Taiwan 660

Mandarin Chinese Live the Language

2011-02-17T15:12:00.002+08:00

Chinese Woman Given Forced Abortion During 8th Month of Pregnancy

2010-10-29T17:19:00.000+08:00

Xiao Aiyang's second baby was born dead after a poisonous injection, "Oh my baby, I am so sorry, you left us before you could see the light," the Mother wailed after getting out of the operating room. A low level, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) bureaucrat in the family planning office, carry out the regime's One Child Policy, had destroyed the baby at eight months.

Luo Yanquan, rails against CCP officials for killing his wife's child, "My wife was 8 months pregnant but because it was our second, she was kidnapped from our home by the neighborhood office on 10 October, Luo said during an interview with here with The Epoch Times

Media Mogul Jimmy Lai or Taiwan Smut King

2009-02-12T20:41:00.021+08:00

Via Apple Daily

With the news that former Taipei Deputy Mayor King Pu-Tsung, taking the position of CEO of Next Media's TV station, the DPP wondered "whether this is another version of party/government and military intervening with media."

Next Media Group Chairman Jimmy Lai said that he welcomes the doubts as well as monitoring by other people if he does something wrong people may make criticisms. "In the end, you have to watch what we do, I don't change my position for any single person," said Lai, "Starting a television for Ma Ying-jeou? Do you think he is my Dad?"

Jimmy Lai though has a history of changing his political alliances when it serves his purpose---maybe he is just a businessman? Maybe he is attempting to curry favor with the KMT?

In 2000 and 2004 Lai supported DPP Chen Shui-bian, then switched his political allegiance to KMT when the winds switched---so he may in fact, despite what he otherwise said, switch his positions for a person?

What kind of man is Lai? This man has been accused of peddling in child porn with the Easy Finder photos of 14 year old Li Rain in a wet t-shirt and surreptitiously taking photos of Chung Gillian, changing her clothes during a concert in Malaysia.

Lai has been wanting to build a media empire in Taiwan and since 2003 he has launched Taiwanese editions of Next Magazine and Apple Daily---both publications have drawn criticisms from the National Communications Commission and the public for their graphic images.

More here Next Media Picks Close Aide to Ma Ying-jeou

Related: Jimmy Lai to launch news channel

HK Media Tycoon Jimmy Lai to launch TV station in Taiwan

Wen Jiabao Visits Cambridge University, "...hegemony does not apply to China."

2009-02-03T13:26:00.004+08:00

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited Cambridge University on Monday and claimed that the argument that a big power is to seek hegemony doesn't apply to China.

Huh?

"Seeking hegemony goes against Chinese cultural tradition as well as the will of the Chinese people, " Wen said adding, "that China's development does not harm or threaten anyone."

Riiight !

More here from China.org

Cartoon courtesy of Cox & Forkum

Taiwan Welcomes Panda's On Opening Day

2009-01-27T17:15:00.007+08:00

A little girl hugs a giant panda at the entrance to the Tuan Tuan & Yuan Yuan Panda exhibit at Taipei Zoo on Monday during the opening of the panda exhibit. A young girl touches a giant panda as her father wearing a panda hat waiting at the entrance to the panda exhibit.

Thousand of visitors seen the two pandas for the first time on Monday during the start of Chinese Lunar New Year

More here from Taipei Times---Crowds Pack Zoo on Panda's
First Day

Xin Nian Kuai Le---Gong Xi Fa Cai

2009-01-24T10:23:00.004+08:00

May you have a safe, healthy, prosperous year, with good fortune and happiness always !

Hau Sheng Hospital, Hello Kitty Maternity Care

2009-01-22T08:24:00.010+08:00

Helly Kitty is the latest addition at Hau Sheng Hospital Maternity Ward providing comfort to anxious mothers and guests. On Tuesday, a nurse in the new Hello Kitty Ward, shows a mother
her new born.

A giant Hello Kitty is dressed in a pink doctors uniform greets visitors in the lobby, while colorful murals are found in the recovery rooms, nursery and elevator doors.

More here from Yahoo News

Sheng Ri Kuai Le! From Lan

2009-01-20T03:02:00.008+08:00

Sunday was my Birthday and my good friend Lan sent me this along with the following, I appreciated her kindness and thoughtfulness so much, I wanted to share it with others.

Your as unique as you are a great friend. Thank you for being in my life and supporting me. You've helped me to understand and encourage patience. I'm grateful for who and how we can be for each other.

Many warm Wishes !

Your lucky to be born close to Chinese New Years, it shows how special you are and the transition your life means.

You are the jade stone that stays strong and still through any mold, shape and structure. You are unique and ever appreciated. Not for the mold and shape but for the beauty that you reveal.

Happy Birthday !

Xiexie---Lan

Earthquake Ready School For Sichuan

2009-01-08T09:24:00.011+08:00

The catastrophic Sichuan Earthquake killed more than 80,000 people on the 12 May---in November, I wrote here that more
than 19,000 students lives were lost when the magnitude 8.0
quake struck.

Subsequent to the earthquake, investigations revealed that shoddy construction played a significant part in the massive loss of life, dozens of initiatives were undertaken hoping to build stronger buildings to prevent a future tragedy.

One of the most elegant and poignant design projects led by prominent Japanese Architect Shigeru Ban together with a team
of Chinese and Japanese students, are erecting temporary but resilient school buildings.

Shortly after the devastating earthquake, Ban arrived in Sichuan to propose the idea to the local government, once approval came, Ban assembled a group of people to get the project underway.

More here from Zhu Tao Blog

A Daughter's Wish For Her Father

2009-01-06T20:37:00.005+08:00

Dad I miss you so much! I am still doing my best to call for
help for you and the many other Practitioners in China.
Someone mentioned to me recently, "Xiaodan, if your Dad
knew what you were doing at the moment, he would be really proud."

I speak often about your story to others to awaken their kindness and conscience but who would know how many hardships that I have to overcome throughout the entire course of my journey ? I hope you are free, that is one of my three wishes on my last birthday.

With Love,
Xiaodan

More here Help to Free my Dad

PRC Vows New Crackdown On Google

2009-01-06T08:42:00.005+08:00

Via AFP

China announced on Monday that it was cracking down on major websites including search engines Google and Baidu, claiming that its because they spread pornography and other material that may corrupt young peoples minds.

PRC has in the past attempted to clamp the lid down on the Internet but leaks keep springing up. Reporters Without Borders, have described PRC as the "enemy of the Internet" because of its censorship policies.

On the 21 December, I wrote here that Chinese authorities have started to block access to the New York Times, while it is one of the most politically liberal if not the most liberal newspaper in the USA it is hardly a pornographic publication.

Free speech is essential in the pursuit of learning, every idea or thought is not an avenue of incitement, censorship only results in the pursuit of finding cracks in the Great Firewall of China.

Help Free Zhiwen Wang

2009-01-05T05:52:00.009+08:00

Wang Zhiwen has been detained by PRC since 20 July, 1999 because he is a Falun Gong Practitioner and his daughter is
seeking the help of others to win her fathers freedom.

Help to Free Zhiwen Wang

Chinese Honey Latest Food Safety Concern

2009-01-03T20:39:00.005+08:00

Via Parker, Waichman & Alonso, LLP

Tainted Honey is the latest healthcare concern from PRC, during the last 10 years a contagious bacterial epidemic infected bee larvae in hundreds of thousands of bee hives resulting in the majority of the honey production to be cut by two thirds.

While Chinese bee keepers could have destroyed the infected hives, they instead applied a dangerous, extremely toxic banned antibiotic.

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration says that tainted honey is high on its watch list.

China has been known to launder honey through third countries to avoid U.S. import fees and tariffs and some of the honey from China has been mislabeled from Russia or from countries that have small bee populations.

Only a small fraction of the honey imported to the U.S. is inspected and the United States has not legally defined honey, posing challenges for enforcement agents working to keep tainted honey out of the country.

Related: Yesterday I wrote here Chinese Authorities detain parents of Children sickened by tainted milk.

KMT Echos Calls By Hu For Reunification

2009-01-02T19:56:00.010+08:00

Via AFP

KMT on Thursday echos PRC President Hu Jintao call to end hostilities, understand one another for each others mutual benefit---Translation: Reunification with China

Music to the ears of U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, who promised PRC last Summer, that if elected he would pursue a
One China Policy "stipulated in a set of institution of understanding between China & USA." What that actually
means is anyone's guess?

Good Bye freedom & democracy in Taiwan, its been good knowing you.

Kung His Hsin Nien Bing Chu Shen Tan

2008-12-25T07:31:00.007+08:00

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas Season of many Blessings, much Joy and Happiness, Good Fortune, Safety in your every activity, Peace and Love in your heart each and everyday.

God Bless You My Friends.

Panda's From PRC, Help Choose New Names

2008-12-24T18:20:00.015+08:00

Tuan-Tuan and Yuan-Yuan, whose names together mean Unite, are now in Taiwan which Peoples Daily Online refers to as China's Taiwan Province.

Xiexie for the Panda's but Comrade Hu & Comrade Ma give the politics a rest, on the 13 December I wrote here why must everything be political, they are Panda's they want to eat,
sleep, play and eat some more. They're uninterested in politics.

DPP Legislator Twu, Shiing-Jer, has invited public to come up with different names for the Panda's---Fantastic idea for sure.

Among the names that have received the most support so far are Chih-Ming & Chun-Chiao----One China & One Taiwan

More here from Taiwan News Online

If at first you don't succeed...

2008-12-23T03:55:00.007+08:00

Via Taiwan News Online

Taiwan Prosecutors having failed to convince the Court to hold former President Chen in jail without bond said on Monday, that they intend to launch a second appeal by the end of the week.

Last week I wrote here that Chen is a high profile person, where is he going to go? Everyone knows who he is, what is he going to do, attempt to flee the Court's jurisdiction by boat ?

Maybe Prosecutors now fear that he is going to swim for it ?

China Continues To Restrict Press Freedom

2008-12-21T23:05:00.010+08:00

Chinese authorities have now begun blocking access to NYT website according to China Digital Times in their growing efforts to stifle speech.

Journalists continue to face arrests on dubious allegations according to the Committee to Protect Journalists in one case,
a Reporter went missing for 15 days before being located in a neighboring Province. In a different case on the 04 December, Chinese authorities arrested Li Min, a reporter for CCTV, at her Beijing home.

As China strives to silence speech, they continue to detain Liu Xiaobo who I wrote about on the 09 December here for illegally organizing academic professionals calling for Democratic and Legal reforms.

Jenny Hsu writes today in the Taipei Times, "Given the complex and close ties between Taiwan and China, the Taiwanese public and President Ma Ying-jeou, have a heavy mandate to defend democratic movements in China and urge the Chinese Communist Party, to immediately release prominent dissident writer Liu Xiaobo..."

Free speech is essential in the pursuit of learning, every idea or thought is not an avenue of incitement, censorship only results in the pursuit of finding cracks in the Great Fire Wall of China.

Online Journalists Dangers Worldwide

2008-12-20T05:09:00.009+08:00

Via Asian Sentinel

As the year draws to an end, Journalists are continuing to go to jail across the world for attempting to report what governments don't want them to report and despite the perception that that there is relative safety in Internet Journalism, Bloggers are going to jail faster than members of the mainstream press, according to a survey by the NY based "Committee to Protect Journalists" (CPJ)

For the tenth straight year, China has put more Reporters in prison than any other country although Cuba, Burma, Eritrea, Uzbekistan are not far behind. The prison census has fallen slightly by two Reporters according to the survey. Each of the five countries have consistently placed among the the worst in detained Journalists.

At least 56 online Journalist are detained world wide according to CPJ census, a tally that surpasses the number of print Journalist for the first time...

On the 09 December, I wrote here that China arrest Human Rights Activist Liu Xiaobo, for organizing academic professionals, calling for Democratic and Legal reforms.

People are suffering throughout the world, struggling for basic human rights and civil liberties. Democracy is everything, we must never take our precious freedoms of speech and press for granted

"Those who would give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety."
Benjamin Franklin

Illegal Drugs From China, Thank Comrade Ma

2008-12-19T18:31:00.006+08:00

Ground Crews prepared for the arrival of the first direct flight from Shenzhen, China to Taipei---China & Taiwan have resumed direct air service, which will aid in the smuggling of illegal drugs into Taipei.

About 30 kg. (66 lbs.) of smuggled party drug Ketamine arrived on a direct flight from China according to Customs Officials.

Airport Customs Officials in Taipei, found the popular powdered hallucinogenic today packed into 8 boxes on a Chinese Cargo flight.

The benefits of resuming direct links between PRC and Taiwan, many thanks to Comrade Ma.

More here from Reuters

KMT Promises No Talks On Unification ?

2008-12-19T10:23:00.009+08:00

China's Delegates stand for the national anthem in Beijing, commemorating the 30th Anniversary of China's economic revolution. During the boring speech by Comrade Hu Jintao, paramilitary police are having a difficult time staying awake.

President Ma Ying-jeou ruling KMT pro-Chinese party is scheduled to meet with the Chinese Communists this weekend, pledging not to discuss unification.

Why is it that one has to say that unless it is on the agenda Comrade Ma?

Reporters Without Borders Condemn Ma

2008-12-19T09:17:00.005+08:00

Activists march on the 07 December demanding that pro-China President Ma Ying-jeou, apologize for Police abuses and human rights violations. Protesters hold a board during the rally, demanding that the government amend the Assembly and Parade Law which restricts freedom of speech.

Repoters Without Borders condemn President Ma failure to respect Freedom of the Press.

More here Why Wild Strawberries march for Human Rights

Chen Arrives Into Court For Custody Hearing

2008-12-18T20:09:00.007+08:00

Via Taiwan News Online

Former Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian arriving at the
Taiwan Taipei District Court for a Hearing on his custody today.

The Taiwan High Court, Ordered that the District Court
reconsider its decision to release the former President
following his indictment on corruption allegations.

Exactly where is a high profile person going to run away too ? My goodness, everyone knows who he is and Taiwan is an Island, what is he going to do, attempt to flee the jurisdiction of the Court by boat?

China Warns Bloggers Certain Sites Violate Laws But Cracks Remain In The Great Firewall

2008-12-17T15:43:00.005+08:00

The official Chinese News Agency has warned Bloggers yesterday that "certain websites violate Chinese laws" by calling China and Taiwan two separate countries.

According to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao, by calling Taiwan an independent country, I may have just violated China's Anti-Secession Laws subjecting me to severe penalty.

Oh my...however writing from the USA we have whats called the 1st Amendment which guarantees me freedom of speech and press from governmental interference. Come to think of it, China has claimed since 1982 that it's constitution guarantees freedom of speech. Hmmm ?

Frankly its a little difficult to have it both ways simultaneously, either you do or you don't---little like being pregnant, one either is or isn't.

Despite what PRC may otherwise believe, the Internet has assured Bloggers may enjoy free speech despite even the best efforts by the authorities. The numbers of Bloggers in PRC has grown steadily to over 107 million this year, total users have risen 56% it is an impossible task to monitor everyones traffic.

Of course there are always tools available to crack the Great Firewall of China which hides the users IP Address, using anonymous proxy servers, etc. all of which enables Chinese Internet Users & Bloggers to have access to news and information.

During the last year, I have written numerous stories about PRC many of them good, some quite heart wrenching as I have illustrated the devastation following the catastrophic Sichuan earthquake, which continues to make me feel incredibly sad.

The Internet will continue to provide users with the ability to freely exchange news and information around the globe despite the best efforts of the Chinese Internet Police to block access. Denial of Human Rights only encourages others to find new and innovative ways to assure themselves that free speech and press can never be totally curtailed.

Historic Sailing Vessel May Be Forever Lost

2008-12-16T11:56:00.006+08:00

Via Associated Press

More than 50 years ago 6 men set sail from Taiwan with no sailing experience and navigated their way to San Francisco aboard an aging Chinese sailing vessel.

The boat named "Free China" is an historic relic but unless moved, the owner of a shipyard in California says this seafaring craft
will be lost forever as he will junk it if not removed from the Sacramento River Delta Boat Yard by the end of the month.

More here from ABC News 10 Sacramento

Democracy Threatened

2008-12-15T16:48:00.004+08:00

Taiwan still stands as a beacon of hope for the rule of law and democratic development in Asia but recent government related human rights violations have caused its rays to shine less brightly said David Kilgour, a Canadian Human Rights Lawyer, urging the public to closely monitor the (Ma Ying-jeou) Administration in order to safeguard the country's democracy.

Kilgour, the VP of the Taiwan-Canadian Friendship Group, in the Canadian Parliment, a well known international human rights lawyer, activist and former prosecutor, was one of the invited speakers at the International Forum on the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights held in Kaohsiung City on Thursday.

Citing the example of police brutality and riots last month during the visit of Chinese envoy Chen Yunlin, Kilgour said, many friends of Taiwan were concerned about dramatic deterioration in the rule-of-law, human dignity and democratic practices in Taiwan in recent months.

"To tell people that they couldn't wear 'I love Taiwan T-Shirts or hold the national flag was ridiculous," he said in an interview with the Taipei Times.

"I hope that President Ma Ying-jeou, a Harvard trained man, will understand that democracy is more than about having elections every four years. Democracy is about such things as allowing people to protest peacefully," said Kilgour.

Rest here from Taipei Times

Defending Free Speech & Assembly

2008-12-14T15:29:00.010+08:00

During last months visit by Chen Yunlin, head of PRC Association of Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, Activists march on the streets during anti-China protests. A woman beats an effigy of PRC Negotiator Chen.

Freedom of Speech in Taiwan from The Bala Daily by Hai-tien

Oh Please, Why Must Everything Be Political ?

2008-12-13T15:23:00.008+08:00

The pair of giant Panda's offered by PRC to Taiwan from Sichuan Province have not escaped politics.

Tuan-Tuan & Yuan-Yuan, whose names together mean Unite will leave together for the Taipei Zoo sometime this month.

Oh please, drop your not so hidden message Wen Jiabao &
Ma Ying-jeou, can't you give it a rest for 5 minutes ?

They are Panda's, they don't care about your political goals all they are interested in is eating and getting enough sleep so they may eat some more.

Chen Released On Bail Following Indictment

2008-12-13T11:21:00.008+08:00

Former President Chen Shui-bian, has been released on bail after being detained in Taipei for a month, is seen being greeted by supporters.

Chen has pursued continued Democracy and Independence from PRC which considers Taiwan a "renegade province" unlike the current President Ma Ying-jeou, who has been accused of being concilliatory towards PRC and receiving his marching orders from Beijing.

While the allegations against Chen are indeed serious and if convicted, may result in him spending the rest of his life in prison, its important to be reminded that an indictment does not prove Chen is guilty of anything.

Chen denies the allegations against him saying that he is the victim of a political persecution by the ruling KMT, under the direction of President Ma.

More here from Andrew Jacobs