Wang Dan needs to choose
Interesting, isn't it, when ideologies collide within? Doyen of Chinese democracy Wang Dan (
This isn't, of course, the first expression of the uneasy partnership of Greater China nationalism and the democratic ideal, in which democracy is conditional or comes a distant second -- you can look back to Sun Yat-sen (
But in Wang's case one senses some hedging of bets.
How does one unify China -- in our lifetimes, if not ever -- without gutting Taiwan's demo-cracy or at best removing fundamental privileges of its citizenry? The kind or degree of force used is irrelevant.
Taiwan is a model for China's democratic development, says Wang. Possibly so, but this may be no less absurd a proposition than promoting Hong Kong as a model for Taiwan's absorption by China.
Such a view is deeply rooted in unificationist longing -- and essentializes the bewildering size and diversity of China.
Wang is a courageous man -- perhaps he could be challenged to face up to his obvious discomfort on the subject of permanent Taiwan independence and show his hand once and for all. It is a tough call, given his considerable pessimism over democratic reform in China in the medium term, and that the bulk of Chinese democrats support unification while knowing precious little about Taiwan.
Yet, when the crunch time arrives, who will this advocate of democracy and Greater China openly support if he has to choose between them? And how will he justify his decision?
Martin Williams
Sydney, Australia
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