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Here are some clips from my interview with CNBC. – LHL
- - - - - - - - - -
On Singapore’s relations with the US and China:
https://www.cnbc.com/…/singapore-prime-minister-lee-hsien-l…
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On Singaporeans’ expectations of the Government: https://www.cnbc.com/…/singapore-prime-minister-lee-on-lead…
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On North Korea:
https://www.cnbc.com/…/singapore-prime-minister-lee-hsien-l…
🗣️🗣️🗣️前幾天我接受一個美國podcast的訪問，與Global Law & Business的聽眾分享一些主題，包括：
🔺 向國際聽眾簡介兩岸關係以及金馬歷史。
🔺 國共戰爭中，國軍守護金門、馬祖、大陳、舟山等島嶼的歷史。
🔺 民進黨耕耘馬祖並設立黨部的意義。
🔺 馬祖因地理位置面對困境，包括越界捕魚、抽砂、海漂垃圾等。
🔺 「非典型」選戰奇聞軼事，包括徒步環島、打扮成淡菜等。
🔺 還有，推薦更多國際友人未來有機會時，歡迎來馬祖玩！🥳🥳🥳
🌊Spotify收聽：
https://tinyurl.com/y2vjq9uf
🌊網站介紹：
https://tinyurl.com/yxslb8ww
📍以下為其中一些段落，跟大家分享：
Some people describe that the old ROC government was reborn and re-invented in Taiwan, and our current government is a fusion of the ROC and institutions from Taiwan’s Japanese colonial era.
有些人形容，過去的中華民國政府在台灣重生，並且被「重新發明」，而我們現在的政府是一種融合體，結合了中華民國體制與台灣日本殖民時期的機構。
So in conclusion, Taiwan is an independent nation which carries the legacy of republican China. I would say that Taiwan is somewhere in the middle between a regional independence movement (Scotland; Catalonia) and a two-state rivalry (North & South Korea; East & West Germany).
總而言之，台灣是一個主權獨立的國家，這個獨立的國家乘載了「中國大陸民國時期」所遺留的歷史遺產［legacy］。我會說，台灣的處境介於區域獨立運動（蘇格蘭、加泰隆尼亞）和冷戰兩國對抗（南北韓、東西德）這兩種模式之間的中間地帶。
Secretary Pompeo recently said that Taiwan shows the world what a “free China” could achieve. In a way that’s true, Taiwan carries the legacy of a Free China. Taiwan might carry the hopes of many in the global Chinese-speaking community. But Taiwan is not just a free version of China, since Taiwan also has its own trajectory and uniqueness, including our Japanese colonial history. This duality (of the ROC and Taiwan) is the key to understanding Taiwan.
美國國務卿龐培歐最近說，台灣顯示了一個「自由的中國」所能達成的成就。某種程度來說這是事實，台灣確實乘載了「自由中國」的歷史遺產。台灣或許乘載了全球華語世界許多人的期盼。但另一方面，台灣不僅僅是一個「自由版本的中國」，因為台灣擁有自己的軌跡與獨特性，包括日本殖民史。這種二元性（中華民國以及台灣）的並存，就是理解台灣的關鍵。
：：
I view Matsu as an important border area that is very close to China, and a place where many important issues need to be addressed, including the environment, disease control, maritime resources and security. I think it would be a mistake for any political party to neglect this region, which was why I decided to run for office here in Matsu, and launch a county chapter here.
我認為馬祖是一個重要的國家邊境地區，由於非常靠近中國，這裡有許多重要的議題需要處理，包括自然環境、疾病管控、海洋資源以及國家安全等。我認為任何政黨如果忽略這個地區，都是一個錯誤，這也就是為什麼我要在這裡選舉，並且建立一個地方黨部。
I think the rise in votes for President Tsai and the DPP in Matsu is symbolic, as the DPP is the party that supports Taiwan’s sovereignty and democracy, and our party tends to be more cautious of interactions with the Communist Party.
我認為蔡總統和民進黨在馬祖的選票增加，非常具有象徵意義。因為民進黨是支持台灣主權和民主的政黨，而我們的政黨對於跟共產黨互動，採取比較謹慎的態度。
By building a party chapter here, it symbolizes the DPP’s effort to reach out beyond our traditional voter base. Some people often assume that since the outlying islands are culturally and historically connected with Fujian Province, then the voters here will not be critical towards the communist party. But what we are seeing in the younger generation here is that, people can be simultaneously proud of their Fujian heritage, AND stand adamantly against authoritarianism.
當我們在這裡建立一個地方黨部，象徵民進黨努力爭取傳統支持者之外的選民。有些人會先入為主，認為離島地區因為文化和歷史上，跟福建省的連結很緊密，代表選民不會對共產黨有所批判。但是我們在這裡的年輕世代可以看見，許多人對福建（閩東）文化傳承感到驕傲，但【同時】堅定反對威權主義。
The Communist Party tries to tell the world that, if a person identifies with Chinese culture, then they must support the Communist Party. That’s the traditional logic, but that’s a logic that merits criticism. They’re trying to link the two together. What we are trying to do is to break that link. We see a growing number of people that identify with Chinese culture, AND simultaneously stand against China annexing Taiwan.
共產黨想要告訴世界，如果一個人認同中華文化，就必須支持共產黨。那是傳統的邏輯，但這個邏輯值得批判。他們想要把兩者連結在一起。而我們正在嘗試做的，就是要打破這個連結。我們看到有越來越多選民，既認同中華文化，也【同時】堅定反對中國併吞台灣。
I think this speaks to a wider audience in the Chinese-speaking world on a global scale. The traditional argument to support Taiwan’s sovereignty would be to emphasize Taiwan’s cultural differences with China. Here in Matsu or Kinmen, we can develop an argument that supports Taiwan’s sovereignty that is not based on cultural identity, but rather on common values between Taiwan and Kinmen or Matsu, and anti-communism. This builds a coalition between traditional supporters of Taiwanese independence, and people in the pan-Chinese world that are pro-democratic and anti-communist. This actually includes many people in the main island Taiwan and the outlying islands, as well as overseas ethnic Chinese.
我覺得這也對全球華語世界更多人，傳達了訊息。傳統上維護台灣主權的論點，是強調台灣和中國之間的文化差異。但是在金門或馬祖，我們可以發展一套支持台灣主權的論點，並非基於文化認同，而是基於台灣與金馬之間的共同價值，以及反共的理念。這樣便能建立一個聯盟，結合台灣傳統的本土派持持者，以及泛華語世界中「挺民主、反共產」的民眾。這其實涵蓋了台灣本島許多人，還有離島民眾，更包括許多海外華人。
You will also notice President Tsai places an emphasis on maintaining sovereignty & democracy, regardless of support for an ROC identity or a separate Taiwan identity. So the DPP itself is also reaching out. That’s the dualism of ROC and Taiwan identity.
你可能也會注意到，蔡英文強調希望大家共同支持維護國家主權和民主，不論是支持中華民國認同或是台灣認同。所以民進黨本身也在尋求更多人的支持。這就是中華民國和台灣認同的二元性。
#台澎金馬寸土不讓
#民主自由堅守不退
救援香港是「國際人道主義」還是「中華民族主義」？
兩位美國學者，寫了一篇文章，為台灣援助香港的行動賦予意義，放在亞洲的國際政治發展系絡下，給我們高度的評價。
文章英文版發表在「外交政策雜誌」，日文版發表在「新聞週刊」。
兩位作者是：
希娜切斯納·格里滕斯
德克薩斯大學奧斯汀分校林登·約翰遜公共事務學院副教授。
與
阿拉姆·胡爾（Aram Hur）
密蘇里大學政治學和公共政策助理教授。
以下是重點翻譯與全文：
Why Taiwan’s Assistance to Hong Kong Matters(Foreign Policy)
https://ppt.cc/fZk9gx
Taiwan’s government is signaling its status as a regional beacon for democracy and human rights—in contrast to South Korea, which frames assistance to North Korean refugees as helping ethnic brethren.
台灣撐香港不僅為了人道救援，亦意圖成為民主及人權之區域性指標
內文: 台灣的蔡英文總統表達支援希望離開香港的港人。台灣的支援行動表面上純屬人道考量，但實際上包含了更深層的意圖。台灣的行動強烈地反映了跟其他亞洲國家不同的民族主義，也有可能根本地改變亞洲的權力關係。
台灣的救援計畫以「人道」為考量。相對的，同為亞洲民主體制之南韓，接收脫北者則以「拯救民族同胞」為主要考量。
對比之下，台灣主動支持香港民主，確立台灣為爭取民主人權奮鬥的亞洲、甚至世界的最前線指標。
我要特別介紹：作者有一個獨特的角度，他們將蔡總統援助香港與韓國救援脫北者拿來比較，特別點出了：韓國的救援，是建立在「援助族裔弟兄」的民族主義，而 台灣將其援助計劃定為人道主義計劃，旨在幫助爭取民主與人權的鬥爭。
台韓的行動，呈現不一樣的身份認同。韓國建立在「統一家庭」，而台灣不像以前那樣採取種族或泛中華民族的方式，而是「將自己視為一個民主國家。」
作者特別說明在台灣內部，國共鬥爭歷史留下來的外省人和本省人之間的種族分裂已基本消失，人們越來越多地支持「維持與中國的現狀」以及「以台灣的民主地位為中心的共同公民身份。」
作者介紹：近年來，僅台灣人而不是中國人或兩者兼而有之的公民比例已達到歷史最高水平。 儘管這一身份跨越了政黨的界限，但在民主進步黨（DPP）中尤為突出。民主進步黨是推動國民黨實現民主化的長期反對黨，其領導人蔡英文（Tsai Ing-wen）現在擔任總統。 蔡的最新舉動進一步鞏固了這種身份的公民基礎：台灣不像以前那樣採取種族或泛中華方式，而是將自己視為一個民主國家。
這個獨特的角度，旨關重大，因為安置計畫將會面臨公民融合的挑戰，台灣「作為民主國家的人道主義救援」與「中華民族同胞統一之家」的救援，融合的身份認同會截然不同。作者的重點在點出台灣屬於「國際人道主義」的一環而不似韓國的途徑採「中華民族主義」的救援計畫，這對於將來香港人道救援後的融合挑戰，無疑是很重要的預知。
日本版
標題：蔡英文拯救亞洲的民主主義
【香港危機】台湾の蔡英文がアジアの民主主義を救う
Why Taiwan’s Assistance to Hong Kong Matters
https://ppt.cc/frIpGx
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Other videos you may like:
These Events Will Happen in Asia in 2020: https://youtu.be/qrataK7FxRA
How Would You Take Down North Korea? (The 7 Choices) https://youtu.be/VM_fzaWAybw
How North Korea Held the Greatest Pro Wrestling Event in History: https://youtu.be/U_ZkqfSpbg4
The $1,000,000,000 North Korean Bank Heist: https://youtu.be/Usu9z0feHug
How Macau Became North Korea's Base of Operations: https://youtu.be/BQ5x8riJ6SA
How This Lake in Northwest Asia Got Deadlier Than Chernobyl: https://youtu.be/SQCfOjhguO0
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Ross Bugden: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQKGLOK2FqmVgVwYferltKQ
Brandon Maahs: brandonmaahs.com
Channel Description:
We do videos on intriguing & thought-provoking Asiany topics, including stereotypes, history, culture & geography.
Credits:
Research, Script, Narration & Video Editing by Kento Bento
Artwork by Nina Bento
————————————————————————————————————————
[HOW WOULD YOU ESCAPE NORTH KOREA? (THE 7 CHOICES)]
If you were living in North Korea right now - trying to survive on a diet of rats, grass, soil and tree bark, quenching your thirst by drinking out of mud puddles in the ground - what would you do?
There's also the conceivable chance of being sent to a political prison camp for years on end just because you innocently thought out loud one day to a bunch of friends (North Korean propaganda is strong), where you are then beaten, tortured, and left so hungry that you are forced to dig and consume the grains out of faeces, or the maggots from dead bodies just so you have the energy to perhaps last one more day.
You'd probably wanna escape. But how?
The North Korean government in Pyongyang refuses to let its citizens leave, a clear violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, viewing North Korean defectors as traitorous criminals. Captured North Koreans would be subject to unimaginable torture and often public executions.
If they are successful in their escape, then three to four generations of their family back home would be sent to North Korean prison camps to rot ....or worse. This is a strong deterrent.
But this still doesn't stop desperate North Koreans from tempting fate. In this video, I'll go over the seven ways to escape the DPRK, including the most dangerous, the most unforgiving, the most unique, and the most unexpected.
The North Korean border on the south side (ie. South Korean border / Korean DMZ) is the shortest distance to travel for safety and stability but as a result, the regime makes it dangerously hard. A North Korean escapee can be shot down by North Korean soldiers (border guards) or step on the many landmines in the area.
The northern border to China has it's own set of challenges. Most North Korean refugees escape through this way, usually crossing the Tumen River border (like the famous North Korean defector Hyeonseo Lee). Once in China, the nightmare doesn't end there.
There are also other, more unconventional ways you can try to escape such as through North Korean labor camps.
Even if you make it to safety and resettle in a stable country, the North Korean regime will still try to hunt you down, so you're never truly safe. Especially if you're an outspoken critic or a threat to Kim Jong-un's power - just ask his half brother, Kim Jong-nam.
Sources:
https://web.archive.org/web/20070303203248/http://www.hrnk.org/refugeesReport06.pdf
http://bushcenter.imgix.net/legacy/gwb_north_korea_executive_summary_r4.pdf
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/16/world/asia/north-korean-soldier-braves-dmz-to-defect-to-south.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/11033003/North-Korean-pair-swim-across-sea-border-to-defect-to-South-Korea.html
http://time.com/4205785/london-new-malden-north-korean-refugees/
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Other videos you may like:
The Bizarre South Korean Bank Heist: https://youtu.be/8JclG3gZLQI
The Greatest Bank Heist in Chinese History: https://youtu.be/qW0uzPJEO10
The $1,000,000,000 North Korean Bank Heist: https://youtu.be/Usu9z0feHug
The Greatest Bank Heist in Japanese History: https://youtu.be/gbeN-2ErxBw
How North Korea Held the Greatest Pro Wrestling Event in History: https://youtu.be/U_ZkqfSpbg4
How The CIA's Ran a Secret Toy Operation in South Asia: https://youtu.be/ALf-jO5pyfY
Stock Media Footage:
Videoblocks: https://www.videoblocks.com
Music:
Epidemic Sound: http://epidemicsound.com
Channel Description:
Animated documentary-style videos on extraordinary Asian events.
Credits:
Kento Bento — Researcher, writer, narrator, audio editor, video editor, motion graphics & art director
Charlie Rodriguez — Illustrator
Isambard Dexter — Research assistant
Nina Bento — Cheerleader
Video Title: The Mysterious Chinese Art Heists Across Europe
"Stockholm, Sweden. 2010. Passersby on the streets of the capital were confused and scared. Several cars in and around the vicinity had lit up in flames, and no one had any idea why. Police soon arrived on scene but they too were baffled with what they saw. Now, several kilometers to the west, on the outskirts of the city, a small group of masked men made their way across the grounds of the Drottningholm Palace (the private residence of the Swedish Royal Family, as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Their target was the royal pavilion situated in the southern part of the complex, which displayed countless works of historic art. Once there, the men forced their way in through the backdoors, and went right to work. They smashed the protective display cases, and grabbed whatever items they wanted. This immediately set off the alarm system, which alerted the Swedish police. Now, despite the alarm, the robbers remained calm, because they knew exactly where the police were. The burning cars were in fact a distraction for them set up by the robbers, and they had fallen right into the trap. Still, the police raced towards the crime scene, but by the time they reached the royal pavilion, the place was empty (the robbers were in and out in less than six minutes). Upon inspection, sculptures, chalices, plates and teapots - all invaluable items - were now missing from the permanent state collection of art and antiquities; and this wasn’t just a huge economic loss, but a cultural one as well. It was later found out that after fleeing the pavilion on mopeds, the robbers made their way to a nearby lake where they were then picked up by a white speedboat. Though from this point, the trail went cold...
*Note: The narrative of the implication of the Chinese government was made popular by Alex Palmer of GQ in 2018 (though these suspicions had existed long before).
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Other videos you may like:
The $1,000,000,000 North Korean Bank Heist: https://youtu.be/Usu9z0feHug
The Bizarre South Korean Bank Heist: https://youtu.be/8JclG3gZLQI
How Would You Take Down North Korea? (The 7 Choices): https://youtu.be/VM_fzaWAybw
How Would You Escape North Korea? (The 7 Choices): https://youtu.be/6A0ZOkMDLw0
How North Korea Held the Greatest Pro Wrestling Event in History: https://youtu.be/U_ZkqfSpbg4
Why Hong Kong has the Longest Life Expectancy: https://youtu.be/c3JRRxxZ3Ig
Stock Media Footage:
Videoblocks: https://www.videoblocks.com
Music:
Epidemic Sound: http://epidemicsound.com
Ross Bugden: https://youtube.com/channel/UCQKGLOK2FqmVgVwYferltKQ
Brandon Maahs: http://brandonmaahs.com
Channel Description:
Animated documentary-style videos on extraordinary Asian events.
Credits:
Kento Bento — Researcher, writer, narrator, audio editor, video editor, motion graphics & art director
Isambard Dexter — Research assistant
Nina Bento — Cheerleader
Video Title: The Secret Overseas Headquarters of North Korea
"Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. February 13th, 2017. A frantic Korean man approached an airport receptionist in the departure hall of Terminal 2, in Kuala Lumpur International Airport. He claimed someone had grabbed him from behind and splashed a mysterious liquid on his face, and he was now feeling some discomfort. The receptionist sent him to the airport’s medical clinic to be looked at by doctors, but it wasn’t long until he became unresponsive. Less than 20 minutes later, he was dead. The liquid that was smeared on his face turned out to be VX nerve agent (a chemical weapon categorized as a weapon of mass destruction). The victim was Kim Jong-nam - the half brother of North Korea’s Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un. Before his untimely death, Nam was set to return home to Macau (after a business trip in Kuala Lumpur) - Macau was where he had lived anonymously with his family the past two decades. But while he never made it back, the aftermath of his assassination brought a great deal of unwanted attention to the Chinese city he lived in; for the long-standing secretive relationship between Macau and North Korea was now in the limelight..."
