People forget how much Taiwan has sacrificed for its freedoms.
I was recently in the ballroom where the end of martial law was declared (Grand Hotel, Taipei). After, I visited the Nylon Cheng (鄭南榕) memorial museum, where his daughter told me about his tragic self-immolation.
Cheng fought and died for freedom of speech. His publication, Freedom Era Weekly, was the subject of constant state harassment. After he published a proposal for a constitution for the Republic of Taiwan, he was charged with sedition, and ordered to appear before court.
He wouldn't go.
He stayed in his locked office for 71 days. Eventually, as the police prepared to storm the building to arrest him, he sent his family to shelter from the coming blaze, and set his own office on fire.
Today, the charred remains of that office are preserved as they were. Even the burned boots he was wearing when he died. His daughter (鄭竹梅) now shows people around the museum. She showed me the last letter she wrote him. She was too young to understand what was happening. Showing it to me, 37 years later, she was still visibly upset.
Cheng's story of self-sacrifice was not unique. 30 years since their first presidential elections, some foreign onlookers doubt the power of these raw memories in the collective Taiwanese consciousness, and the yearning they represent.
Some even speculate about the commitment of Taiwan to its democracy. I don't understand this. Everywhere I go, I encounter the spirit that gave rise to a figure like Nylon Cheng, together with a profound understanding of the price of democracy that, frankly, puts many in my own country to shame.
Remembering him today, and on April 7th, now an official day to honour his memory. Do visit the museum if you're in Taipei. https://t.co/0fFjJpFxtn
Pretty amazing how many world-class companies that can be found on this small island.
Leading semiconductor and consumer electronic manufacturers, several outstanding aircraft carriers and of course the bicycle factories!
The world can learn a lot from Taiwan. As a result of collective efforts, Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs reported a 96 per cent fall in online scam ads last year and a 94 per cent reduction in identity impersonation. https://t.co/4zHg09p5Qk
This morning, Taiwan decommissioned its last nuclear reactor, entering the last phase of its "nuclear-free homeland" energy policy.
In 2024, Taiwan imported 97% of its energy, making its energy intensive industries potentially vulnerable to blockade.
Given the ongoing interest in Taiwan's energy policy and vulnerability, we are re-sharing our visualization made several months ago showing the distribution of Taiwan's energy import infrastructure.
The excessively emotional and hypocritical outcry from Europe over Ukraine has become unbearable. These empty platitudes are crafted to provoke the right emotional reactions rather than to drive meaningful action. Instead, over the past three years, Europe should have focused on adopting a partial war economy, developing an efficient defense industry, enforcing its own sanctions rather than circumventing them through Russia’s proxies, strengthening Ukraine’s international diplomatic standing beyond mere virtue-signaling in the Global South, and, most importantly, fulfilling its commitments to supply the necessary weapons systems and ammunition for Ukraine’s defense. That would have accomplished far more than the current wave of emotional theatrics in Europe.
Around half of the world’s population live in places that went to the polls in 2024.
But despite the election extravaganza, global democracy has reached a new low, according to the latest index by @TheEIU https://t.co/CROsI8Uh1v
Beijing continues to distort the intent of UN Resolution 2758. It didn’t address the one China principle. FM Zhou Enlai said at the time that it didn’t resolve the issue of Taiwan’s status. It’s time to be honest about this issue. https://t.co/wWSE8MtsyE
After working so tirelessly to slash the country’s budget for sport, it’s absolutely amazing that this fella still has the guts to make a social media post celebrating the country’s baseball team qualifying for the World Baseball Classic.
Shameless politician.