Taiwan

Taiwanese art historian Chiang Hsun reflects on the prominent Arians from history and those he had encountered. Perhaps there is a wildness in them passed on from generation to generation that brings together poetry, instincts, and even the power of madness.

Hong Kong’s position as an international financial centre is now a thing of the past as multinational corporations withdraw from the city and its stock market shows signs of foreign capital outflows. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Tai Hing Shing finds out if Hong Kong’s financial market is truly on its way down.

Love him or hate him, Dr Kissinger played a pivotal role in history, teeing up President Richard Nixon’s visit to China and the normalisation of US-China relations. Even when he left office, he continued to advocate for productive relations with China through engagement, and sought to explain Chinese diplomacy to Western audiences. Even as his admirers mourn the passing of a bygone era, it is now up to the young to take up the mantle of improving US-China relations.

Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong notes that the so-called Blue-White alliance seems to have broken down, and the DPP has a good chance of winning. With DPP leader William Lai a self-proclaimed advocate for Taiwan independence, that would likely mean strained relations with Beijing, or even armed reunification.

In Singapore’s early days of independence, it had few diplomatic options. However, then Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew found an unlikely ally in Taiwan President Chiang Ching-kuo, as the two struck up a friendship that placed them in good stead in more ways than one. Historical photo collector Hsu Chung-mao provides some valuable photographs of the two leaders.

Taiwanese art historian Chiang Hsun muses on his encounters with a Libra who took him on a historical exploration, and a Leo that pushed Taiwan’s film industry into the world stage. Do the rules of attraction truly dictate that Libras and Leos themselves are compatible, even if they despise each other?

The much anticipated Xi-Biden summit has been deemed a success by many. In particular, people-to-people exchanges will be expanded and military exchanges will resume, along with efforts in anti-drug cooperation. While points of contention remain between the two countries, such as the Taiwan Strait issue and the South China Sea, Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Yu Zeyuan notes that as long as the two countries are willing to engage in dialogue, bilateral relations will not spiral downwards.

The meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden concluded on an upbeat note, with many issues discussed albeit with no real consensus at the moment. However, this opens the door to future dialogue and communication between both sides.

As the world is set up for a chess match between the global powers, the tussle surrounding the upcoming Taiwan presidential election next year is a preview of what is to come. Commentator Wei Da explores how Taiwan can make decisions at the election that would optimise Taiwan’s long-term and fundamental interests, and draws some lessons from history.