Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1515076
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 MARCH 2022 OPINION 3 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 JANUARY 2024 Mikiel Galea Letters & Clarifications What an embarrassment 'X'MISTĦIJA', as we say in Maltese, 'what an embarrassment', to see our Foreign Minister supporting the Chi- nese Communist Party mistreatment of Taiwan and its citizens. Ian Borg declared earlier this month: "In the 52 years of diplomatic relations with China, Malta always adhered to the One-China policy and never sought to establish diplomatic ties with Tai- wan." He added: "We acknowledge that our excellent bilateral relation- ship with China hinges on the contin- uation of the long-standing adherence to the One-China policy." In the wake of the fair and free elec- tions in Taiwan, where a pro-democ- racy and pro-sovereignty president was elected, democratic countries across Europe and the world wel- come the news: France, Canada, USA, Australia to name a few. The EU also made a statement congratulating the Taiwanese voters on their commit- ment to "democracy, the rule of law, and human rights", giving encourage- ment to a country that is open, liberal, and free. However, our government, does the opposite and comes out in support of an autocratic dictatorial regime that is claiming Taiwan, although the Chinese Communist Party has never actually governed Taiwan - so they have no historic claim. In mainland China genocide is being perpetrated on the Uyghur; organ harvesting of political prisoners is underway; the Sino-British treaty governing Hong Kong has been completely disregarded resulting in the collapse of democracy there; the persecution of Christians and other religions across China is rife; and the use of slave labour across China is well documented by human rights organisations. And when given the opportunity, Malta comes out in favour of the gen- ocidal dictatorship. The descendants of those making these pro-China statements today, will weep with shame in the years to come when they have to admit that their parents and grandparents were well and truly on the wrong side of history. Anton' de Piro Valletta Unsolicited mail THE letterbox is already inundated as it is with unsolicited mailshots from supermarkets, hardware stores and what not. The last thing we need now is a continuous stream of political propaganda leaflets for the upcoming European and local council elections. I doubt the effectiveness of these leaflets, more so the political ones that provide no useful information. Rather than waste reams of paper that end up in the grey recycling bag, and in some cases simply blown away by the wind on our streets, can't the political parties agree to stop this type of prop- aganda by their respective candidates? Can't local councils provide several community boards around their lo- calities on which prospective local candidates can affix their photo ac- companied by their name, slogan and political party affiliation? This would be a more organised way of giving space to prospective local candidates without resorting to unsolicited mail that inevitably ends up in the dustbin. They would be doing the environ- ment a good turn and in the process, give our letterboxes some reprieve. Brian Vella via email