Implications and Complications of the AIIB

  What happened? Without consulting the public, the Ma Administration rushed an application to join the AIIB, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (亞投行). Taiwan applied on March 30, just before the March 31 deadline to become a founding member, sparking a protest in Taipei on the morning of March 31, 2015 that grew to about 600 … Continue reading Implications and Complications of the AIIB

Walking through 228 : 10 Facts About 228

The 228 Incident/Massacre, (二二八事件), is an event in Taiwan's history that is not commonly known; the exact number of victims remain a mystery other than that tens of thousands suffered. What is known is that it was a conflict between the incoming ROC government and the inhabitants of Taiwan. Although many have heard of the bloody … Continue reading Walking through 228 : 10 Facts About 228

Understanding 228 : More Than Just A Day in Taiwan

[W]e must be one, no matter which communal group we belong; we must help each other with compassion and treat each other with sincerity; we must dissolve hatred and resentment, and bring about long lasting peace After losing the First Sino-Japanese War, China ceded Taiwan to Japan in 1895 as part of the Treaty of … Continue reading Understanding 228 : More Than Just A Day in Taiwan

Taiwan Martial Law and the Aftermath

It was declared a “watershed moment in its democratization”, but there was no jubilation or dancing in the streets. The Nationalists Kuomintang (KMT) still had a strangle hold on Taiwan’s political system, but this was the beginning of political liberalization and the roots of Taiwanization. Chiang Ching-kuo lifted martial law over Taiwan in July 1987, 38 … Continue reading Taiwan Martial Law and the Aftermath

Waving Flag: Twin Oaks and the Blowback

On January 1 2015, there was a private flag-raising ceremony held at Twin Oaks at Washington D.C. in which the Republic of China (ROC) flag was raised. The attendees were all from Taiwan; members of the Taiwanese military and the unofficial embassy called TECRO were present. Twin Oaks was the former residence of ROC ambassadors … Continue reading Waving Flag: Twin Oaks and the Blowback

The Release of Chen Shui-Bian and Implications

After serving six years in prison, former president Chen Shui-Bian has been released on medical parole. Chen has been granted an initial one-month parole with extensions up to a three months period per review allowed depending on his health. The former president thus has the potential to be out of prison for a very long … Continue reading The Release of Chen Shui-Bian and Implications

Musings on Double Ten Day

Tomorrow is a special day for the government on Taiwan; the revolution that overthrew the Qing Dynasty started on this day 103 years ago. It is so significant that the ROC calendar system made the year of the revolution, 1911, as Year Zero; 2014 is the 103rd Year of the Republic. It is the "National Day" … Continue reading Musings on Double Ten Day