Notepad++ v8.6.8 - Support Taiwan's Sovereignty
2024-06-04
If Palestine can be recognized as a state, WHY NOT TAIWAN?
Obviously, recognizing Taiwan requires more courage than recognizing Palestine.
Taiwan: A Nation in the Shadows
Taiwan has its own democratically elected government, military, constitution, currency and passport. GDP per capita ranks 30th, and roughly 50% of the world’s semiconductors are provided by the island. It was also the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, and ranks 27th among countries in the world for press freedom (WPFI). BTW bubble tea was also invented in Taiwan, but I hate bubble tea, so it doesn’t count. :)
Despite its vibrant democracy and contributions to the global economy, Taiwan finds itself in a foreign policy dilemma, being recognized by only a handful of countries. This is largely due to the overwhelming oppression exerted by its larger and apparently irrational neighbor, China. This has led to Taiwan’s exclusion from key international organizations, including the WHO.
Recently, Taiwan’s new President Lai Ching-te stated in his inauguration speech that Taiwan and China are not affiliated with each other. This statement prompted China to carry out military exercises around Taiwan, which appeared to be a rehearsal for a potential future invasion of the island.
The imminent military threat from China’s leadership has led experts to speculate that conflict is not a matter of “if” but “when”. I humbly hope that the type of invasive war that Ukraine has endured will not occur in Taiwan.
You might ask: “What the hell does this have to do with me?”
Consider this: regardless of the potential for a global conflict, the huge economic interests of the United States and European countries are closely related to stability in the Taiwan Strait. The most significant repercussion would be a semiconductor shortage. Taiwanese semiconductors are crucial, and their absence would halt production lines for laptops, smartphones, and other consumer electronics worldwide. Industries reliant on basic chips, such as the automotive sector, would face severe disruptions. Moreover, a conflict would directly impact East Asian economies like South Korea and Japan, with global consequences.
This emphasizes the importance of international recognition of Taiwan’s sovereignty. As Taiwan’s status on the world stage strengthens, it may moderate China’s decisions regarding military action. While changing the course of political tides is a monumental task, raising awareness among citizens of democratic countries can influence policymakers. In doing so, we might diminish the likelihood of a tragic escalation.
v8.6.8 the new features & bug-fixes:
Fix three bugs in the Column Editor, add auto-indentation for Python, make minor enhancements to dark mode, and more.
Get more info about this release and download v8.6.8 here:
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Regression and critical bug report here:
https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/topic/25845/notepad-v8-6-8-release
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