is an interesting article about his fields of expertise on the University of Iowa's Honor Wall. As PCC minister, Lee's task was to define a strategy against the problem of land subsidence which is threatening the operation of Taiwan's High Speed Rail. Being a scientist, he came up with some pretty sensible observations, the kind you would like to hear from politicians more often, anywhere. "All we do now is persuade people to save water through moral appeals, but the government should set up regulations. It may be an inconvenience to the residents in the short term, but new values, industries and job opportunities focused on water conservation will appear in the long run." (Source) Noting the recent protests by environmentalists against Taiwan’s nuclear power and petrochemical industries, Lee said similar action needs to be taken to push the government to tackle the water issue. “We can’t expect the rain to fall every time we find ourselves short of water, “ Lee said. “We need a policy that has vision.” (Source) Addressing climate change, he does not go for the "let's change some lightbulbs and otherwise do business as usual" phrases popular with many politicians, but emphasizes the importance of scienctific expertise: “Global climate change is not a simple problem with a simple answer, so a strategy for dealing with climate change through sustainable development needs good science, clear policies and good communication." (Source) Here is a video of Lee speaking out against the infamous Kuokuang naphta cracker plant project in Changhua County. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WodDLq01Rk8;] This was in 2010, between Lee's stints as Taipei County deputy magistrate and PCC minister. At that time, the construction of Kuokuang was still heavily supported by the Kuomintang. Only in early 2011 did president Ma pull the plug, after protests by residents, scientists and enviromental activists apparently had become too much to handle. (I posted some photos from a demonstration in Taipei here.) As interior minister, Lee would "focus his efforts on infrastructure and affordable housing", according to the Taipei Times. It seems to me that he is not the worst choice to handle these tasks. In related news, a disgruntled former DPP bigshot who switched sides is apparently set to become minister without portfolio. Former Kaohsiung County commissioner Yang Chiu-hsing (楊秋興) left the DPP after failing to secure his party's nomination for mayor of Greater Kaohsiung in 2010. He ran as an independent and lost to Chen Chu. Last year, he announced his support for Ma in the presidential elections, which apparently now has earned him a new post. Without portfolio. So it looks like there is more than one way to become a government minister in Taiwan. Expertise or dis-loyalty. Personally, I like Lee Hong-yuan's way better. I am a German reporter living and working in Taiwan. Click here for more English posts on this otherwise mostly German blog. You can also follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus and Plurk. Other posts you might want to have a look at: How the KMT is campaigning for Taiwan's undecided voters How Taipei citizens do not get a second forest park, but just another shopping mall Cheap labor, no rights? Taiwan's 2nd class foreigners Jingmei Prison shows how Taiwan does not deal with its past

With the government (Executive Yuan) facing a major reshuffle, Lee Hong-yuan (李鴻源) looks set to be Taiwan’s next interior minister. That sounds like good news for those who like their politicians to actually know what they are talking about.

Lee (CV here) is currently Public Construction Commission Minister. He is holding a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering acquired in the U.S. and has been a professor at Taiwan National University’s Department of Civil Engineering since 1991. In case you’re interested here is an interesting article about his fields of expertise on the University of Iowa’s Honor Wall.

As PCC minister, Lee’s task was to define a strategy against the problem of land subsidence which is threatening the operation of Taiwan’s High Speed Rail.

Being a scientist, he came up with some pretty sensible observations, the kind you would like to hear from politicians more often, anywhere.

“All we do now is persuade people to save water through moral appeals, but the government should set up regulations. It may be an inconvenience to the residents in the short term, but new values, industries and job opportunities focused on water conservation will appear in the long run.” (Source)

Noting the recent protests by environmentalists against Taiwan’s nuclear power and petrochemical industries, Lee said similar action needs to be taken to push the government to tackle the water issue. “We can’t expect the rain to fall every time we find ourselves short of water, “ Lee said. “We need a policy that has vision.” (Source)

Addressing climate change, he does not go for the “let’s change some lightbulbs and otherwise do business as usual” phrases popular with many politicians, but emphasizes the importance of scienctific expertise:

“Global climate change is not a simple problem with a simple answer, so a strategy for dealing with climate change through sustainable development needs good science, clear policies and good communication.” (Source)

Here is a video of Lee speaking out against the infamous Kuokuang naphta cracker plant project in Changhua County.

This was in 2010, between Lee’s stints as Taipei County deputy magistrate and PCC minister. At that time, the construction of Kuokuang was still heavily supported by the Kuomintang. Only in early 2011 did president Ma pull the plug, after protests by residents, scientists and enviromental activists apparently had become too much to handle. (I posted some photos from a demonstration in Taipei here.)

As interior minister, Lee would “focus his efforts on infrastructure and affordable housing”, according to the Taipei Times. It seems to me that he is not the worst choice to handle these tasks.

In related news, a disgruntled former DPP bigshot who switched sides is apparently set to become minister without portfolio. Former Kaohsiung County commissioner Yang Chiu-hsing (楊秋興) left the DPP after failing to secure his party’s nomination for mayor of Greater Kaohsiung in 2010. He ran as an independent and lost to Chen Chu. Last year, he announced his support for Ma in the presidential elections, which apparently now has earned him a new post. Without portfolio.

So it looks like there is more than one way to become a government minister in Taiwan. Expertise or dis-loyalty. Personally, I like Lee Hong-yuan’s way better.

I am a German reporter living and working in Taiwan. Click here for more English posts on this otherwise mostly German blog. You can also follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus and Plurk.

Other posts you might want to have a look at:

• How the KMT is campaigning for Taiwan’s undecided voters
• How Taipei citizens do not get a second forest park, but just another shopping mall
• Cheap labor, no rights? Taiwan’s 2nd class foreigners
• Jingmei Prison shows how Taiwan does not deal with its past

A collection of tweets and pictures using storify.com. [View the story "Taiwan's Super Sunday: KMT and DPP out campaigning in force" on Storify]I am a German reporter living and working in Taiwan. Click here for more English posts on this otherwise mostly German blog. You can also follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus and Plurk. Other posts you might want to have a look at: 10 English online sources of information about Taiwan’s upcoming elections How the KMT is campaigning for Taiwan's undecided voters How Taipei citizens do not get a second forest park, but just another shopping mall Cheap labor, no rights? Taiwan's 2nd class foreigners Jingmei Prison shows how Taiwan does not deal with its past Please keep your comments civil and constructive. I will not publish partisan bickering.

A collection of tweets and pictures using storify.com.

(weiterlesen …)

The other day, I found this Kuomintang campaign flyer in my mailbox. It looks like a good example of how the party is trying to win over undecided voters by focussing on issues like economy and administrative performance. Divisive topics like the future of cross-strait relations, national identity and self-identification, references to the Chen Shui-bian era or ad-hominem corruption accusations are largely avoided on this flyer. By clicking on the pics, you should be able to see the full-res version and read the text. The front page (on the right in the above picture) contrasts some of the KMT's and DPP's candidates for the legislator-at-large seats in the parliamentary election. It was apparently a smart move by the KMT to include some well-respected representatives from outside the political field, even forcing the DPP to reluctantly call this step "commendable". The back of the flyer (on the left in the above picture) depicts DPP candidate Tsai Ing-wen as unreliable and constantly changing her opinions. Quoting from media publications, the KMT contrasts Tsai's former (left) and more recent (right) statements regarding these topics: old-age pension for farmers 18% preferred savings interest rate for government officials ECFA nuclear policy direct flights to China the Kuokuang naphta cracker project her identification with the ROC Comparisons like this are an easy way to discredit a political opponent - look long enough, and you will find examples for every politician contradicting himself. The average reader has no way of verifying if those quotes have been taken out of context or not, nor is he interested in doing so. On the flyer's inside, the KMT touts its government performance in the past four years, mostly by quoting statistics and contrasting them with the DPP administration. I will just pick some examples. The very first item mentions the price for rice wine, which the KMT claims to have lowered from 180 to 25 NTD, while it had surged from 20 to 180 NTD unter the DPP. Frankly, I do not understand the significance of the price of rice wine for the average voter, but this is one of Ma's favourite catchphrases that he uses in many campaign speeches. The KMT claims that average salaries have risen 2073 NTD during their first three years, but only 1029 NTD during the DPP's eight years. This contrasts with many ordinary Taiwanese' impression that their incomes are stagnating, while the wealthy are better off than ever. The widening wealth and income gap is one of Taiwan's big problems that voters expect their politicians to solve. In terms of economic growth, the KMT proudly mentions a record growth rate of 10.88% for 2011, while the growth rate during the DPP administration was between -1.65% and 6.19%. Now, this could just be a typo, but the 10.88% actually apply for 2010, not 2011. This year, it will more likely be 4.4%. Also, the extraordinary growth of 2010 has to be seen in relation to the -1.9% drop the year before, caused by the global economy crisis. Taking 4.4% for 2011 and the historical data from this site, I get at an average growth rate of 3.8% for the years 2000-2007 and 3.4% for the years 2008-2011. Of course, you can prove - or refute - almost everything by carefully selecting the "right" statistics to quote. Politicians and campaign managers are especially good at that, not only in Taiwan. Also, there is no law requiring parties to be fair or balanced in their campaigning. I remember well how, during Germany's 2005 campaign, then-chancellor Gerhard Schröder ruthlessly attacked Angela Merkel's superior tax concept, ad nauseam raising the example of a poor single mom night nurse who would have to pay higher taxes if the conservatives got their way. In the end, Schröder still lost, but it might have been this zeroing in on an actually irrelevant side aspect that cost Merkel's party so many votes she had to enter a Grand Coalition with Schröder's party. I think this KMT flyer shows - amongst other things - that campaigning in Taiwan can actually be quite similar to Western democracies. Like everywhere, parties selectively use (sometimes misleading) statistics in order to win over undecided voters. But at least, they can appeal to reasoning, not only to deep-seated resentments. If they choose to do so. I am a German reporter living and working in Taiwan. Click here for more English posts on this otherwise mostly German blog. You can also follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus and Plurk. Other posts you might want to have a look at: 10 English online sources of information about Taiwan’s upcoming elections How Taipei citizens do not get a second forest park, but just another shopping mall Cheap labor, no rights? Taiwan's 2nd class foreigners Jingmei Prison shows how Taiwan does not deal with its past The strange case of Hsu Hsin-liang, who says he wants to run for President Please keep your comments focussed on the matter at hand - the content of the flyer and its implications for the current campaign. I will not publish partisan bickering or comments that serve no other reason than to glorify one party/candidate or discredit the other.

The other day, I found this Kuomintang campaign flyer in my mailbox. It looks like a good example of how the party is trying to win over undecided voters by focussing on issues like economy and administrative performance.

Divisive topics like the future of cross-strait relations, national identity and self-identification, references to the Chen Shui-bian era or ad-hominem corruption accusations are largely avoided on this flyer.

By clicking on the pics, you should be able to see the full-res version and read the text.

The front page (on the right in the above picture) contrasts some of the KMT’s and DPP’s candidates for the legislator-at-large seats in the parliamentary election. It was apparently a smart move by the KMT to include some well-respected representatives from outside the political field, even forcing the DPP to reluctantly call this step “commendable”.

The back of the flyer (on the left in the above picture) depicts DPP candidate Tsai Ing-wen as unreliable and constantly changing her opinions. Quoting from media publications, the KMT contrasts Tsai’s former (left) and more recent (right) statements regarding these topics:

• old-age pension for farmers
• 18% preferred savings interest rate for government officials
• ECFA
• nuclear policy
• direct flights to China
• the Kuokuang naphta cracker project
• her identification with the ROC

Comparisons like this are an easy way to discredit a political opponent – look long enough, and you will find examples for every politician contradicting himself. The average reader has no way of verifying if those quotes have been taken out of context or not, nor is he interested in doing so.

On the flyer’s inside, the KMT touts its government performance in the past four years, mostly by quoting statistics and contrasting them with the DPP administration. I will just pick some examples.

• The very first item mentions the price for rice wine, which the KMT claims to have lowered from 180 to 25 NTD, while it had surged from 20 to 180 NTD unter the DPP. Frankly, I do not understand the significance of the price of rice wine for the average voter, but this is one of Ma’s favourite catchphrases that he uses in many campaign speeches.
• The KMT claims that average salaries have risen 2073 NTD during their first three years, but only 1029 NTD during the DPP’s eight years. This contrasts with many ordinary Taiwanese’ impression that their incomes are stagnating, while the wealthy are better off than ever. The widening wealth and income gap is one of Taiwan’s big problems that voters expect their politicians to solve.
• In terms of economic growth, the KMT proudly mentions a record growth rate of 10.88% for 2011, while the growth rate during the DPP administration was between -1.65% and 6.19%. Now, this could just be a typo, but the 10.88% actually apply for 2010, not 2011. This year, it will more likely be 4.4%. Also, the extraordinary growth of 2010 has to be seen in relation to the -1.9% drop the year before, caused by the global economy crisis. Taking 4.4% for 2011 and the historical data from this site, I get at an average growth rate of 3.8% for the years 2000-2007 and 3.4% for the years 2008-2011.

Of course, you can prove – or refute – almost everything by carefully selecting the “right” statistics to quote. Politicians and campaign managers are especially good at that, not only in Taiwan.

Also, there is no law requiring parties to be fair or balanced in their campaigning. I remember well how, during Germany’s 2005 campaign, then-chancellor Gerhard Schröder ruthlessly attacked Angela Merkel’s superior tax concept, ad nauseam raising the example of a poor single mom night nurse who would have to pay higher taxes if the conservatives got their way. In the end, Schröder still lost, but it might have been this zeroing in on an actually irrelevant side aspect that cost Merkel’s party so many votes she had to enter a Grand Coalition with Schröder’s party.

I think this KMT flyer shows – amongst other things – that campaigning in Taiwan can actually be quite similar to Western democracies. Like everywhere, parties selectively use (sometimes misleading) statistics in order to win over undecided voters. But at least, they can appeal to reasoning, not only to deep-seated resentments. If they choose to do so.

I am a German reporter living and working in Taiwan. Click here for more English posts on this otherwise mostly German blog. You can also follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus and Plurk.

Other posts you might want to have a look at:

• 10 English online sources of information about Taiwan’s upcoming elections
• How Taipei citizens do not get a second forest park, but just another shopping mall
• Cheap labor, no rights? Taiwan’s 2nd class foreigners
• Jingmei Prison shows how Taiwan does not deal with its past
• The strange case of Hsu Hsin-liang, who says he wants to run for President

Please keep your comments focussed on the matter at hand – the content of the flyer and its implications for the current campaign. I will not publish partisan bickering or comments that serve no other reason than to glorify one party/candidate or discredit the other.

With exactly one month to go until Taiwan's presidential and legislative elections on January 14, I want to share some good sources of English information about what is going on. Ballots & Bullets Comprehensive campaign coverage by Taiwan scholars, hosted at the University of Nottingham. Frozen Garlic - A Blog on Elections in Taiwan Analysis and in-depth information, especially about the legislative elections. The 'Oops' Count How the parties screwed up during campaigning so far. Taiwanese Election Campaign Ads Nice collection of campaign videos. ROC elections and referendums Exact figures for all democratic elections after the lifting of martial law, as well as inaugural speeches. Kuomintang News Network Press releases and translations of editorials. DPP Taiwan Info and news from the opposition. Also on Facebook. Democracy & Progress Monthly Newsletter from the DPP's Department of International Affairs. International Committee for Fair Elections in Taiwan A "group of national and international democracy leaders and experts" wants to "enlist the moral authority and political leadership of the civilized international community to protect our forthcoming elections". Taiwan Headlines (Politics) Aggregated news and some translated reports via the Government Information Office. Except for the party homepage, I am not aware of more English info by the KMT. I also did not find anything from the PFP. Suggestions are welcome. I am a German reporter living and working in Taiwan. Click here for more English posts on this otherwise mostly German blog. You can also follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus and Plurk. Other posts you might want to have a look at: How Taipei citizens do not get a second forest park, but just another shopping mall Cheap labor, no rights? Taiwan's 2nd class foreigners Jingmei Prison shows how Taiwan does not deal with its past The strange case of Hsu Hsin-liang, who says he wants to run for President

With exactly one month to go until Taiwan’s presidential and legislative elections on January 14, I want to share some good sources of English information about what is going on.

• Ballots & Bullets
  Comprehensive campaign coverage by Taiwan scholars, hosted at the University of Nottingham.
• Frozen Garlic – A Blog on Elections in Taiwan
  Analysis and in-depth information, especially about the legislative elections.
• The ‘Oops’ Count
  How the parties screwed up during campaigning so far.
• Taiwanese Election Campaign Ads
  Nice collection of campaign videos.
• ROC elections and referendums
  Exact figures for all democratic elections after the lifting of martial law, as well as inaugural speeches.
• Kuomintang News Network
  Press releases and translations of editorials.
• DPP Taiwan
  Info and news from the opposition. Also on Facebook.
• Democracy & Progress
  Monthly Newsletter from the DPP’s Department of International Affairs.
• International Committee for Fair Elections in Taiwan
  A “group of national and international democracy leaders and experts” wants to “enlist the moral authority and political leadership of the civilized international community to protect our forthcoming elections”.
• Taiwan Headlines (Politics)
  Aggregated news and some translated reports via the Government Information Office.

Except for the party homepage, I am not aware of more English info by the KMT. I also did not find anything from the PFP. Suggestions are welcome.

I am a German reporter living and working in Taiwan. Click here for more English posts on this otherwise mostly German blog. You can also follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus and Plurk.

Other posts you might want to have a look at:

• How Taipei citizens do not get a second forest park, but just another shopping mall
• Cheap labor, no rights? Taiwan’s 2nd class foreigners
• Jingmei Prison shows how Taiwan does not deal with its past
• The strange case of Hsu Hsin-liang, who says he wants to run for President

This is how Taiwan's popular Next Media Animation (which belongs to the same Hong Kong based media company as the Apple Daily newspaper) visualizes the Euro crisis: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQ6TSN3-wAI;] One of hundreds (if not thousands) of similar videos. Like to be part of something like that? This might be your chance. Job Opening - International Content Editor at Next Media Animation Next Media Animation (NMA) is looking to hire a journalist for its satirical news site (www.nma.tv) and hard news site (newsdirect.nma.com.tw). Candidate must be bilingual in English and Chinese (written and spoken). Must have journalism experience, skills and news judgment. A sense of humor is helpful. Should be web savvy and familiar with social media and web project management. Salary is negotiable. We are looking to hire immediately. Resumes and inquiries should be sent to emily (at) nma.com.tw In case you have never watched the Tiger Woods clip: This is the one that made them famous. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGfVB9kA5QQ;] I am a German reporter living and working in Taiwan. Click here for more English posts on this otherwise mostly German blog. You can also follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

This is how Taiwan’s popular Next Media Animation (which belongs to the same Hong Kong based media company as the Apple Daily newspaper) visualizes the Euro crisis:

One of hundreds (if not thousands) of similar videos. Like to be part of something like that? This might be your chance.

Job Opening – International Content Editor at Next Media Animation

Next Media Animation (NMA) is looking to hire a journalist for its
satirical news site (www.nma.tv) and hard news site
(newsdirect.nma.com.tw). Candidate must be bilingual in English and
Chinese (written and spoken). Must have journalism experience, skills
and news judgment. A sense of humor is helpful. Should be web savvy
and familiar with social media and web project management. Salary is
negotiable. We are looking to hire immediately.

Resumes and inquiries should be sent to emily (at) nma.com.tw

In case you have never watched the Tiger Woods clip: This is the one that made them famous.

I am a German reporter living and working in Taiwan. Click here for more English posts on this otherwise mostly German blog. You can also follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

The Taipei Dome (大巨蛋, "big giant egg") is one of those "development" projects that currently abound in Taipei. A 40.000-seat-indoor baseball stadium right across from Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall, a shopping mall, hotels and office buildings. Business as usual. Big corporations pour lots of concrete and make a lot of money. Citizens and tourists go shopping. So what is the problem with it? The problem, as many people see it, is that by greenlighting the construction of the Taipei Dome, the Taipei City government has thrown away the chance to establish something the city and its people really need - namely, a second inner-city forest park. That is why there is a protest movement. Recently a few hundred people held a protest march from Taipei City Hall to the headquarters of the developer, Farglory Group, and on the the site where the concrete has already started pouring. (newspaper report) [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1PmzMCukpU;] I admire all these citizen groups in Taiwan hitting the streets to protest for their cause. They are too late this time, I am afraid. Big business has succeeded again in establishing facts (chopping down trees, bringing in the big machines, digging holes) before public pressure could make politicians change their minds. [caption id="attachment_2156" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Citizens protesting against the loss of urban green spaces, 30 Oct 2011"][/caption] What a great park this could have been. No one would deny that is was a stroke of genius to establish Daan Forest Park, a few kilometers away to the south-west, at the site of a former military village. But it is just one site. Another forest park, not quite as big, directly across from Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall would really have breathed life into this part of the city. There are not a lot of green spaces left in the East District along Zhongxiao East Rd. But there used to be this magnificent spot that is the former Songshan Tobacco Factory. After closing down (apparently in 1998), its grounds had been neglected for years. Trees could grow, wildlife could spread. This is how it looked like (source): [caption id="attachment_2161" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Before: The area in 2006"][/caption] But around 2005/2006, the Taipei City Government signed a contract to turn the area over to Farglory and have them build the "Taipei Arena" there. As a BOT (build-operate-transfer) project, Farglory would operate the project for 50 years (sacking in all the profits) and then return the area (including a by then probably derelict building) to the city. Enviromentalists and people from the area (there is a primary school next door) protested and sued. But before all rulings were final, or the project had passed all enviromental impact assessments, the City Government already started removing trees. “It’s perfectly legal that we act according to the results of the first assessment before the second [environmental impact] assessment is complete,” said Lee Kan (李侃), executive secretary of the Taipei Cultural and Sports Park — the official name of the future dome complex. “So far, we haven’t received any court order asking us to stop the construction.” Green Party Taiwan halts tree removal at site of old Songshan Tobacco Factory [caption id="attachment_2159" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Calvin Wen of the Green Party Taiwan tries to prevent a camphor tree tree from being cut down, 27 Feb 2009"][/caption] (Source) After a few hundred trees had been cut down, the area - carefully hidden from public view by high fences - looked like this (source): [caption id="attachment_2160" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="After: The area in 2009"][/caption] More than two years later, Taipei City’s Environmental Impact Assessment Review Committee, voting eight to five, approved the construction. The officials demanded some minor changes (like less floor space but more parking) to make it look like they actually were interested in changing anything. Taipei Dome gets a green light So now the big machines could start rolling in. This is what the site looks like now, looking south from the old factory building towards SYS Memorial Hall. Mind you, this could have been your Forest Park. [caption id="attachment_2152" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Too late: The area now"][/caption] Sure, the actual Songshan Tobacco Factory Building is still there, as are some trees surrounding it and even a pond. It is a great location which the Design Expo just made good use of. But it occupies just part of the total area. After the construction has finished, this really nice spot will be squeezed in between the Taipei Dome, shopping malls etc. to the south and west, and a new high-rise hotel to the north. Instead of a park with a clear view all the way down to SYS Memorial Hall. Try to find a nice spot to lie down on the lawn and enjoy the sunshine here: (Source: Official Farglory Dome website) Because huge corporations often take citizens to be complete idiots, they are even promoting this huge building made of concrete, for which hundreds of trees have been cut down, with the slogan "Enviromental Protection". [caption id="attachment_2151" align="alignnone" width="300" caption=""Enviromental Protection"?! Sure..."][/caption] The protesters beg to differ. [caption id="attachment_2157" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Untranslatable pun. Roughly means "Taipei Dome, p*ss off!""][/caption] I am pretty sure it is too late to stop the construction of the Taipei Dome. I think the best the protesters can do is make the Taipei City Government aware that it cannot go on turning those few precious open spaces that are left in the inner city over to developers. Because cities are primarily for people to live in, not for corporations to make money at everyone's expense. Next could be the greenland behind Huashan 1914 Culture Park, stretching south of Citizen Boulevard and westward to Linsen Rd. After the railroad tracks were moved underground, this huge area became "available". The central government has already decided to build a "Service Center" at the western end, where there is currently an art installation. I am pretty sure those are not the only plans. Click here for more English posts on this otherwise mostly German blog. Other posts you might want to have a look at: Cheap labor, no rights? Taiwan’s 2nd class foreigners Jingmei Prison shows how Taiwan does not deal with its past The strange case of Hsu Hsin-liang, who says he wants to run for President Interesting? Using Flattr, you can support content you like by donating a few cents.

The Taipei Dome (大巨蛋, “big giant egg”) is one of those “development” projects that currently abound in Taipei. A 40.000-seat-indoor baseball stadium right across from Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall, a shopping mall, hotels and office buildings. Business as usual. Big corporations pour lots of concrete and make a lot of money. Citizens and tourists go shopping.

So what is the problem with it?

The problem, as many people see it, is that by greenlighting the construction of the Taipei Dome, the Taipei City government has thrown away the chance to establish something the city and its people really need – namely, a second inner-city forest park.

That is why there is a protest movement. Recently a few hundred people held a protest march from Taipei City Hall to the headquarters of the developer, Farglory Group, and on the the site where the concrete has already started pouring. (newspaper report)

I admire all these citizen groups in Taiwan hitting the streets to protest for their cause. They are too late this time, I am afraid. Big business has succeeded again in establishing facts (chopping down trees, bringing in the big machines, digging holes) before public pressure could make politicians change their minds.

Citizens protesting against the loss of urban green spaces, 30 Oct 2011

What a great park this could have been. No one would deny that is was a stroke of genius to establish Daan Forest Park, a few kilometers away to the south-west, at the site of a former military village. But it is just one site. Another forest park, not quite as big, directly across from Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall would really have breathed life into this part of the city. There are not a lot of green spaces left in the East District along Zhongxiao East Rd.

But there used to be this magnificent spot that is the former Songshan Tobacco Factory. After closing down (apparently in 1998), its grounds had been neglected for years. Trees could grow, wildlife could spread. This is how it looked like (source):

Before: The area in 2006

But around 2005/2006, the Taipei City Government signed a contract to turn the area over to Farglory and have them build the “Taipei Arena” there. As a BOT (build-operate-transfer) project, Farglory would operate the project for 50 years (sacking in all the profits) and then return the area (including a by then probably derelict building) to the city.

Enviromentalists and people from the area (there is a primary school next door) protested and sued. But before all rulings were final, or the project had passed all enviromental impact assessments, the City Government already started removing trees. (weiterlesen …)

When I first met Victoria Linchong in January 2010, she was busy travelling around Taiwan with her small video camera, doing interviews with Aborigines in Taitung and with former democracy activists in Taipei. She told me she was an actress from New York City, doing a documentary about her parents’ home – Taiwan. Victoria calls „Almost Home: Taiwan“ a „documentary on Taiwan's struggle for democracy“, but it is just as much about her own family. Born in the U.S., in 1986 she came to Taiwan with her father for the first time to attend a family funeral. She accompanied him again in 2008. Taiwan had changed a lot by then. This time, she took a video camera and recorded scenes of that very personal journey of discovery. The idea: turn it into a documentary. "Almost Home: Taiwan" is a feature-length documentary that examines the legacy of political repression and the emergence of Taiwanese identity and independence, through the reunion of a Taiwanese family after 22 years. In the documentary, filmmaker Victoria Linchong returns to Taiwan with her family, searching for long-lost connections and becoming re-acquainted with the unique culture of the island and its wild beauty. Bridging the deeply personal and globally political, "Almost Home: Taiwan" clarifies the controversies surrounding Taiwan, while introducing viewers to raucous night markets, aboriginal festivals, saint trees and kissing fish. This is Victoria introducing the project herself: [vimeo]http://vimeo.com/27820436[/vimeo] One and a half years after she came to Taiwan once more for interviews and additional footage, Victoria has almost finished her film. Being a TV journalist, I know what it means to start out with nothing but an idea, but I can only try to imagine how much unpaid work (blood, sweat, tears...) one has to invest into a full-length project like this if there is no funding, no backing by TV stations or distributors, and only the vague hope to make it to the screens one day. Right now, Victoria needs to collect US$3000 within the next 13 days to finish „Almost Home: Taiwan“ in time for the January elections, which will direct a lot of attention towards Taiwan. She is collecting donations, starting from US$20, via the crowdsourcing platform Indiegogo, which has a reputation for being trustworthy. My goal is to finish this film by the end of the summer. With your help, I can hire an editor, a motion graphics animator and a translator for subtitles, as well as a researcher to license archival footage in Taiwan and America. This is a timely film on a controversial subject that has rarely been depicted with a critical perspective. Every donator will be mentioned in the film’s credits. To see how many people have already donated, how much you have to give for a drink with the director, or for an associate producer credit, check out the project’s campaign site at Indiegogo.com. I already saw a 30-minute rough cut, and it makes me look forward to the finished film. While there are some technical shortcomings, especially concerning the sound during the early self-filmed sequences, those can be fixed in post-production. I like Victoria’s approach to tell Taiwan’s complicated recent history through her own family’s story. She also managed to get her hands on some nice old newsreel footage and even Japanese propaganda from 1930’s Taiwan and weave it into the narrative. And finally, she interviewed high-calibre democracy activists like Peng Ming-min and Linda Arrigo, legends for their involvement with the anti-autocratic movements of the 1960s and 1970s, respectively. (Peng’s "A Taste of Freedom", a gripping account of life in a dictatorship and of Taiwan’s early post-war independence movement, is a must-read.) I do not know if „Almost Home: Taiwan“ will bet he most polished documentary on Taiwan ever produced, but I believe that Taiwan needs more people telling this kind of stories if it wants to make the world aware of its democracy and the dangers it is facing. So it probably deserves all the suport it can get. (And speaking of it, you can support this blog by clicking the Flattr button below.) Click here for more English posts on this otherwise mostly German blog. Other posts you might want to have a look at: Cheap labor, no rights? Taiwan's 2nd class foreigners Jingmei Prison shows how Taiwan does not deal with its past The strange case of Hsu Hsin-liang, who says he wants to run for President

When I first met Victoria Linchong in January 2010, she was busy travelling around Taiwan with her small video camera, doing interviews with Aborigines in Taitung and with former democracy activists in Taipei. She told me she was an actress from New York City, doing a documentary about her parents’ home – Taiwan.

Victoria calls „Almost Home: Taiwan“ a „documentary on Taiwan’s struggle for democracy“, but it is just as much about her own family. Born in the U.S., in 1986 she came to Taiwan with her father for the first time to attend a family funeral. She accompanied him again in 2008. Taiwan had changed a lot by then. This time, she took a video camera and recorded scenes of that very personal journey of discovery. The idea: turn it into a documentary.

“Almost Home: Taiwan” is a feature-length documentary that examines the legacy of political repression and the emergence of Taiwanese identity and independence, through the reunion of a Taiwanese family after 22 years.

In the documentary, filmmaker Victoria Linchong returns to Taiwan with her family, searching for long-lost connections and becoming re-acquainted with the unique culture of the island and its wild beauty. Bridging the deeply personal and globally political, “Almost Home: Taiwan” clarifies the controversies surrounding Taiwan, while introducing viewers to raucous night markets, aboriginal festivals, saint trees and kissing fish.

This is Victoria introducing the project herself:

One and a half years after she came to Taiwan once more for interviews and additional footage, Victoria has almost finished her film. Being a TV journalist, I know what it means to start out with nothing but an idea, but I can only try to imagine (weiterlesen …)

Taiwan's first female candidate for president, Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), explains her ideas for putting cross strait relations on a multilateral basis, and about Taiwan's trade relations with China. After winning the DPP's primaries, Tsai's candidacy was confirmed on 27 April, 2011. Taiwan's elections for President and Parliament are scheduled for 14 January, 2012. On 23 April, 2011, Tsai met members of Taiwan's international community to talk about her policy plans. "A new generation of cross-strait relations" [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP_f1rjLct0;] "No exceptions for China" [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXUzVZwciXk;] "We need judicial reform" [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcNy7dKsi8k;] Videos of the whole event can be seen here. Learn more in blogs here (David on Formosa) or here (Letters from Taiwan). Tsai will be running against incumbent President Ma Ying-jeou (KMT), who has also given English press conferences in the past. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok8yImBU02A;] I might be updating this and posting more videos in the future. Other posts you might want to have a look at: Cheap labor, no rights? Taiwan's 2nd class foreigners Jingmei Prison shows how Taiwan does not deal with its past The strange case of Hsu Hsin-liang, who says he wants to run for President

Taiwan’s first female candidate for president, Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), explains her ideas for putting cross strait relations on a multilateral basis, and about Taiwan’s trade relations with China.

After winning the DPP’s primaries, Tsai’s candidacy was confirmed on 27 April, 2011. Taiwan’s elections for President and Parliament are scheduled for 14 January, 2012.

On 23 April, 2011, Tsai met members of Taiwan’s international community to talk about her policy plans.

“A new generation of cross-strait relations”

“No exceptions for China”

“We need judicial reform”

Videos of the whole event can be seen here. Learn more in blogs here (David on Formosa) or here (Letters from Taiwan).

Tsai will be running against incumbent President Ma Ying-jeou (KMT), who has also given English press conferences in the past.

I might be updating this and posting more videos in the future.

Other posts you might want to have a look at:

The strange case of Hsu Hsin-liang, who says he wants to run for President

Update in English, 30 Apr, 2011: After visiting Taiwan together with three other liberal Members of the European Parliament (see below) and meeting President Ma as well as DPP politicians, former Estonian Foreign Minister Kristiina Ojuland issued a remarkable press statement: One-China policy has got no future in long term The European Union is facing impressive economic developments in Taiwan, which has become the driving force for democracy and economic growth in the Far-East region (...) Nevertheless, negotiations on the FTA can only be successfully concluded, when Taiwan keeps retaining a moratorium on death penalty (...) In long term perspective the One-China policy is not and cannot be in the interest of the EU. Now, while I personally oppose the Death Penalty on principle, I dislike the EU's double standards when criticizing Taiwan while more or less tolerating executions in the US or Japan, not to mention the thousands of prisoners being killed in China every year. More important, however, is the open questioning of the EU's fatal "One-China policy". While the European Parliament is probably the least powerful of the three major EU institutions, and the Liberals constitute but a minority fraction, it is good to see some common sense shining through once in a while. Drei leibhaftige CDU-Bundestagsabgeordnete und eine FDP-EU-Parlamentarierin sind zur Zeit auf Einladung der Regierung in Taiwan. Darunter Klaus-Peter Willsch, der Vorsitzende des "Parlamentarischen Freundeskreises Berlin-Taipei" - in Ermangelung diplomatischer Beziehungen eines der wichtigsten Gremien, um überhaupt politische Kontakte zwischen Taiwan und Deutschland zu haben. Nach einem Treffen mit Ma Ying-jeous Ehefrau Chow Mei-ching im November in Berlin sagte Willsch angesichts des deutschen Einreiseverbots für Präsident Ma: „Es ist bedauerlich, dass Repräsentanten eines demokratischen Landes, das vorbildlich für die gesamte Region ist, politisch sprichwörtlich links liegen gelassen wird. Aber wir müssen das Beste daraus machen." Worte, wie man sie aus der deutschen Politik gern öfter hören würde - anstelle der üblichen Ein-China-Appeasements, wie die Bundesregierung sie seit Jahr und Tag von sich gibt. Pressemitteilung des Taiwan/ROC-Außenministeriums: A Delegation from the Germany-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group Visits Taiwan At the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Parliamentarian Klaus-Peter Willsch, Chair of the Germany-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, leads a five-member delegation to Taiwan from April 26 to 30, 2011. Two other members of the Group is (sic) joining Chair Willsch: Parliamentarian Joachim Hoerster and Parliamentarian Uwe Schummer. All three of them belong to the German Christian Democratic Party. The rest of the delegation consists of the Chair’s spouse, Mrs. Annette Willsch, and assistant, Mr. Christian Raap. The delegation will call on Minister of Foreign Affairs Timothy C.T. Yang, Minister of the Environmental Protection Administration Shu-hung Shen, Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Jung-Chiou Hwang, Secretary General of the Mainland Affairs Council Shu-Ti Chang, among others. Legislative Yuan Vice President Yung-Chuan Tseng and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Lyushun Shen will respectively host luncheons in the delegation’s honor. In addition, arrangements have been made for the delegation to visit the Council for Economic Planning and Development, Government Information Office, Hsinchu Science Park, National Palace Museum, AU Optronics Corporation, Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation, Tzuchi Foundation, Taroko National Park, and other cultural and economic establishments. Chair Willsch, who has been serving the position of Chair of the Germany-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group since February 2010, plays an active role in his party and the Budget Committee of the German Parliament. Parliamentarians Hoerster and Schummer belong to the Committee for Foreign Affairs and the Committee for Education and Research, respectively. Mrs. Annette Willsch is a publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the monthly magazine Rheingau-Taunus. Except for Parliamentarian Hoerster, this trip is the first for the members of the delegation. During their visit, the delegation members aim to obtain a better understanding of Taiwan’s most recent political, economic and cultural developments. With such knowledge, they will be able to further promote the substantive relations between Taiwan and Germany. Dass Klaus-Peter Willsch zum ersten Mal  Taiwan bereisen soll, deckt sich nicht mit dieser Meldung von Radio Taiwan International, derzufolge er im Februar mit 15 hessischen Weinköniginnen im Gefolge hier war. Klarstellung, 3.5.: Die Weinköniginnen-Veranstaltung fand in der Taipeh-Vertretung Berlin statt, nicht in Taiwan. RTI hat sich im Kontinent vertan. (Interessanter Fund am Rande: Willsch hält nicht viel von der Anti-Paintball-Hysterie, die regelmäßig in der deutschen Politik um sich greift.) Joachim Hörster setzt sich offenbar besonders gegen die Todesstrafe ein. Da wird er in Taiwan bestimmt viel zu diskutieren haben. Parteiübergreifend wollen die Politiker hier ja die Todesstrafe erst abschaffen, wenn eine Mehrheit der Bevölkerung dahinter steht. Wenn die Väter des Grundgesetzes 1949 auch so gedacht hätten, würden wir in Deutschland wohl heute noch hinrichten. Bei dieser Argumentation frage ich mich: Würden die selben Politiker sich auch dem Volksempfinden beugen, sollte die Mehrheit der Bevölkerung in Umfragen fordern, z.B. die Einkommensteuer abzuschaffen? Hier noch ein Bericht über den Besuch einer MdB-Delegation im Januar 2010. Außerdem befindet sich gerade (und noch bis zum 29.4.) die FDP-Europaabgeordnete Alexandra Thein mit drei weiteren liberalen EU-Parlamentariern in Taiwan. Laut Außenministerium treffen sie auch Präsident Ma und Taiwans Oppositionspartei DPP: The delegation will have an audience with President Ma Ying-jeou, call on President of the Legislative Yuan Wang Jin-pyng, Minister of the Mainland Affairs Council Lai Shin-yuan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Lyushun Shen, and Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Lin Sheng-chung, Director General of the Intellectual Property Office Wang Mei-hua, and meet with representatives from the Kuomintang party, the Democratic Progressive Party and the European Economic and Trade Office. President Wang Jin-pyng and Deputy Minister Lyushun Shen will host banquets in their honor. The delegation will also visit the National Palace Museum, Taipei 101, Taroko National Park, the Industrial Technology Research Institute, Hsinchu Science Park and Eco-City, among other cultural and economic establishments. Per Twitter meldete sie sich nach ihrer Ankuft zu Wort - und verwendete für Taiwan die Kalter-Kriegs-Bezeichnung "freies China", womit sie sowohl die EU, die chinesische Regierung, als auch sehr viele Taiwaner vor den Kopf stoßen dürfte - würde man jede Äußerung auf die Goldwaage legen. Aber Taiwans politische Situationist nun mal eine besonders verzwickte, und man kann über jeden westlichen Politiker froh sein, der überhaupt den Weg hier her findet.

Update in English, 30 Apr, 2011:

After visiting Taiwan together with three other liberal Members of the European Parliament (see below) and meeting President Ma as well as DPP politicians, former Estonian Foreign Minister Kristiina Ojuland issued a remarkable press statement:

One-China policy has got no future in long term

The European Union is facing impressive economic developments in Taiwan, which has become the driving force for democracy and economic growth in the Far-East region (…)

Nevertheless, negotiations on the FTA can only be successfully concluded, when Taiwan keeps retaining a moratorium on death penalty (…)

In long term perspective the One-China policy is not and cannot be in the interest of the EU.

Now, while I personally oppose the Death Penalty on principle, I dislike the EU’s double standards when criticizing Taiwan while more or less tolerating executions in the US or Japan, not to mention the thousands of prisoners being killed in China every year.

More important, however, is the open questioning of the EU’s fatal “One-China policy”. While the European Parliament is probably the least powerful of the three major EU institutions, and the Liberals constitute but a minority fraction, it is good to see some common sense shining through once in a while.

Drei leibhaftige CDU-Bundestagsabgeordnete und eine FDP-EU-Parlamentarierin sind zur Zeit auf Einladung der Regierung in Taiwan. Darunter Klaus-Peter Willsch, der Vorsitzende des “Parlamentarischen Freundeskreises Berlin-Taipei” – in Ermangelung diplomatischer Beziehungen eines der wichtigsten Gremien, um überhaupt politische Kontakte zwischen Taiwan und Deutschland zu haben.

Nach einem Treffen mit Ma Ying-jeous Ehefrau Chow Mei-ching im November in Berlin sagte Willsch angesichts des deutschen Einreiseverbots für Präsident Ma: „Es ist bedauerlich, dass Repräsentanten eines demokratischen Landes, das vorbildlich für die gesamte Region ist, politisch sprichwörtlich links liegen gelassen wird. Aber wir müssen das Beste daraus machen.” Worte, wie man sie aus der deutschen Politik gern öfter hören würde – anstelle der üblichen Ein-China-Appeasements, wie die Bundesregierung sie seit Jahr und Tag von sich gibt.

Pressemitteilung des Taiwan/ROC-Außenministeriums:

A Delegation from the Germany-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group Visits Taiwan

At the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Parliamentarian Klaus-Peter Willsch, Chair of the Germany-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, leads a five-member delegation to Taiwan from April 26 to 30, 2011.

(weiterlesen …)

It seems quite natural that someone who has been head of the DPP twice is now competing for its Presidential nomination. However, the closer one looks at the case of Hsu Hsin-liang (許信良), the more unsusual it appears to be. For example, a Chinese dissident has mentioned Hsu's name in connection with alleged plans for a Beijing-funded political organization, to be established as a puppet party in Taiwan after the 2012 Presidential elections (see below). He has also been called a "DPP turncoat" whose "position in the election primary is exactly the same as the KMT's." Hsu admitted he has a slim chance of winning the primaries, but said he wants to "make society care about the issues I hold close to my heart. (...) This is my motive; I have no other motives.” Some of his political views are far removed from DPP mainstream. Taipei Times Asked about his views on cross-strait relations, including Chinese pressure on Taiwan’s international space, Hsu said: “I only care about social welfare and everything else comes second.” [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22PWDuqUof4;] This video is an excerpt from the first TV debate between the three DPP candidates for the Presidential ticket, broadcast on April 9, 2011. There were two more on April 13 and 16, and a last one will follow on April 20. The DPP wants to settle on a candidate by May 4. Although it looks like the race will be between political heavyweights Tsai Ing-wen and Su Tseng-chang, Hsu manages to steal the limelight and make a lot of headlines. Taipei Times The most emotional performance came from Hsu Hsin-liang (許信良) when he said that Taiwan should “open up wide to Chinese money, students and tourists” — true to his election announcement that he did not expect to win, but hoped to influence election policy. “The single most important issue is Taiwan’s economic growth,” Hsu said. “I care about cross-strait ties because I care about their economic impact. Only with growth can we craft and fund better social welfare policies,” Hsu said. AP A veteran politician said Saturday that Taiwan's main opposition party should drop its anti-China stance and sanction unrestricted Chinese investment in the self-governing island in order to win next year's presidential election. (Equating the DPP with "anti-China" is a mistake often made by some western media organizations reporting from Taiwan.) In an editorial, the Taipei Times called Hsu's candidacy a sign of the DPP's "democratic maturity". During the last almost 40 years, Hsu Hsin-liang has switched his political affiliation so often that he has been called "the master (chameleon), bar none" of Taiwanese politics: A man who has always wanted to lead the parade, but has rarely had a sustainable following. He is a man who loves to talk and press the flesh, but has not had a recognizable job in decades. Yet, surprisingly, he seems to live well enough — so much so that he makes many wonder where his money comes from. Hsu started out with the Kuomintang (KMT) in the early 70's and won the Taoyuan County Commissioner Elections in 1977 as a independent. He was DPP Chairman from 1992-93 and 1996-98, twice failing to secure his party's Presidential ticket. He split with the DPP and ran as an independent candidate in Taiwan's 2000 elections. Hsu supported the KMT in 2004 and the DPP again in 2008. In March 2011, to everyone's surprise, he announced his participation in the current DPP primary. That did not come cheap. When registering his candidacy, Hsu had to pay a USD 170,000 fee that, according to the Taipei Times, he borrowed from his brother's business connections. (Two-thirds of the sum will apparently be returned once a candidate drops out of the race.) And now for something completely different. In 2009, the Chinese dissident Yuan Hongbing (袁红冰) published his book "Taiwan Disaster" (台灣大劫難). The English translation, titled "The Taiwan Crisis: China's Plan to Annex Taiwan without a Battle by 2012", came out in 2010. In Taiwan, it is available here, here and in the Taoyuan Airport bookshop. Yuan, a former law professor at Peking University and self-proclaimed drinking companion of China's Vice President Xi Jinping during the 1980's, currently lives in exile in Australia. He claims to have been provided with highly classified internal CCP documents revealing China's strategies to annex Taiwan. One of those strategies, he claims, is to establish a Chinese-run "Taiwan Socialist Democratic Party" within Taiwan. Even if Taiwan became "one country, two systems" and continued under a "democratic system", pro-independence ideas could not be allowed to "roam free" or else China would face endless troubles. Even if China politically allies top KMT members through United Front operations, there is a substantial portion of base members and Taiwanization groups who are deeply anti-Communist. Moreover, the KMT's ability to take control of society during a drastic time of change is questionable. Given the KMT's political position and ability, it would be unwise to completely trust the KMT and put all of China's political eggs in one basket. China must set up a powerful organization in Taiwan that fully complies to Beijing's political will in order to ensure that China's political plans are successfully realized during and after reunification. Only then can China be assured that Taiwan will not continue to be a troublemaker after reunification. (pp. 135 f.) But how to give a puppet party a credible facade? Wang Huning acted as chief counsultant to the preparation team. He demanded that the team pay particular attention in pulling out a few iconic characters from both the KMT and the DPP to enter the SDP and to hand them important jobs. Wang believed that if representatives from both the KMT and the DPP became iconic figures of the SDP, then sharp polarization would be sparked in both camps. (...) By Wang Huning's suggestion, the preparation team listed Song Chuyu, Hsu Hsinliang (sic) and twenty other marginalized figures from the KMT and DPP as important targets for becoming Central Committee members of the SDP. (...) After continuous discussion, it is confirmed in the "Political Strategies to Solve the Taiwan Problem" that the SDP will be publically registered after the spring elections in 2012, just before the presidential inauguration. The first mission of the SDP will be determined by the outcome of the election. If the DPP wins, the SDP will announce a "Taiwan Independence" threat before the new president is in office, unite with the KMT, and call on China to send in troops to control the situation. If the KMT wins, then the SDP will take all effective measures to push the KMT into signing a reunification agreement revoking Taiwan as Republic of China, abolishing the ROC constitution, and implementing the constitution of Communist China before the 18th Congress in 2012. (pp. 141 f.) Yes, that sounds like on huge conspiracy theory. Let's all hope it is. Meanwhile, Hsu Hin-liang has won the support of other marginalized former DPP figures, notably former Kaohsiung County Commissioner Yang Chiu-hsing (楊秋興), who ran against the DPP as an independent candidate last November after not securing his party's nomination for the post of Greater Kaohsiung Mayor. And of former independence movement icon and DPP Chairman Shih Ming-teh (施明德), by now a highly polarizing figure detested by many of his former supporters. Taipei Times Shih and Hsu denied that they were aligned with the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT). There is suspicion that Hsu will run for President as an independent candidate once the DPP turns him down again - although when he tried that in 2000, having just stepped down from the DPP Chairmanship, he did not even collect 1% of the vote. Back in 2006, Jerome Keating wrote about Hsu in "Taiwan: The Struggles of a Democracy": His hatred for the DPP, which twice passed him over, influences his speech. Yet the man cannot bear to bow out of the limelight. There is only one place left he has not tried, the PRC. There he will have to give up many illusions of being the great leader. His monk image won't sell; and one wonders what he would then say about democracy. Stranger things have happened. (p. 105) Only one thing is for sure: This will be a very exciting year for everyone interested in Taiwanese politics. I am a German reporter living and working in Taiwan. Click here for more English posts on this otherwise mostly German blog. You can also follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

It seems quite natural that someone who has been head of the DPP twice is now competing for its Presidential nomination. However, the closer one looks at the case of Hsu Hsin-liang (許信良), the more unsusual it appears to be.

For example, a Chinese dissident has mentioned Hsu’s name in connection with alleged plans for a Beijing-funded political organization, to be established as a puppet party in Taiwan after the 2012 Presidential elections (see below).

He has also been called a “DPP turncoat” whose “position in the election primary is exactly the same as the KMT’s.”

Hsu admitted he has a slim chance of winning the primaries, but said he wants to “make society care about the issues I hold close to my heart. (…) This is my motive; I have no other motives.”

Some of his political views are far removed from DPP mainstream.

Taipei Times

Asked about his views on cross-strait relations, including Chinese pressure on Taiwan’s international space, Hsu said: “I only care about social welfare and everything else comes second.”

This video is an excerpt from the first TV debate between the three DPP candidates for the Presidential ticket, broadcast on April 9, 2011. There were two more on April 13 and 16, and a last one will follow on April 20. The DPP wants to settle on a candidate by May 4.

Although it looks like the race will be between political heavyweights Tsai Ing-wen and Su Tseng-chang, Hsu manages to steal the limelight and make a lot of headlines.

(weiterlesen …)

Taipei Arena, 3 April 2011. Yes, it's him. It is a big arena... Who else was there? Would anyone post a list with some of the songs Bob Dylan played?  

Taipei Arena, 3 April 2011.

Yes, it’s him. It is a big arena…

Who else was there? Would anyone post a list with some of the songs Bob Dylan played?

You cannot say Taiwan's government does not care for foreigners. For example, they regularly advertise their 24-hour hotline for foreigners (0800-024-111) in English papers like the Taipei Times - but then again, the ad is Chinese only. Back in November, the Ministry of Transportation and Communication announced a web contest to root out badly translated English signs. Good idea, bad execution: The website was Chinese only. Pity the Taipei Times did not notice it back then, I thought. Now, this "contest" is over and the Taipei Times fell for the Ministry again. Reason enough for me to sit down and write this letter to the editor, which so far has not been printed, so I post it here. Click here for more English posts on this otherwise mostly German blog. Ministry's "Chinglish signs" contest a sham Does anyone actually believe that all over Taiwan, there are only 72 signs with bad English translations? Yet that is what the Ministry of Transportation wants us to believe, according to a recently finshed call for entries on Facebook, and the Taipei Times fell for it ("Netizens root out Chinglish Signs", Feb 17, p.2). "This showed that problems with bilingual signs are not as serious as some people might think", said the Deputy Minister. Actually, all it shows is how the Ministry succeeded in getting the results it wanted. This whole contest was a sham, giving away Wiis and other gifts or not. The Facebook site and website were not even linked to from the Ministry's own Website, and worst of all it was in Chinese only, thereby effectively excluding the vast majority of foreigners living in Taiwan from participating - precisely those people who know best about the problem. I would have expected the Taipei Times of all media to report on the inanity of this concept, but alas, maybe the reporter did not know how to find the websites either. Furthermore, the ministry singled out signs from Tainan and Kaohsiung as being especially badly translated, playing to cliches of southern Taiwanese as clueless country bums. How about taking a look instead at the official English booklet for this year's Lantern Festival, published by the Taipei City Government? Prepare for some good laughs, though, as obviously no native English speaker had a look at it, ever. Talk about losing face - is this how Taipei City wants to present itself to foreigners? Having pointed this out, I will also take my Wii now, thank you very much.      

You cannot say Taiwan’s government does not care for foreigners. For example, they regularly advertise their 24-hour hotline for foreigners (0800-024-111) in English papers like the Taipei Times – but then again, the ad is Chinese only.

Back in November, the Ministry of Transportation and Communication announced a web contest to root out badly translated English signs. Good idea, bad execution: The website was Chinese only. Pity the Taipei Times did not notice it back then, I thought.

Now, this “contest” is over and the Taipei Times fell for the Ministry again. Reason enough for me to sit down and write this letter to the editor, which so far has not been printed, so I post it here.

Click here for more English posts on this otherwise mostly German blog.

Ministry’s “Chinglish signs” contest a sham

Does anyone actually believe that all over Taiwan, there are only 72 signs with bad English translations? Yet that is what the Ministry of Transportation wants us to believe, according to a recently finshed call for entries on Facebook, and the Taipei Times fell for it (“Netizens root out Chinglish Signs”, Feb 17, p.2). “This showed that problems with bilingual signs are not as serious as some people might think”, said the Deputy Minister.

Actually, all it shows is how the Ministry succeeded in getting the results it wanted. This whole contest was a sham, giving away Wiis and other gifts or not. The Facebook site and website were not even linked to from the Ministry’s own Website, and worst of all it was in Chinese only, thereby effectively excluding the vast majority of foreigners living in Taiwan from participating – precisely those people who know best about the problem. (weiterlesen …)