A Chinese official, Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi (王毅), has become the first to recognize Taiwan’s Constitution. He says that the president elect, Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), should “abide by it”. Tsai has promised to declassify documents about the 228 Massacre, which the Taiwanese observed in memory this past weekend. The three day weekend of Feb 28 (2/28) stands as a blight on the face of Chiang Kai-shek, who founded the recently defeated KMT-Nationalist party and slaughtered 10,000 to 30,000 people in Taiwan, depending on who you ask, during the time of his flight from the revolting Communists. Statues of the “Hitler of Taiwan” were defaced throughout Taiwan over the weekend. Officials are “not yet” pressing charges.
While Taiwan exposes more truth and topples statues of tyrants, China is finding vengeance on booksellers. The times are ripe with contrast. Nations in the region see anything but peace in our time.
ASEAN – Association of Southeast Asian Nations
A unique display of political will between US, Asean | The Nation
ASEAN says seriously concerned about rising South China Sea tensions | Reuters
ASEAN ministers raise concern, call for non-militarization in South China Sea
ASEAN echoes US over developments in South China Sea | Taipei Times
Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s missing booksellers confessed to selling banned books in China | Quartz
Taiwan
228 REMEMBERED: Transitional justice is Tsai’s top priority | Taipei Times
Chiang Kai-shek statues nationwide found defaced | Taipei Times
China acknowledgement helps ties: Ma | Taipei Times