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Blue-camp leaders have an odd way of thinking

 

By Li Hsiao-feng

 

One can never find the so-called "blue thinking methodology" in any books on thinking methodology, because it's a unique product of Taiwan's media, certain political groups and their supporters. What is "blue thinking methodology?" We can get a clear picture from the following examples.

 

One, President Chen Shui-bian's son, Chen Chih-chung -- who is now doing his military service -- took a day's leave after the Ministry of National Defense officially suspended leave for most military personnel. He was severely attacked by politicians who never questioned why KMT Chairman Lien Chan's and PFP Chairman James Soong's sons didn't have to do military service for health reasons.

 

Two, when Chen asked for business leaders' advice about government personnel, he was immediately criticized as ruling the nation through conglomerates. Some even compared him with the late president Chiang Kai-shek, saying that business groups would never interfere with politics during Chiang's rule. This is laughable, because no one dared interfere with politics under the dictator's rule.

 

Three, Beijing has constantly claimed that it's taking good care of the health of the Taiwanese while obstructing the nation's participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA). After the president retorted that Beijing's claim was a lie, he was surprisingly criticized by Clara Chou, a blue-camp TV talk show hostess, who attacked Chen for politicizing the issue in the face of the SARS outbreak. This beautiful hostess failed to note that China has politicized the matter the most.

 

Four, pan-blue politicians criticized former president Lee Teng-hui for purchasing a mansion at the Hong Si Villa. But they have forgotten that Chiang had many residences across the nation. They never questioned the acquisition or ownership of these presidential residences. Nor did they intend to investigate why Soong's son, Allen Soong -- a US-based computer engineer -- was able to buy five houses in the US.

 

Five, after Lee left his post, he was criticized as interfering in politics when he commented on Taiwan's political situation. But Chiang held his post for five terms in violation of the Constitution before he passed away in 1975. Not only was his son, Chiang Ching-kuo, later elected president in 1978, but the younger Chiang told Taiwanese to follow his father's line.

 

Six, since these politicians hate Lee so much, they clamored for a cut in his annual security budget. Isn't it bizarre that they didn't know that the maintenance costs of the two Chiangs' cemeteries are much higher than the cost for Lee's bodyguards?

 

Seven, they made up the rumor that Lee's wife, Tseng Wen-hui, fled to the US with suitcases stuffed with money after the 2000 presidential election. But they were not interested in the suitcases carried to the US by Madame Chiang Kai-shek in the past.

 

Eight, whenever the 228 Incident is mentioned, they tell us not to live in the past.

 

Nine, they like to criticize Chen and Lee as autocratic and arbitrary. Are the incumbent and former presidents really worse than the two Chiangs?

 

Ten, they lashed out at the president for his poor handling of the Pachang Creek tragedy. But they were silent on Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou's handling of the flooding caused by Typhoon Nari in 2001.

 

There are many more examples. In conclusion, the principle of the "blue thinking methodology" is that pan-blue politicians are always right.

 

Li Hsiao-feng is a professor of political history at Shih Hsin University.

 

 

 

Nuclear protest picks up speed

 

NOT QUALIFIED: Former DPP chairman Lin Yi-hsiung slammed the government and opposition legislators for wanting to oppose a plebiscite to decide the nuclear issue

 

By Lin Chieh-yu

STAFF REPORTER

 


Former DPP chairman Lin Yi-hsiung again pressured the DPP government yesterday to demonstrate its resolve to eliminate the country's nuclear power plants, saying government leaders and legislators who oppose allowing people to hold a plebiscite should be abandoned.

 

"Regardless of whether it's the president, the premier or an opposition lawmaker, once they oppose a plebiscite, which is a basic right in all democratic countries, they are not qualified to remain in their posts," Lin said.

Former DPP chairman Lin Yi-hsiung, left, leads anti-nuclear groups for a part of a walk around the nation yesterday. The purpose of the walk is to demand a public referendum on whether or not to proceed with the building of Nuclear Power Plant No.4.


 

Lin, who is leading anti-nuclear groups in a protest walk around the nation, made the remarks in Ilan County.

 

"Moreover, if the government cannot work hard to find alternative energy sources but insists on building nuclear power plants, such a government is not worthy of survival," he said.

 

Since the early 1990s, Lin has led non-violent resistance, adopting the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, and in 1994 organized the Association for Promoting Public Voting on Nuclear Plant Four. In September that year he launched the first wave of nationwide anti-nuclear protests.

 

More than 300 supporters followed Lin in the walk across Ilan County to promote the concept that public voting is a fundamental right of citizens in a democracy.

 

In the 2000 presidential election, Lin, then DPP chairman, used his influence to coordinate resources and factions within the party to support Chen Shui-bian's bid for the presidency. In return, Chen vowed to terminate construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant during his term.

 

That promise has not been kept.

 

In October 2000, the Cabinet announced a halt in construction of the plant. The policy immediately triggered criticism from opposition parties.

 

The DPP government finally surrendered and again started construction in February 2001.

 

To give Chen time to resolve the issue, Lin has been silent for the past two years. But Lin's voice has been growing louder.

 

The Association for Promoting Public Voting on Nuclear Plant Four urged Chen to stick to his ideals.

 

"He has failed to adhere to his ideals -- that's why he always seems to swing back and forth when under pressure," said Cheng Hsien-yu, the association's convener.

 

"Since we elected him, we must keep monitoring the president's performance and put pressure on him," Cheng said.

 

WHA gesture too little, too late

 

On Tuesday, the World Health Assembly (WHA) passed a resolution requiring the World Health Organization (WHO) to respond to all requests for assistance with SARS surveillance, prevention and control. A reasonable and sensible interpretation of the amendment would seem to require that the international health body respond to calls for help from Taiwan, since the new language does not require official membership.

 

While the move is seen by many as a belated token gesture designed to somehow make up for the discriminatory treatment and exclusion of Taiwan, the backing of the nation's allies, primarily the US and Japan, deserves the appreciation and recognition of people here.

 

The spread of the epidemic is at last appearing to ease. The Department of Health is even talking about the hope of being removed from the WHO's travel advisory list by the middle of the month. Yet the amendment comes too late to have much practical impact.

 

Taiwan needs the WHO's assistance in many areas besides the fight against SARS. For example, with the arrival of summer, other communicable diseases such as dengue fever and enterovirus, which have hit Taiwan every year around this time, are making a comeback. What if another epidemic even more lethal than SARS hits the world? Will Taiwan experience the same lack of cooperation from the WHO before receiving any help? In other words, the piecemeal remedy being offered to deal with Taiwan is no remedy at all.

 

This is not to mention the fact that whether the amendment's ambiguous language will be interpreted in Taiwan's favor is entirely at the discretion of the WHO director-general. Given China's record, no one should underestimate Beijing's ability to coerce an interpretation hostile toward Taiwan.

 

Moreover, the amendment does not allow Taiwan to play an active role in the international community to fight SARS. Having experienced a tough fight virtually on its own, surely Taiwan has much to contribute in this regard.

 

For the sake of the people here and around the world, the only real solution to this gap in the global disease-prevention network is at a minimum Taiwan's observer status at the WHO.

 

But even this well-meaning gesture from the WHA,albeit a token one, was enough to trigger a temper tantrum from China. Reportedly, Sha Zukang, China's representative to the UN in Geneva, shouted at the WHA, saying China will "play the game to the end" with any country that politicizes efforts to fight SARS.

 

Sha went on to make a statement that is completely at odds with human-rights principles -- that nothing is more important than preserving the integrity of national territory and sovereignty, the fight against SARS included. Sha's conduct makes plain Beijing's egotism and disregard for human life. Countries that have sided with China on the issue of Taiwan's WHO observer status should be ashamed of themselves.

 

Another group of people in Taiwan should also be ashamed of themselves. A cross-strait videoconference convened by PFP lawmakers, which was supposed to be entirely an academic exchange on SARS, was twisted by China during the WHA meeting as evidence of its "assistance" to Taiwan. Yet these lawmakers convened another such meeting last Wednesday. With countrymen like this, who needs enemies?

 

 

HK wants the SARS truth

 

AP , HONG KONG

 

"We think the experts' panel is not independent. How can Yeoh Eng-kiong review whether he should be held responsible himself?"Dr. Lo Wing-lok, independent lawmaker

 

Lawmakers said yesterday they have passed a motion calling on the government to set up an independent commission to "seek the truth" behind its handling of the SARS outbreak and to find out who, if anyone, should be held responsible.

 

In a rare move, pro-Beijing legislators, who usually support the government, backed the motion moved on Friday by Yeung Sum, head of the territory's biggest opposition party.

 

Critics have blasted officials for reacting too slowly to the outbreak and Hong Kong's political leader, Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa, appointed a panel of international experts on Wednesday to review the government's response and find ways to better prepare for future disease outbreaks.

 

But legislators questioned whether it was appropriate for Dr. Yeoh Eng-kiong, the Hong Kong health secretary, to head the panel and demanded an independent commission be set up to look into the issue.

 

"We think the experts' panel is not independent. How can Yeoh Eng-kiong review whether he should be held responsible himself?" independent lawmaker, Dr. Lo Wing-lok, who represents the medical sector, said by telephone yesterday.

 

"He clearly has a conflict of interest. We can't accept him to chair the panel," said Yeung, chairman of the Democratic Party.

 

"We think an independent committee is needed to seek the truth. Apart from reviewing the incident, we need to find out who should take responsibility," he said.

 

Tung had said the panel -- with experts from Britain, the US, Australia, Hong Kong and China -- will complete its report by September.

 

Yeung said they are calling for an independent committee to be established in October.

 

 

China blasts US President George Bush for supporting Taiwan's bid to WHO

 

REUTERS , BEIJING

 

China blasted US President George W. Bush on Saturday, a day before he meets Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao in France, for signing a bill supporting Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organisation (WHO).

 

The Foreign Ministry protested the bill Bush signed on Thursday, urged the US to stop supporting Taiwan's bid to be an observer in the WHO and warned Washington not to take actions that might hinder Sino-US relations.

 

"We express our resolute opposition to the American side for ignoring China's position and signing this erroneous bill," spokeswoman Zhan Qiyue said in a statement on the Foreign Ministry's Web site.

 

The US must "stop all statements and actions that support squeezing Taiwan into the WHO and not create barriers to the development of Sino-US relations," she said.

 

Taiwan, which has had the third-highest number of cases of SARS behind China and Hong Kong, has said that being shut out of the WHO was hampering its efforts to tackle the disease.

 

Bush and Hu are scheduled to meet on Sunday on the sidelines of a North-South dialogue in Evian, France, that is affiliated with the meeting there of the Group of Eight nations.

 

In a statement on the White House Web site, Bush said the bill did not change the "one China" policy of the United States and that America would continue to support Taiwan's observer status in the WHO.

 

"The United States fully supports the overall goal of Taiwan's participation in the work of the World Health Organisation, including observership," Bush said.

 

Taiwan's latest bid to join the WHO as an observer was shot down at the health body's annual assembly in Geneva earlier this month, prompting the head of Taiwan's health department to accuse the WHO of "health apartheid."

 

"The real goal of the Taiwan authorities' bid to squeeze into the WHO is to create an international 'two Chinas' or 'one China, one Taiwan'," the Foreign Ministry's Zhang said.

 

She urged the United States to "recognise the political plot of the Taiwan authorities and strictly abide by the one-China policy and the principles of the three Sino-US joint communiques."

 

The US Senate passed the bill on May 1 and the House of Representatives cleared it for the White House on May 14.

 

Soong's proposed WHO plan gets criticized heavily

 

EXPRESSED MISGIVINGS: Analysts say the claims of participation in the world health body within two years are likely to be only detrimental to the country

 

By Monique Chu

STAFF REPORTER

 

"If what Soong means is to allow Taiwan to become a participant in WHO attached to China, it would be very insulting for the country"Ken Chiu, ambassador-at-large

 

Analysts yesterday questioned PFP Chairman James Soong's claim that he could secure Taipei's participation in the World Health Organization (WHO) two years after taking office, with some saying his proposal could degrade Taipei's position.

 

Ambassador-at-large Ken Chiu expressed misgivings over Soong's proposal outside of a panel discussion on Taiwan's WHO bid yesterday afternoon.

 

"If what Soong means is to allow Taiwan to become a participant in WHO attached to China, it would be very insulting for the country," Chiu said. "It'll simply downgrade Taiwan's status to a 100 percent local government under Beijing's supervision."

 

Soong said on Friday he's confident of securing Taiwan's participation in the WHO under the "one China" framework two years after he takes office, although he failed to offer details on his plan.

 

The government has declined to fight for its WHO participation either as an associate member or as a non-governmental organization because the two options, according to WHO regulations, would require Beijing's consent.

 

Some analysts fear the two options would only add weight to Beijing's claim that Taiwan is a renegade province.

 

Lin Shih-chia, executive director of the Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance in Taiwan, shared Chiu's concerns.

 

China has blocked Taiwan's application to become an observer at the World Health Assembly (WHA), the top-decision making body of the WHO, seven years in a row.

 

Chiu said the country should drop its bid for WHA observership to seek WHO membership.

 

Wu Chih-chung, a political analyst from Soochow University, said it's time to go for WHO membership because applying as a sovereign state would safeguard national dignity.

 

Whether Taiwan applies for WHO membership as a sovereign state or seeks WHA observership, Beijing would sabotage these moves anyway, Wu said.

 

Chiang Huang-chih, an associate professor of law at National Taiwan University, had reservations about the proposal.

 

"I fear this would trigger unnecessary quarrels," Chiang said, echoing the sentiments of a number of analysts.

 

 

China butchers Taiwan's feelings

 

By the Liberty Times editorial

 

`The manner in which Beijing opposed Taiwan's entry bid during the World Health Assembly (WHA) -- with its "no one really cares about you" attitude -- seriously wounded the feelings of Taiwanese, scarring them for life.'

 

China will stop at nothing to prevent Taiwan from participating in the international community. As it fought SARS at home, Taiwan tried the week before last to join the World Health Organization (WHO) as an observer to give it access to information and assistance available to just about every other country. But China once again decided to add insult to injury by blocking Taiwan's bid, thereby demonstrating its blatant disregard for the health of Taiwanese. As if this wasn't enough, China has continued to exert pressure on the WTO to downgrade the status of Taiwan's mission to the world trade body.

China wants to change the title of Taiwan's delegation to the WTO from "permanent mission" to "office," which is the title used by Hong Kong and Macau. It also wants to prevent Taiwanese delegates from using the titles of diplomacy, such as "ambassador" or "consulate." Furthermore, it wants to prevent Taiwan using words that denote sovereignty, such as "Republic of China" and "central government," in WTO documents.

 

China has repeatedly expressed affection toward the people of Taiwan. But this series of extremely hostile moves on its part has triggered great resentment. The funny thing is that as China's attempts to downgrade the status of Taiwan's WTO delegation came to light, China's Association of Relations Across the Taiwan Strait expressed anger that Taipei had rejected its offer to donate medical supplies for the fight against SARS. It harshly condemned Taiwan for "going back on its word" and "ruthlessly" rejecting the offer, suggesting that it was all the decision of a small, pro-independence faction. It said the development had "seriously injured the relationship between the people on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait."

 

Leaving aside for one moment the devastation to Taiwan caused by China's concealment of the SARS epidemic, the manner in which Beijing opposed Taiwan's entry bid during the World Health Assembly (WHA) -- with its "no one really cares about you" attitude -- seriously wounded the feelings of Taiwanese, scarring them for life. The move has widened the gap between the two sides.

 

China sometimes likes to put on a facade of charity, this time offering to donate medical supplies to Taiwan as part of its propaganda campaign to win back the hearts of Taiwanese. It thinks too little of the integrity and pride of Taiwanese. Therefore, the government's rejection of the offer indeed deserves a cheer, as it reflects the common sentiment of the majority of people here. This was most certainly not the decision of a small pro-independence faction.

 

This country has a population of 23 million, bigger than most other countries. Yet it has been excluded from the international health system as a result of political factors. This contradicts the civilized world's mission to uphold fundamental human rights to medical care across racial groups and national boundaries. The people of Taiwan have without a doubt become the targets of malicious abandonment and serious discrimination.

 

In particular, as the international community becomes increasingly globalized, not only are communications and contacts between people becoming increasingly convenient, but it is becoming increasingly easy for communicable diseases to reach all corners of the globe. Taiwan has close contact with many countries. If Taiwan's 23 million people continue to be shut out of the world's disease-prevention system, not only will they suffer but the rest of the world will suffer as well. So the WHO's succumbing to Chinese pressure will ultimately hurt more than just the people of Taiwan.

 

There is no end to Chinese bullying. After Taiwan joined the WTO, it participated in various activities, gradually winning the recognition of other member countries with its performance. The status and treatment of the Taiwanese delegation at the WTO has been the same as for other sovereign countries. This has in turn provoked China's concern and dissatisfaction. China can't even tolerate Taiwan having observer status at the WHO, let alone treatment as a sovereign country within the WTO. Naturally, changing this has become an important goal for China. Therefore, no one should be surprised by Chinese pressure on the WTO Secretariat.

 

This country has no room to back down. Despite increasing Chinese pressure, the government must stand firm. It is no exaggeration to say that "one more step backward and there will not even be room to die." If Taiwan can't stand up to Beijing in the WTO, where it is an official member, what can Taiwan hope to accomplish in the international community?

 

It is entirely senseless for Beijing to attack Taiwan in the WTO. When Taiwan was negotiating its entry into the trade body, Beijing tried to obstruct the process. It tried to insert a statement in the report by the accession working party that, based on the "one China" principle, China sought to join as a sovereign country, and Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau are all merely appendix "custom territories" of China. But the attempt failed as a result of US objections.

 

Therefore, China pressured the WTO in February this year to downgrade the sovereign status of Taiwan by relying on a 1992 declaration of the chairman of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the WTO's predecessor. The statement essentially indicates that after China joins the WTO, the "Taiwan area" will join under the name of the "Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu," and that under the principle of "one China," Taiwan should hold a status similar to Hong Kong and Macau.

 

But Beijing's demands contradict both the law and facts. As pointed out by this country's officials, Taiwan's application for accession was based on Article 33 of GATT as an independent customs territory. Hong Kong and Macau acceded through sponsorship under Article 26. The condition of Taiwan's accession was settled at the time of accession. Taiwan will never accept being treated like Hong Kong or Macau.

 

China is known for its tendency to pick on those smaller and weaker than itself, despite phony talk about morals, virtues and love for its "fellow countrymen." In reality, it is sparing no efforts in trying to push the people of Taiwan into a dead end. Now it is doing everything within its power to dwarf Taiwan's status in the WTO, fabricating the illusion that Taiwan is part of China. Taiwan's role into the international community, be it participation in medical or economic and trade organizations, benefits both itself and others. It is a big loss to the world that Taiwan cannot take a greater part in international activities. Therefore, the international community should show some moral courage and support Taiwan. Facing a bad neighbor like China, besides bravely saying no to it, the people of Taiwan have no other choice.

 

 

Correspondents challenge China over Taiwan issue

 

CNA , NEW YORK

 

The UN Correspondents Association (UNCA) is challenging China's representative at the UN to debate the Taiwan issue.

 

In a letter to Wang Yingfan, permanent representative of the People's Republic of China to the UN, the UNCA said it is organizing a panel discussion on the future of Taiwan and its legal status.

 

"I wonder if you would be prepared to participate in such a debate? Or, if you prefer, we would be happy to organize a separate briefing for you alone to address correspondents on this issue," said the letter signed by Tony Jenkins, president of the UNCA.

 

The UNCA was upset by China's political maneuvering last Friday that led to the disruption of the press briefing by Andrew Hsia, director-general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, who was due to speak to the UNCA in its club about the SARS crisis and Taiwan's efforts to work with the World Health Organization.

 

"This has disturbed relations between the press and the Secretariat, and it has done serious harm to the image of the PRC within the UN press corps," Jenkins wrote.

 

He reminded Wang that Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which China is a signatory, states: "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."

 

"In China, I understand, the media is still subject to strict government censorship, but the headquarters of the UN is governed by a higher code: that enshrined in Article 19 quoted above," he said.

 

Jenkins cited the UNCA's "tradition of using our club for free expression of views" to emphasize "we have no intention of allowing that right to be abridged by the People's Republic of China or any other member state."

 

He then went on to challenge Wang to participate in the forum his association is planning to host to discuss the Taiwan issue.

 

It is not immediately known whether Wang has accepted the invitation.

 

Hsia, on the other hand, said he was prepared to face anyone on this subject. He said Taiwan has been asking the UN to study the issue of the fact that the 23 million people in Taiwan are not represented in the UN.

 

Jenkins said, for the UNCA members, the Taiwan issue is one of "legitimate news interest." That's why the UNCA has invited Hsia to brief members and now wants people of "all shades of opinion" to join in the proposed panel discussion.

 


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