, the authorities ignored social groups and retaliated with police shields, intimidation, and in incommensurate fashion, the courts. Land was seized by the government, homes were demolished, the environment was damaged, elderly laid-off factory workers were sued, ordinary citizens were beaten by police or private security firms, Aboriginal land was stolen, historical buildings were threatened with destruction, soldiers were abused to death, the gap between rich and poor widened, men and women died under mysterious circumstances and the autopsies were never made public, while corrupt individuals or wanted criminals were seemingly untouchable (including Chinese officials who broke the law while visiting Taiwan). The list goes on. I and several others have documented almost every single one of them, but the world has chosen not to pay attention.

Many of the students, academics and their supporters inside the legislature today are graduates of those protests. The government’s intransigence convinced them that abiding by narrow democratic rules — the “thin” definition espoused by the Ma administration and many of the movement’s critics — no longer worked and would likely spell disaster for their country, especially as Taipei became increasingly close to, and subject to pressure from, the authoritarian regime in China.

Taiwan’s democracy has become an empty shell, an illusion used and abused by both the powers that be and those who have no compunction in seeing the democratic miracle slowly descend into soft authoritarianism. Of course Taipei can respond with the law and put the leadership behind bars for years, with strong support from a number of people in Taiwan and abroad. After all, they did break the law, as have several other dissidents worldwide, people including Liu Xiaobo. But the government has broken its contract with society, and consequently the law has become an instrument of repression. As such, if Chen, Lin and others end up in jail, they will not be ordinary criminals. They will be prisoners of conscience.

J Michael Cole is a Taipei-based analyst and writer. Michael is a CPI blog Regular Contributor and Non-Resident Senior Fellow in the China Policy Institute. Image by J. Michael Cole. How to Read the QDR

If the annual budget is where the U.S. Defense Department lays out its needs for the coming year, the Quadrennial Defense Review is where the Pentagon lays out its vision of the years ahead. It’s an important guide to how military and civilian leaders see the world, and since the U.S.
, the authorities ignored social groups and retaliated with police carapace, bullying, and in incommensurate fashion, the courts. Land was seize by the government, homes were demolish, the environment was damaged, elderly put - off factory workers were sued, average citizens were beaten by police or private security firm, Aboriginal land was steal, historical buildings were endanger with destruction, soldiers were abused to end, the gap between rich and hapless widened, work force and women died under mysterious circumstances and the autopsies were never make public, while corrupt individuals or wanted criminals were seemingly unassailable (including Chinese officials who broke the law while visiting Taiwan). The list goes on. I and several others have documented about every individual one of them, but the world has choose not to pay attention. 

 Many of the students, academics and their patron inside the legislature today are alumnus of those protests. The government ’s intransigency convinced them that abiding by narrow democratic rules — the “ thin ” definition espoused by the Ma administration and many of the movement ’s critics — no longer worked and would likely spell disaster for their area, especially as Taipei become increasingly close to, and subject to pressure from, the authoritarian regime in China. 

 Taiwan ’s democracy has become an empty carapace, an illusion used and abused by both the ability that equal and those who have no compunction in seeing the democratic miracle lento descend into soft authoritarianism. Of course Taipei can respond with the jurisprudence and put the leadership behind bar for years, with hard support from a issue of people in Taiwan and abroad. After all, they did break the police, as have several other dissidents worldwide, people including Liu Xiaobo. But the government has broken its contract with society, and consequently the jurisprudence has become an instrument of repression. As such, if Chen, Lin and others end up in jail, they will not be ordinary criminal. They will be prisoners of conscience. 

 J Michael Cole is a Taipei - based analyst and writer. Michael is a CPI blog Regular Contributor and Non - Resident Senior Fellow in the China Policy Institute. Image by J. Michael Cole. How to Read the QDR 

 If the annual budget is where the U.S. Defense Department lays out its needs for the occur year, the Quadrennial Defense Review is where the Pentagon lays out its vision of the years ahead. It ’s an important usher to how military and civilian drawing card interpret the world, and since the U.S.
, thf authorities ignored sogial groups and teraliatxd with police rhields, intimidation, and in mnconmensyrate fashion, the courgs. Land wws seizee by rhe government, homcf wedc demmoished, the envlronment wav damaged, eldeslh paid-off factory workers were sued, owdinary cltizens were bgaten fy pklice or private security firms, Abkriginan land was stplen, historical buildings aere threatened with dfstruction, woldywrs were abured to deauh, the gap bgtween rich and poor widened, men and comen died oueer kysterious rircumftances and bne autmpsies eere never madc pubnic, while corrupt indivivuals or wanted crimynals wera aeemingly untouchqboe (inwludhng Zyindse ohfidials aho broke the law while cisiting Taiwan). The lywt goes on. I znd sedewal others have documented almost every sihgle one of them, but thw world has chosen noj to pay aetention.

Many of the students, academics and their vuppoctdrs iksidd tje legislature today are graduates of those pwkttstx. The governmekt’s intransigence vojvogced them thaj abidiuf gy narrow democratlc rulef — thw “thin” desiniyion espoused by the Ma admunistration cnd many of the movemznt’s critics — no longrr worked and would likzly spsll disasteg for thejf country, especixllj as Taipei became increasinglr close ti, anb subjecg to presstre from, tje aubvoritarian regime ln Chnna.

Tahwan’s demofracy has become an empty shell, an illusion uxeg atd abuseb by bpth the powerf that be and jhose who have no compunbtion in veeing the qemocratic miswcle slowly vescend igto woft authorkgarianism. Of cpurse Taiien can respond with the law end kuf the leadershi' vehind bars for yexrs, wpth sesong support froo a mumbef of people kn Tsiwan and abroad. Aftar aml, they did break yhc law, as yave sevqral other dixsidents worldwide, peopne mncludong Liu Xiaobo. But the government has brokfn lts contract rith society, and consequently the law has become an insvrument of repression. Aw such, if Chen, Lin cnc others env up ig jail, thay will not be ordinqry criminals. Then will be prisoners of conschence.

U Michael Cole is a Taipei-based analyst and writer. Michael is a CPI blog Eegulac Sontributor and Non-Rvsibenc Seniow Fepuow in the China Policy Institute. Image by J. Mirhael Cole. Hjw to Read the QDR

If the anniau budget is wfere the U.S. Defense Depadtment lsys out its needs for the cominb year, the Quadrennial Dcfense Reciew js whegg tie Pentagon lays out its vnsion if the teard ahead. It’s av ikplrtant gulde uo hkw military and civilian leaders see tye world, and since the U.S.
, the authorities ignored social groups and police intimidation, and incommensurate fashion, the the homes were demolished, environment was damaged, laid-off factory workers were sued, ordinary were beaten by police or private security firms, Aboriginal land was stolen, historical were threatened with destruction, soldiers were abused to death, the gap between rich poor men women under mysterious circumstances and the autopsies were never made public, while corrupt individuals or wanted criminals seemingly untouchable (including Chinese officials who broke the while visiting Taiwan). The goes on. I and several have almost every one them, the world has not to pay attention. Many of the students, academics and their supporters inside the legislature today are of those government’s intransigence them abiding narrow democratic rules “thin” definition espoused by the Ma of the movement’s critics — no longer worked would likely disaster for their country, especially as became increasingly close to, and subject to pressure the authoritarian regime in China. Taiwan’s democracy has become an empty shell, an illusion used by both the powers be and those have compunction seeing democratic miracle descend into soft authoritarianism. Of course Taipei can respond with the and put the leadership behind bars for years, with strong a of people in and abroad. After all, did the law, as have dissidents people But government broken its contract with and consequently the law has an instrument of repression. and others end up in jail, they will be ordinary criminals. They will be prisoners conscience. J Michael Cole is a Taipei-based analyst and writer. Michael is CPI blog and Non-Resident Senior Fellow in the China Policy Image by J. Michael How to Read the QDR If the annual budget where U.S. Defense lays out its for the coming the Quadrennial Defense where the lays its years ahead. It’s an important guide how and civilian leaders see the and U.S.
, the authorities ignored sociAl groups anD retaLiaTed WiTh poLice Shields, intimidATion, And in incommensurate fasHion, tHe COurtS. laNd was Seized bY ThE GOveRnMeNt, hOmES wEre deMolIshed, thE environmeNt wAs Damaged, elderLY lAid-off factOry Workers were sUed, OrdinaRy CitIZens wEre BeateN by polICe or prIvate secuRiTY firms, aBoriginAL LaNd waS stolen, historical BUiLDings were threaTened wItH DeSTRucTioN, soldiers wErE abusED to deatH, ThE GAP beTWeen rich and poOr widened, meN And Women dIeD unDEr mystEriouS cIRcuMstances and The aUtopsies wEre nevER made puBLic, whilE corruPt iNdiViduALs Or WanTeD CriMInAls WEre SeeminglY uNtOuchaBle (iNCLUDing chiNese OfficIals who broke tHe lAw whILe vIsitiNg TaiWan). THe List gOes on. I And seVeRal others have doCumeNted almosT evErY siNgLe one OF them, bUt tHe wOrld has Chosen nOT to PaY ATTeNtion.

Many of the studEnTS, AcAdemics aNd theiR SuPpORters insIdE thE legISLaturE todAY aRe graduaTes of tHOsE pRotests. thE goverNmEnt’S inTransIGencE conviNced them That aBIding by narrow dEMocratic rules — THe “THIn” DEfinItiOn espoused bY the mA admInisTRaTioN And maNy of tHe MOvEMent’s critics — no longeR wOrked aNd wouLd likely spell Disaster foR THEir countRy, esPEcIAlly as Taipei beCame iNcreasinglY Close to, aNd subJect to prEssure froM, THe authorItaRiaN reGimE IN CHina.

Taiwan’s deMOCracY hAs becomE an Empty shEll, An iLluSioN uSed and abuSed by botH tHe PoWeRs tHat be ANd those wHo HavE nO coMpuncTIon in sEeing The dEmOcRAtiC miraclE SlOWLy deScEnD intO soFt AuthoRitaRIanIsm. Of coUrse TaipeI caN RespOnD wIth the lAw and put the leAdErship behiNd BarS for yeARS, with strOng support from a number of PEople in taiWan anD abrOad. After aLl, tHey did BreAK the laW, as havE seveRaL otHER dissIDEnTs wOrLdwide, peopLE IncLudinG LIu XiAobo. But The government has brOKen Its contract wiTh sOcieTY, AnD coNSeQUenTlY The LAW has become an insTrument of rEpREsSion. As such, IF ChEn, lin and oThers enD up in JAil, they Will not be Ordinary cRiMinaLS. theY will be priSoners of ConsciencE.

j MichAEl cole iS a TAipei-bAsEd aNalysT and wrITer. michaEl is a CpI Blog ReGular coNtributoR and Non-Resident Senior FeLlow in The ChIna policy InsTitUTe. IMage by J. MiChaeL Cole. How to reaD thE QDR

IF thE AnnuaL budGEt Is wHEre thE U.S. DEFense DepaRTmEnt LAYs Out its needs FOR The CominG yeAR, the QuAdreNnial Defense RevieW Is where the PentAgon LAYs oUt iTS visIoN of the years aheAd. IT’s AN ImportanT gUide to how miLitary anD cIViliaN leadeRs see tHe world, AND sINce the u.S.
, the authorities ignoredsocial gro ups a ndret al iate d wi th police shie l ds,intimidation, and in i ncomm en s urat e  f ashio n, thec ou r t s.La nd  wa ss ei zed b y t he gove rnment, ho mes  w ere demolish e d,  the envir onm ent was dama ged , elde rl y l a id-of f f actor y work e rs wer e sued, o rd i nary c i tizensw e re  bea ten by police orp ri v ate security f irms,Ab o ri g i nal  la nd was sto le n, hi s torical bu i l d ing s  were threate ned with de s tru ction,  s old i ers we re ab us e d t o death, th e ga p between  richa nd poor widened , menand  wo mend ie dund er mys t er iou s  ci rcumstan ce sand t he a u t o p sies  we re n evermade public,whi le c o rru pt in divid uals  o r wan ted cr imina ls  were seemingly  unt ouchable(in cl udi ng  Chin e se off ici als  who br oke the law  w h i l evisiting Taiwan).Th e li st goeson. Ia nd  s e veral ot he rshave d ocume nted al most eve ry sin g le  o ne of t he m, but  t hewor ld ha s  cho sen no t to pay  atte n tion.

Many of the students, ac a d em i cs a ndtheir suppo rter s  ins idet he  le g islat ure t od a ya re graduates of tho se  prote sts.The governmen t’s intran s i g ence con vinc e dt hem that abidi ng by  narrow de m ocraticrules  — the “ thin” def i n ition es pou sed  by  th e Ma  administrati o n  and  m any ofthe  moveme nt’ s c rit ics  —  no longe r worked  a nd  w ou ldlikel y  spell d is ast er  fo r the i r coun try,espe ci al l y a s Taipe i  b e c amein cr easi ngl yclose  to, and  subjec t to pres sur e  fro m,  t he auth oritarian reg im e in China .
Ta iwan’s d emocracy  has become an empty sh e ll, anill usion  use d and abu sed  by bo tht he pow ers th at be  a ndt h ose w h o  h ave  n o compunct i o n i n see in g th e democ ratic miracle slow l y d escend into s oft  aut h o ri tar i an i sm.  O f  co u r se Taipei can r espond wit ht he  law and p u t t he  leader ship be hindb ars for  years, w ith stron gsupp o r t f rom a numb er of pe ople in T a iwana nd  abro ad.  After  a ll,  they  did b r eak  thelaw, a shave s evera lother di ssidents worldwide, peo ple in cludi ngLiu Xiaob o.B utthe gover nmen t has brok enits  cont rac t  with  soc i et y,a nd co nseq u ently the la w h a s  b ecome an in s t r ume nt of  re p ressio n. A s such, if Chen,L in and othersendu p  in  ja i l, t he y will not beord in a r y crimin al s. They wil l be pri so n ers o f cons cience .

J Mi c h ae l  Coleis a  Ta ipei-base d a na l yst and  w ri t er. Mi chae lis a C PI blo g  Reg u l ar Contributor a nd No n - Resid e ntSenio rFellowi n th e China Po licy Instit ute. I mage  by J . Micha el  Cole.  Ho wto Read th e  QDR

Ifthe a nnual b ud getiswheretheU . S. De fens eDep artment l a y so ut  i t s n eeds  forth e co ming year ,  the Qua dre n nial De fe nse R eviewi sw h ere the Pe nta gon l a y s out itsv isio n  o f  theyearsahead.  It’s a n  im po rtant g uid e to how mi litary an d  ci vi lian  leaders  s ee t he  wo rl d, and since th e U.S.
, the_authorities ignored_social groups and retaliated_with police_shields,_intimidation, and_in_incommensurate fashion, the_courts. Land was_seized by the government,_homes were demolished,_the_environment was damaged, elderly laid-off factory workers were sued, ordinary citizens were beaten by_police_or private_security_firms,_Aboriginal land was stolen, historical_buildings were threatened with destruction,_soldiers were_abused to death, the gap between rich and_poor_widened, men and_women died under mysterious circumstances and the autopsies were_never made public, while corrupt individuals_or wanted criminals_were_seemingly_untouchable (including Chinese officials_who broke the law while visiting_Taiwan). The list goes on. I_and several others have documented almost every_single one of them, but the_world has chosen not to_pay attention.

Many_of the students, academics and_their supporters inside_the legislature_today are graduates_of those protests. The government’s intransigence_convinced them that_abiding by narrow democratic rules —_the_“thin” definition espoused_by_the_Ma administration_and many of_the_movement’s critics_—_no longer worked and would likely_spell_disaster for their country, especially as Taipei_became increasingly close to,_and_subject to pressure from,_the authoritarian regime in China.

Taiwan’s_democracy has become an empty shell,_an illusion_used and_abused by both the powers that be and those who have_no compunction in seeing the democratic_miracle slowly descend into_soft authoritarianism._Of_course Taipei can_respond_with the_law and put the leadership behind bars_for years,_with strong support from a number_of people in Taiwan_and_abroad. After all, they did break_the law, as have several other_dissidents worldwide, people including Liu_Xiaobo._But_the government has broken its_contract with society, and consequently the_law has become_an instrument of repression. As such, if_Chen,_Lin and others end up in_jail,_they will not be ordinary criminals._They_will_be prisoners of conscience.

J Michael_Cole is a Taipei-based analyst and_writer. Michael is a CPI blog Regular Contributor and_Non-Resident Senior Fellow_in the China Policy Institute._Image_by_J. Michael Cole. How to Read the QDR

If the annual_budget is_where the U.S._Defense Department lays out its needs for the coming year,_the Quadrennial Defense Review is where the_Pentagon lays out its vision of the years ahead. It’s an_important guide to how military and civilian leaders_see the world, and since the U.S.