Introduction

Welcome to Dateline Taipei [http://datelinetaipei.blogspot.com/]

Dateline Taipei features editorial and opinion pieces from the Taipei based United Daily News and China Times, translated into English by Bevin Chu, author of The China Desk.

Dateline Taipei will critique some of these Pan Blue media editorial and opinion pieces. Dateline Taipei's criticisms may not always be kind to the authors, because even the Pan Blue media has begun to buckle under relentless pressure from the ruling DPP's "soft dictatorship."

Externally, this pressure manifests itself in the form of intimidation by the ruling DPP's "Anaconda in the Chandelier."

Internally, this pressure manifests itself in the form of gradual indoctrination by Taiwan independence Political Correctness.

The Pan Blue media's surrender, fortunately, is not complete, at least not yet.

Some Pan Blue media editorial and opinion pieces may reflect continued allegiance to the cosmopolitan Pan Blue values of political liberty and free trade. Those pieces will receive The China Desk's enthusiastic affirmation.

Other pieces may reflect pusillanimous surrender to the self-hating racism of the Pan Green camp's "Taiwanese, not Chinese" identity politics and nation building. Those pieces will receive Dateline Taipei's unflinching opprobrium.

A note on translation policy.

Sometimes the nominally "Pro Reunification Media" will carelessly, or worse, intentionally use terms such as "Taiwan" and "Taiwanese" as if they were interchangeable with "Republic of China" and "the Chinese people on Taiwan," or "citizens of the Republic of China."

Such mistakes, intentional or otherwise, will be translated in a manner consistent with the Original Intent of the Constitution of the Republic of China. Where the original text reads "Taiwanese," I will substitute "the Chinese people on Taiwan" or "citizens of the Republic of China." Where the original text reads "Taiwan" I will substitute "Republic of China."

This is not an attempt to deceive. This is an attempt to nip creeping "wen hua tai du" or "cultural Taiwan independence" in the bud. This is an attempt to demand strict adherence to Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law.

The original Chinese article will be displayed below the English translation. This will allow bilingual readers to compare and contrast the original text and my translation.