It's time for Taiwan to squarely and fearlessly address -- and clarify -- the "one China" vs the "two Chinas" issue. It's time for Taiwan to start playing the tune and stop trying to dance to the PRC's or America's tune.
The only tune which Taiwan can play with sincerity and gusto, in keeping with both historical fact and the ideals upon which it is founded, goes like this: The Republic of China on Taiwan was founded in 1912, inspired by the ideal of creating a democratic, egalitarian society. Until this day, that country, and that ideal, have never ceased to exist. True, the capital has moved several times, and the territory over which Taiwan exercises actual sovereignty has shrunken to include only Taiwan and various small islands. Moreover, until recent years its founding ideals were painfully compromised. Formally, however, Taiwan has never recognized the existence of a "second China" -- ie, the PRC -- or the legitimacy of the authoritarian alternative to freedom and democracy which the PRC represents.
In this light, the true meaning of President Lee Teng-hui's (
Rather, Lee's suggestion is a conciliatory gesture. It signifies that Taiwan is now willing to accept reality: The Chinese Communist Party has successfully split the Republic of China -- the original "one China" -- into two Chinas, establishing a new and independent People's Republic of China in 1949. It is an acknowledgement that there now does exist a second China which, although representing ideals of governance abhorrent to the people of Taiwan and the civilized world, must be accorded respect in order to end the technical state of civil war which currently exists and assure peace in the world.
Taiwan's tune should go on like this: If the PRC's dream of a "one China" is sincere, its leaders must first acknowledge that they are responsible for splitting the "one China."
Secondly, the PRC must accept that the two Chinas must share common principles of good governance -- the ones now being pursued by Taiwan.
It is likely that the majority of people on Taiwan would look forward to being part of a new China unified in the pursuance of human dignity. Indeed, I'm sure that on such a basis almost everybody in the world would welcome a "one Earth" with no divisions at all!
James Decker is a translator and writer based in Taipei.
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