Englam.Net

This last February 28th marked the 60th Memorial for the infamous “228 Incident” in Taiwan. More than 50,000 cream of the population were killed, systematiclly eliminated by the ruthless Chinese KMT Government which occupied Taiwan after the WWII under ther directive of General McArthur, the Supreme Commander in the Far-East. From the de-classified documents, it is clear that the massacre was instigated by Chiang Kai-sek, the leader of the KMT, then the President of China.

For more than 50 year until Year 2000, Taiwan was ruled by the KMT even after it lost their own vast continental country. Chiang was adored as “The Saviour and Hope of Chinese People”.  His statures were erected every cosiderable spot on Taiwan where he fled to and wanted to use Taiwan as the base for counter attacking the Mainland and reclaim it.

But in 2000’s national election, a non-KMT Taiwanese, Chen Sui-Bien, was elected President. The DPP (Democratic Progressive Party) for the last 7 years struggle to promote a “Taiwan First” principle and opting for an Independent Taiwan. The saying is “Taiwan is Taiwan, China is China”, “Taiwan Yes! China No!”

With the revelation of the fact that Chiag Kai-Sek himself was responsible of the Massacre and the Terror for the 40some years that followed, it seems not right to continue adorating him, and the ubiquitous statues became eye-sores. The second largest which weighed over 12 tons located in Kaohsiung City wes taken down piece by piece yesterday. Many were removed to some secluded places. It is very like those of Hussein in Iraq, toppled by the people.

Taiwan Strait is one of the hottest danger spots in the world. There are over 600 missiles lined up against Taiwan on the opposite shores in China and the number is on the increase day by day. By so lined up, China aims to force the people of Taiwan into submission. On the eve of the second anniversary of China’s “Anti-Secession” Law, which forcefully claims that “There is  only One China, and Taiwan is a part of It”, a vast majority of Taiwanese disapprove of China’s bid to change the status quo by passing its “Anti-Secession” Law two years ago. Majority of Taiwanese believe that they should be the only one to have a say in the matter regarding to the future of the Island nation. A recent survey shows that more than 90% of respondants dis-agree with China’s attempts to change the cross-strait status with the law.

One unfortunate factor in the Taiwan Strait trouble is the United States’s stance which forbid Taiwan to have any open voicing on the status quo in regard to Taiwan itself. In fact, the US put a mum on the duely elected President of Taiwan, as many insidents over the recent years past show. Many in Taiwan wonder the fairness of US policy .

President Chen Sui-Bien called for “three-party approach to Tawan Strait” and not the “bi-party” way which have denied Taiwan to have any say in regard to its own status quo. It has been most stupid for the US State Department to continue following its out-dated policy and being get played into China’s imperial ambition. Yes, the people of Taiwan and their President must have the say in the matter of cross-strait matter, especially on the matter regarding to the fate of the people of Taiwan.

Today is the last day of my trip this time visiting my son in Nashua, New Hampshier. My driver’s license from New Jersy where I lived before going back to Taiwan has expired, and so I wanted to have a New Hampshier licence to replace the expired NJ USA licence. I learned that I need to establish my residency first and then take a driving test due to my age. I did not get to have my residency established as such, but was able to change Social Security address to Nashua.

While going shopping with my son, I noticed on New Hampshier plates there is a phrase, Live free, or die. It is the state motto from the revolution time, I was told. The motto triggers a deep cord in my heart as a person whose root is Taiwan. For more than FOUR HUNDRED YEARS Taiwan has been a colony of succesive foreign powers even untill today. Taiwan is still under the de facto occupation by the Republic Of China, even though the Nationalist party of the Republic Of china lost presidential elections in years 2000 and 2004. The elected President, Chen Shui-Bien had to swear in as the President of the republic of China, and not as a President of Taiwan. In fact, after the ROC lost its seat in the UN and was replaced by PRC in 1979, the ROC became a dead body, it even gripped Taiwan tighter and harder untill 2000 AD.

The problem with Taiwan is that it does not enjoy diplomatic recognition by major contries. In the words of the former US Secretary of State, Mr. Collin Powell, “Taiwan does not enjoy soverignty, and we do not support Taiwan independence”. But a ore grave problem comes from the remnants of the ROC, namely the KMT and its off-shoots, in Taiwan. They have majority in the House (Legislative Yuen). Their ultimate aim is “re-unification with China” and for that reason they have blocked 64 times military procurement bills which were presented to the US before the year 2000 and were OKed by the present Bush Government. They just want to make a mess for Taiwan by attempting to recall a duely elected President while knowing it will fail, and they do not like a strong Taiwan that can defend herself against China which has over 700 ballistic missiles lined up on the opposite side of Taiwan Strait and threat to take Taiwan by force.

But, there is an increasing number of people in Taiwan who are looking forward to a day when Taiwan will truly achieve her nationhood as an independant and normal country. “It is better be the pecker of a rooster than be a bull’s tail”, as a saying goes. The motto, “Live Free, Or Die”, certainly rings a deep sympathy in my heart.

The US based magazine, Foreign Policy, in its recent issue has a “2006 Globalization Index” published. Accorging to the index, Taiwan ranked 35th in the survey of 62 countried based on 2004 data. Of the 4 major indicators used to determine the ranking, Taiwan ranked 12th, in terms of economic integration; 18th, in terms of technological connectivity; 33rd, in terms of personal contact; and 62nd, in terms of political engagement. 62nd was the least and last in the ranking.

But, the 62nd in political engagement ranking does speak for Taiwan’s predicament. It is highly known that Taiwan’s political efforts have been in that area. The People of Taiwan and the Government have endeavored to join the United Nations and UN organizations, e.g. WHO, for years, only to be rejected. Though the US had enacted a “Taiwan Relational Acts” in 1981, but its object was ‘the People of Taiwan”. There is no diplomatic relation between the USA and Taiwan. It is obvious that Taiwan’s political unsatisfactory status stems not only because of China’s continued diplomatic suppression of Tawan, but rather mainly due to US policy’s influence on other world powers. The US administrations have maintained that the US ” does not support an Independent Taiwan” and wants Taiwan to keep her limbo status as a de facto independent economic entity but not a de jure Independent Country. It’s very ironic that the Foraign Policy Magazine surveyed 62 countries and has given Taiwan a most politically unsatisfactory ranking among the COUNTRIES it surveyed.

While browsing news from Taiwan, I have come across a news reporting that a group of Taiwan musicians will perform in a Spain city of Seville on October 26, Thursday next week, at the World Music Expo. The group is organized by Taipei Arts International Association and sposored by Chunghua Telecom and the presentation will focus on Taiwan’s unique music, such as, “Sound of Flying Cloud” which will be performed by Taiwan’s aboriginal musicians, and another, “A Moving Sound”, a new music form which is a blending of Taiwanese, Chinese, and different Asian musics.

The WOMEX (Oct. 25 – 29, 2006) is the world’s leading forum dedicated exclusively to all kinds of ethnic, folk, traditional, local, and even of diaspora. Taiwanese in diaspora like to sing Taiwanese folk songs at their gatherings. One of Psalms in the Old Testament Bible, Psalm 137, begins with lines….”By the river of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. Upon the willows in the midst of it we hung our harps. For there our captors demanded of us songs, and our tormentors mirth, saying, sing to us one of the songs of Zion….” The sentiment expressed in the Psalm echos in those Taiwanese diaspora gatherings and for already too long a time!

But those Taiwan musisians at the Expo probably will perform their music with a rather different spirit. Even though the US Administration is quite unhappy about it and becomes almost like an watchdog for China in saying that it does not support “Taiwan independence”, there is an increasing and strong “national” pride which is embracing the people of Taiwan. More people there now identify themselves with Taiwan than China, saying, “Taiwan is Taiwan, China is China”. The musicians at the International Music Expo from Taiwan will make music with enthusiasm and proud of being Taiwanese.

This year. 2006, is the 100th anniversary of baseball playing in Taiwan. After Japan annexted the Kingdom of Ryukyu (Okinawa) in 1879 AD, in that same breath, in 1895,  Japan got the Manchu Dynasty China (Ch’ing Kuo), after a Sino-Japanese War, to cede Taiwan over to the imperial Japan in perprtuity. A Republic of Taiwan was declared then, but the leaderless people could not withstand the Imperial Armies invading to occupy the island and within 6 weeks time, the Japanese armies reached then the Capital City, Tainan.  Japan wanted to make Taiwan an agricultural  basin for the growing empire and to  culturally convert people of the new colony more akin to her own, and so, schools were established and along with that, baseball playing was introduced  to Taiwan. For one hundred years, baseball has been practiced and enjoyed in Taiwan.  After the end of WW II, Taiwan becomes  under the occupation of Nationalist China until present. But, Chinese are more of basket-ball players and so they did not pay too much attention to baseball as such untill one of the aboriginal village schoolers won a Asian Chiampionship and Little leagurers won in World Chiampionship games, baseball only then  caught the official eyes.  But it has been a sport played and enjoyed by the people continually for one hundred years by now.

Many players exceeded in their performances and made their scenes in other countries’ ball fields. They were picked by Japanese major leagues first, and then by US leagues.  Among those Taiwanese players who have made US scenes are Wang Chien-Min of the New York Yankees and Kuo Hung-chih who is with Los Angelis Tigers. Fox TV in introducing them to the viewers, twice displayed the map of Taiwan in different color other than that of China, even introduced their hometown Tainan. The other city in the map was Taipei, and so, showing the old and new capitals of Taiwan.  Wang is just voted by Yankee fans to be the best player of the team. His insistance on making clear his root, Taiwan,  put the almost forgotten National Flag of Taiwan(ROC) to be shown in the world TV coverages.  Olympic games and many other international games forbid Taiwan teams to disply the Taiwanese Color (Flag) because of an insane insistance made by China. There are two titles given to Wang, one is “the Glory of Taiwan”, and the other, “the Son of Taiwan”.  Surely, Wang Chien-min’s spectacular performance in the Major Leagues games  this year is an apt comment on Taiwan’s One Hundred Years History of Baseball Playing there.

Taiwanese soldiers will be eating a lots of bananas. The Agricalture Council of the Cabinet(Executive Yuen) announced the other day that as a measure of propping up price of bananas, measures of increased purchase of the fruit will be in effect and it will be distributed to the militaly units and schools. The famers are crying as the price has dropped to only 1/4, compared to last year’s. One truck load of bananas will bring only NT$1,500 to 2,000, or about US$50 t0 70. One banana will sell for only 1 NT$ or 3 US cents. The Council also makes appeal to people that they should eat more bananas and many recipes using banana in cooking or sweets are on TVs.

The reason for the price drop is no mystry. It is simply due to over abundance of its harvest. But, actually it is not simply a case of over production. A year or so ago, the KMT (Chinese Nationalist Party) of the ROC in Taiwan had linked up with the PROC (Communist China), and a delegate led by the i ts previous chairman visited China. They were greatly welcomed by the leadership there and both parties aired their mutual aspiration of looking forward to “reunification”. One of the “achivements” was “tax-free import” of bananas and other agricultuural products. China also promised to give a pair of pandas to Taipei Zoo. Actually the KMT has no authority at all to conduct any talk that requires official government to government negotiation, as the KMT no longer is the ruling party in Taiwan. But many farmers were encouraged to increase their banana plantation, inspite of the warnings against such motion by the agricultural officials in Taiwan. And now, 3 bananas do not fetch even a dime!

At the moment, Mr. Lien Tsan, the previous Chairman of KMT, is in Hai-nan Island, attending a “Inter-shores Agriculture Forums”. Besides criticising Taiwan Government’s insistance on national sovereignty, similar “agreement” is announced that China will import more ” agricultural products tax -free, among those, bananas…” In fact, stemmed from this kind of “agreement”, many Chinese produces are faking as “Taiwan products” on market, commanding high prices. What China wants are agriculture know-hows, besides upsetting the present Taiwan Government.

There will be great amount of rotten fruits in the fields, as no one there would bother to harvest them, and soldiers will be fed-up by bananas.  Alaas!

Last Sunday, my daughter and her boy friend cooked an Italian dinner for the family with a very formal service menue on the table. The menue had it, Primo: Buccatini alla Carbonara (long hollow pasta tossed with crisp pancetta, fresh grated parmigiano cheese, Italian parsley and egg yolks. A Roman speciality favored by Sophia Loren). Secondi: Sicilian Salmon (Broilled salmon fillet glazed with lemon juice, crushed garlic and oregano). Insalata: Arugula, Gorgonzola and Pine Nut Salad (Arugula tossed with gorgonzola cheese, toasted pine nuts, extra virgin olive oil, and balsamic vinegar). Dolci: Pizzelle and Fresh Fruit (Traditional anisette-flavored cookies, served with fresh fruit on the side). we all enjoyed the elegantly prepared and served dinner. Of course, wine and mineral water were on the table.

After dinner, what cought my eyes were the two natural mineral water bottles. Upon closer look, the mineral waters were imported Italian products. One was a red-hued blue bottle with BlUE’ ITALY label. The other was a green bottle having a S.PELLEDRINO label. One blue and another green! The bottles let me had a kind of free-association, imagining that they represent the two main political factions in Taiwan. The Blue was in power for a little more than a-half century since the end of the WW II till the Year 2000. The other, the Green holds the government presently. The two factions are about even in numbers in the parliament(Legislative Yuen). But with those Independents thrown in, the Blue have some edge over the Green, and the Pan-Blues are making every effort to block measures put forth by the Cabinet, hindering effective governing of the country by the Green.

The green bottle is shorter than the blue one, though the capacities are equally 750 mL. The green bottle has a silver cap which is also green inside but the colors on its top are red topped with blue and a red star, of all things! The blue bottle has a blue color cap, but its’ inside is yellow!. May be I have read too much into the things, but while one can imagining things, it can be fun, even funny.

Yesterday was October 10th in Taiwan. There, for over 50 years, the day has been called “Double Ten’s Day” which supposed to be like the Forth of July in the USA, a national birthday for the Republic of China and greatly celebrated by the KMT(China Nationalist Party) Government, and even continued untill yesterday. In hindsight, it should be discarded after Year 2000 when a non-KMT president took the office. President Chen Shui-Bien was duely elected in 2000 and again in 2004 and his term will last until May 20, 2008. Shame tirned anger which became wrath and hatred, the Chinese Nationalist Party(KMT) and it’s cahoots tried ever unsuccessfully through various means to recall and/or topple him for innumerable times alreday, have now cooked up a new rally of red-clad mass with a politically non-person who once was head of the DPP(Democratic Progressive Party) as it’s front, to force Mr. Chen from his office. These red-clad people have been roaming mostly arround the capital city, Taipei and their swarmings earned them a nick name, “Red Ants”. What’s the most shameful was commited by the KMT and PFP(People First Party) members of the Legisrative Yuen, which corresponds to the US Congress and Senate, who not only red-claded when attending the Official Double Ten’s Celemony in the front square of the President’s Office Building yesterday, they furled up anti -Chen banners, shouting and stamped the platform floor in attempt to shame and distrack President Chen who was about to deliver his National Double Ten’s Massage. But to his credit, Mr. Chen was unraufled. His 12 minuits address was strong and to the points of Taiwan’s present difficult situation. He even suggested that the Double Ten’s Celebration shoud be scrapped beginning next year as it was forced on the people of Taiwan by the KMT government which occupied Taiwan after the WW II. In concluding, President held up a signed baseball given to him last year by Chien-Min Wang, the champion pitcher of NY Yankees, who wrote on it,”Go, Taiwan!”(Taiwan Chia-you!). This time, instead of “Viva, ROC!”,the President led the people to shout out aloud three times, “Taiwan Chia-you!”, “Go, Taiwan!”, “Chia-you! Chia-you! Chai Chia-you!”, that was, “Taiwan, Go! Go! and Go!”.
Surely the behaviours of the red-clad ants and those “Chinese” legistrators during the official celemony made it a most shameful day for ROC  but not Taiwan. The people of Taiwan must, and all nations concerned, especially the USA, should pay close attentions to what were said in Mr. Chen’s address. There are much food for thought in regard to peace in Taiwan and for the world arround.

Today is September 11th. 5 years ago terrorists of Bin Laden connection hijacked commercial planes and collided headon onto the twin towers of World Trade center in New York. The hideous act sadden and angered American People and peoples all over the world. 5 years quickly gone by, but the world is not any better. Hate still grips human soul on our planet. We see it’s eruptions everywhere. There is an unjustifiable demomstration in Taipei at this moment which started on September 9th on and off from 9 am to 5 pm. The aim is to force Taiwan’s duely elected President Chen to step down. It’s root has been sprung from hatred of the Chinese Nationalist Party(KMT) that lost it’s power having lost presidential elections in 2000 and 2004. There has been no rest at all to hinder normal function of the new government. In view of the new election will be held in 2008, KMT has written up senarios to wrest power from the pro independent Taiwan DPP(Democratic Progressive Party). First, the KMT struck up friendship with it’s former arch enemy, Communist Party of China. Then a continued smear campaign was lounched. After an unsuccessful recalling of the president failed called by the KMT and other pro unifications factions in the Legistrative House, a dummy leader is pushed forward now to orchestrate a “people’s movement” which is not unlike China’s Cultural Revelution led by Red Gurds. In fact, the campaign specified the participants to wear red shirts and had chosen September 9th to commence the sitin in front of the President Office Building. September 9th this year was the 30th memorial for China’s late leader Mao. Some suspected that there is some notion of violence to incite great disturbance which will give China a pretext for invasive action. Fortunately, the President and the government are bending themselves backward to be patient. From 9th when the sitin demonstration began, heavy rains pored down and scattered most of the people. Bad weather will last for more than a week and there is a new typhoon being formed to threat the island, according to the weather casters.