Month: November 2005

EU Warned Not to Sell Weapons to China

Chinese President Hu Jintao is in Europe, and is trying to get the Europeans to drop the arms embargo they imposed after the Tianamen Square Massacre.

In response, an American representative once again warned Europe of sanctions if the embargo is lifted.

My guess is that Hu is going to be disappointed.  The French have been the chief instigators in trying to lift the embargo, as part of their "multi-polar world" (read: anti-American) policy.  But in the wake of the Paris-tinian insurrection, I believe their confidence will be sufficiently shaken to preclude any unfriendly actions towards America.

For now.

US warns EU again over arms embargo

Update: David’s Medienkritik has a report about Hu’s visit to Germany.

KMT Bullies the Press

The KMT accused the Taipei Times, the Taiwan News and foreign media of not covering the KRTC scandal as extensively as the KMT thinks it should be covered.  They made other accusations that were easily disproved, and ended up looking pretty foolish.

Alright all overseas foreigners out there: do you really care about a Taiwanese light rail transit bribery scandal?  Do you get up each day wondering who paid who off, and how much traded hands?  Of course it’s important, but maybe it’s not quite as important as 700 missiles being pointed at Taiwan, and the KMT blocking defensive arms bills.

The real reason for the KMT’s tantrum is that the government is pursuing the TVBS television station, which is currently a KMT media ally.  The KMT argues that this is a violation of freedom of the press, but the truth is more complicated.  More than 50% of TVBS is owned by Hong Kong interests, which is itself a violation of a law limiting foreign ownership of media outlets to 49% or less.  Moreover, there is good reason to suppose that there is communist Chinese influence in the case of a television station with a majority of its shares held by Hong Kongers.

It’s a shot across the bow of the Taipei Times and the Taiwan News.  Remember our record from 45 years of dictatorship, says the KMT.  What the government does to TVBS, they warn, we can one day do to you.

KMT Bullies the Press

Update: The Taipei Times editorial response:

(KMT Legislator) Su Chi shoots the messenger

KMT Blocks the Special Arms Bill for the 36th Time

Boy, they’re sure serious about defense, huh?

When I’m feeling charitable, I chalk up their obstructionism to the fact that the KMT are the opposition party, and of course, the job of the opposition is to oppose.  There’s some evidence for this, because there are a number of other bills that languish simply because the KMT wants to deny the ruling party any legislative successes.

But sometimes, I take a darker view.  Perhaps the KMT wants a weak Taiwan, and wants America to wash its hands of the place.  Then, the Taiwanese would be in no position to resist when the KMT approaches China with a surrender, er, ah, "peace" proposal.

While the old KMT was a staunch anti-communist party, the new KMT sees things differently.  It looks across the straits, and sees a communist party which tolerates private property, and brooks no political opposition.  In short, it sees a "communist" party that closely resembles the KMT of old.  So the new KMT makes pilgimages to Beijing, cozies up to the communist party, and badmouths America.

Taiwan Must Fix Defense Gaps to Avoid Future War

Updates:  Political cartoons on the subject from the Taipei Times:

KMT’s defensive strategy for Taiwan

"Patriots"

Spiritual Criminals

The Nov 9th editions of The Taipei Times and The China Post both had a story about 3 people in China who were convicted of the crime of printing Bibles.  The technical crime for which they were found guilty was "illegal business practices"; it is illegal in China to print Bibles without special approval from the "State Bureau of Religious Affairs".  They could each face sentences of up to three years in prison.

Sorry, neither paper had a link on their websites.

Mayor Ma Bashes Japan…Again

I’ve offered personal sympathy to Mayor Ma in an earlier post, but God help Taiwan if the man were to ever become president.

For example, how many people outside of Taiwan know that Hizzonner is itching for a war with Taiwan’s ally, Japan?  To be perfectly accurate, in June of this year he said that he wants a "battle to force a settlement" over the Senkakus Islands (which the Chinese refer to as the Diaoyutai chain).

Make no mistake: any "battle" with Japan would quickly become a WAR.  One which Taiwan would start to lose within a short time.  Then Hizzonner could conveniently petition his "Big Brother" in Beijing.

The price for help might be Taiwanese recognition of Chinese suzerainty, and abolition of Taiwanese democracy.  Let’s face it, from the KMT’s point of view, what good has all this democracy stuff done for THEM, besides lose them the presidency in 2000 and 2004?

Mayor Ma bashes Japan, but doesn’t threaten war this time

Chutzpah

A tourism official from China visited Taiwan last week, and asked that its flag and pictures of its president be removed from places on his itinerary.

Shao Qiwei’s Visit

Cheeky.

The ancient Spartans knew how to handle situations like this.  Ambassadors from Persia once visited Sparta, demanding soil and water as a token of Sparta’s fealty to the Persian King.

The Spartans instantly set upon the ambassadors, and threw them into an waste-filled latrine.  "Take all the soil and water you want," the Spartans jeered.

A similar response would have been appropriate in this case.  Sometimes extreme measures are required to teach some people elementary manners.

The Hills are Alive, With the Sounds of Rodents

Does anyone remember the singing mice from the movie "Babe"?

Turns out the concept wasn’t entirely fictional after all.  The Nov 2nd edition of the Taipei Times reprinted a story from The Guardian about the ultrasonic songs that mice make.  Click on the link below for more:

Singing Mice Article

Audio Clip #1 (Pitch reduced by 4 octaves)

Audio Clip #2 (Speed and pitch reduced 16X further)

Their songs are very similar to that of birds warbling away.  Quite pretty, actually.