September 2017

Amos Yee’s Release Raises Question Of Continued Singaporean Authoritarianism

The release of Amos Yee and the acceptance of his bid for asylum in the United States should be celebrated, seeing as this means that the eighteen year old political dissident has escaped political persecution in his native Singapore. Nevertheless, what should be lamented is that Yee spent nine and a half months in American prisons while his application for asylum was being processed. And it should be questioned as to what comes next for Singapore now that its most famous political dissident has successfully gained asylum after escaping from Singapore...

Rolls-Royce Purchases Prompts Mockery, Criticism Of Rulaizong Spiritual Leader

Taiwan's many Buddhist, Daoist, and New Age religious cults are in the news once again, with a recent wave of mockery by Taiwanese netizens directed at Miaochan, the spiritual leader of the Rulaizong Buddhist organization, which claims to practice Zen Buddhism. This follows on the heels of news that Rulaizong purchased two Rolls-Royces for Miaochan, adding to past accusations of internal corruption within the organization...

No, William Lai Did Not Actually Affirm Support For Taiwanese Independence

Misleading reports in international media and even some domestic Taiwanese media have followed comments by recently appointed premier William Lai, with claims that Lai has stated support of Taiwanese independence, and made history as the first Taiwanese premier to openly express such sentiments. This is incorrect, given that Lai’s position has shifted on the issue, but rather is a misunderstanding which has resulted from past statements by Lai...

Review: Path Of Destiny (不得不上路)

Yang Chun-Kai's “Path of Destiny” would be a deft evocation of the challenges facing preservation of indigenous tradition in Taiwan. Namely, even in those rare cases in which young people actively aim to participate in traditions which may soon be lost, the trend may be irreversible. And given inescapable social tensions between modernity and tradition, adherence to tradition demands great personal sacrifice....

Trump’s Threats To North Korea Belie Larger Conflicts Within And Outside The White House

US president Donald Trump issued a proclamation against the Kim regime in North Korea during his first speech to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, denouncing North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and asserting that the United States was prepared to “totally destroy” North Korea in defense of itself and its allies...