Note:
(a) For 子仪, see Cheng Kung class frigate http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheng_Kung_class_frigate
(built in Taiwan by CSBC Corporation, Taiwan 台灣國際造船, formerly known as China Shipbuilding Corporation 中國造船; based upon the US Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates; In commission 1993- ; homeport for all in the class: Pescadores 澎湖; one is ROCS Tzu I 子儀, PFG-1107 [named after Kuo Tzu-I (郭子儀) (697 - 781), a Tang general 平安史之亂 and repelled invasion by Uighurs 回鶻/回紇 and Tibetans in a nation then known as Tubo 吐蕃 (now Tibet))
(b) 江啟臣 東吳大學政治學系副教授; 新聞局長 (2010-2011, resigned to run in January 2011 Legislature election) http://ctl.scu.edu.tw/scutwebpub/website/index2.asp?Unit_ID=298
(c) For ARB (on the back of a frogman's T shirt), see Wendell Minnick, The Year to Fear for Taiwan: 2006. Asia Times Online, Apr 10, 2004 http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/FD10Ad02.html
("Taiwan also has some noteworthy smaller commando units. There are two Marine Corps units: the Amphibious Reconnaissance Patrol (ARP) and the Special Services Company (SSC). The army also has two: the 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion (ARB) or 'Army Frogmen', and the Airborne Special Services Company (ASSC). The ASSC is a new unit modeled after the US Delta Force. ASSC recruits from the 862nd and performs counter-terrorism and other special missions. The question of whether these forces could, or would, be moved into the conflict area in time is another matter.")
Note: Scottish National Party (SNP), whose Leader is Alexander Elliot Anderson "Alex" Salmond MSP, where MSP stands for Member of the Scottish Parliament. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Salmond
Note: In English HNLMS stands for His/Her Dutch Majesty's Ship http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/htt ... ch_Majesty%27s_Ship
(His Netherlands Majesty's Ship (acronym: HNLMS) is an incorrect, but common, English translation of the ship prefix of the Royal Netherlands Navy--because Dutch warship prefix, when a queen rules, is Harer Majesteits (literally "Her majesty's" in English), abbreviated as Hr.Ms. For example, "Hr.Ms. Tromp" translates to "Her Majesty's Tromp" and not "Her Majesty's Ship Tromp.")
(a) The monarch is the head of state, at present Queen Beatrix (1938- ; reign 1980- ). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands
(b) Her two predecessors are also women: Queen Juliana (1909-2004; reign 1948-1980) and Queen Wilhelmina (1880-1962; reign 1890-1948)--because Queen is the oldest of the two daughters and Queens Juliana and Wilhelmina were the only child.
"Military corruption is an ancient Chinese custom, and accounts for most of the poor military performance in the past.
"But this [military corruption] is the reason why so many military weapons and equipment development projects have failed. It's not just the inability of the scientists to do what was asked of them, there was outright lying, fraud and theft involved. Thus the eagerness to buy, or steal, foreign military technology.
"The corruption in the military has been the main reason why all the money spent on the military in the last decade has not had a bigger impact on Chinese combat capabilities. Taiwan apparently realizes that corruption in the Chinese military is the best way to protect Taiwan from invasion. Some corruption deals in the Chinese military have involved Taiwanese interests making payoffs.