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Hard and soft power can be used to measure
the rise and fall of a country.
Chinese scholars point out that now China has nuclear bombs,
a hydrogen bomb and aircraft carriers, and the world's second largest GDP.
Taiwan is no match to China's hard power. However, Taiwan's
superiority in soft powers, like political freedom, thoughts and culture, is undeniable.
On November 8, Taiwan's Parliament passed "Amendment
to some of the provisions to the National Security Law."
Some provisions are deleted, like "People must not assemble
and associate to advocate communism or secession,"
and "People must apply for permit from the National Police
Agency in order to enter or leave the country;
an unauthorized person is not allowed to enter or leave
the country."
The amendment will become effective
after the President's announcement.
Prof. Lin Wencheng, Dean of the School of Social Sciences
at Zhongshan University in Taiwan, thinks the amendment falls into the category of freedom of speech.
Prof. Lin: "Taiwan has many Mainland Chinese scholars,
and many books written by Mainland Chinese.
These books are communist propaganda.
So are you going to ban them? Are you going to arrest them?
In a democratic country, you need to protect people's rights
to assemble, associate, and speak. Taiwan is a democratic country, it should be this way."
Law Professor Yuan Hongbing said that Taiwan's
constitutional Amendment is a sign of progress.
Prof. Yuan: "This shows that freedom and democracy
have matured in Taiwan.
The law trusts that people have the ability to distinguish
right from wrong. It also gives people the right of choice.
On the other hand we have China. Its authorities always use
the state power and the state apparatus for socialist propaganda.
What does this mean? They still use state violence
and state terrorism to push forward the ideology that brings enormous disasters to mankind."
Now is less than two months from Taiwan's presidential
elections in January 2012. Election campaigns are in full swing.
KMT, DPP and PFP are using various means to attract voters.
Media reports closely follow the details of the campaigns.
Elections for the grass-root people's representative in China
are also taking place.
However, the authorities have been obstructing independent
candidates to participate in the elections.
Numerous independent candidates are being suppressed.
Independent candidates who gave election speeches,
interacted with voters and posted election materials, were violently interfered with by the authorities.
Some candidates were eventually kicked out.
Some candidates' applications "have gone missing" since.
The Chinese Communist Party' (CCP) 6th Plenary Session
this year passed a resolution to "deepen cultural restructuring and promote development and prosperity of socialist culture."
The document does not mention the word "freedom,"
however, it frequently uses the term "socialism," and "upholding socialism with Chinese characteristics."
Prof. Lin: "Democratic reforms include allowing
freedom of speech and freedom of thought.
You need to tolerate different opinions, including criticism
and sometimes even abusive language.
If you are to promote emancipation and freedom, as authority
you need to have tolerance and accept criticism from others."
The CCP will hold its 18th National Congress next year,
after which it will have a new leadership.
Chinese scholar Yao Jianfu wrote for Deutsche Welle,
that he thinks Xi Jinping will become CCP' General Secretary,
Central Military Commission' Chairman and China's President.
Yao believes, that the 2012 elections in China and Taiwan
will show that the CCP has lost, with KMT winning.
Yao pointed out that no matter who wins the elections,
the citizens will be able to see who is truly democratic,
who's soft power is stronger, who can afford to lose,
and who is afraid to lose and afraid to be brought to justice.
NTD reporters Liang Xin, Li Jing and Li Anan.
《神韵》2011世界巡演新亮点
http://www.ShenYunPerformingArts.org/
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Hong Kong China army People's Liberation Army 解放軍 駐港部隊by Chineseaction212 views
Hopefully, more and more mainland Chinese will look to Taiwan as a beacon for true democracy, freedom, and human rights.
charity424 2 months ago