林保華

World events reflect Taiwan’s risks

By Paul Lin 林保華
This year has already proved to be very strange. Three major international news events have occurred that should cause Taiwanese to think deeply about their future.
The first is the incident surrounding a Hong Kong newspaper, the Ming Pao. In early January, Kevin Lau (劉進圖), the paper’s editor-in-chief, was relieved of his duties. Most people in the industry believed this was because Ming Pao’s new owner, Malaysian media tycoon Tiong Hiew King (張曉卿), was trying to please authorities in China. The paper’s staff opposed the change and people outside the paper supported them.
However, Tiong did not change his decision to replace Lau and merely found a replacement editor to cool things down momentarily. By the time the new editor took over late last month, Lau had been stabbed on the streets of Hong Kong and ended up in a hospital fighting for his life.

DPP must solve its problems first

By Paul Lin 林保華
Taiwan’s two-party politics can be seen in the interactions between the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). The two parties represent different interest groups and this is reflected in the nation’s political situation and has a bearing on its future prospects.
Last month, Steve Wang (王思為), an assistant professor in the Institute of European Studies at Nanhua University, published a thought-provoking article (“Public’s voice lost in China relations,” Jan. 17, page 8). He said that China’s “next step will definitely be to use compradors to directly influence the decisions made in politics in order to complete the last stage of their [unification] plan. This begs the question of whether the public should prepare to welcome in an era characterized by comprador politics?”
Although Wang does not mention names, it is mainly a group of compradors within the KMT who are using KMT-Chinese Communist Party (CCP) cooperation to monopolize Taiwan’s China policies to further their own economic and political interests. They have been diluting Taiwan’s political and economic sovereignty and continue to do so.

Ma treads a beggar’s path to China

By Paul Lin 林保華
More than a year ago, Former Taipei EasyCard Corp chairman Sean Lien (連勝文), a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Central Standing Committee member and potential candidate for November’s Taipei mayoral election, ridiculed President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) by saying that with the economy so bad, there is nothing so great about being the “grandmaster of a beggar’s clan.” Average Taiwanese have been turned into beggars as a result of Ma’s incompetence at ruling the country, but as chairman of the KMT, which has hundreds of billions of New Taiwan dollars in party assets, control over national resources and endless political contributions from corporations, Ma is still a very wealthy man.
“Begging” is normally understood as a way of gaining money, but what has been most interesting about Ma lately is the way he has become a “political beggar” seeking an “audience” with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平). This is evident from the way Mainland Affairs Council Minister Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) acted during his recent trip to China.
First, before visiting China, Wang had to accept China’s condition of three forbidden categories of topics — politics, the Republic of China’s (ROC) title and status, and anything related to human rights, democracy or the rule of law. He did not even protest against the denial of visas to some Taiwanese media outlets.

Rumors of Sino-Japanese conflict

By Paul Lin 林保華
This year is the 120th anniversary of the start of the First Sino-Japanese War, a war that was to see a newly invigorated post-Meiji Restoration Japan defeat China, which had hitherto been the most formidable power in the region. Now the pendulum of power is swinging in the other direction and it is China’s turn to be in the ascendant.
China, ever-mindful of its century of shame and ignominy at the hands of other powers, has started making provocative overtures, but Japan is refusing to back down. Could this year also be the year that sees another conflagration erupt between these two old rivals?
According to Chinese military reports, two foreign fighter jets entered China’s East China Sea air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Friday last week, the first day of the Lunar New Year. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force responded by scrambling two Sukhoi Su-30 fighters. The two sets of fighters played cat-and-mouse for three hours before the Sukhois finally expelled the outsiders, the reports said.

Mimicking Hong Kong’s trajectory?

By Paul Lin 林保華
The UK has declassified records of its negotiations with China 30 years ago regarding Hong Kong’s future. That these papers have been declassified early might have something to do with the emergence of political reform in Hong Kong as an item on the agenda.
Media reports about the published files tell us that although the Britain was keen to leave Hong Kong with a bit more democracy and human rights, it found itself in a passive position in relation to China. Besides the imbalance between a small nation and a large one, the sense of guilt that British “China hands” felt about the Opium Wars and colonialism was another factor. At the time of negotiations, Hong Kong’s pan-democrats were in favor of China taking back Hong Kong, and this view was largely based on anti-colonialist sentiment.
With the passage of time, some young Chinese academics have been re-evaluating the Opium Wars and colonialism. There are those who say that if it had not happened, there would have been no Self-Strengthening Movement, no Hundred Days’ Reform and no Xinhai Revolution, and China would have remained a feudal society in which men had to plait their hair into long queues and girls were crippled by foot-binding. Would that not have been worse? The social setup in China today compares poorly with the way things were in Hong Kong under colonial rule. Even though Hong Kong’s democracy and human rights have been losing ground, Chinese are still flocking there.

US places economy over security

By Paul Lin 林保華
US President Barack Obama is expected to appoint Senator Max Baucus as the next US ambassador to China. Ambassador Gary Locke is a former commerce secretary, and the appointment of Baucus demonstrates Obama’s continued focus on the economy in US-China relations.
Locke has done a good job. Under former secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton, who took a hard diplomatic stance, Locke, thanks to his personal qualities and his Chinese background — he is the first Chinese-American ambassador to Beijing — acted with caution. As a result, he navigated several major incidents safely, such as the case of Wang Lijun (王立軍), the ex-police chief of Chongqing municipality who sought asylum in the US during the Bo Xilai (薄熙來) affair, and the Chen Guangcheng (陳光誠) incident. His accessibility has also helped the Chinese people understand the difference between democracy and dictatorship.
As chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Baucus has followed US-China economic relations for years, but he is inexperienced when it comes to national security and human rights issues. US Secretary of State John Kerry is not as tough as Clinton, which means that we should pay close attention to the future of US-China relations.

US needs to keep China in check

By Paul Lin 林保華
The third generation of the Kim dynasty is now in power in North Korea. When the 29-year-old North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, took over the helm two years ago, observers were wondering whether he would be able to consolidate his power, and there were rumors that he was about to introduce reforms.
He has now rid himself of his uncle Jang Song-thaek, who was seen as his political regent, in a manner reminiscent of how “class enemies” were ferreted out during struggle sessions during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Jang is said to have been executed. It has been an eye-opener to see Kim display the ruthlessness that should have been expected by the “third red generation.”
China’s third red generation is yet to take the stage, but the second generation is putting on a brilliant show with their power struggles.

Political violence divides nation

By Paul Lin 林保華
Unless there is some irregularity, a political party’s national congress is never postponed. The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) ninth congress, for example, was postponed for 13 years while the Cultural Revolution ran its course. The Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) 19th congress was scheduled to take place on Sunday, but earlier this week was suddenly rescheduled. The reason for the change was that something irregular had happened.
It has been reported that the congress will instead be held on Oct. 26 and the venue will be changed from National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in downtown Taipei to the Chungshan Building on Yangmingshan. Even though the KMT is escaping to a mountaintop, it still has to pay its respects to the party’s founder.
When the party’s Evaluation and Discipline Committee revoked Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng’s (王金平) membership on Sept. 11, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) attended the meeting in person to oversee proceedings and to address the committee, while choking up and shedding crocodile tears.

Wang case linked to Ma-Xi meeting

By Paul Lin 林保華
Military leaders in developing countries sometimes launch military coups when the national leader is overseas. Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) is not a national leader, but he is the head of the legislature in a democratic country. During Wang’s trip overseas, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) seized the chance to get rid of him; an action not so different from a coup.
Why did Ma deem it necessary to employ such a cheap trick to consolidate his dictatorship? It was to help his push for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平). Is a “Ma-Xi meeting” of great importance? Of course it is. If Ma wants to win the Nobel Peace Prize, he needs a significant breakthrough. Let us take a look at some recent events that might be related to the meeting:
On June 28, the Special Investigation Division (SID), apparently recorded a telephone conversation between Wang and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘). Since Prosecutor-General Huang Shih-ming (黃世銘) is very sensitive to political issues, it is highly unlikely that he waited until Aug. 21 before reporting this to Ma.

Taiwanese youth bolstering protest
By Paul Lin 林保華

On Saturday evening, on the way to Ketagalan Boulevard, was the sight of masses of people wearing white T-shirts who were there to hold a vigil for the late army corporal Hung Chung-chiu (洪仲丘). The last speaker from Citizen 1985 — the activist group that organized the vigil — called for a show of hands by those who were participating in a demonstration for the first time. About 70 percent of the people held up their hands.

You could call it the Jasmine Revolution. You could call it the Taiwanese Spring. Either way, Taiwan’s civil movement has entered a new phase. The sheer number of people present that evening — estimated at 250,000 — was unprecedented, but more importantly, the vast majority of them were young.

Contact with several members of Citizen 1985 leaves the impression that they are sincere, irreproachable and passionate; that they truly want to create a new reality, a free future, in this tragic world; and that they are in this neither for fame nor gain. These people are the nation’s future generation. If this movement continues in this way, it will not only show the world Taiwan’s independent existence, it will also have an inestimable impact on the civil movement in China.

Emperor Ma sells out Taiwanese
By Paul Lin 林保華

Completely ignoring the struggles of Taiwan’s small and medium-sized enterprises, President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration rashly signed the cross-strait service trade agreement. It wants to destroy Taiwan’s grassroots economy to accomplish Ma’s great unification cause. This is why he does not have the patience to explain the agreement and why he used the label “groundless rumor” to dismiss the public’s concern.

Innumerable examples show that Ma is deceptive by nature.

His biggest deceit was the “6-3-3” campaign promise and the “Ma will turn things around” slogan from his 2008 first presidential election campaign.

‘Ming Pao’ misguided on row with Philippines

By Paul Lin 林保華
With the exception of Taiwanese and Philippine

media, Chinese media outlets have been the most

interested in the shooting of a Taiwanese

President’s scandal-hit aides reflect deception
By Paul Lin 林保華

The allegations of bribery against President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) trusted aide, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Taipei City Councilor Lai Su-ju (賴素如), have dealt a blow to the president, making him a target of widespread criticism.

One of the “nicer” comments made was questioning why those in Ma’s inner circle, such as Lai, former Executive Yuan secretary-general Lin Yi-shih (林益世) and Nantou County Commissioner Lee Chao-ching (李朝卿), were inconsiderate and ungrateful to Ma for the concern and promotions he gave them throughout their careers, and instead hurt him by getting involved in corruption scandals. Observers with this point of view see Ma’s disgraced aides as “disobedient.”

The reason for the officials’ actions is rather simple: For example, Lai was in charge of Ma’s office as KMT chairman and served as his lawyer, which gave her access to confidential information. Without such knowledge, she would not be able to defend Ma or his cohorts in court.

KMT stars rise from nuclear deliberation
By Paul Lin 林保華

The anti-nuclear movement has put huge pressure on President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九). Apart from the public protests, factions have also begun forming inside the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), giving rise to four heavyweights in the party.

Originally, Ma, Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌), New Taipei Mayor Eric Chu (朱立倫) and Greater Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (胡志強) were the KMT’s political stars. Among them, Hu is beginning to fade due to ill health, making it unlikely he will remain at the top. The party’s legislators are afraid of Ma’s party discipline and simply cooperate, making them unlikely to become new leaders. Lo Shu-lei (羅淑蕾) is maybe the only KMT lawmaker who could dare to challenge Ma, but when it is time to vote, she obediently lowers her head and votes as required.

The new heavyweights, then, are to be found in the national and local governments.

Xi-Lien talks push for unification
By Paul Lin 林保華

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (習近平), the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), will soon take over as Chinese president. Lien Chan (連戰), on the other hand, is a former vice president of Taiwan and a former chairman of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) who now carries the title of “honorary chairman.” Consequently, people are wondering why the up-and-coming Xi gave a relative has-been like Lien such a grand reception when he headed a delegation from Taiwan to Beijing earlier this week.

The leadership lineup that emerged from the CCP’s 18th National Congress in November is putting greater emphasis on “united front” work, while weakening the role of the party’s Central Politics and Law Commission.

The main target of the CCP’s united front tactics is, of course, Taiwan, which has not yet been brought into the fold.

Diaoyutais: Ma rocking the boat?
By Paul Lin 林保華

According to reports in the Taiwanese media, a group leaving Taiwan in the early hours of Jan. 24 for the Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台), known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan, where they intended to declare Taiwan’s sovereignty over the islands, were escorted by Coast Guard Administration’s (CGA) ships for the whole journey.

According to the CGA report, “while en route, they [coast guard ships] encountered interference from official Japanese ships, which ended with the two sides firing water cannons at each other. In addition, our coast guard vessels encountered official Chinese ships in the waters around the Diaoyutais for the first time. To avoid concerns that the two sides cooperate in the protection of the Diaoyutais, they were forcefully expelled.”

The Chinese ocean surveillance ships did not leave the area, so while Taiwan’s coast guard vessels and the Japanese ships where pounding each other with water cannons, they sat behind the Taiwanese ships as support.

Stakes high for Xi over Diaoyutais
By Paul Lin 林保華

The lead story of the Jan. 14 edition of the Chinese-language newspaper PLA Daily reported that a document released by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Staff Department outlining military training for the Chinese army demanded that, this year, China’s entire military and armed police should heighten their state of alertness and prepare for war.

The PLA’s bellicosity can be attributed to the fact that the stance of new Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台), known as the Senkakus in Japan, has been much stronger than that of his predecessor, Yoshihiko Noda, especially in terms of military deployment.

However, Noda’s attitude was weak and this is why he was always being attacked. For example, China has conducted several military drills based on capturing islands, while Japan canceled a US-Japan joint military drill scheduled for Nov. 5 last year to the great displeasure of the US.

Injustices give rise to student movements
By Paul Lin 林保華

While the main cause for the Chinese Nationalist

Party’s (KMT) collapse during the Chinese Civil

War was its battlefield losses, the party also

Published on South China Morning Post (http://www.scmp.com)Home > Han Suyin loved China but turned a blind eye to its excesses

Emulating Hong Kong would best suit China
By Paul Lin 林保華   Taipei Times  2012.11.10 

The appearance of so-called “dragon and lion”

flags, derived from the one used when Hong Kong was

a British colony, on protest marches has provoked an