Lai I-Chong (賴怡忠) of the Taiwan Thinktank was in Chicago recently. He gave a speech regarding the "anti-separation law" after a 228 memorial concert. (The official Chinese translation is "anti-secession" law, which is a falsified translation for Chinese propaganda purposes.) One of his suggestions to counter the law was to enact a Taiwanese domestic law to declare Taiwan's sovereignty.
I agree with his point. My suggestion to him was to pass by means of a referendum a Taiwanese domestic law to declare Taiwan's sovereignty, and declare the People's Republic of China an enemy state. Anyone in Taiwan who assists China in violating Taiwan's sovereignty should be punished for high treason.
Declaring Taiwan's sovereignty is merely a statement of reality; it does not change the status quo. It is the "anti-separation" law that is attempting to change the status quo.
Such a law will not likely be passed in the current legislature, but if clearly phrased and understood by the voters, it could very likely pass the threshold for a referendum.
That China is an enemy state of Taiwan is more than evident. Such a statement, if passed, would put to rest once and for all the confusion in China and the rest of world, by clearly stating that Taiwanese do not want "unification" with the communist People's Republic of China.
Such a law should have teeth. There is no democratic country in the world in which citizens are free to betray their country's sovereignty.
The inexperience of the Democratic Progressive Party administration, which is eager to protect free speech and human rights, has led many traitors and Chinese agents to abuse their freedoms without fear of punishment. They are sowing confusion for the international community, and attempting to murder Taiwanese liberties.
The boundaries of free speech should be clarified: There is no freedom to betray one's country, nor freedom to infringe on others' freedom.
Unity in Taiwan will come when its purpose and the ways to achieve it are clear. In order to preserve their freedom, Taiwanese have to be involved, unite and know how to achieve their goals. To know how to counter China's aggression in every aspect of legal, diplomatic, psychological, military and propaganda warfare is the only way to preserve their freedom.
After all, Taiwan has the best weapons, which China cannot purchase: free speech and democracy. To prevent these rights from being abused takes wisdom and guts.
Chen Ming-chung
Chicago, Illinois
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