Taking the natural course
I find Henry Ting's arguments ("Call for a joint China-Taiwan election," Dec. 24, page 8) to be not only logically insane but physically irresponsible to both the Chinese and the Taiwanese people.
First of all, how can a vote amounting to 43.5 percent of the electorate (35.7 for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and 7.8 percent for
the Taiwan Solidarity Union) amount to a "somber defeat" for the pan-green camp? The pan-greens actually gained 2.37 percent compared with the 2000 legislative elections. The pan-blue camp vote, however, lost 2.89 percent this year.
Yes, the outcome was a surprise, but this is democracy. Yes, the political parties lack maturity, but this is a young democracy. Just because
"the current and future US administrations are not going to support an independence movement in Taiwan due to the more pressing urgency of the global anti-terrorist campaign," doesn't mean Taiwan must subscribe to the US standpoint.
To suggest letting the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), the DPP, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and others "participate in open and transparent political debates and campaigns to convince people of their plans for the future of China and Taiwan" is political suicide. How could this be beneficial for Taiwan -- politically or economically?
Taiwan has 23 million democratic subjects, as opposed to 1.3 billion oppressed people in China. Taiwan should not have to carry the cross for China. God helps those who help themselves.
The CCP is losing its grip, and one should let nature take its own course. The Chinese people will stand up to the challenge. Meddling in Chinese affairs is not in the best interests of Taiwan, because no one can afford to take Chinese nationalism lightly.
If Ting is suggesting a model similar to that of the EU, shouldn't we first be making sure the 1.3 billion Chinese have their basic human rights before the right to vote -- a privilege hard earned by the Taiwanese.
Ting also fails to understand the Taiwanese people if he thinks the only repercussions of a "united" China is economic. Instead of empowering the Chinese people prematurely, let's help these 1.3 billion people obtain their basic needs first, or else its future democracy will be doomed to fail.
I agree that any military action in the Taiwan Strait will be devastating for both sides. The real question, however,
is "Why must China have Taiwan?"
Lin Shao-huei
Arizona
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