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Alibaba.com Taiwan tea The King of Formosa Oolong. 100% from Alishan, Taiwan. www.alishanleaf.com Single chinese women Lonely chinese girls and women searching for respectful men www.chinesekisses.com Taipei Times - archives Thu, Mar 19, 2009 News Editorials 646657487 visits Front Page * White Terror documents cause uproar * US comfortable with detente: AIT * Residents mixed on plans for nuclear waste dump * Condoms increase AIDS problem: pope * Congress prepares to assail head of AIG over bonuses Taiwan News * Chen attends final pre-trial hearing * Lawmakers lash out at GIO chief over Kuo case * Conflict arises over slow progress on city merger * KMT calls for reopening of 319 probe * Legislators criticize Amway tour group * Taipei government lambasted over closed food circle * KMT legislator quizzes EPA over blocked expressway * NCC wants cable operators to give service guarantees * CDC releases statistics on dengue fever infections * Taiwan News Quick Take World News * Australia to end detention charges for asylum seekers * North Korea rejects food aid: US * Families of milk victims complain of official intimidation * Australia to change rule on ‘golden handshakes’ * Filipina who accused Marine of rape recants * Pakistan dismisses report US may widen covert war * Hamas blames Israel for end of prisoner swap talks * Appeal judges cut Krajisnik’s jail term to 20 years * Austrian incest father changes pleas to guilty * Lawmakers OK France’s return to NATO command * Rajoelina’s presidency confirmed * Hundreds vanish in witch hunts in Gambia: Amnesty * US may sign declaration on gay rights * US mulls sending troops to fight drug war along border * FARC releases last foreign hostage * Chavez touts new oil-industry deals with Russia, China * Family of British actress Richardson gather in NY * Bush says he will refrain from criticizing Obama * World News Quick Take Editorials * EDITORIAL: Mild words, grave issue * China can use strategic reassurance * ‘Six cents’ on a trade agreement with China * On the need for global confidence * Labor’s journey from ‘job’ to ‘work’ to little rows of noughts * [LETTERS] Sports * Vettori, Ryder tons rescue Black Caps, but India are on top * South Korea, US through to semi-finals * THE FA CUP: Gunners go through in blaze of controversy * Tour of Bangladesh postponed because of security concerns * Nadal, Djokovic on course for semi showdown * Last-gasp Iguodala heroics save Sixers * Formula One champ to be determined by wins * NHL: Brodeur sets NHL record as Devils beat Blackhawks * ANALYSIS: Why Taiwan has no premier sports events * Leandro bags hat-trick in Seoul * Blades, Hammers iron out deal, but players plan to sue * UEFA CUP: City, Hamburg set for quarters, but Zenit struggling * FIFA says 11 in race to host 2018, 2022 World Cups * Argentina’s Lanus fall to shock home defeat * Sports Briefs * Soccer Shorts Business * GDP to contract 4.8%: Polaris * Carrefour fined for false advertisement on voucher program * No plan to recapitalize restructuring fund: FSC * ProMOS extends deadline * TMC denies it has inked agreement with partner * State banks asked to cut interest rate on revolving credit * ADI set to ship new motion-sensing chips * Ma vows easier visa application process for Chinese * UK unemployment soars * Gintech aims to raise US$49.7m * Business Briefs World Business * World Bank cuts China’s 2009 growth * Toshiba has new president * Bank of Japan keeps rate steady, raises bond buys * Apple unveils next-gen iPhone software * China scraps Coca-Cola’s takeover of Huiyuan Juice * Dell courts MacBook Air shoppers with notebook * World Business Quick Take Features * [TRAVEL] Back to the future in Ilan * As crazy as he wants to be Bilingual Pages * Taipingshan and Sun Moon Lake – hottest destinations for Happy Bus GO 幸福巴士GO — 太平山、日月潭最夯 * Survival Chinese   Photo News   More Editorials   Johnny Neihu     Community Compass   Back Issue    << >>    Full List TaipeiTimes    Subscribe    Advertise    Employment   FAQ    About Us    Contact Us    Copyright Search Most Read Story Most Viewed Photo Enter your search terms Submit search form Taipei Times  Print  Mail  wiki links [LETTERS] Thursday, Mar 19, 2009, Page 8 Down to basics Simplicity and a strong focus on the fundamental issues are keys to greater insights. Focusing on the simple truth in the current debate regarding an economic agreement between China and Taiwan will help us all to grasp the consequences of an accord. The simple truth is that China has set the “one China” principle as a precondition for an agreement. China has been consistent about this simple truth. The truth is that China wants Taiwan to be a part of the People’s Republic of China. This simple truth is valid no matter the name of the agreement. In addition, it is valid even if Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) recently apparently tried to change the name of the “one China” principle to a “one China political framework,” which no one has heard of. It does not help the heated debate in Taiwan to change titles and talk about a “one China political framework” that does not exist. It will only add confusion. The simple truth is that Taiwanese have to answer one simple question about an economic agreement with China: Does Taiwan want to be a part of the People’s Republic of China? If yes, then accept China’s “one China” condition. But if the answer is negative, Taiwan has to avoid the “one China” condition. If the debate is focused on this fundamental question first, it is much easier to understand the consequences and discuss the remaining economic topics. MICHAEL DANIELSEN Chairman, Taiwan Corner Copenhagen More English reading It is interesting that some educators are eager to provide explanations for a phenomenon that may not exist. The Taipei Times reported that there was a sharp increase in the number of students who scored zero in English composition in their college entrance exams, although the writing exam contained “a more complicated and difficult writing topic” (“Teachers lament poor scores in English,” March 15, page 2). Whether or not writing ability in English really is deteriorating, those interested in improving students’ written English might consult the research, which says consistently that writers acquire the conventions of the written language largely by reading. This is true in first and second-language development, and much of the research has been done in Taiwan. Improvement in student writing therefore requires access to a large amount of interesting and comprehensible reading material in English, which is sadly not available to many students. STEPHEN KRASHEN Los Angeles, California I believe that the article on poor English scores misses an important point: Reading significant amounts of understandable English throughout the learning process is more important than writing classes. I work with ESL/EFL students from all continents. The best writers are the readers — always. When I complimented a recent TOEFL tutoring student from Spain on his superb writing, I asked him how he learned to write so well. Without hesitation he replied: “Reading essays from the New York Times.” Virtually all English instruction focuses on memorizing rules and vocabulary, while most fluency comes from understandable input — reading and listening to high-interest English that the student can understand. Time to read and listen, accompanied by more reading and listening resources, is the key. WARREN EDIGER La Habra, California This story has been viewed 1107 times. Advertising Copyright © 1999-2010 The Taipei Times. All rights reserved.