Just over a month ago, there was a fuss about a Taiwanese political blog – ‘Wiego’s blog‘, which proved that soon-to-be Taipei County Commissioner Chou Hsi-wei (周錫瑋) didn’t understand weblogs at all. However, maybe blogging is moving into the mainstream in Taiwanese politics. Here are a few blogs which have caught my eye recently:
- President Chen Shui-Bian has published his ‘mood notes’ for a while – which is very similar in style to a blog.
- Premier Frank Hsieh’s blog. This has been active since October 10,2005
- The ‘official’ DPP weblog. This has been active since October 26, 2005
Plenty of politicians have quite extensive websites – but Hsieh’s and the DPP’s sites are the only ones I know about which are definitely blogs (using completely standard blog templates etc.). It’s a bit hard to tell whether these are spoof sites or really official. For instance, Frank Hsieh’s site has this photo which would scream ‘fake’ in almost any other country:
However, as all politicians in Taiwan regularly go in for truly cringe-worthy ‘photo ops’ (has anyone got a photo of CSB as Superman from his time as mayor of Taipei?) [Update: Link to photo added – thanks Jason!], it actually lends credibility to the site.
Pingback: Simon World
What’s your email address?
Foreigners and Taiwan Independence Study
This is a really neat site. What a great place to share our ideas on Taiwan politics. I was wondering if you guys would like to share some thoughts on a particular research issue of mine related to Taiwan.
I’m a grad student studying Taiwan Studies at National Chengchi University, in Taipei. I’m writing a thesis entitled “The Political Inclinations of Foreigners in Taiwan”. If you’re currently living there, and you are of foreign nationality, I’d really appreciate your participate. If you’re interested, please e-mail me at tofucastle@hotmail.com
So far, I’ve surveyed 101 foreigners in Taiwan (mostly students and teachers so far), and have found that:
A) 2.1% support immediate unification
B) 14.9% support immediate independence
C) 24.5% support maintaining the status quo move toward unification in the future
D) 30.1% support maintaining the status quo, move towards independence in the future
E) 22.3% support maintaining the status quo, decide either unification or independence in the future
F) 5.3% support maintain the status quo forever.
Taken together, this means that 26.6% of those surveyed support unification now or later and 45% support independence now or in the future and 28.4% support status quo forever or to decide either unification or independence in the future. I understand that one’s outlook on the cross-Strait relationship may depend on the conditions attached to the sovereignty issues as well as other pervading geopolitical circumstances, but my study is less focused on independence/unification issue itself. Rather, I’m trying to assess what intrinsic and extrinsic factors affect foreigner’s outlook on the situation.
Two of the most curious traits about those I’ve found survey reveal that the longer foreigners have lived here, the more pro-independence they tend to be. Namely, 63% of those living here for 2 years or more favor independence now or in the future. Whereas it’s 44% for those who have lived here between 1 or 2 years and 25% for those who have lived here one year or less.
Moreover, people from “developed countries”, as defined by the IMF, tend to be more pro-independence than those from “developing countries”. (48% pro-independence and 32% respectively)
But anyways, if you’re interested in participating in the survey, I’d greatly appreciate it. Below, you can find the survey that i’ve already begun distributing. I’m also trying to get it translated into Thai and Indonesian … and hopefully Vietnamese; my goal is to get 250 surveys collected eventually. PLEASE e-mail me your contact so I can send you the survey.
Please review it below:
Hello! The responses obtained from this survey are intended for research purposes only and will be used in a master’s thesis entitled “The Political Inclination of Foreigners in Taiwan Regarding the Cross-Strait Situation.” It is authored by
Lee Liu, a graduate student at National Chengchi University, in Taipei. Since all answers will be coded anonymously, please make sure to complete all questions and to be as frank as possible in your responses. The questionnaire should only take a few minutes to complete, so relax! Lee salutes you for your interest in participating in this study.
Questionnaire
1. Where are you from? ______________________
2. What is your age? _______
3. What is your gender?
1. Male
2. Female
4. What is your highest level of education?
1. Middle school or lower
2. High school
3. Undergraduate degree
4. Master degree or higher
5. How long have you lived in Taiwan? _______
6A. Are you married?
1. No
2. Yes
6b. What is his/her nationality? _______
7. What is your current occupation in Taiwan? (please be as specific as possible)
_____________________________
8. What is your income? _______________ per month
9. From whom do you receive financial support (please mark all that apply)?
1. From employers of the private sector
2. From friends or family members
3. From the Taiwanese government
4. From the government of your homeland
5. Other ____________
6. No financial support received
10. How many countries have you traveled? ______
11. How many countries have you stayed in for one month or more? ______
12. How many times have you visited mainland China (excluding Hong Kong and Macao)? ______
13. Of all the times you’ve visited mainland China (excluding Hong Kong and Macao), what is the total time you’ve stayed there?
________ months
14. Do you have business or family connections in mainland China (excluding Hong Kong and Macao)?
1. No family connections and no business connections
2. Some family connections but no business connections
3. Some family connections and some business connections
4. No family connections but some business connections
15. How much longer do you plan to stay in Taiwan? ______ months
16. What country do you want to move next? ________________
17. What languages do you speak?
1) __________ (Best)
2) __________ (Second Best)
3) __________ (Third Best)
4) __________ (Fourth Best)
18. My good friends in Taiwan are
1. almost all Taiwanese
2. mostly Taiwanese
3. almost balanced number of Taiwanese and foreigners
4. mostly foreigners
5. almost all foreigners
19. In Taiwan, of my good friends who are foreigners,
1. most are from my homeland
2. some are from my homeland
3. few are from my homeland
4. most are not from my homeland
20. How good is your Chinese?
20.1 Reading 20.2 Speaking 20.3 Writing
1. None 1. None 1. None
2. Poor 2. Poor 2. Poor
3. Fair 3. Fair 3. Fair
4. Good 4. Good 4. Good
5. Excellent 5. Excellent 5. Excellent
21. How many hours a week do you receive instruction for Chinese? ________
22. How many times per week do you keep in contact with friends or family members who aren’t in Taiwan?
1. By regular mail ______ times per week
2. By phone ______ times per week
3. By Internet ______ times per week
23. How often do you get your news from the following media?
The China Post ______ times per month
The Taipei Times _______ times per month
The Taiwan News _______ times per month
A news website from where I’m from ______ times per month
A news website from somewhere else other than from where I’m from ______ times per month.
Another source _______________________ times per month. What source? ________________________
24. What religion do you consider yourself? _________________________
25. Considering the relationship between Taiwan and mainland China, which of the following six positions do you agree with 1) immediate unification, 2) immediate independence, 3) maintain the status quo, move toward unification in the future, 4) maintain the status quo, move toward independence in the future, 5) maintain the status quo, decide either unification or independence in the future, 6) maintain the status quo forever?
1. immediate unification
2. immediate independence
3. maintain the status quo, move toward unification in the future,
4. maintain the status quo, move toward independence in the future,
5. maintain the status quo, decide either unification or independence in the future,
6. maintain the status quo forever.