Comments on: AIT Director speaks at NCCU http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2009/10/ait-director-speaks-at-nccu/ commentary on all things Taiwanese -- Taipei, Taiwan Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:14:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Carl Huang http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2009/10/ait-director-speaks-at-nccu/comment-page-1/#comment-85216 Carl Huang Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:29:29 +0000 http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/?p=5466#comment-85216 (I just googled "AIT director", found this place and wanna say hello) Very well-summarized article and educative comments as well! I'm a diplomacy major student in NCCU and was at the conference that day. Long live Taiwan! (PS. The National Press Foundation from D.C. was in NCCU today to discuss "what's next in Taiwan, 2010", which is also a very interesting event) (I just googled “AIT director”, found this place and wanna say hello)

Very well-summarized article and educative comments as well!
I’m a diplomacy major student in NCCU and was at the conference that day.

Long live Taiwan!

(PS. The National Press Foundation from D.C. was in NCCU today to discuss “what’s next in Taiwan, 2010″, which is also a very interesting event)

]]> By: Joe http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2009/10/ait-director-speaks-at-nccu/comment-page-1/#comment-85212 Joe Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:51:48 +0000 http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/?p=5466#comment-85212 Good Report David. Thanks! Good Report David. Thanks!

]]> By: J B http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2009/10/ait-director-speaks-at-nccu/comment-page-1/#comment-85211 J B Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:58:12 +0000 http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/?p=5466#comment-85211 Nice report. I particularly like his response to the mainland student. Any idea why the Taiwanese media is so interested in the beef issue? I agree the scooter comparison isn't particularly good, but his point seems valid- there are probably other consumer health issues that have and will hurt more people than US beef. Nice report. I particularly like his response to the mainland student. Any idea why the Taiwanese media is so interested in the beef issue? I agree the scooter comparison isn’t particularly good, but his point seems valid- there are probably other consumer health issues that have and will hurt more people than US beef.

]]> By: David Reid http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2009/10/ait-director-speaks-at-nccu/comment-page-1/#comment-85210 David Reid Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:04:20 +0000 http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/?p=5466#comment-85210 Manuel, a few Taiwanese students asked questions. I asked a question about whether the US would continue to actively support the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy. The answer was a bit weak. Stanton referred it to another staff member from AIT who said AIT had co-sponsored a democracy video competition with TFD. My overall impression of Stanton was good. I think he will do well in his role. Manuel, a few Taiwanese students asked questions. I asked a question about whether the US would continue to actively support the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy. The answer was a bit weak. Stanton referred it to another staff member from AIT who said AIT had co-sponsored a democracy video competition with TFD.

My overall impression of Stanton was good. I think he will do well in his role.

]]> By: David Reid http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2009/10/ait-director-speaks-at-nccu/comment-page-1/#comment-85209 David Reid Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:51:48 +0000 http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/?p=5466#comment-85209 Ben, the conservation might go something like this... A: Is Taiwan a country? B: No, Taiwan is part of China. A: Can you show films about Rebiya Kadeer in China? B: No. A: Then why can you show these films in Taiwan? B: Ummm.... QED Actually, it's not that simple. It's important to listen and be respectful of others opinions. However, if their views are at a polar opposite then sometimes it's better to just save your breath. Ben, the conservation might go something like this…

A: Is Taiwan a country?

B: No, Taiwan is part of China.

A: Can you show films about Rebiya Kadeer in China?

B: No.

A: Then why can you show these films in Taiwan?

B: Ummm….

QED

Actually, it’s not that simple. It’s important to listen and be respectful of others opinions. However, if their views are at a polar opposite then sometimes it’s better to just save your breath.

]]> By: Manuel齊馬諾 http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2009/10/ait-director-speaks-at-nccu/comment-page-1/#comment-85208 Manuel齊馬諾 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:36:15 +0000 http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/?p=5466#comment-85208 @Ben: Don't take the exchange students too serious. I had exchange students from Nanjing at the law and international business department at Soochow university. The business student was a female. She didn't call Taiwan as a part of China, but she felt strange to see the name Republic of China everywhere. The Tschiang Kai'Shek temple and Dr. Sun Yat-Sen memorial hall. She felt like being in a second Hong Kong or Singapore with a large live museum a la Republic of China. The law student was a male and I got after months of discussions to the conclusion that according everything has been regulated at http://www.mac.gov.tw/english/index1-e.htm . So Taiwan is the free , democratic administration area by the Republic of China, but without any legal claim over Taiwan and Penghu. We simply call it "Status Quo". @Ben:
Don’t take the exchange students too serious. I had exchange students from Nanjing at the law and international business department at Soochow university.
The business student was a female. She didn’t call Taiwan as a part of China, but she felt strange to see the name Republic of China everywhere. The Tschiang Kai’Shek temple and Dr. Sun Yat-Sen memorial hall. She felt like being in a second Hong Kong or Singapore with a large live museum a la Republic of China.
The law student was a male and I got after months of discussions to the conclusion that according everything has been regulated at http://www.mac.gov.tw/english/index1-e.htm . So Taiwan is the free , democratic administration area by the Republic of China, but without any legal claim over Taiwan and Penghu. We simply call it “Status Quo”.

]]> By: Manuel齊馬諾 http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2009/10/ait-director-speaks-at-nccu/comment-page-1/#comment-85207 Manuel齊馬諾 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:08:44 +0000 http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/?p=5466#comment-85207 Interesting! Thanks for sharing! Did you ask him any question? Did any Taiwanese asked question? What's your personal impression by him to you? Interesting! Thanks for sharing!

Did you ask him any question? Did any Taiwanese asked question? What’s your personal impression by him to you?

]]> By: Ben Goren http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2009/10/ait-director-speaks-at-nccu/comment-page-1/#comment-85206 Ben Goren Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:08:13 +0000 http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/?p=5466#comment-85206 You've summed it all up very neatly I think Dave. I think Stanton made some interesting points that might indicate a more nuanced approached to the previous gree=troublemaker blue=business/happiness. I'll also mention here a chat with said Chinese exchange student at the end of the meet, which was brief and illuminating ... (after pleasantries and finding out he'd been in Taiwan for 2 months) Me: Welcome to the country. Him: Taiwan is not a country. Me: (weakly) really? Him: Most people in the mainland don't agree. Me: Ah, maybe that's because of a lack of education. (We filter out into the hall and part ways) Anyone got any suggestions for a very polite but deconstructive response to Chinese people in Taiwan saying 'Taiwan is not a country'. Should I say 'what about the ROC, is that a country?' ?? ..... You’ve summed it all up very neatly I think Dave. I think Stanton made some interesting points that might indicate a more nuanced approached to the previous gree=troublemaker blue=business/happiness.

I’ll also mention here a chat with said Chinese exchange student at the end of the meet, which was brief and illuminating …

(after pleasantries and finding out he’d been in Taiwan for 2 months)

Me: Welcome to the country.

Him: Taiwan is not a country.

Me: (weakly) really?

Him: Most people in the mainland don’t agree.

Me: Ah, maybe that’s because of a lack of education.

(We filter out into the hall and part ways)

Anyone got any suggestions for a very polite but deconstructive response to Chinese people in Taiwan saying ‘Taiwan is not a country’. Should I say ‘what about the ROC, is that a country?’ ?? …..

]]> By: Michael Turton http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2009/10/ait-director-speaks-at-nccu/comment-page-1/#comment-85205 Michael Turton Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:54:21 +0000 http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/?p=5466#comment-85205 Great report, good comments by Stanton except for that ridiculous remark about scooters. Great report, good comments by Stanton except for that ridiculous remark about scooters.

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