Chen also sat on the economic committee of the Taiwan People's Party (台灣民眾黨) and participated in political and social movements including the Taiwan Local Autonomy Alliance (台灣地方自治聯盟). Chen was also well-known for his anti-Japan stance. After the war, Chen was arrested on suspicion of involvements with the Taiwan independence movement even as he was busy setting up an organizational committee to welcome the KMT government.
He wrote the above poem while he was in jail. Charges were eventually dropped against Chen and he was released. After the 228 Incident erupted, Chen was again arrested on charges of being "a leader of a rebellious conspiracy" and disappeared. He had earned the enmity of Chen Yi (
After Taiwanese intellectuals became disillusioned with the motherland through the 228 Incident, a Taiwanese consciousness began to emerged.
Many intellectuals who took refuge overseas began a Taiwan independence movement. To accomplish the goal of securing its rule of Taiwan, the KMT engaged in brainwashing and party-education to shape a great China mentality.
But the democratic movement in Taiwan during these past 20-30 years has severed the umbilical cord tieing us to the dream of a great motherland. Although some of us retain a Chinese consciousness after prolonged brain-washing, we have learned to put Taiwan first. We no longer feel like orphans, but nor do we hold on to a dream of a motherland.
Yang Ching-Tsu is a writer based in Kaohsiung.
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