China looks worse and worse in the public eye. H&M closures have drawn more Western attention. Chinese ads showing a purportedly happy Xinjiang backfired among Facebook staff. The Philippines are evermore concerned about a swelling number of Chinese militia boats parked in their backyard.
But, things aren’t looking so wonderful for Taiwan either. Pineapples sold to Singapore weren’t properly handled, so the cores rotted. That’s Taiwan’s culture—to not care, thinking problems won’t get bigger. A truck slid down a small cliff on the east side of Taiwan, colliding with a train, killing at least 50 people. The transportation bureau never put guard rails on a dirt road on a cliff above a train track. That’s Taiwan’s culture—to not care, thinking problems won’t get bigger.
Now, Taiwan is working with European partners to develop its own submarines, not only America. That report combats the notion that Taiwan hasn’t been wonderfully annexed by China only on account of the United States. But, are the Taiwanese all that different from China? Lack of care with pineapple exports and railroad safety might say otherwise. The Taiwanese an important choice to make—whether they want to be different from China or not. That is a decision only the Taiwanese people can make. And, they haven’t made that choice yet, even after seventy years of exile.
Indo-Pacific
Myanmar coup: military expands internet shutdown // Guardian
US, Philippines discuss Chinese ‘swarming’ in South China Sea // Aljazeera
China
H&M closes 20 stores in China amid Xinjiang cotton controversy // Taiwan News
Wuhan Lab Leak Theory Back After WHO Chief’s Reference // New Delhi TV
Taiwan
Taiwan ranks 15th for global exports: ministry // Taipei Times
At least 50 killed in train-truck collision // Taipei Times
European nations assisting with submarine project // Taipei Times
Singapore supermarket pulls Taiwan pineapples from shelves // Focus Taiwan