Inside Taiwan

For a long time now, I’ve valued the BBC more for its documentaries than its drama. This was another bonus: just sit tight for an hour, and you’ll end up wiser. Probably sadder, but that’s the price of being wiser. The idealists demonstrating in favour of independence were, as always, impressive - courageous, clear, obviously fighting for something worthwhile. Their leader, an intelligent, thoughtful woman who knew this was an important cause - but she’s in her final term as premier, and she’s a democrat who plays by the rules. The Chinese, we are increasingly learning, don’t. They mount a massive campaign to smear her, suggest that her advanced degree was a forgery, anything that will destabilise things. And, of course, there are smooth established men who dismiss this as a childish protest, and suggest that a mature approach would mean negotiations, coming to a deal…

At which point we are reminded of Hong Kong, and before that Tunisia, Egypt, Syria. Young people, out in he streets, getting a glimpse of what it might be like to run their own country, before the adults turn up with their boots and guns, and throw them into jail. So sad, and as usual there doesn’t seem much that anyone can do.