Taiwan is already in the United Nations

Taiwan is already in the United Nations
by Dennis Zhu
translated by Bevin Chu

Election season is here. The Green camp never seems to tire of trotting out the "Join the UN" issue. Nor is the Kuomintang willing to take a back seat. For this round it has steeled itself, and decided to play the game out to the bitter end. But if we look at the issue in all seriousness, the "Join the UN" issue is phony through and through.

China (the mainland plus Taiwan) is a founding member of the United Nations. Prior to 1971, the Republic of China represented China in the United Nations. After 1971, the People's Republic of China successfully replaced the Republic of China, becoming China's (the mainland plus Taiwan) legitimate representative in the United Nations. The various mainland provinces and Province of Taiwan, have from beginning to end, remained integral parts of China, so naturally they have been inside the United Nations. If Taiwan wants to join the United Nations, it must first separate from China, only then will it have any basis for joining the United Nations. If it hasn't declared independence, yet hopes to join the UN, that is a self-contradictory position that the international community cannot accept.

The Republic of China government, not Taiwan, was forced out of the United Nations in 1971. The challenge today is to convince the Beijing authorities to allow the Taiwan authorities to join China's delegation in the United Nations, to join forces with the mainland, and practice the diplomacy befitting a great nation.


Taiwan, a Province of China, is already in the UN

台灣仍在聯合國
祝仲康

選舉將屆，綠營又不厭其煩的祭出「入聯」議題，中國國民黨為了不甘示弱，這回吃了秤砣鐵了心，決定奉陪到底。但若認真計較起來，其實「入聯」是個如「真」包換的假議題。

中國（大陸加台灣）是聯合國創始會員國之ㄧ，民國六十年以前由中華民國作為中國在聯合國之代表。之後，中華人民共和國成功取代中華民國，成為中國（大陸加台灣）在聯合國之合法代表。大陸各省與台灣省,自始至終均為中國之ㄧ部分，自然始終處於聯合國之內。台灣若要加入聯合國，必須先宣布脫離中國，然後才具備加入聯合國之基礎，若未宣布獨立而妄想加入，是與現狀矛盾而無法為國際社會所接受的。

民國六十年自聯合國被逼退的實為中華民國，而非台灣。為今之計，應是如何說服北京當局同意台灣亦能派遣人員加入中國駐聯合國代表團，以兩岸之力，共辦大國外交。

Taipei European School New Campus Dedication Speech

Taipei European School New Campus Dedication Speech
Ma Ying-jeou
October 17, 2007

In May of last year (2006) Principal John Nixon, Ministry of Foreign Affairs European Affairs Director Wang Yu-yuan, and I participated in the Taipei European School's Wen Lin School District Relocation and Groundbreaking Ceremony. Today I am happy to be able to participate in the Taipei European School's New Campus Dedication Ceremony, to be a witness to the Taipei European School's shining future.

One. European Unification — A Model of Ethnic Integration

The Taipei European School is a very special school. It was established in 1990. Its predecessor was the Taipei German School, the English School, and the French School. In 1992 the three were combined into one. In 2003 its name was changed to the Taipei European School. The school was divided into German, English, and French Departments. It recruited preschool through high school students. Teaching was conducted in German, English and French. It had nearly a thousand students from 50 countries around the globe, and nearly 200 teachers. It was a miniature global village, a microcosmic version of our earth.

The establishment of the Taipei European School is a shining example of ethnic integration. As we know, this is the 50th anniversary of the founding of the European Union. In 1957 six European countries signed the Treaty of Rome. Europe began its journey toward integration. Despite long standing cultural and linguistic differences, Europe found common ground in values such as freedom, democracy, the rule of law, equality, and human rights. In January 2007, Romania and Bulgaria joined the European Union. Now the European Union includes 27 countries. Its total population is 500 million. It has become the world's largest economic and trading entity. European Union members include nations in Western Europe, Central Europe and Eastern Europe. It has 23 official languages. During Europe's integration, nations set aside their differences. They promoted mutual welfare and harmony. The European Union is more than an example for the world to emulate. It is an example for Taiwan to emulate.

Two. Economic Relations between the Republic of China and the European Union

According to European Union estimates, the Taiwan region of the ROC is the European Union 10th biggest supplier. It is the European Union's 14th biggest trading partner. Excluding the European continent, it is the European Union's 10th biggest trading partner. Within Asia it is the European Union's 5th biggest trading partner. In 2006 exports to the European Union amounted to 26 billion Euros, an increase of 9.7%. European Union exports to Taiwan amounted to 13 billion Euros, an increase of 1.5%. In 2006 total trade amounted to 39.4 billion Euros, an increase of 6.8%. Compared to peak trade totals of 43 billion Yuan in 2000, Taiwan's exports to the European Union in recent years has slowed. In 2006 this led to a Taiwan to European Union trade deficit of 13 billion Euros, an increase of nearly 20% compared to 2005.

In terms of investments, the European Union established a new high in 2006. Its investments in Taiwan exceeded 7 billion Euros (Ministry of Economic Affairs figures). In 2006 over half of the ROC's foreign investment came from the European Union. One reason was many subsidiaries on Taiwan stransferred their technology to their European headquarters. Another was that several new investments on Taiwan went forward. Estimates for total European Union investment in Taiwan approach 15 billion US Dollars. Over half from Holland (9 billion US Dollars). Next come the UK (4 billion US Dollars) and Germany (1.7 billion US Dollars). Total European Union investments on Taiwan in 2006 surpassed even those by the US and Japan. The European Union has become the ROC's biggest foreign investor, accounting for as much as as 20% of all foreign investments.

In terms of personnel exchanges, in 2006 visitors from Taiwan to European Union countries increased almost 10% compared to 2005. Over 330,000 visas were issued, a new high. Students going to the European Union to pursue advanced studies also increased, exceeding 12,000 in 2006. The number has doubled since a decade ago. An estimated 25,000 or more students from Taiwan are currently attending school in Europe.

Three. Strengthen the Economy. Connect with the Asian Pacific Region. Adopt a Global Outlook.

Taiwan's economic performance has deteriorated badly since 2000. We were once the first of the Four Asian Tigers. We are now the last. We have steadily slipped in international competitiveness. According to Switzerland's International Institute for Management Development (IMD), mainland China surpassed Taiwan in global competitiveness for the first time this year. Last year we ranked 17th. This year we dropped to 18th. Mainland China meanwhile, advanced from 18th to 15th. The consensus is Taiwan's competitiveness has fallen primarily due to unsound government policy.

I believe we must improve the economy and create employment opportunities. My basic view is:

First. Economic matters should be dealt with by economic means. When Nobel Prize winning economist Robert Mundell visited some time ago, I consulted with him regarding Taiwan's economic development, and that is what he said.

Second. To resuscitate Taiwan's economy requires "pragmatic opening." The Democratic Progressive Party's seven year long Closed Door Policy has seriously impacted normal business development, and cannot be allowed to continue.

Third. Non economic factors that affect economic development must be eliminated. On the one hand we must establish a model for political party cooperation. This will ensure domestic political stability. On the other hand, we must sign a peace agreement with the mainland predicated on "peaceful co-existence and mutual prosperity." This will promote cross Straits economic and trade normalization.

Fourth. Economic development must take into consideration issues of fairness, justice, and sustainable development. Since the Democratic Progressive Party has been in power, the gap between rich and poor has reached new highs. We must reduce this disparity. At the same time, we must also take into account environmental protection issues. We must fulfill our responsibilities as members of the Global Village.

In accordance with these four premises, we hope to strengthen Taiwan, connect with the Asian Pacific Region, and adopt a Global Outlook. Our blueprint for economic development has three goals. They are to transform Taiwan into a global center for innovation, an Asian Pacific economic and trade hub, and a transshipment center for Taiwan businesses.

Our goal is: Six percent annual growth after 2008. A per capita income of US$20,000 by 2011. 100,000 employment opportunities. An unemployment rate below 3%. In short, we must recreate a prosperous Taiwan "knee deep in money."

In order to achieve these goals, we must first accomplish two important tasks.

(1) Open up Three Links and Direct Flights

If I am elected, I will promote direct cross Straits sea and air links as swiftly as possible. This will expedite cross Straits exchanges, save time and money, and hopefully allow Taiwan to become a springboard by which European businesses can advance to the Chinese mainland.

(2) I will promote the normalization of cross Straits relations, predicated on "peace and prosperity."

In addition to President Chen Shui-bian's Five Noes, I have proposed "Five Desires," predicated upon the 92 Consensus. These include: restarting cross Straits negotiations, signing a cross Straits 30 to 50 year peace agreement, normalizing cross Straits economic and trade and moving toward a cross Straits common market, increasing the ROC's international space and strengthening cross Straits cultural exchanges, enabling mainland high school students to attend university on Taiwan. I believe we can achieve mutual trust with the mainland, and with peace and prosperity as our twin goals, establish a win/win cross Straits relationship. Taiwan business investments on the mainland will operate under a deregulated policy of "open as the rule, managed as the exception." This will enable businesses to develop freely.

Fourth. Conclusion

When I held the post of Taipei mayor, I deeply respected the Taipei European School. When the Taipei European School needed to build a new campus, we provided close cooperation. I wanted Taipei to provide a quality environment that would allow international talent to come to Taiwan to live and work, and not worry about their children's schooling.

I hope the establishment of the Taipei European School will enable more international talent to live on Taiwan, attract more international talent to Taiwan, and thereby turn Taipei into an international village. Thank you all.

10月17日
台北歐洲學校新校區開幕典禮參考稿

去（2006）年5月與倪克森（John Nixon）校長及外交部歐洲司司長王豫元一同參加台北歐洲學校文林校區遷建動土典禮，今天很高興能夠來參加台北歐洲學校新校區的開幕典禮，見證台北歐洲學校新校區的未來。

一、歐洲整合—族群融合的典範

台 北歐洲學校是一個很特別的學校，成立於1990年，前身為台北德國學校、英國學校及法國學校，於1992年整合，2003年再更名為台北歐洲學校 （Taipei European School），學校裡分為德國部、英國部、法國部及高中部，不但招收幼稚園到高中的外籍學生，校內教學亦包括德語、英語和法語三種語言，學校擁有來自全 球50個國家近千名的國際學生及近2百名教職員，是一個小型地球村，也是全球的縮影。

台北歐洲學校的成立，恰好展現了族群融合的典範。我 們知道，今年剛好是歐盟成立50年，1957年歐洲六國簽署羅馬條約後，歐洲走上整合之路，在多元文化、語言與傳統中，歐洲找出共同的自由、民主、法治、 平等及人權等價值。2007年1月羅馬尼亞和保加利亞加入歐盟之後，如今歐盟已擴增至27國，總人口5億，已成為全球最大經濟體與貿易實體，歐盟成員除了 遍及中西歐地區之外，更深入中歐及東歐地區，光官方語言就有23種，歐洲在整合過程中，捐棄前嫌，提升彼此的福祉與和諧，不但是全球學習的對象，也是台灣 借鏡的對象。

二、台灣與歐盟經濟交流現況

根據歐盟統計，台灣是歐盟第10大供應商，是歐盟全球第14位貿易夥伴，在歐陸 以外地區，台灣是歐盟第10大貿易伙伴，在亞洲國家中為歐盟第5大貿易伙伴。2006年台灣對歐盟出口金額達260億歐元，成長達9.7％，歐盟對台灣出 口金額為130億歐元，成長1.5％；2006年貿易總額達394億歐元，成長6.8％，與2000年貿易總額高峰期—430億元比較，似乎近年來台灣對 歐盟出口成長較為趨緩，使得2006年台灣對歐盟逆差130億歐元，較2005年增加近20％。

在投資方面，歐盟2006年對台灣投資金 額創新高，突破70億歐元（經濟部統計），2006年台灣的外來投資，半數以上來自歐盟，原因在於許多既有台灣分公司將資產技術轉移至歐洲總部，以及數項 新投資案在台進行所致。總計歐盟在台投資已累積至150億美元，其中逾半來自荷蘭（90億美元），其次分別為英國（40億美元）與德國（17億美元），歐 盟累計投資台灣金額，2006年甚至超越美國與日本，成為台灣最大外資，比例高達20％。

在人員交流方面，2006年台灣前往歐盟國家的台灣旅客人次較2005年增加逾10％，簽證核發數便超過33萬份，創下歷史新高，前往歐盟深造的台灣學子人數也不斷升高，2006年超過1.2萬人，較10年前成長一倍，估計現在有2.5萬名以上的台灣學生在歐洲就學。

三、壯大台灣、結合亞太、佈局全球

從2000 年以來，台灣經濟表現比以前差很多。從前我們是亞洲四小龍的第一名，現在變成最後一名，在國際競爭力上也一步步下滑，今年瑞士洛桑管理學院（IMD）的世 界競爭力排名，大陸第一次超越台灣，我們去年17名，今年倒退到18名，大陸卻從18名進步到15名。一般認為台灣競爭力下滑，主要是因為政府政策不正確 所致。

我認為我們當前要改善經濟，創造就業機會。我的基本理念是：

第1，經濟的事盡量照經濟的法則來做。前一陣子經濟大師諾貝爾獎得主孟岱爾（Mundell）來台時，我向他請教有關台灣經濟發展的問題時，他就是這樣說的。

第2，要救台灣經濟必須「務實開放」。民進黨的鎖國政策七年多下來，嚴重影響企業正常發展，不能再持續下去。

第3，影響經濟發展的非經濟因素需要排除。一方面要建立政黨合作模式，讓國內政治穩定，另一方面要和大陸在「和平共榮」的前提下，簽訂和平協議，推動兩岸經貿正常化。

第4，經濟發展必須兼顧公平正義和永續發展。民進黨執政以來，貧富差距創歷史新高，我們必須縮短這個差距，同時，還必須重視綠色環保的問題，以善盡地球村成員的責任。

在這四個基本理念的前提下，我們希望能壯大台灣、結合亞太、佈局全球。我們的經濟發展藍圖有三個願景，那就是把台灣發展成：全球創新中心、亞太經貿樞紐及台商營運總部。

我們的目標是：在2008年後每年經濟成長6％，2011年時每人平均所得兩萬美元，並創造10萬個就業機會，使失業率降到3％以下。簡單的說，我們要再創「台灣錢淹腳目」的繁榮景象。

為了達成前述目標，我認為有兩項重要的工作要先做。

（一）開放三通直航

我若當選，一定儘速推動兩岸海空直航。讓兩岸往來更為便利，節省時間及金錢，同時，也希望台灣能夠成為歐商前進大陸的跳板。

（二）在「和平、繁榮」的前提下，促進兩岸關係正常化

除 了陳水扁總統的五不（Five no’s）之外，我提出「五要」主張，包括在九二共識下，重新啟動兩岸談判、兩岸簽署30~50年和平協議、兩岸經貿正常化並邁向兩岸共同市場、台灣國際 空間及加強兩岸文化交流，讓中學生可以來台灣讀大學。我相信我們可以和大陸取得互信，雙方可以在「和平」（peace）和繁榮（prosperity）的 兩大目標下，為企業界創造一個雙贏的兩岸關係。台商對大陸投資，則採取「原則開放、例外管理」的鬆綁政策，讓企業可以自由發展。

四、結語

我在擔任台北市長時，便非常重視台北歐洲學校，台北歐洲學校要興建新校區，我們極力配合，就是希望台北提供一個良好的環境，讓國際人才來台灣居住與工作時，不用擔心小孩就學的問題。

希望台北歐洲學校的成立，能夠讓更多的國際人才居住在台灣，吸引更多的國際人才到台灣居住與工作，使台北成為一個國際村。謝謝各位！

Ang Lee's Chinese roots fuel cultural controversy in Taiwan

Ang Lee's Chinese Roots fuel Cultural Controversy in Taiwan
Bevin Chu
October 5, 2007


Ang Lee receives another Golden Lion Award at the Venice Film Festival, this time for "Lust, Caution"

The following Associated Press article on famed Chinese director Ang Lee is better than most. Most major media reporters in the West parrot the ruling DPP's official line with every line they write. The following AP article parrots the ruling DPP's official line only every other line.

The ruling DPP has shamelessly exploited Lee's hard-earned global fame to promote its artificially concocted "Taiwanese, not Chinese" ethnic and cultural identity.

Academy Award winning auteur Ang Lee has never been happy about being abused this way, especially since his feelings about cultural identity are nothing like the ruling DPP's.

But Lee, in contrast with politically oriented directors such as Oliver Stone, focuses on character development rather than ideological conflict. As such, the soft-spoken Lee has refrained from openly complaining about having his personal fame exploited by the ruling DPP, and his actual views on cultural identity grossly misrepresented.

To its credit the following IHT article on Lee exposes the DPP's opportunistic exploitation of Lee's achievements, which are individual, not collective achievements.

To its discredit however, it continues to convey a misleading impression of the political situation on Taiwan.

To correct this impression, I have added my own comments to the article.





International Herald Tribune
Ang Lee's Chinese roots fuel cultural controversy in Taiwan
The Associated Press
Monday, September 17, 2007

TAIPEI, Taiwan: As Taiwan's government ratchets up a campaign to emphasize its cultural separateness from China, one of the island's internationally famous cultural icons insists his mainland Chinese roots have played a major role in his film-making.

The China Desk: AP's title for this news article implies that Ang Lee is "Taiwanese, not Chinese," but has "Chinese roots." No such thing. Ang Lee doesn't "have Chinese roots." Ang Lee, like all 23 million citizens of the Republic of China, is Chinese.

Some citizens of the Republic of China do not want to be Chinese. They want to redefine themselves as "Taiwanese." But the fact is they haven't succeeded in doing so. Not yet anyway. So until they do so, they and everyone else on Taiwan will remain Chinese, i.e., citizens of the Republic of China.

"Taiwan" doesn't have a government, unless one is referring to the Taiwan Provincial Government, which has been "frozen" since 1998. The government that exercises jurisdiction over the island of Taiwan is the Republic of China government. Today, most nations, including the UN, no longer recognize the Republic of China government.

But those nations that do recognize the Republic of China government, consider it the legitimate government not only of Taiwan, but of the whole of China, including the mainland, Hong Kong, and Macao.

In any event, it is simply wrong to refer to the Republic of China government as "Taiwan's government." The Republic of China government governs Taiwan, to be sure. But it is not "Taiwan's government." It is quite literally "China's government."

Taiwan is hardly the only territory it governs. It also governs the Penghu Archipelago, which is an entirely separate territory not part of Taiwan. It even governs portions of the mainland Chinese province of Fujian, such as Jingmen and Mazu, and portions of Hainan Island, such as the Dongsha and Nansha Islets in the South China Sea.


Lust, Caution (2007, directed by Ang Lee, written by Eileen Chang, James Schamus)

IHT: "A big part of (my culture) is Chinese tradition from my parents, from school, so that is who I am," said Ang Lee, director of the Oscar-winning "Brokeback Mountain." Lee's spy thriller "Lust, Caution" won the top Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival earlier this month.

"I grew up in Taiwan, but you know where my ideas, my brushstrokes came from," he said.

Lee was born on the island 53 years ago, after his parents fled the 1949 communist victory in a civil war on the Chinese mainland. Their generation of immigrants — about 15 percent of Taiwan's 23 million people — tends to pay homage to Chinese roots, seeing the island as a strong repository of China's cultural and historical tradition.

The China Desk: My late father used to mock the "2 million mainlanders" factoid. The "2 million mainlanders" factoid is based on the estimated number of individuals who migrated from mainland China to Taiwan between 1945 and 1949, when the population of Taiwan was a mere 6 million.

The population of Taiwan is now 23 million. Yet Taiwan independence spin controllers have continued to talk of "2 million mainlanders who withdrew to Taiwan with Chiang Kai-shek's troops in 1949."

On the one hand, the presumption is that the 2 million mainlanders did not bear a single child. On the other hand, any children born are counted as "native Taiwanese," inflating the numbers for "native Taiwanese" and capping in perpetuity the number of "mainlanders."

That would be fine, except that every time an election rolls around these children of the "2 million mainlanders" are instantly reclassified as "wai sheng di er dai" (second generation mainlanders) instead of "first generation Taiwanese," and excluded from the ranks of "zheng gang de tai wan ren" (authentic Taiwanese).

IHT: But descendants of those who came from the mainland in the 17th and 18th centuries, and form the island's majority, think of themselves as primarily Taiwanese. Many play down their Chinese connections.

The China Desk: Wrong, wrong, wrong! Some, not all, descendants of those who came from the mainland in the 17th and 18th centuries, and form the island's majority, think of themselves as primarily Taiwanese. Some, not all, play down their Chinese "connections," i.e., identity.

Political pundits on Taiwan have a saying: "min yi ru liu shui" (the will of the people is like running water). Depending upon when one asks the question: "Do you consider yourself Chinese, Taiwanese, or both Chinese and Taiwanese?" one will get any number of different answers.

Actions speak louder than words. Judging by actions and not words, only Deep Green Taiwan independence hardliners, who constitute a mere 15 to 20 percent of the island's population, truly consider themselves "Taiwanese, not Chinese."

IHT: The identity question is fast becoming a major issue in Taiwanese politics, with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party or DPP pushing separateness from China, while the main opposition Nationalists seek eventual unification with the communist colossus 160 kilometers (100 miles) to the west.

Lee has not spoken out publicly on politics, but "Lust, Caution" is a paean to his Chinese background.

Set against the backdrop of Japanese-occupied Shanghai during World War II, it is based on a short story by famed Chinese writer Eileen Chang.

The film — casting mostly [mainland] Chinese and Hong Kong actors and actresses — marks Lee's return to Chinese-language films after the highly acclaimed "Brokeback Mountain," set in the American west.

The China Desk: Mainland China is not "China." China is mainland China plus Taiwan, plus Hong Kong, plus Macao, plus numerous offshore islands in the Western Pacific.

Until the Taiwan independence movement succeeds in founding a sovereign and independent "Republic of Taiwan," Taiwan will remain a province of China, under the jurisdiction of either the Republic of China government in Taipei, or the People's Republic of China government in Beijing.

Therefore mainland Chinese actors, within the context of the IHT article, should not be referred to as "Chinese actors," since this misleadingly implies that Taiwanese actors are not Chinese actors.

IHT: Taiwan has its own rich cultural tradition.

The China Desk: This remark is disingenuous Taiwan independence spin control. It implies that Taiwan's "rich cultural tradition" is not part of China's rich cultural tradition.

Taiwan does indeed have "its own rich cultural tradition," but only in the sense that Bordeaux "has its own rich cultural tradition."

Just as Bordeaux's rich cultural tradition is part of France's rich cultural tradition, so Taiwan's rich cultural tradition is part of China's rich cultural tradition.

IHT: In the decades following the end of a half-century of Japanese colonial rule in 1945, the mix of newer Chinese immigrants and local talent turned the island into a hotbed of cultural innovation, from movies and pop songs to stage shows, at a time when [the mainland region of] China was being torn apart by violent political movements.

The China Desk: The newer Chinese were not "immigrants." They were migrants.

Japan extorted Taiwan from China at gunpoint in 1895. Japan retroceded (gave back) Taiwan to China in 1945. By 1945 Taiwan was already Chinese territory.

One does not "immigrate" to another part of one's own nation. One immigrates only to foreign nations.

Australians who move from Sydney to Hobart are not "immigrating" to Tasmania. They are migrating from one region of Australia to another region of Australia.

And so it was with Chinese who migrated from the mainland region of China to Taiwan between 1945 and 1949. They were not "immigrating" anywhere. They were migrating from one region of China to another region of China.

IHT: Taiwanese film critic Liang Liang said the island played a key role in preserving China's cultural heritage. He praised Lee's cinematic works "as an embodiment of this shining legacy."

Liang blasted the DPP for trying to represent Lee as an avatar of a distinctly Taiwanese culture.

"The Taiwan government [i.e., the ruling DPP regime] should feel ashamed as it tried to make use of Lee's international fame," he said.

The China Desk: When Taiwan independence spin controllers speak of a "distinctly Taiwanese culture" they mean a "distinctly Taiwanese national culture that is not Chinese." In this sense, there is is no "distinctly Taiwanese culture." The culture of Taiwan is not distinctive enough to qualify as "distinctly Taiwanese."

Taiwanese culture is Fujian's Hoklo culture and Canton's Hakka culture, with a dash of Aboriginal culture. Taiwanese culture is only distinct enough to qualify as a regional Chinese culture.

The differences between the culture of Taiwan and the culture of the mainland are almost too small to be of significance. The differences between Xinjiang and Canton, for example, are far greater than the minute differences between Taiwan and Fujian.


Lust, Caution Stars Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Wei Tang

IHT: Following Lee's acceptance of the Golden Lion prize, Taiwanese officials nicknamed him "the glory of Taiwan." They offered him a subsidy of up to 80 million New Taiwan dollars (US$2.4 million; €1.7 million) for his next production, and campaigned for an Oscar nomination for "Lust, Caution" in the category of best foreign film.

The China Desk: Ang Lee, who is "wai sheng di er dai" (second generation mainlander) would not be referred to as "The Glory of Taiwan" if he were a Pan Blue legislator or pundit, instead of a largely apolitical film maker. If Ang Lee were a KMT or New Party legislator or pundit, "Taiwanese officials" would be calling him very different names. Names such as "Chinese pig" or "Mainlander pig," and demanding that he "Get the hell back to the mainland."

IHT: Lee has long played [sic] homage to both his Taiwanese and Chinese roots in several films, including the 2000 Oscar-winning martial arts hit "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."

The China Desk: "both his Taiwanese and Chinese roots"? What kind of asinine conceptual muddle is this? Does a Frenchman from Bordeaux "pay homage to both his Bordeaux and French roots"? Ang Lee's "Taiwanese roots" are Chinese roots. There is no such thing as "Taiwanese roots" that are not simultaneously Chinese roots.

IHT: His international success contrasts sharply with the generally unhealthy state Taiwan's film industry.

Once seen as a world leader, it faltered badly in the 1990s, unable to compete at the box office with big-budget Hollywood films.

Some critics blame Taiwan's government for the decline, saying its insistence on emphasizing distinctly Taiwanese heroes limited local films' appeal in the broader Chinese-language market.

The China Desk: And so they should. Political Correctness is the serial rapist that strangles creativity in the arts. For all its very real faults, the KMT did a terrific job of nurturing Taiwan's fledgling film industry. Once Taiwan independence fundamentalists usurped power, it was all over.

IHT: But Taiwan government spokesman Shieh Jhy-wey brushed the criticisms aside.

"Taiwan's freewheeling democracy has worked as an incubator for talents like Ang Lee," he said.

The China Desk: Nonsense. What little help Ang Lee got was provided by the state owned film industry established by the KMT during the Two Chiangs Era. The ruling DPP never did anything to help Ang Lee become the internationally renowned director that he is today.

Just as it never did anything to help New York Yankees star pitcher Wang Chien-ming, also a "wai sheng di er dai" (second generation mainlander), also touted as "The Glory of Taiwan," become the Major League baseball star that he is today.

The rulling DPP is merely attempting to take credit for after the fact. Hence Taiwanese film critic Liang Liang's fully justified outrage.