Taiwan’s Legislative Elections, January 2008: Implications for U.S. Policy

By Kerry Dumbaugh on January 22, 2008

On January 12, 2008, Taiwan’s ruling party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), suffered a crushing defeat in elections for the Legislative Yuan, the national legislature. The DPP won only twenty-seven seats in the new 113-member body, while the opposition Kuomintang Party (KMT) gained a hefty majority with eighty-one seats. Five additional seats went to independent and smaller party candidates who are expected to side often with KMT positions. The results appear to be a repudiation of DPP leader and Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian’s emphasis of a radical pro-independence agenda at the expense of domestic economic issues. Attention in Taiwan now is on the upcoming presidential contest on March 22, 2008, pitting the leading DPP candidate Frank Hsieh against the leading KMT candidate Ma Ying-jeou.

Embed Code: 
View the PDF on Document Cloud
Peony Lui
Topics: 
Politics
Society
Keywords: 
Taiwan
Democracy
Democratic Progressive Party
Guomindang
Organization: 
Congressional Research Service

The Quiet Heroes of Tibet

By Pankaj Mishra on January 17, 2008

Earlier this year, shortly before boarding the new Chinese train from Beijing to Lhasa, I met Woeser, a Tibetan poet and essayist (she uses only one name). Unusual among Tibetans in China, who tend to avoid talking to foreigners, she spoke frankly about Chinese rule over Tibet. Denouncing the recently built railroad to Lhasa as a “colonial imposition,” she said that the Communist leaders in Beijing hoped to use the $4 billion project to speed up Han Chinese emigration to Tibet and to plunder the province’s abundant mineral resources.

Prospects for Democracy in Hong Kong: China’s December 2007 Decision

By Michael F. Martin on January 10, 2008

The prospects for democratization in Hong Kong became clearer following a decision of the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress (NPCSC) on December 29, 2007. The NPCSC’s decision effectively set the year 2017 as the earliest date for the direct election of Hong Kong’s Chief Executive and the year 2020 as the earliest date for the direct election of all members of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council (Legco). However, ambiguities in the language used by the NPCSC have contributed to differences in interpretation of its decision. According to Hong Kong’s current Chief Executive, Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, the decision sets a clear timetable for democracy in Hong Kong. However, representatives of Hong Kong’s “prodemocracy” parties believe the decision includes no solid commitment to democratization in Hong Kong.

Embed Code: 
View the PDF on Document Cloud
Peony Lui
Topics: 
Politics
Keywords: 
Democracy
Organization: 
Congressional Research Service

External Evaluation 2003–2007 - Safety and Effectiveness of Contraception in China

A Case-study in Promotion and Improvement of Family Planning

By Barbara L.K. Pillsbury and William Winfrey on January 1, 2008

HRP has a long history of successful collaboration in China. WHO is widely respected in that country, and HRP benefits from its prestige. Since 1979, HRP has helped establish and strengthen a network of research institutes and provided support to build the capacity of Chinese sexual and reproductive health researchers. Today, HRP facilitates a wide array of research and capacity-building activities that are contributing in strategic ways to improve the quality of care and outcomes in family planning and sexual and reproductive health in China.

This case-study addresses one example of this long, multi-faceted collaboration: HRP’s assistance in improving the safety and effectiveness of China’s locally produced ontraceptives. The terms of reference for this case-study called for examination of HRP’s role in the withdrawal of less effective IUDs (stainless-steel and copper rings) and the once-amonth oral contraceptive, in particular.

Embed Code: 
View the PDF on Document Cloud
Luo Xiaoyuan
Topics: 
Health
Keywords: 
Women
Health
Health Care
Reproductive Health
Organization: 
World Health Organization

China’s Green Buildings and Sustainable Cities

on January 1, 2008

The National Resources Defense Council is documenting the way in which it is promoting environmentally friendly growth principles in urban planning in China. This includes it partnership with Chinese governmental organizations in promoting and helping to implement green building designs and construction. This document puts forward the goal of fostering sustainable city development strategies in China.

Embed Code: 
Topics: 
Environment
Keywords: 
Construction
Urban Planning
Organization: 
Natural Resources Defense Council