Monthly Archives: July 2017

Is a democratic China possible? Upon the death of China’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo at 5:35 p.m. on July 13, 2017, at the First Hospital of the China Medical University in Shenyang, who suffered from liver cancer and … Continue reading →

Contrary evolution This is a rather interesting comparison of the sociopolitical evolution of Taiwan and the Chinese Communist mainland over the past three decades, on the Chinese Communist mainland since the Sixth Plenum of the 11th National Party Congress in … Continue reading →

Taiwan offers visa waiver to 10 Latin American and Caribbean nations Upon the official visit by President Horacio Cartes of Paraguay to the Republic of China to celebrate 60 years of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries, a mutual … Continue reading →

Taipei mayor stands out in polls Two separate polls commissioned by Taiwan’s China Times of 1,004 responses conducted on July 8-9, 2017, about the popularity of Taiwan’s most significant politicians both showed Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je in the lead over … Continue reading →

Taiwan’s modern society has changed traditional superstition A Yahoo Taiwan survey of 8,800 responses conducted on July 5-8, 2017, shows how Taiwan’s modern society has changed traditional superstition. Taiwan’s Environmental Protection Administration wants to reduce the burning of incense and … Continue reading →

Taiwan’s internal conflicts may destroy its democracy On July 7, 2017, a Taiwanese writer attributed this statement to Minxin Pei:  “If Taiwan’s internal conflicts are not resolved, Taiwan may destroy its democracy by itself without having to wait for a … Continue reading →

What the Taiwanese want is not what Tsai and government want Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je was in Shanghai attending the Twin Cities Forum on July 1-3, 2017.  What emerged from the forum are his three new political slogans:  (1)  “liang … Continue reading →

Fiction:  A convention of severed heads A convention of severed heads is being held in the Netherworld.  Among the severed heads in attendance are five that belonged to victims of kidnapping for ransom by militants of Abu Sayyaf.  The severed … Continue reading →

Tsai’s boat is sinking! A review of poll numbers shows a dramatic drop in support for President Tsai Ing-wen and her cabinet as well as her Democratic Progressive Party. An apt description is that her boat is sinking! In the … Continue reading →

Why self determination of Hong Kong is impossible Our two fictional tellers of misfortune and futurists Art and Sage get together on July 1, 2017, on the 20th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong to China, to talk about … Continue reading →