I'm hoping this will be a new regular section on my blog. Taiwan News does a great job of providing translations of daily editorials allowing me to get a more balanced view of different shades of opinion in Taiwan. After EVA bluntly, but fairly, said that I see things in black and white (or rather green and blue) I have felt chastened and have to admit that my overt subjectivity is often prone at times to slipping into ranting pedagogy. But then these are testing times for Taiwan (aren't they always) and as a friend said to me, people are getting radicalised. So, in an attempt to provide a more rounded voluntary commentary (in the interests of contributing to democratic discussion of and in Taiwan), here's a range of editorials from today:
UNITED DAILY NEWS - Wants the PRC to give at least tacit blessings to the ROC on its 100th birthday anniversary of the
Wuchang Uprising of Oct. 10, 1911. Also calls for "the PRC should also drop its wishes of of "swallowing up" or annexing the ROC." Finally, the paper states that 'only rational and reasonable processes will lead to a legitimate final solution to mutual disputes.'
LIBERTY TIMES - A warning that if the Ma Administration doesn't stop ruling without consulting public opinion or the opposition, '
the approaching Year of the Tiger will be a year of "blindness" or "solitude."'
APPLE DAILY - Skyscrapers are the infantile erections born of an obsession with showing off national ability. Furthermore, '
from the view point of energy conservation and carbon reduction, human beings do not need tall towers at all'.
COMMERCIAL TIMES - Small countries can survive. However,
'since the tenures of former presidents Lee Teng-hui and Chen Shui-bian, ideological manipulation has resulted in the inner contrition of the nation and disappointed many.' Despite this, 'Taiwan's people are not afraid of being small and have never lacked a sense of crisis, but they are afraid of a leader's capricious attitude and using the pretext of pursuing peace in a "flexible and open" way to ignore the public's needs and a nation's independence.' Rather ambiguously, the CT then asks that ' the Ma administration should be "down to earth and adopt a moderate approach that is neither arrogant nor humble" in doing what it should and rejecting what it should not do so as to enhance the public welfare of the people.'
ECONOMIC DAILY NEWS - Taiwan is facing an economic watershed. Recent gains in the bourse hide the possibility that '
Taiwan's stock and property bubbles could burst and the overall economy may sink into a recession again'. Furthermore, 'another illusion that bolsters the current market rally is expectations for a planned signing of the cross-Taiwan Strait economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA)' which the EDN regards as not being the panacea many people believe it will be because 'except for the 500 items on the "early harvest" list, other industries are not expected to benefit from the pact in three to five years.' They finish by asking, 'can we survive this fresh tariff barrier from "ASEAN Plus China"?'CHINA TIMES - Ma should not be hesitant but face up the task ahead and see the job through. Like in many democracies, 'President Ma Ying-jeou's dilemma is one shared by most contemporary leaders -- which is that the public's "expectation" often surpasses the "capability" of the leaders.' In the contemporary climate charismatic leaders fade quickly. Ma should reflect on his rule but also 'engage in soul-searching, but he should also face them with stride.' Finally, Ma 'should not slow down his pace of good governance or reforms just because of bashing. After all, if his policies and governance bear results, he will win back the hearts of the public again.'
