Tail between his legs, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰), a would-be dictator of Taiwan and two-time loser, is going to China to grovel before the dictator of China. Together they have been and will continue to plot against the free and independent, democratic government of Taiwan, all in the name of power. Power of China over democratic Taiwan, and dictatorship by Lien's KMT over Taiwan all over again.
If there was any doubt about what the KMT's intentions for Taiwan were, there should be none now. Lien, thinking he can fool all of the people all of the time, refers to his visit as a "journey of peace," but given China's ground rules for the meeting, it is actually a mission of surrender. Only if Lien accepts China's "one China" principle can he have access to the emperor's chamber, which he foolishly believes holds the key to his Taiwan kingdom.
When Lien met with Li Yuanchao (李源潮), the Communist Party chief of Jiangsu Province, Li made China's understanding of the purpose behind Lien's trip crystal clear. In honoring Sun Yat-sen (孫逸仙), Li said the "people on the two sides" must "unite as one and together oppose and check the Taiwan independence forces."
Lien did not disagree.
Why would Lien do this? First, because he is a disappointed dictator, and lacking a dictatorship, he feels lost, without a purpose in life. Second, he understands that Taiwan does not want to be ruled by China -- least of all as a communist "province" -- so the only way he can hope to regain power for his KMT is to take it with China's help. One dictator helping another. On this trip home by Lien we will see "people helping people," as Dictator Hu "helps" Dictator Lien.
A dictator helping a dictator crush liberty and freedom, a traitor helping a traitor betray his people, a liar helping a liar lie to his people about his true intentions.
In Hong Kong, the head of the French Centre for Research on Contemporary China said that the trip will show the KMT is willing to meet with China and talk -- in contrast with Chen, who supposedly refuses to talk to China. That of course is the biggest lie of all.
Chen is more than willing to talk to Hu, but it is Hu who insists that China will not speak to Taiwan until it surrenders, until it agrees that it will never be independent, until Chen agrees to a meeting as a representative of a wayward "province."
Lien, on the other hand, has no problem agreeing to this. He believes strongly in Taiwan's surrender to China, and his trip is manifest proof of that. I wish him well on his return to China as a failed dictator, 59 years after he left. I also wish he would stay there. It would be fitting for him to now serve the Communists in China, as he has done these past eight years in Taiwan.
Lee Long-hwa
United States
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