As the elections draw near, we can expect the volume of political rhetoric to increase dramatically. Posters will cover every wall and the ubiquitous campaign trucks with their loudspeakers will do their bit to increase the level of noise pollution. Soon we will not even be able to walk down the street without bumping into glad-handing politicians after our votes. Nor will we be able to dodge them by staying home, for they will invade our living rooms, interrupting our favorite TV programs with waves of ads.
At times we may even be driven to distraction by this frantic politicking, but we should bear in mind that it is all part of the democratic process, and should be endured with a grin rather than a grimace.
After all, the give and take of free political debate is far more entertaining than the compulsory enthusiasm and staged rallies that passed for campaigning during the KMT's rule. Personally, I look forward to the next few months, for the livelier our politics are, the clearer it will become to foreigners just how different Taiwan is from China.
Here activists and politicians of all stripes are free to promote their causes without fear of arrest, but such is certainly not the case in China. If you need proof, just try walking through Tiananmen Square wearing a Falun Gong T-shirt!
Sadly, there are those who would abuse this political freedom in order to lobby on behalf of the authoritarian regime in Beijing. New Party Legislator Elmer Fung (
Few unification supporters in Taiwan's opposition parties are as brazen as Fung when it comes to toadying to Beijing. Many supporters of "one China" distance themselves from the Communist Party's regime and discuss reunification as a long-term goal to be pursued only after China embraces democracy. Even those who advocate some interim arrangement still insist on Taiwan having parity with China in any negotiations.
Fung, however, has embraced Beijing's "one country-two systems" plan. Just look at the new ads mounted on some Taipei city buses. One side features a picture of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) with the caption: "Lee-Bian: Independence will harm Taiwan;" the other side is a picture of Fung with former president Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國), and the caption: "One country, two systems will save Taiwan."
These ads make it quite clear where Fung's loyalties lie. In fact, he could have used a snapshot of himself with President Jiang Zemin (江澤民), or even the late Deng Xiaoping (鄧小平), for they are the architects of the "one country, two systems" policy.
Fung apparently does not see any conflict between his sworn duty as a legislator to uphold the ROC Constitution and his decision to support a policy that will effectively do away with the ROC altogether.
In many countries, Fung's brazen lobbying on behalf of a hostile regime would be considered treason. Yet, here in Taiwan we tolerate Fung. We may detest everything he stands for, but as a citizen, Fung has the right to express his views. It is precisely this tolerance of dissent that sets Taiwan apart from China, and Fung should consider himself lucky to be living here.
Bonnie Hsieh is a freelance writer based in Taipei.
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