September 11, 2009
Reunification Watch: CHEN SHUI-BIAN GUILTY
The ex-President of Taiwan from 2000-2008, the man who survived a last minute "assasination" attempt on the eve of the 2004 election, the man former US President George W Bush said he would send the state of Texas to defend, the darling of the American Republican Party, has joined his former benefactor ex-US House Majority Leader Tom Delay in disgrace. Chen was found guility after a lengthy trial (and numerous hunger strikes and other antics) of corruption and embezzlement of millions from the state and from bribes. His punishment, life in prison....
Labels: chen shui-bian, reunification, taiwan
November 12, 2008
CHEN SHUI-BIAN IN POLICE CUSTODY
Prosecutors in Taipei brought disgraced former Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian into custody for questions relating to the ongoing corruption probe into Chen and his family.
Ever the showman, Chen hammed for the TV cameras and is making the investigation into his unpopular Presidency into a referendum on Taiwan reunification.
Meanwhile, relations continue to warm between Beijing and Taipei with news that Chinese students will be allowed to enroll in Taiwan universities.
Labels: chen shui-bian, reunification, taiwan
January 14, 2008
Taiwan Reunification A Step Closer?
The Kuomintang (KMT) party win in the Taiwan legislative elections signals defeat of Chen Shui-Bian and further damages the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) chances of retaining power. Chen Shui-Bian although still legally President stepped down as Chairman of the DPP. The DPP's only hope now is that their ploy to bring out the vote - the referendum on Taiwan's United Nations recognition - will result in a DPP win for the Presidency. That ploy (inspired by the DPP's mentors in the USA Republican Party - think anti-gay amendments and voter turnout for the Presidential election in 2004) may not be enough as Taiwan voters appear to link the island's poor economic performance to DPP rule overall.
The KMT are expected to hasten direct links between mainland China and Taiwan and set the stage for a slow absorption much in the way Hong Kong was integrated directly into the economy of the greater Pearl River region long before the flags changed in 1997. If uninterrupted (certainly not a foregone conclusion) the impact will be felt greatest by the Hong Kong region to Shanghai's benefit and by American weapons purveyors, particularly Lockheed Martin.
Labels: chen shui-bian, dpp, elections, kmt, kuomintang, reunification, taiwan
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