Tsai’s ‘boastful’ speech criticized
Continues to ignore 1992 Consensus, one-China principle
Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen’s speech on Tuesday was “boastful and lacking in sincerity,” Chinese mainland experts said, urging her “to take more pragmatic actions to repair cross-Straits relations that was strained after she took office in May last year.”
Tsai listed the island’s achievements under her leadership, in economic and industrial structure, education, military forces, among others, Taiwanbased news site chinatimes. com reported.
Relations between the mainland and the island experienced a transition from hostility to peaceful development during the past 30 years, Tsai said, adding that the key is for the two sides to shelve disputes, stay practical and realistic and keep accumulating kindness, chinatimes.com reported.
However, experts said that Tsai’s speech was full of hollow boasts about her “political achievements,” and lacks sincerity and creativity.
Zhang Wensheng, a professor at the Taiwan Research Institute of Xiamen University, said Tsai’s speech is a “play on words” and does not show any kindness.
“Tsai’s speech mostly trumpeted her accomplishments, but the Taiwan people may not feel the same way as Taiwan is quite divided,” said Zhang.
A survey released last month showed that young people in Taiwan are more pessimistic over the future of the economy than those in other regions, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
Only 8.6 percent of the 1,024 young Taiwanese surveyed were upbeat about the economic outlook for the next five years, much lower than their peers in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore, according to a joint survey by organizations in the four places.
“Her actions since assuming office have nothing to do with ‘shelving disputes,’ but deliberately inciting disputes,” Zhang told the Global Times.
The Chinese mainland and Taiwan have been seeking common ground while putting aside differences, but Tsai’s moves go against it and have damaged the basis for the two sides belonging to one country, Zhang explained.
It is important to acknowledge that both the Chinese mainland and Taiwan belong to one country, Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Tuesday, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
“It is of no use if Tsai’s words speak louder than her actions, and her speech is a rehash of previous statements,” Zhu Songling, a professor at the Institute of Taiwan Studies of Beijing Union University, told the Global Times on Tuesday.
Zhu added that Tsai’s speech showed no intention of reversing her refusal to affirm the 1992 Consensus and the one-China principle.
Ma added that only by sticking to the one-China principle and opposing “Taiwan independence” can cross-Straits relations peacefully develop.
Seven Chinese tourists were fined 105,000 yuan ($15,950) on Sunday for chasing a herd of endangered Tibetan antelopes in off-road vehicles during the National Day holiday. The photography chase in a national nature reserve prompted waves of criticism with many Internet users arguing the punishment is too lenient to deter.
Tibetan antelopes were pushed to the brink of extinction by rampant poaching for their shahtoosh, used in luxury shawls. When chased, they may run at their top speed and die of exhausted cardiovascular function. Fortunately no antelopes were injured during the chase that lasted more than a minute. Forestry authorities acted immediately to catch and punish the perpetrators in accordance with relevant regulations and laws.
But as many Internet users commented, the perpetrators must be economically advantaged to drive around Tibet and a 15,000 yuan fine for each may be no big deal to them. What’s worse, some tourists desperate for excitement might even be willing to pay this kind of money up front simply to chase antelopes. In this sense, a light fine looks less a punishment than the cost of misbehavior. In fact, Tibetan antelopes are often disturbed in the natural reserve of Hoh Xil, probably due to the low cost of violation. Most cases go unreported. To deter such behavior demands heightened attention and harsher punishment. Criminal detention, or even imprisonment may be considered for a serious violation.
Some progress has been made. Since taking office in late 2012, Chinese President Xi Jinping has attached high importance to environmental and wildlife protection and intensified punishments for whoever violates regulations including the relevant officials.
In July, the central government punished senior officials including the vice governor of Northwest China’s Gansu Province for serious environmental violations in the Qilian Mountains national nature reserve. But more still needs to be done.
The chase has once again reminded people of the dos and don’ts when it comes to protecting the environment and the animals that live there. Apart from Tibetan antelope, China has hundreds of listed animals that need to be protected. In addition to enforcement by wildlife authorities, there should be more input through various campaigns to better inform the public how to protect wildlife. It is not just the job of government, but more importantly the responsibility of each individual to ensure that animals can live under deserved protection.