I wonder how many of you foreigners are browsing social media posts in Taiwan, in Chinese. Call me biased, but what I've felt since Ma was still the president, is that DPP has been using the MSM in Taiwan, social media, trolls, activists, and all sorts of means to sway and even throw dirt at dissidents. Lai himself urged their own trolls to stop attacking him while he wanted to run for president in 2019 ( https://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/201904130177.aspx ). Tons of activists are used as tools just to drag down KMT, with the environment nuts being the most obvious ones.
I'm born in '91. KMT is depicted to be the villain in the past from the textbook and DPP-affiliated media. But from what I see and feel, DPP is the one that tries to become, if not surpass, the KMT in the past.
Both parties are filled with politicians that disgust me, but at least KMT can be balanced while DPP will use all the dirty tricks just to stay in control.
Wendell: since you have been so critical of the DPP in the past, and of Taiwan's unwillingness to face up to the existential threat that it faces, I presume that you approve this move by the DPP, as an indication that they now take the threat seriously.
Cracking down on Chinese visitor/spouse/and Taiwanese working in China is something they have ignored for decades. In 2024 the govt said they had caught around 60 Taiwanese working for China as spies. We'll see if his new efforts come to fruition. Many times policies here never are enforced.
I thought China in Arms would not deal with politics. It seems to me this post deals exactly with that. But on the other hand, it is natural as politics and national security often go together . I found it funny that the KMT legislators say : "A democratic society must never accept a system where the critical threshold between peacetime and wartime are blurred, and human rights can be sacrificed at will—such a model exists only in a state such as North Korea" What about China PRC? why not mention China PRC? The PRC is certainly not a democratic country (peace or not peace). Last time I checked, Taiwan is still a democratic country and the freedom of speech is pretty much guaranteed until this very moment. KMT forgets that so far the only party (in Taiwan) who had, albeit in the past, supported and implemented Martial Law is the KMT. Now, as Saint Paul on the way to Damascus, the KMT has converted and became a staunch defender of democratic values. That is admirable. Bottom line, I do not feel the DPP is driving this country towards dictatorship. Could the DPP do better? Certainly but I would not accuse it of doing what those legislators claim.
Well, you are right, I did say I would not mix grapes and grain. BUT, this sounded more like the KMT was suggesting the DPP would stage military coup. So I think that is in the arena. ALSO, China is not compared for obvious reasons...the KMT president Ma went to Singapore to meet Xi for discussions and it felt like it was over...so I suspect if there is an invasion someone on the KMT will named "Governor" of Taiwan "Province".
I wonder how many of you foreigners are browsing social media posts in Taiwan, in Chinese. Call me biased, but what I've felt since Ma was still the president, is that DPP has been using the MSM in Taiwan, social media, trolls, activists, and all sorts of means to sway and even throw dirt at dissidents. Lai himself urged their own trolls to stop attacking him while he wanted to run for president in 2019 ( https://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/201904130177.aspx ). Tons of activists are used as tools just to drag down KMT, with the environment nuts being the most obvious ones.
I'm born in '91. KMT is depicted to be the villain in the past from the textbook and DPP-affiliated media. But from what I see and feel, DPP is the one that tries to become, if not surpass, the KMT in the past.
Both parties are filled with politicians that disgust me, but at least KMT can be balanced while DPP will use all the dirty tricks just to stay in control.
You are welcome to write an oped for me. Let me know at chinainarms@substack.com
Wendell: since you have been so critical of the DPP in the past, and of Taiwan's unwillingness to face up to the existential threat that it faces, I presume that you approve this move by the DPP, as an indication that they now take the threat seriously.
Cracking down on Chinese visitor/spouse/and Taiwanese working in China is something they have ignored for decades. In 2024 the govt said they had caught around 60 Taiwanese working for China as spies. We'll see if his new efforts come to fruition. Many times policies here never are enforced.
I thought China in Arms would not deal with politics. It seems to me this post deals exactly with that. But on the other hand, it is natural as politics and national security often go together . I found it funny that the KMT legislators say : "A democratic society must never accept a system where the critical threshold between peacetime and wartime are blurred, and human rights can be sacrificed at will—such a model exists only in a state such as North Korea" What about China PRC? why not mention China PRC? The PRC is certainly not a democratic country (peace or not peace). Last time I checked, Taiwan is still a democratic country and the freedom of speech is pretty much guaranteed until this very moment. KMT forgets that so far the only party (in Taiwan) who had, albeit in the past, supported and implemented Martial Law is the KMT. Now, as Saint Paul on the way to Damascus, the KMT has converted and became a staunch defender of democratic values. That is admirable. Bottom line, I do not feel the DPP is driving this country towards dictatorship. Could the DPP do better? Certainly but I would not accuse it of doing what those legislators claim.
Well, you are right, I did say I would not mix grapes and grain. BUT, this sounded more like the KMT was suggesting the DPP would stage military coup. So I think that is in the arena. ALSO, China is not compared for obvious reasons...the KMT president Ma went to Singapore to meet Xi for discussions and it felt like it was over...so I suspect if there is an invasion someone on the KMT will named "Governor" of Taiwan "Province".