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Giant Rubber Ducks, The Worldwide Tour

THE STANDARD, SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST (Hong Kong)

Worldcrunch

HONG KONG- A five-story-high rubber duck floated into Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour on Thursday morning. Maybe you've seen this before. Maybe not. Maybe you're really not amused?

Well this particular duck happens to be a piece of conceptual art from Dutch sculptor Florentijn Hofman; and the 16.5-meters tall yellow installation is not just a simple super-sizing of a your favorite bathtime friend, but a political statement. Hong Kong's The Standard daily quoted the artist as saying that the duckie "knows no frontiers; it doesn't discriminate or have political connotation."

"The friendly, floating rubber duck has healing properties," says Hofman on his website. "It can relieve mondial tensions as well as define them. The rubber duck is soft, friendly and suitable for all ages!"

The duck will be on display near Harbour City in Tsim Sha Tsui until June 9, according to the South China Morning Post.

This isn't the first time the duck has made an appearance -- it's actually on a worldwide tour! From Sydney to Sao Paolo and the Loire Valley in France to Osaka, these ducks are off to see the world!

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Geopolitics

D.C. Or Beijing? Two High-Stakes Trips — And Taiwan's Divided Future On The Line

Two presidents of Taiwan, the current serving president, Tsai Ing-wen, and her predecessor, Ma Ying-jeou from the opposition Kuomintang party, are traveling in opposite directions these days. Taiwan must choose whom to follow.

Photo of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen

Tsai Ing-wen, the President of Taiwan

Pierre Haski

-Analysis-

PARIS — Tsai Ing-wen, the President of Taiwan, is traveling to the United States today. Not on an official trip because Taiwan is not a state recognized by Washington, but in transit, en route to Central America, a strategy that allows her to pass through New York and California.

Ma Ying-jeou, a former president of Taiwan, arrived yesterday in Shanghai: he is making a 12-day visit at the invitation of the Chinese authorities at a time of high tension between China and the United States, particularly over the fate of Taiwan.

It would be difficult to make these two trips more contrasting, as both have the merit of summarizing at a glance the decisive political battle that is coming. Presidential and legislative elections will be held in January 2024 in Taiwan, which could well determine Beijing's attitude towards the island that China claims by all means, including force.

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