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Two Typhoons Debunk Three Myths

icon2017/08/01
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 Two Typhoons Debunk Three Myths

United Daily News Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan)

Aug 1, 2017

 Translation of an Excerpt

Two typhoons, Nesat and Haitang, hit Taiwan one after another, leaving southern Taiwan disastrously inundated and many areas looking like a vast sea. In eastern Taiwan, a power transmission tower was blown down, making the imminent crisis of power rationing even more acute. At the same time, in northern Taiwan, over 500 flight attendants at EVA Airways took the occasion to ask for typhoon leave, causing the cancellation of 50 flights at the last moment, affecting nearly 10,000 passengers. As a result, large numbers of passengers were stranded in the airport, while the Ministry of Transportation looked the other way, not willing to shoulder any responsibility.

These two typhoons have debunked the three myths of the ruling party. First is the Lai Ching-te myth. The DPP is in the midst of grooming Lai Ching-te to march north for the highest post in the nation, telling very colorful stories; however, in handling the issue of the typhoon holiday in Tainan City, “deity Lai” changed his decision three times, showing his indecisiveness. He first announced school classes and offices would operate as usual. And then, he made a queer decision allowing "flexible clock-in time from 6-8:00 in the morning." Then after discovering that various districts in the city were seriously flooded, he immediately announced the suspension of school classes and work, but it was too late, for which he came under heavy fire from the public.

Second is the myth of no shortages of power in a nuclear-free homeland. President Tsai's vision of a "nuclear-free homeland" was established on the premise that the power supply was guaranteed. However, even before the coming of the typhoons last week, the power supply in the entire Taiwan had already entered the alert zone of an orange light to a red light; a crisis was imminent. The Hoping power plant transmission tower in Hualien collapsed this time; the power plant was left intact, but the power generated could not be transmitted outwards. As a result, it is wasting nearly 4% of the power supply, meaning that north Taiwan recently may face possible power rationing.

Third is the myth of public authority and public service. Last year, China Airlines flight attendants went on strike, besides winning President Tsai’s applause, they also gained beneficial treatment and various rewards from China Airlines. However, the transportation industry ignored the rights and interests of passengers, who did not receive proper attention. This time EVA Air flight attendants emulated their China Airlines sisters, sacrificing the rights and interests of passengers, while the Ministry of Transportation was timid in speaking out, leaving the dignity of public authority in shatters. The government only talks about promises, but is incapable of handling, in an equitable manner, the rights and interests of all labor, management, consumers of all trades and all industries, inevitably sacrificing the quality of public service. This is a case in point.

Nesat and Haitang were not strong typhoons; however, totally unexpectedly, they brought Taiwan different challenges in the various facets of flood control, power supply, transportation, agriculture and fisheries, and typhoon holidays. Five years ago, Lai Ching-te won the canonization of "deity Lai" in south Taiwan, being the only mayor not to declare a typhoon holiday in south Taiwan; unexpectedly, this time, his myth was completely debunked. Thus, there is no fixed model to follow in dealing with natural disasters; the only approach is to heighten our vigilance and be ready to meet the challenges at any time.

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