Actually...This is So True

The interview on Taipei Times sounds kind of funny, but actually it fits so well with the situation:

INTERVIEW: Taiwanese have Stockholm syndrome: psychiatrist

Actually I think I saw another of this guy's interview a while ago...but I think maybe during that time the "symptom" is not very clear to me...but now more I think about it, the more of what he described make sense to me. It fits very well with the logical holes I find listening to opinions from different average Taiwanese. I find it especially true to my parents' generation (40 to 60 years old). Even the ones that are not pan blue have these symptoms. Some people have more severe symptoms than others. Although I personally knew a few younger people having similar problems, I am not too sure about my own generation in general...which is kind of weird, probably because younger people usually don't have enough confidence to voice their own opinion.

The bright side of things are there are quite some people already free from this entanglement...the only problem is can they help others to set themselves free.

Great Editorial By Taiwan News

Great editorial on Taiwan News: Taiwan economy needs reform more than PRC

The conclusion is particularly strking:

Taiwan now is paying the price for the KMT's "scorched earth" strategy that succeeded in "persuading" the electorate to give it power again and for the KMT's obsession with "great China" and its lack of a genuine Taiwan-centric vision grounded in reality.

Isn't that the KMT's plan all along and isn't that a concise and clear summary of Taiwan's past few years?

Actually, history does repeat itself. After KMT took over Taiwan, it pillages (scorched earth once again) Taiwan to the ground. Afterward, it just claims the credit of Taiwan's economic recovery from that calamity. Then it claims that it is the only party that knows economics...

If they haven't been to Taiwan, Taiwan might be 10 times better. Such thuggish deception...but it is the Taiwanese fault to let them deceived us for such a long time, even till this day.

Just Ridiculous

Ma's government recent attempt to pass bill allowing Chinese investment in BOT projects of major national and public utility is just getting ridiculous. Why some Taiwanese tolerates such intolerable insult and blunt surrendering posture of Ma is beyond my comprehension...

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2009/05/29/2003444813

Do we actually need Chinese in our BOT project that bad? What is the benefits of that? Why risk so much for absolutely no gains?

Interesting Opinions And Data on Economics

Taipei Times has this piece on the economy.

Interesting, will look further into it later.

UPDATE: Liberty Times has another one: LINK

These data are very important I think. DPP and other pan green organization should spread these informations. The China fever has cool down considerably but a lot of people still have these false concept of China is the only hope for Taiwan's economy.

It's a simple strategy. KMT try to advocate buying product X with sovereignty. DPP can counter this by advocating the importance and benefits of sovereignty, at the same time reveal that product X does not worth that much.

It is like telling someone don't buy a piece of chicken leg with one's own life.

Taiwan Matters' Critics on China Post

Taiwan Matters had a nice critic on a crazy editorial of China Post.

I highly doubt that any sane person with reasonable judgement would still read China Post, but it is still scary to see what kind of non-sense it is trying spread. If someone lacking a fundamental logic and judgement ability, such as a child, picks it up and read it...well, you don't know if he/she will take it seriously or not. That is where this type of thing is dangerous.

Even today, I occasional see some 20ish Taiwanese, who is knowledgeable in everything except this type of thing. Their concepts of nation, nationalism, Taiwan, political parties...are all illogical and blurry. Can't really blame them...since a lot of people tried to keep all these things blurry, which just result in a huge mess, and in this mess, propaganda machine like China Post can make their infiltration.

Thought on 陳菊's Visit to China

Looking around a bit and watching those talk show I think this piece is the most well written since it touches on and evaluate most of the aspect of the visit, and I think most rational people would agree that in this visit, China wins, DPP does not win, and KMT lost.

As the article mentioned, China wins simply because its government can manipulate and censor the media. A local governor of Taiwan visiting Beijing is very easily manipulated to a local governor of "China" visiting Beijing. Certainly to the average Chinese citizens, the DPP of Taiwan has kowtowed to the their central government. CCP's seat of power of course looks more stable than ever, even during the economic darker time.

Those that think that 陳菊 strikes a blow to China by announcing ROC sovereignty in China are being too naive I think. Here is my reasoning:

• China does not care if you call yourself ROC or not, especially if you are in China. Because to them ROC and PRC are both concept of a China that has Taiwan as part of it. Certainly, it does not matter to CCP if PRC just change their name to ROC, as long as CCP is still in power.
• Media censorship can prevent any manifestation of this declaration. But even if there are no censorship, due to 陳菊's status as a mayor, what 陳菊 said really does not matter. The media manipulation is just there to give CCP a popularity contest boost.
  

To the KMT, I think this is a gigantic blow. Now it almost looks like they have been side lined. Certainly what they did in the past few years looks very cowardly and naive. It definitely looks like they have lost the ROC standard. They only use this ROC title domestically now to rally those who is foolish enough to still support them.

To the DPP I think it is not too big of a deal. The visit did not stray away from the current DPP doctrine. However, I think the current DPP doctrine can only achieve "status quo" and cannot achieve full independence from ROC and PRC...this DPP has to keep in mind and be flexible to change its doctrine, in order to achieve its goal. Of course, it is best to have another strong TI political party to keep DPP in check, but right now the KMT is still too strong. KMT has to be marginalized first in order for another political party to exist...That just sounds very difficult lol. But who knows, future is very unpredictable, especially in Taiwan.

I think DPP needs to formulate its China policy of course. But during their formulation, they need to remember what their long term goal is. To take the ROC standard that has been thrown away by KMT might not be the wisest thing to do. It is best to be able to use a Taiwan standard and declare Taiwan sovereignty, not ROC sovereignty. Don't just act like some hero jumping into dragon's mouth. That is not true valour. First, know what the goal is, then evaluate if the goal is worthy. Only then should DPP take action. Especially to 呂秀蓮...I hope she knows what she is doing. Because it certainly sounds a bit like she is looking at this as some kind of fashion show.

This type of things I guess all pan green supporters will keep watching and observe the development. Of course most people have no doubt about DPP's loyalty to Taiwan, but if DPP is foolish and naive, its loyalty to the TI cause does not matter.

UPDATE: Another very interesting view on this - LINK This view is more negative, but I find its view also very reasonable. It indeed looks kind of foolish that DPP has picked up the ROC standard that KMT has thrown away. Indeed there is no wonder that the pan blue media gave her all the praise and the Beijing Mayor is all smiling, because all of these is within their "perimeter." It's like a dog on a leash, it might bark a lot, but it still does nothing concrete. The only good thing is it has created some damage to the KMT, but I am sure even this damage is within CCP's calculation (and perhaps even KMT already predicted it). All I can say is...this is a real double edged sword, and if DPP only acts with blind sense of "fashion" or foolish "bravery," it will kill itself.

Some Interesting Stuff On May 21st Taipei Times

Taipei Times' May 21st Issue has a lot of interesting stuff. I will just save them here for record keeping.

Some interesting reports regarding Ma's first year.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/05/21/2003444126
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/05/21/2003444128
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/05/21/2003444131

The weirdest thing I found is about Maokong Gondola. Gondola lift system is not some cutting edge construction, but Ma can make it such a disastrous project. Even before the suspense of service due to erosion of the towers' foundation, the system has a lot of problems. The ones I can recall:

• The imported carts are not suitable for the warm climate in Taiwan. It's most likely used in western European climate like the one in France. The result is unbearable suffocation for the passengers, and they have to give small fans to the passengers and also tried to remedy the situation by poking holes in on the floor and ceiling of the carts.
• Constant temporary suspension due to small lightning storm etc.
• Some "stop and go" problems during operations.

It's quite obvious. The system is not that complex, but he can still messed it up. How come Taiwanese still voted for him?

Forth Scholars' Letter to Ma
The forth one...and if we look at it with the previous 3, I think it's obvious things these scholars paid attention to only gotten much worse. I think it's quite obvious Ma did not listen.

US congressman Ed Royce call for overhaul of Taiwan policy
This is an interesting proposal. Some of it might not be possible, but it shows that at least some politicians in the US start to move their attention back to Asia Pacific.