Typhoon Aid Enters the Cross-Straits Equation
台湾总统极力为自己的领导能力辩护，承诺要对政府应对台风莫拉克(Morakot)的举措进行调查，与此同时，这场因风暴而起的灾难却带来了意想不到的后果：令中国大陆和台湾之间的关系更加密切。台湾总统马英九应对这场破坏性极大的风暴的措施招致强烈批评，而国际援助直到周日才抵达台湾，但中国大陆很快就显示出了善意，承诺要竭尽全力援助台湾的重建工作。中国政府将台湾视为其版图内的一个省。据中国媒体报道，大陆地方政府公司和各界名流都全力投入，承诺援助人民币数百万元的现金和物资。大陆几家电视台组织了一台历时4个小时的节目，将在周四晚上播出，节目邀请的全是名人大腕，包括成龙李连杰章子怡和姚明等人。大陆还提供了一架俄罗斯产大型直升飞机，曾用于去年四川大地震救灾行动中，不过有关部门很快就强调这架飞机属一家民航公司所有，并非军用飞机。与此同时，大陆官方媒体还对美国出动军用飞机和直升机助台湾救灾表示反对。台风莫拉克据称是台湾50年一遇的大灾，导致大约500人死亡或失踪，以及至少10亿美元经济损失。大陆的援助对马英九是福是祸还需拭目以待。马英九的政敌指责他因害怕得罪大陆政府而迟迟不愿接受国际援助。大陆常常反对台湾参与国际事务。台湾外交部次长周二提出辞职，为外交部最初拒绝外国援助承担责任。台湾已经出现一些抵制大陆援助的迹象。受灾最严重的台南部分地区历来支持台独，反对大陆。其中一个镇的官员拒绝接受大陆提供的预制房屋，理由是这些房屋可能含有有毒物质。Sky Canaves（“中国日志”（China Journal）关注全球第一人口大国的发展变化，《华尔街日报》获奖团队数十位记者倾情献稿，Sky Canaves主笔。欢迎读者发送邮件至[email protected]或在下面评论栏中发表评论和建议。）相关阅读台湾高官辞职难纾民众怒火 2009-08-20马英九鞠躬道歉 承诺追究救灾责任 2009-08-19国际救灾物资运达台湾 2009-08-17
As Taiwan's president is struggling to defend his leadership, promising an investigation into the government's response to Typhoon Morakot, the disaster wrought by the deadly storm is having an unintended consequence: Bringing mainland China and Taiwan even closer together.Although international aid only began arriving in Taiwan on Sunday, following intense criticism of President Ma Ying-jeou's response to the devastating storm, mainland China has been quick to show its benevolence in promising an 'all out effort' to aid with the recovery of the island, which Beijing regards as a renegade province.Local governments, companies and celebrities from mainland China are all pitching in, pledging hundreds of millions of yuan in cash and supplies, according to Chinese media reports.A group of mainland television stations is organizing a four-hour telethon to air on Thursday evening, with invitations extended to an all-star line-up of celebrities including Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Zhang Ziyi and Yao Ming.China has also offered a jumbo Russian-made helicopter used in last year's Sichuan earthquake relief efforts, though it was quickly noted that the aircraft are owned by a civil aviation company, and not the military. Meanwhile, China's state media has voiced objections to the presence of American military planes and helicopters in the relief effort.Typhoon Morakot, said to be the worst to hit Taiwan in 50 years, claimed the lives of around 500 people and caused at least $1 billion in damage.Now it remains to be seen whether the aid from mainland China will help or hurt President Ma, who has been accused of by political opponents of stalling on accepting international aid for fear of offending the mainland government, which often objects to Taiwan's participation in international affairs. On Tuesday Taiwan's vice foreign minister resigned to take responsibility for his agency's initial rejection of foreign aid.Already, there are some signs of resistance to mainland aid. Parts of southern Taiwan where Morakot had the biggest impact have been historically pro-independence and anti-PRC. In one of these towns, officials have refused to accept pre-fabricated homes from China on the grounds that they may contain toxic materials.Sky Canaves
As Taiwan's president is struggling to defend his leadership, promising an investigation into the government's response to Typhoon Morakot, the disaster wrought by the deadly storm is having an unintended consequence: Bringing mainland China and Taiwan even closer together.Although international aid only began arriving in Taiwan on Sunday, following intense criticism of President Ma Ying-jeou's response to the devastating storm, mainland China has been quick to show its benevolence in promising an 'all out effort' to aid with the recovery of the island, which Beijing regards as a renegade province.Local governments, companies and celebrities from mainland China are all pitching in, pledging hundreds of millions of yuan in cash and supplies, according to Chinese media reports.A group of mainland television stations is organizing a four-hour telethon to air on Thursday evening, with invitations extended to an all-star line-up of celebrities including Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Zhang Ziyi and Yao Ming.China has also offered a jumbo Russian-made helicopter used in last year's Sichuan earthquake relief efforts, though it was quickly noted that the aircraft are owned by a civil aviation company, and not the military. Meanwhile, China's state media has voiced objections to the presence of American military planes and helicopters in the relief effort.Typhoon Morakot, said to be the worst to hit Taiwan in 50 years, claimed the lives of around 500 people and caused at least $1 billion in damage.Now it remains to be seen whether the aid from mainland China will help or hurt President Ma, who has been accused of by political opponents of stalling on accepting international aid for fear of offending the mainland government, which often objects to Taiwan's participation in international affairs. On Tuesday Taiwan's vice foreign minister resigned to take responsibility for his agency's initial rejection of foreign aid.Already, there are some signs of resistance to mainland aid. Parts of southern Taiwan where Morakot had the biggest impact have been historically pro-independence and anti-PRC. In one of these towns, officials have refused to accept pre-fabricated homes from China on the grounds that they may contain toxic materials.Sky Canaves