By Chen Jia-ching
I applaud the people of all ages who gathered to oppose the senseless military buildup that is being pursued by Taiwan's government. As the continuous militarization of the planet indicates a continuing lack of democratic power among the people, public dissent to war and militarization is vital.
Taiwan is becoming further embroiled in a state of total war. As writer Paul Virilio explains, the strategies and illusions of "wars for security," "wars for human rights" and now the "war on terror" commit us to a perpetual cycle where, as society becomes centered on conflict, so does our development. Spending billions of dollars on weapons during times of economic crisis is but one concrete example of this dynamic...
We all know that an overwhelming majority of people everywhere oppose war. The so-called leaders who perpetuate and escalate "total war" do not represent our will. It may seem that there are no easy answers to our global conflicts, and that we who advocate disarmament are naive.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2004/06/27/2003176741