But is the propaganda drive effective?
China’s participation in and sponsorship of international conferences, closed-door trilateral meetings and other forms of academic exchanges has exploded in recent years. From the near absence of Chinese participants a decade ago, the conference circuit is now swarming with panelists, observers and journalists from China who increasingly set the tone during the panel sessions and Q&A periods.
While such participation is arguably commensurate with China’s size and importance, a pattern has emerged that suggests an orchestrated effort to 'shape' the international narrative on issues of 'core interest' to Beijing, such as its territorial claims in the South China Sea or the 're-unification' of Taiwan.
My article, published today in The Lowy Interpreter, continues here.
If found guilty, the 36-year-old man faces a maximum of five years’ imprisonment. His case also appears to have energized anti-LGBT elements in the country
A 36-year-old man on Thursday was charged with communicating an incitement to violence via the Internet in a Facebook post in which he threatened to “open fire” and “protect his nation” against the LGBT community in Singapore.
My article, published today in The News Lens International, continues here.
According to the narrative created by international media, Beijing is so obsessed with Taiwan that it is constantly ‘infuriated’ by it
We, or at least international media, seem to have traveled back in time. The current president isn’t Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) but Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁). The 16 years that have elapsed since never existed. We are back to an era when everything that Taipei does is bound to “anger” Beijing.
In the past few weeks, the Taiwanese president has “infuriated” Beijing — “from the get go” — by failing to embrace the so-called 1992 consensus and the unsavory “one China” dish that Beijing has been forcing on the Taiwanese people for years. The Taiwanese have “angered” Beijing by electing her and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). The Chinese public has been “angered” by Taiwan’s insistence on maintaining its way of life and, as a result, refusal to be absorbed by their giant (and undemocratic) neighbor. One point three billion Chinese are “angered” by Taiwan’s lack of gratitude for all the supposed concessions made by Beijing in recent years. Taiwanese athletes and teenage pop stars have “angered” China for displaying the Republic of China flag. Beijing has been “angry” with Taiwan for the latter’s ability to deal with its nationals who engage in telecom fraud.
My article, published today in The News Lens International, continues here.
News that Beijing has suspended communication mechanisms with Taipei need to be taken in their proper context. It’s much less alarming than you think
The Taiwan Affairs Office on Saturday confirmed that Beijing had suspended cross-strait communication mechanisms due to failure by the Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) administration to endorse the so-called 1992 consensus and “one China” principle.
The news, though it quickened the pulse of many a news editor worldwide, was not exactly a surprise. After all, Beijing has been telegraphing its intentions for months, and various officers at the TAO since well before May 20, when the hotline set up in 2014 between the TAO and the Mainland Affairs Council in Taipei is said to have gone silent, had been threatening such an outcome if President Tsai refused to utter the wording dictated by the Chinese side.
My article, published today in The News Lens International, continues here.
In an echo of incidents involving Kenya and Malaysia, earlier today 25 Taiwanese nationals were deported from Cambodia to China
After days of speculation and failed attempts by Taiwanese officials to convince Phnom Penh to send 25 Taiwanese nationals suspected of telecom fraud to Taiwan rather than to China, as previously announced, the 25 Taiwanese — along with 14 Chinese — were put on a plane bound for China on Friday. This was the third such incident this year following the deportations by Kenya and Malaysia in April. Each suspect was escorted by two Chinese police officers, Agence France-Presse reports, adding that a total of 90 Chinese officers had arrived in Cambodia to oversee the matter.
My article, published today in The News Lens International, continues here.
‘Even the blind can see what’s going on’
The arrest and charging today of “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung (梁國雄), a lawmaker with Hong Kong’s League of Social Democrats, on one count of misconduct in public office relating to an alleged HK$250,000 (US$32,000) payment received in 2012 has raised suspicions of political interference less than a month before the registration period for the Legislative Council elections in September.
Leung, a thorn in the side of pro-Beijing interests in Hong Kong, is accused of failing to declare the payment, allegedly made by Next Media founder Jimmy Lai (黎智英), another Beijing critic, on May 22, 2012. According to the territory’s Independent Commission Against Corruption, Mark Simon, Lai’s assistant, handled the alleged payment. The 60-year-old lawmaker is set to appear at the Eastern Court at 9.30 am tomorrow.
My article, published today in The News Lens International, continues here.
For all its faults, today’s KMT cannot be accused of being a ‘stooge’ of Beijing, as an opinion maker in Hong Kong argued recently
In an otherwise well intentioned June 20 editorial in the Hong Kong Economic Journal, Joseph Lian Yizheng (練乙錚), a former editor in chief at the journal, likens Beijing’s “stooges” in Hong Kong to Taiwan’s Kuomintang (KMT).
The author argues that KMT “bigwigs” have many things in common with pro-establishment parties in Hong Kong. “The city’s government and business sector,” he writes, “have come to bear all the hallmarks of today’s Kuomintang in Taiwan when dealing with cross-border affairs.”
My article, published today in The News Lens International, continues here.
The hitherto unknown Asia Pacific Institute of International Law is headed by a seasoned Hong Kong barrister with interesting ties to the Chinese Communist Party
Weeks ahead of an expected decision by the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration on a legal challenge by the Philippines against China’s claims to the South China Sea, a Hong Kong-based institute has produced a 41-page legal document making the case that the dispute lies outside the court’s jurisdiction.
The amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief was submitted on June 6 by the Hong Kong-based Asia Pacific Institute of International Law (APIIL).
My article, published today in The News Lens International, continues here.
The move occurs weeks after Taiwanese suspects in Kenya and Malaysia were sent back to China
Cambodian authorities on Monday announced the imminent deporting of 13 Taiwanese fraud suspects to China despite efforts by the Taiwanese government to have them repatriated to Taiwan.
According to Cambodian immigration officials, 13 Taiwanese and 14 Chinese nationals were arrested for alleged Internet fraud on June 13 in a raid at their villa in Phnom Penh. Soon thereafter, Taiwanese representatives contacted their Cambodian counterparts to ensure its nationals were sent back to Taiwan. Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports that the Taiwanese officials were unable to meet with the suspects.
My article, published today in The News Lens International, continues here.
Economic dependence on China once again seems to be behind a country’s decision to avoid interactions with Taiwan
A discombobulated Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps on Friday revealed that Kyrgyz authorities had rejected the group’s application to provide medical services to communities in remote parts of the Central Asian country this summer due to political interference by Beijing.
According to Liu Chi-chun (劉啟群), head of the medical NGO, this was the first time in 21 years that a country had turned it down due to ostensible pressure from Beijing. The team was scheduled to be on the ground in the republic between July 23 and Aug. 1.
My article, published today in The News Lens International, continues here.
Manila can sue Beijing all it wants, but in the end it seems Chinese leaders already know how they will respond
In just a few weeks the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague will render its verdict in a case filed by the Philippines to challenge China’s longstanding maritime claims in the South China Sea. While the result of that arbitration remains unknown, Beijing has already telegraphed how it will react should the court rule in Manila’s favor.
For months now, Chinese officials have made Beijing’s case for rejecting the tribunal’s legal authority in the matter while characterizing Manila’s gambit as “irresponsibly frivolous.” The Chinese foreign ministry has already questioned the court’s authority and is boycotting the entire process, which it has derided as an “orchestrated performance.” As legal scholar Jerome Cohen noted in a recent article, both the Chinese Society of International Law and the All China Lawyers Association have issued “dutiful supporting arguments” in favor of snubbing the process.
My article, published today in The National Interest, continues here.
An Fengshan blames everything on those in Taiwan who seek to ‘secede’ from China. Unfortunately for him, the problem is a much more formidable one
Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman An Fengshan (安峰山) on June 15 denied during a press conference in Beijing that an “anti Taiwan” sentiment had developed among Chinese citizens and argued that the negative thoughts were instead aimed at those who support “Taiwan independence.”
An did not mince his words. “Any attempt to seek secession will be unsuccessful,” he said, while rejecting recent comments by Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council that relations across the Taiwan Strait are between “neighbors.”
My article, published today in The News Lens International, continues here.
The former Taiwanese president had a golden opportunity to give hope to embattled journalists in Hong Kong. He blew it
Barred by the Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) administration from traveling to Hong Kong to attend the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) 2016 Awards gala dinner on June 15, former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) delivered his scheduled address via videoconference, during which he emphasized the many values that are shared by the people of Hong Kong and Taiwan. However, Ma’s version of history papered over many of the problems that have haunted the Special Administrative Region in recent years.
My article, published today in The News Lens International, continues here.
Despite the security breach, military officials maintain that national security was never compromised
Never mind Chinese spies or saboteurs. All it took was a monkey with enough audacity to climb over several wire fences around Chiashan Air Force Base on the eastern coast of Hualien County on June 14. The adventure cost the agile simian his life — he got zapped after deciding that toying with a transformer box was a good idea. And then the power at the airbase went out for a full seven minutes. The lights also flickered at more than 9,600 households in the area.
My article, published yesterday in The News Lens International, continues here.
FIFA and other sports organizations have strict rules against the display of political, religious, or abusive slogans during international matches. Those rules are also flagrantly biased
The Asian Football Confederation recently fined Taiwan’s football association over an incident that occurred during an Asia Cup qualifier in Kaohsiung on June 2. During the match between Taiwan and Cambodia, spectators displayed what has been described as a pro-Taiwan independence flag.
Citing FIFA rules, which ban any political, religious or “abusive slogans” at international football competitions, the Confederation slapped a fine of US$5,000 on the association. The flag featured the island of Taiwan and used the green color. Taken to its extreme, anything green could be construed as a political (or religions, given the color’s association with Islam) statement.
My article, published today in The News Lens International, continues here.
‘In silence we are just as guilty as those who use the alphabet of bigotry to create an environment in which it is permissible for some to repress minority groups’
As the world tries to make sense of the massacre of 49 innocent individuals at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, earlier this week, the global outpouring of support for the community, the victims and their families has been heartwarming. Sadly, in a time that calls for us to transcend our differences, there are still voices — a minority no doubt, but they are nonetheless heard — that seek to divide, to blame, and to hurt.
Hours after the Sunday morning shooting, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in his great wisdom explained to all of us why 49 people had been slaughtered and dozens injured: “Do not be deceived. God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows,” he wrote on his personal Twitter account.
My article, published today in The News Lens International, continues here.
A major taxi company in Taiwan has affiliations that may make you think twice before you open the door and jump in. Or not, depending on your views about Taiwan’s future
One incredible thing about Taipei (and many cities across Taiwan) is how short the wait is before a taxi will spot you on the sidewalk and drive you to your destination for a fraction of the price one would pay in capitals of similar size worldwide. Another fascinating aspect about the business is the dazzling number of taxi companies that vie for customers.
While one can expect a relatively uniform service regardless of the company, one cab service, the Taiwan Grand Chinese Taxi Association (台灣大中華出租車司機聯誼會, or 大中華 for short), stands out for its rather transparent political affiliations and ideology.
My article, published today in The News Lens International, continues here.
The eleventh-hour cancellation of 18 scheduled flights between Taoyuan and Athens occurs amid closer economic ties between China and the cash-strapped country
The Taiwan-based China Airlines (CAL) in late May was forced to cancel 18 direct flights to Athens scheduled from June 3 to Oct. 7 after Greek authorities refused to grant it a license. New information suggests that politics may have been behind Athens’ decision.
On Jan. 26 the carrier announced its operational schedule for a planned seasonal charter service of one direct flight per week between Taoyuan and Athens. The first flight was scheduled for June 3. Since March, CAL had been cooperating with six travel agencies in Taiwan (Lion Travel, Cola Tour, Artisan Tour, South East Travel Service, Phoenix Tours and MITravel) to promote its flights to Athens during that period.
My article, published today in The News Lens International, continues here.
Is the relationship coming to an end? Has Beijing embarked on a policy of disciplining Taiwan for making the ‘wrong’ choices? It’s simply too soon to tell
The million-dollar question that has been asked in recent months is whether Beijing would “punish” Taiwan for having made what it considers the “wrong” decision in the January 16 elections by electing Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) of the Democratic Progressive Party. Since then, there have been many hints suggesting that this might be the case, and media, always on the lookout for drama, have feasted on those. But is Beijing truly embarking on a course of action that could only succeed in alienating the Taiwanese?
My article, published today in The News Lens International, continues here.
The almost universal reaction to a recent harassment case targeting elderly ‘Mainlanders’ in Kaohsiung shows that Taiwan has transcended archaic definitions of citizenship. But China may still use this to its advantage
A controversy over a video targeting an elderly Mainlander in Kaohsiung put a damper on the Dragon Boat Festival on Friday and reopened the always touchy debate on race and citizenship in Taiwan.
The clip, posted on Facebook on Thursday by Hung Su-chu (洪素珠), a contributor to the People Post (PeoPo) citizen journalist platform operated by Public Television Service (PTS), shows Hung chasing an elderly Mainlander man at the 228 Memorial Park in the southern port city.
My article, published today in The News Lens International, continues here.
If the reports are true, Beijing may have decided to ‘punish’ Taiwan and the DPP by barring young Chinese nationals from studying in Taiwan
According to recent reports, Chinese authorities may have decided to bar Chinese nationals from enrolling in universities in Taiwan until President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) “revises” her cross-strait policies to better align them with Beijing’s. Although the move has yet to be confirmed, if true this would be further evidence that Beijing intends to “punish” the 23 million of Taiwan for the choices they make by democratic means. However, rather than punish Taiwan, Beijing’s retaliation could end up hurting young Chinese even more.
Rumors of a possible reversal of a policy implemented under the Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) administration emerged on Monday when the Chinese-language Apple Daily reported it had received a tip via a student based in China. According to the story, the Chinese student had been informed by his school in Jilin Province to “be prepared not to go to Taiwan this semester.”
My article, published today in The News Lens International, continues here.
President Tsai has vowed to transform the way government operates by empowering young people and bringing new voices into her administration. For this to happen, the conservatives will have to be willing to bow out gracefully
Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and her Democratic Progressive Party ran a highly successful campaign leading into the January elections. Unlike their opponents from the Kuomintang (KMT), the DPP much better understood — and reflected in its rhetoric — the public mood that had developed in the wake of the transformative Sunflower Movement in 2014. With Tsai’s election, people expected change, and the incoming president herself promised she would transform the way things are done.
Then came her Cabinet appointments, which very quickly cast doubt on the likelihood that change was upon us. With an average age of 61, the ministerial lineup was technocratic, male dominated, and to be frank, it was oddly reminiscent of previous Cabinet compositions.
My article, published today in The News Lens International, continues here.
If Taiwan is to retain a basic military training program, it should make sure the nation gets a proper return on the investment
For years now the Taiwanese armed forces have sought to phase out conscription, an increasingly unpopular citizen’s duty among young Taiwanese, and replace it with an all-volunteer military system. Blaming an inability to attract sufficient numbers of qualified soldiers, the government has repeatedly delayed full implementation and ended up adopting a “dual track” mix of conscripts and volunteers. By doing so it has ensured there are enough “boots on the ground,” but the current conscripts’ training program is an enormous waste of time and money. What’s even worse is that it does nothing to prepare young men and women for combat.
My article, published today in The News Lens International, continues here.
The Tiananmen Square Massacre anniversary is a reminder that defending freedom and human rights against tyranny is a common responsibility—and in our best interest
Once again this year, the Hong Kong Federation of Students has announced it will not participate in the June 4 candlelight vigil in Victoria Park, the annual event organized by the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China to commemorate the Tiananmen Square Massacre, in which hundreds, perhaps thousands, of unarmed protesters were brutally murdered by the Chinese military in 1989.
A deepening pro-localization sentiment combined with rising Beijing-skepticism among Hong Kong’s youth appear to be the main reasons behind the federation’s decision to not involve itself in the vigil, which every year has attracted tens of thousands of residents in Hong Kong. For the young people who fall in that category and who do not see a common future with China, the human rights situation in China proper may be worrying, but ultimately it is not their problem, and certainly not their responsibility to fix. For some of them, the June 4 commemorations are “meaningless.”
My article, published today in The News Lens International, continues here.
President Tsai is being accused of trying to move Taiwan away from China. Rather than accuse Taipei of breaking an unwritten rule, we should instead ask why China has become less and less attractive to the people of Taiwan
No matter what President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) says or does nowadays, we can be sure there will be observers who are eager to regard her every move as evidence that she intends to pull Taiwan away from China. Oftentimes the wording used by editorial writers seems to imply that proximity to China is a Law of Nature, with the implication that “pushing away” is a violation of the rules.
Much of that stems from the notion that “one China” is a principle, a much-used and misused term that suggests a natural state when, in reality, it is very much a political construct used by Beijing to justify its unchanging policy vis-à-vis Taiwan. If the Taiwan-as-part-of-China trope is indeed a principle, then it follows that any position that argues otherwise involves a contradiction of some law.
My article, published today in The News Lens International, continues here.
An increasingly assertive Chinese Communist Party doesn’t want us too look too closely into China’s eroding human rights situation and activities abroad. We must keep at it, or we’ll all lose.
It is very difficult to find anyone today who will not acknowledge the tremendous accomplishments that the People’s Republic of China has made over the past two-and-a-half decades. From stunning economic growth, rapid (albeit uneven) modernization and the lifting of millions of ordinary Chinese from abject poverty to having a finger in nearly every aspect of global affairs, today’s China is, by several yardsticks, a success story worthy of recognition.
Underneath these achievements, however, are troubling developments that not only should be criticized but that, left unchecked, could have truly nefarious global repercussions. But given their growing assertiveness, Chinese officials won’t brook such criticism and are increasingly belligerent in their response to it. By bristling with anger, China has repeatedly succeeded in scaring off its critics, which includes foreign governments, activists, journalists and academics.
My article, published today in The News Lens International, continues here.
President Tsai’s ability to change Taiwan’s policy on the territorial dispute is constrained by the need to keep cross-strait relations on an even keel
One question that was repeatedly asked as Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) prepared to take office in Taiwan was the position that her administration would adopt on the South China Sea territorial dispute, a flashpoint that now threatens to drag the region into war. Will President Tsai impose major changes on Taiwan’s claims, or will she uphold the Kuomintang’s 60-year-old claims to almost the entire sea area?
So far neither the administration nor the Democratic Progressive Party has said much. In a short press release on Jan. 27, the DPP said it would continue to insist on the sovereignty claims in the South China Sea under UNCLOS and international law, and “will not waver” in its position, a formulation that seems to have been vague by design.
My article, published today in The News Lens International, continues here.
