The fiction that is the Republic of China

`The one and only "Taiwanese faction" is the ultimate foundation on which we can stand and face the world.'

The Hong Kong-based Oriental Daily News on Aug. 26 ran the following headline: "Lee Teng-hui has heart attack, undergoes surgery, pushing for Taiwan independence." It is no surprise that, under Beijing's "one country, two systems" formula, Hong Kong would treat the former president in this way.

But it's chilling to see that such a simple matter was politicized into a piece of news that smacked of schadenfreude.

Promoting Taiwan's independence and having a heart attack are two different matters. Apparently the daily committed a non sequitur in viewing "pushing for Tai-wan's independence" as the cause of the illness. There are plenty of reasons behind its attempt to tarnish independence movements. But this unwise act has exposed the cold-bloodedness and ruthlessness of the "Greater China" mind-set.

Lee Teng Hui's (李登輝) illness is of course not directly related to the 6 million people of Hong Kong. From the perspective of universal humanity, it's all right if they did not show any sympathy. But how come they took this opportunity to scoff at him?

What's even more deplorable is that not long ago, Taiwan Advocates, a think tank chaired by Lee, invited some Hong Kong friends to discuss the territory's future under the "one country, two systems" formula, as well as the prospects for autonomy and democracy in Hong Kong.

Even though the host and guests disagreed on certain mat-ters, such exchanges between Taiwan and Hong Kong are definitely beneficial. Surprisingly, the Hong Kong media still treated Lee in an unfriendly way and reported his illness in an indecorous manner.

This seems to show that the Hong Kong people's "democracy" cannot link to the Taiwanese people's "self-awareness" (discovery and construction of a Taiwanese entity). It also serves as a warning: too much expectation and fantasies about the so-called "three places across the Taiwan Strait" -- China, Hong Kong and Taiwan -- is not conducive to changing the status quo. Neither will it bring in surprise outcomes if one does not make all-out efforts to achieve one's goals and ideals.

God helps those who help themselves. It all depends on one's own sense of pride and dignity.

In addition, the various interpretations of what Lee said that, "the ROC [Republic of China] no longer exists," must be based on accepting the nation's status as a reality. Otherwise, the emotionally charged term "pushing for Taiwan's independence" will rapidly spread here, posing a threat to the 23 million Taiwanese people's national identity.

Never mind pro-unification or pro-independence factions. The one and only "Taiwanese faction" is the ultimate foundation on which we can stand and face the world. At least, we should recognize the reality and respect the land on which we were born and raised.

Obviously, Taiwan is "real" while the ROC is "fictional." At this historic crossroads, one who is willing to work for the community's common prosperity deserves people's respect.

Yeh Hai-yen is director of the department of philosophy at Soochow University.

Translated by Jackie Lin