Taiwan and the Next US President

by John Copper



Sunday, Jul 15, 2007, Page 8

During the last few weeks, the US presidential candidates have been
debating and setting out their positions on important issues. In doing
so, their views on both domestic and foreign policies have become
clearer.

But they have said little about Taiwan. In fact, former American
Institute in Taiwan director Raymond Burghardt has pointed out that
none of the candidates has voiced an opinion on Taiwan and probably
won't. In other words, Taiwan is not going to be an issue in the coming
US election.

Not exactly true. While the candidates have not set forth a position on
the "Taiwan issue," it is possible to glean something about their
stances. They have talked about Taiwan before and one can guess how
each might treat Taiwan as president.

As a general assumption, Republican candidates are better for Taiwan
than Democrats. Most republican candidates see China as a military
challenge or even a threat to the US and therefore view a separate
Taiwan as an asset to the US. They are thus more likely to defend
Taiwan in the event that China employs military force to seize it.

Democratic candidates as a whole are anti-war and don't favor the use
of the military. The last Democrat to run for president, Senator John
Kerry, said he would not, if elected, order the US military into action
to defend Taiwan.

Democratic candidates are tougher on China on economic issues. They
want to pressure China to revalue the yuan and advocate tariffs or
other punitive means to fix the huge trade deficit the US has with
China, which exceeded US$300 billion last year.

But economic sanctions against China would also hurt Taiwan since a
large portion of China's exports come from Taiwan-owned or run
companies there.

Democrats generally don't seem to mind. They don't heed the views of
many economists that the US trade deficit cannot be corrected by China
revaluing its currency or by tariffs and that the US instead needs to
increase savings and investment and cut taxes and regulations. Their
policies are essentially protectionist, which would be harmful to the
global economy upon which Taiwan depends.

In contrast, Republicans advocate free trade and would deal with
China's trade offensive on a case-by-case basis -- for example, dealing
with China's subsidies and violations of intellectual property rights
each as an issue itself or by trying to strengthen the US economy and
export more.

Among Democrats, Senator Hillary Clinton would probably be best for
Taiwan. She has taken a harder stance toward China on various issues,
though noticeably more on economic ones. She has been a strong critic
of human rights abuses in China and more supportive of the use of US
military power.

Senator Barack Obama doesn't have much of a record on US China and
Taiwan issues. Recently, in a speech in Congress, he said he favors a
peaceful resolution of Taiwan issue and opposes a unilateral change in
the status quo. The former has long been US policy. The latter seems
almost a quote from US President George W. Bush. Obama has sounded
tough on China on economic issues, but has not been specific.

Former senator John Edwards would probably be the worst Democratic
candidate for Taiwan. He is the furthest left on the political spectrum
and talks more strongly against the use of US military force than other
Democrats. Presumably, like Kerry before him, he may choose not to use
US forces to protect Taiwan.

It is difficult to discern which Republican candidate would be best for Taiwan.

Leading Republicans have all taken a stance that translates into the US
having a national interest in Taiwan, seeing it as sovereign and
needing to protect it.

When he was mayor of New York, Rudy Giuliani told Chen when he visited
the city in 2001 that Taiwan is a "remarkable country." He recently
opposed Hillary Clinton limiting Chinese ownership of US debt and
thinks the US should deal with the trade deficit with China by building
more competitive industries and exporting.

Senator John McCain has been the strongest on defense among Republican
candidates and on keeping US forces in East Asia that protect Taiwan.
He supports the Pentagon's "hedge" policy against China's growing
military influence in the region. Thus, he stands strong for defending
Taiwan.

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney has taken a strong stance on
defense and favors defending Taiwan. There is no reason to think he
would not do that. However, he has not said much about Taiwan.

Former senator Fred Thompson, who isn't officially a candidate but
ranks high in the polls, has said bluntly that the US is obligated to
defend Taiwan. He told his constituency when he was in the Senate that
if he were to decide, he would protect Taiwan.

Newt Gingrich has also taken a tough stand on the issue of protecting
Taiwan and preserving its sovereignty. He has spoken often about
Taiwan's importance.

All of the candidates, Democrats and Republicans, have enunciated a
positive view of Taiwan's democracy. But this is less important than
the matter of whether the US will protect Taiwan. The point is that
Taiwan's political system doesn't matter if it is absorbed by China.

In coming months, it is difficult to conceive of Taiwan not becoming an
issue in the US presidential campaign. It has been in every campaign
for more than half a century.

Military strategists see the Taiwan Strait as the world's number one
flashpoint. The US and a fast rising China differ on Taiwan's future
and that is an issue worth debating.

John Copper is a professor of International Studies at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee.

 

"'Cheshire Puss,' she began, rather timidly, as she did not at all know whether it would like the name: however, it only grinned a little wider.

`Come, it's pleased so far,' thought Alice, andshe went on. `Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go fromhere?'

'That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,' said the Cat.

`I don't much care where--' said Alice.

`Then it doesn't matter which way you go,' said the Cat.

`--so long as I get SOMEWHERE,' Alice added as an explanation.

`Oh, you're sure to do that,' said the Cat, `if you only walk long enough.'"

--Lewis Carroll in Alice'sAdventures in Wonderland

Hmm... so it's that time again.  Where do I go from here?

So- I've finally finished my thesis!  Whohoo! Go me.  Never thought that day would come, but it was great.  I actually finished early, and was able to help two friends proof read and another collate on day of.  I also got a steal on printing my thesis... hehe... I think they under charged me even after I double checked with them that I got three copies and not just one.  Oh well  ^__^

So now, waiting for Oral Defense which is on Saturday the 28th.  My time slot is soo late in the afternoon.  I am basically the second to the last one.  grrr... well, at least I don't have to wake up early. =)

So what else?  Well, job hunting of course!  I've seriously gotta land a job within the next month.. or else I've gotta pack my  bags and roll back to the States.  Not that that would be bad, I do miss my family & home, but ... I think I'd like to stay for a little bit longer.  So---- I've been to two career fairs and am looking also via a head hunting agency. 

First career fair was just sad sad sad.  Basically, the entire fair was geared towards undergraduate Japanese students that are returning from overseas.  So, like 98% of the jobs required native Japanese levels... and the salaries were also incredibly low.  It was a sad sad day... and I hauled my butt out to Big Site in Odaiba on a hot hot day-- in heels and a suit~! Not fun. 

Head hunting agency--seemed to have a lot of potential--at first.  After all, I heard about the company through a good friend who landed a full time Financial Analyst position at  ING Direct in Japan-- and her job requires no Japanese!  But... for me, it has proved to be very different.  Supposedly I already have a job offer, though a contract position, from a fairly prestigious IB Firm, but my head hunter has been ignoring me since I asked him about the work visa situation.  I really want to talk to his manager.  I mean, he already said they offered me the position on the phone, so in some ways, that is legally binding right?

Second career fair was a little bit more fruitful.  DISCO Career Fair-- fairly big-- where they have annual career fairs in Tokyo, Boston and Los Angeles.  Some of my MBA colleagues actually flew to Boston last year for the fair.  Anyway-- I went and visited pretty much only one Booth.  Yes, I am like that.  Definitely not interested in the shot-gun approach.  I was really lucky, interviewed w/ three people on the spot and was told that they'd like to see me again at their corporate office.  I was super excited!

The day after, a Thursday I remember,  I missed two calls from a Tokyo number.  First call I missed because I was at the Writing Center and second call I was at lunch.  Oops!  But I am sure glad I didn't miss the third call!!  It was them calling to set up a second interview with me!! She said that they'd like to seem me on Tuesday and she'll be sending all the details for me via email, by Friday, latest.  I said Thanks and I waited and waited...  Nothing came on Friday... Saturday.. or Sunday.

So of course I had to call on Monday!  The thing was... yeah, I didn't get her phone number or first name, thinking that I'd be getting an email from her right away.  Yeah.  So it was a big pain in tracking her down.  GRRR.. my fault.   Anyway, after I tracked her down, turns out that she misspelled my email, and hence the delay.   Whew~

Went in for the 2nd Interview on Tuesday-- Saw 5 managers.  Crazy I tell you.  Two of which I had to do in Japanese.. very sad sad.  The interview coordinator told me that they will have the decisions by Friday and they will let me know then.  So I patiently waited for a reply.  I must have checked my email a gazillion times starting at 9am Friday morning.  Well, nothing came and I gave up after 6pm. 

I started the routine again on Monday morning, only to be reminded that it's "Umi no Hi" -Ocean Day- national holiday so offices are closed.  Huh.  Ok... more waiting.  But I sent a follow up email just in case... cause I was suppose to hear from them on Friday!! 

Tuesday.. finally! They'd like to see me back~ and we scheduled a Friday interview--and a Tuesday interview for next week, because there is a manager that wants to meet me but is not in the country this week. hmm.... have to go back twice? I guess gotta do whatever it takes to land the job.

So.  Today.  Went in for about an hour and 15 mins.  Saw three managers.  Aye, the first manager I definitey bombed w/... was just not feeling it.  The second two went a little bit smoother.

All I can say is that this whole interviewing process is killing me.  I am always sooo tired after I get back from the interviews and I just completely knock out for at least two hours.  grrr.....

I can't wait for this to be over.

Hire me gosh dang it!!   :p

So... wish me luck on Tuesday.  I really really really want this job.... I really really really need this job... grrrr......

I am a Control Freak.

 

What is up with that?!

imma gonna retake the quiz.

lol

Whatever day, whichever year that was... 

Let's just say that there were quite a few ---  very busy loving  parents~

because::

Happy Birthday  !!

Dinner

Gosh ~ I am so healthy.

Finally figured out why I haven't succumbed to the ease of prepackaged food.  It's because.. I don't have a microwave or an oven!  Go figure.

Here's my salad-- threw it all together from what ever I have in the fridge.  There's a small square of tofu hiding on the bottom.  So there's boiled strips of pork, fake crab meat, onsen tamago (of course!), thousand year old egg (never done this before.. hope it tastes good), boiled cabbage and carrots, tomatotes, cheese and baby cucumbers. oh and of course.. my secret sauce.

hehehe...

いただきます！

Vacation in Taiwan

I am back in Japan now~ Can't believe three weeks flew by just like that.  Time does fly when you are having fun.. and being stressed.  hehehe... though fun and super yummy-- this trip to Taiwan was certainly a stress-filled one.  I'll explain later. 

So what did I do over three weeks:

Climbed the Taipei 101~ currently the tallest building in the world!  All I can say is... I am such a weakling.  I tried training from about a week before by going to the gym, doing squats at home and taking stairs whenever I could.  That meant, when I got to Taiwan, I actually took the stairs, every single time, to my sister's place on the 11th floor--up until the day of the climb.  Yes, my sister and bro-in-law, and the building guard man thought I was crazy.  I finished last... =( out of our group of seven.  Four guys and three girls.  The fastest one in our group finished in less than 25 minutes... and it took me just over 40 minutes from 1st to 91st floor.  I can't believe Wei beat me to the top too.. he didn't even prep for this event...  grrr.. but tha's ok-- he's pretty athletic.. and he is a dude.. so I'll let it slide...  :p

Too bad I didn't get a certificate that says I've climbed the 101-- but I did get a t-shirt though~~   

   

Would I do it again next year? I think so! It was fun, and after all, it was for a good cause.  Unfortunately though,  I don't think the charities done enough to promote themselves.  I think the sponsoring organizations could have done a lot more to get the word out on domestic violence and child abuse in Taiwan.  When we got to the 101, there were lots going on, with people signing up, getting food and drinks, band playing music on stage... but they were really missing two booths to help raise awareness about why we are climbing!!  It would have been nice if we found out more about each of the charities...etc.  Hopefully, they will do better in the future in terms of raising awareness.

Northern Taiwan Tour~ 宜蘭, 富基漁港, 金山, 野柳, 基隆廟口,美麗華

After being in Taipei for a couple of days, I remember telling my sister how I thought Taipei was much prettier during the night with different lights on the building and along the river.   Because during the day time, you see that the river water is no where near clean or clear and the sky drones a dingy shade of gray with many tired buildings showing signs of age and weather.  However, for the most part, when you step out of Taipei, it's a totally different story. 

I-Lan was absolutely beautiful.  I really never thought I would see scenery like that in Taiwan.  The air was clear and people actually drove like they've taken driving lessons and are really following the government traffic regulations. 

A big THANK YOU to Jeff and Patty  (歐吉桑遊台灣) for showing Joe and I all the neat places in I-Lan!

On our 10 month anniversary, Joe was super sweet and planned a trip for us to tour other parts of northern Taiwan.  First, we stopped by Fuji-harbor, ate super fresh seafood and enjoyed the scenary there.  You can see in the picture there were vendors after vendors selling fresh live seafood.  The selection is quite different than those I am accustomed to seeing in Japan and in the States.  They definitely had some odd looking crabs and shrimps!  We picked some clams and shrimps out and Joe had a fresh Uni.  After selecting our 'lunch', we walked 30 seconds over to a nearby restaurant where they prepared whatever you picked for 100NT more per dish.  (100NT > $3)  Food was great.  My fav was definitely the clams.  You just can't go wrong with ginger, green onions, garlic and basil.  yum yum yum! 

Next, we stopped by 朱銘美術館 Juming Art Museum.  It was interesting to see the art work made from rock and scrap metal...  He is most well known for his Taichi collection I think.  Unfortunately, as we were leaving the museum, we realized that we totally missed the "main" art house on the other side of the museum campus.  Oopps.  I guess... maybe next time? 

After the museum, we went for a tour around 金山 Gold Mountain~ the scenary again was beautiful...there was a beach and a bridge where you can walk up and enjoy the view of the water and the mountain.  But let's just say only from a distance.  Upon closer examination, the beach was littered w/ trash.  And... worst of all... you'll never believe what caught my eye.  Below the bridge etched in the sand was what looked like a decaying canine... decaying.. because for the most part.. there was no fur on him.  Yeah, we left real quick.  Joe and I were talking and we just think there is so much potential for Taiwan to be beautiful and have a booming tourism industry from not just within the country... but internationally....but something must be done.  Beautification and culture must start right here from home!  Be like the Japanese.  Take your Trash home to throw away.  I'll never look at another "Take Your Trash Home" in Japan in the same way.

Next, we were hoping to have dinner at 野柳 Yeh-liu because it too is by the ocean and is famous for fresh seafood.  But when we arrived around 6pm.... there were probably only 5 other tourists and the rest were shop owners.  And all the little eateries and shops were closed except for maybe 5 vendors.  It was really disappointing. (Later, I found out from my sister that-- it's because we went on a weekday.  Weekends are totally different with tour buses and families from all over Taiwan.  Heh.. who knew?)  We didn't get to go in to see the famous rock formations 'cause the park was already closed, so we ended up walking around by the wave-crashers (see picture) along the side of the parking lot.  Wanted to jump out to get closer to the ocean .. but too scary.   This scenic point also had the same flaw as 金山~ Trash.  I mean, you can't see it from just standing in the parking lot.  But if you walk up to the wave-crashers and look down... you'll see trash.  Trash allllll along the way.  Big bags, little bags... commercial trash from near by resturants (maybe?) and domestic trash--just trash thrown in... and what shocked me the most.. .was there was an actual DESK tossed over.  The nerve of someone to truck the desk all the way from home and toss it over.  grrrr!! Very upsetting.  If a volunteer or government organization came and cleaned this up, do you think people would stop littering??   very sad... there's gotta be something to do to stop the litter bugs!

Since we didn't get dinner, we stopped by 基隆廟口夜市~ Night market full of vendors selling all sorts of stuff from food, to clothing, to air freshner to battery-free hand-operated flash lights.  "Just press 5 times!"-- and let there be light!   --- in the picture to the left... look carefully and you'll be able to see what one vendor is offering on the dinner menu. 

 

On our way back to home, we stopped by Miramar Entertainment Park美麗華百樂園.  It's a pretty neat little place. When we got there, there was a live concert going on and it seemed like a shopping plaza -- not sure.. cause it was fairly late.  We did however, get to ride on the ferris wheel.  Second largest ferris wheel in Taiwan at 70 meters tall. (Odaiba's is 115 meters tall.)  The ride went by fairly quickly-- just under 15 minutes.  Compared to the one in Odaiba, I like the Miramar ferris wheel much better for a couple of reasons.  First, the seating arrangement.  The interior of the Miramar ferris wheel allows up to maybe 6 people to sit face to face, three on each side, while the Odaiba seating follows the curve of the vehicle, so essentially, it's a circular bench on the inside.  At max capacity on the Miramar, seating and leg room are still quite ample, while the Odaiba one gets quite cramped. Second, on the Miramar ferris wheel, the view in the vehicle is from the bench up, while the Odaiba one is probably waist up-- so you see much less on the Odaiba ferris wheel.

Before we took off~ we challenged the basketball arcade game. I've gotta say I did pretty darn well.. Well, not well enough to pass level two, you need 150 points or more, but hey! 120-something ain't so bad either~ considering I am farther than you all from the hoop and I've never really played basketball... except in maybe--- junior high P.E. ?

Anyway, all in all~ it was still a beautiful lazy day out.  We were blessed with good weather, great food and most of all... excellent company!  hehehe 

Thanks Hun!

 

Family Time~

First off, I would like to give a big THANKS to my dear sister Susanna~ for putting up with me for three weeks.  She had my room all set up for me when I got there =)  So sweet!  She even did my laundry for three weeks.  Shoooot..  Hehehhehe THANKS!!

Is my neice cute or what?  She has just entered her Terrible-Two year~ and honestly, despite all the cuteness... she is quite a handfull!   All I can say is ... good luck to my sis and bro-in-law~   i shudder at the thought of having my own kids... 

Got back to Taiwan, just in time for my sister's 29th b-day.  We celebrated in 淡水 with my aunt's family.  Her cake was an absolute classic.  We were able to get a discount off of the cake because of the little "typo".  My sister asked the cake shop to rewrite it, but the lady said the "chef" left for the day.  Ooook... last I checked, you did not need a "chef" to do chocolate writing.  Anyway-- at 淡水 we also picked up these cute little figurines on rocks.  You get to pick your own figurines according to which ever Chinese zodia sign you are.  We made one for my parents in the States with five figurines and my sister made one for her little family of three too.  Absolutely adorable!  The lady kept saying... yeah, when you have a kid, remember to come back and we'll add the little one  on for you!  Yeah.  Uh huh.  

The last picture in this series is from our visit to the Bee Museum in 雲林~ It was pretty interesting, since the owner of the place turned out to be friends of my aunt and uncle. I picked up some Lychee Honey and Honey Vinegar.  Yum Yum Yum!

 

Wedding Photos~ a Big Congratulations to my best friend Lil and her fiance Avery~  They came back to Taiwan from the States and took care of the entire photo process in Three days!! Absolutely amazing.  We went in together to pick out outfits on Monday, took a couple hours, but wasn't too bad-- cause Lily is decisive like that :p  (I am sure it would take me at least twice as long.. if not longer to decide on which outfits I want.. whahhaa ).  Tuesday, day two-- the two love birds started at 8am and finished at 10pm-- w/ only food and travel breaks in between.  Absolute wow.  Wednesday. day three-- we met up at 3:30p and didn't leave the studio till about 8:30p.  Yes.. it took that long because.. we had to go from 411 photos ---> all the way down to 50.  It was tough I tell ya!  But--- It was worth it cause I think the photos turned out absolutely beautiful!   Here are a couple of my favorites:

 

Food!!

So after I got back to Japan and showed up to my Japanese class the day after---my dear friend Jean said to me, "The food in Taiwan is THAT GOOD, eh?!" 

haha.. yes.  so I gained a few pounds... and it shows.  I really really tried controlling myself.. but it was way hard.  Cause that's how Taiwanese people work.  Everytime you want to do something, or meet up with someone... it's always at a restaurant or a cafe somewhere.  Or... you meet else where first... and then eat.  It's always food food food.  But I am not complaining.  Food in Taiwan is awesome--whether it's at the night market or in a 5-star setting. And it doesn't really matter what cuisine it is either~ it's usually always yuummy ^_^

Didn't start taking food pics till later on during the trip.  But here are a few pixs to tempt your taste buds.

   

======

Stress I said... yeah, it was definitely tough to juggle schedules between friends and family.  Very Very Tough I tell ya.  Next time... it will be a covert operation.  No one will know .... I'll secretly fly in... get my 'fix' and leave... undetected  :p  hehehhe

May 28, Mon

真討厭~ 持續"皮皮剎"中~還沒寫完chapter 2...龜速前進的我~ 已經整整坐在電腦前面--不知道幾天幾夜了-- 緊張到睡不好又"嘴破"canker sores...~還被人誤以為說是會傳染的cold sores... different OK.. shoooot... 小怒... anyway.. =)

• Well, Chapter 1 & 3 completed... I think.. should go back and double check.
• Chapter 2 ....80% completed??
• Going to talk to Umezu on Wednesday.. so he can tell me what to do w/ the survey results...grrr
• taking a little break after Thursday.. hehehhe... Will deal w/ Chapter 4 & 5 later next week.  I can do it!!

May 22, Tue

• 90 surveys completed... but still gotta go through and toss out a few incomplete ones I think.  Hopefully I can get about 20 more people to fill out my survey.  Any volunteers? Pretty Please! Online survey will take you less than 10 minutes to complete and you gotta be currently working in the US and not part of Senior or Executive management teams.
• Chapter 3 Methodology section nearly completed.
• In the process of outlining Chapter 1 Introduction, Chapter 2 Literature Review.   it's taking forever to do >_<"
• Target: Finish Chapter 1 and 2 and 3 by next week.  Chapter 4 Findings and Chapter 5 Discussion.. Finish before mid-June. grrrr....

 

April 19, Thu

• Turns out.. more literature review.  keep finding things online to read and print out.
• Online survey 40/100! Whoohoo making good progress.  But I think from here on out, the numbers will increase @ snail pace... since most of my friends and family and their working contacts have already filled it out  ... 
•  Still waiting for the company that I used to work for to respond though, hopefully the HR Sr. VP will distribute it for me, so I don't have to email it one by one to my ex-coworkers... should have kept a full contact list    ... 

 

April 16, Mon

• Set format for thesis.
• Finished literature review... so much reading..  
  
• Completed survey, cover letters to managers of companies, and letter to research participants.
• Sent several letters to potential companies (doubt they will respond)-- and emails to friends and family asking for help.
• Survey online as of 4/14 -- waiting for results.
  • 2 out of 100 target surveys. (Actually I would like more than 100 responses... but gotta be realistic.  Would be lucky if I get any where near 100.

==============
i have this horrible feeling that as i go along in completing my thesis, the number of pages I have completed will be directly correlated to the numbers i see when i step on the scale. 
i mean, it's been just about a week since i've really started to work on my thesis and i feel like i am stuck in finals week forever.  and when i go in the 'finals' mode, i am glued to my desk and muching away-- grrr!

The view from my balcony today....

我超愛藍天白雲~ blue sky w/ poofy white clouds...

if I can only get a hammock on my little balcony....

Hey Everyone,

I can't believe this myself either, but I am signed up to conquer the Taipei 101 this May 5th! That is exactly one week from today.  It's crazy! I know...and for those of you who are asking...no.. it will not be like a spiderman thingy climbing the outside walls. No no silly.  I will be climbing the stairs on the Inside of the building .  LOL ~~ silly silly I tell you.  I don't know how long it's going to take me to do the 91 flights of stairs...  but-- I have a head start compared to a lot of people, since I climb my five flights of stairs nearly daily--and more if I leave my apartment more than once a day-- since my apartment doesn't have an elevator-- but still that is NOTHING in comparison to the Taipei 101. 

Taipei 101
Taipei 101 has been the world's tallest building since 2004.†
Preceded by	Petronas Twin Towers
Information
Location	Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
Status	Complete
Constructed	1999-2003
Height
Antenna/Spire	509.2 m
Roof	449.2 m
Top floor	439.2 m
Technical Details
Floor count	101
Floor area	412,500 m²
Elevator count	61(including two doubledecker elevators)
Cost	$1,600,000,000
Companies
Architect	C.Y. Lee
Contractor	KTRT Joint Venture
† Fully habitable, self-supported, from main entrance to highest structural or architectural top; see world's tallest structures for other listings.