cross-strait issues

Pelosi plane takes a big detour to avoid South China Sea, Chinese coast

Flight route of SPAR19
International Relations 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment ,

A US Air Force jet carrying US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi flew in a large arc over Indonesia before turning north and flying over the Philippine Sea, completely avoiding flying over the South China Sea today, three days after China’s leading propagandist warned that the Chinese military could shoot the plane down. In a now-banned tweet, Hu Xijin, former editor-in-chief of the Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece Global Times, wrote, “If US fighter jets escort Pelosi’s plane into Taiwan,

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Suspect in execution-style murder extradited from China: suffers seizure during COVID test

heavily armed police, medical workers, and a suspect
Violent Crimes 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment , , ,

A suspect who fled to China just hours after he allegedly shot and killed a man in New Taipei City collapsed and went into convulsions during a COVID test at the airport, just minutes after he was extradited back to Taiwan. Huang Yung-chun, is wanted in connection with the murder of 45-year-old coffee merchant Ho Ming-hsun. Ho was gunned down in front of his family home in Xindian District on the morning of November 22. The police forensic investigation found

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More than 80% of Taiwanese reject one country two systems according to poll

results of survey
Politics 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

The results of a poll released today showed that more than 80% of respondents rejected the idea of “one country, two systems,” and a majority believe that there is no “1992 consensus.” The survey undertaken by the Cross-Strait Policy Association was conducted to measure the public’s response to a series of recent statements by leaders in China and Taiwan that Foreign Policy labeled “dueling speeches.” In a New Years Day address, President Tsai Ing-wen unveiled the “four musts” policy, demanding

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Angry Father Smashes Toy Rabbit Who Says Taiwan is Part of China

smashed rabbit made in China
Politics 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

The father of a pre-schooler smashed a toy rabbit and posted pictures on-line after the Chinese-made educational toy said “the biggest island in China is Taiwan.” The incident drew comments from the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) and legislators. The father purchased the “Showtime Rabbit story machine” on the Chinese shopping website Taobao. The toy is marketed as teaching Chinese culture, stories, songs, geography, music, and more. It was priced at 15 yuan to 30 yuan (about NT$ 69 ~ 138).

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China’s Netizens Declare War on Taiwan

Zhou Ziyu poses with the Korean and Republic of China (Taiwan) flags on a Korean variety show
Media Issues 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , , , ,

Netizens on China’s most popular web board Tieba  declared war on Taiwan media Facebook pages today in the wake of the controversy caused by Taiwanese performer Zhou Ziyu (Chou Tzu-Yu) showing of a Taiwanese (Republic of China) flag on a Korean variety show last year. Zhou Ziyu is 16 years old and a member of the K-pop girl group TWICE. Netizens declared the attack would start at 7 pm tonight (January 20, 2016), and would include Apple Daily, SET TV, and the Scoop Community.

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