Mr. Lien Chan (
Our basic stance is that we welcome any opinion or action that helps defuse cross-strait tensions and the development of democracy on each side of the Taiwan Strait. Based on our long experience of fighting the CCP, however, and based on our hopes for a healthy development of cross-strait relations, there are a few suggestions that we want to put forward for your reference.
I remember that during the civil war between the KMT and the CCP, the democracy activist Chu Anping (
History has proven this conclusion to be right. In other words, it is an important standard for deciding the difference in the KMT's and the CCP's level of support for democracy.
As the cross-strait relationship has developed, we see ever more clearly that the difference between the system on each side of the Taiwan Strait is what lies at the heart of the problem. Mainstream public opinion in Taiwan generally opposes and distrusts the CCP's totalitarian system. If the China of today already had completed the transition into a new democratic state, we trust that the Taiwanese people's view of China would be greatly transformed. No person or group who truly hopes for the healthy development of cross-strait relations should neglect this fact.
To sum up, whether your point of departure is the KMT's founding ideals or the cross-strait relationship, we sincerely hope that during your visit to China you will be able to represent the KMT in bringing up the issue of democratization with the CCP.
We know that the KMT advocates eventual cross-strait unification, but we believe that, unless China becomes democratic, this is an unrealistic vision. Since the KMT now has the opportunity to engage in face-to-face talks with the CCP, it should be the KMT's unshirkable duty to clearly inform the CCP's leadership of the Taiwanese people's hopes for the democratization of China.
We are aware that the KMT has placed strong emphasis on the significance of democratic values when dealing with certain social issues that have occurred during Taiwan's development. We sincerely hope that these ideals will be given equal importance during talks with the CCP.
On the other hand, if a third round of talks between the KMT and the CCP are limited to discussing the protection of Taiwanese businesspeople and their interests, or technical issues such as Taiwanese agricultural exports, and avoid the basic problems in the cross-strait relationship or shy away from offering constructive criticism of the CCP's political system, then not only will we be disappointed, but that would also have a negative impact on your party's status and image.
If your party does not remain firm in its opinions, there is a risk that it will be used by the CCP as a propaganda tool. We do not wish to affect your party's policies, but only want to offer the lessons we have learned after many years of fighting the CCP as a point reference for you and the KMT. We beg your forgiveness should this letter have offended you.
Wang Dan is chairman of the Chinese Constitutional Reform Association.
Translated by Perry Svensson
Because much of what former US president Donald Trump says is unhinged and histrionic, it is tempting to dismiss all of it as bunk. Yet the potential future president has a populist knack for sounding alarums that resonate with the zeitgeist — for example, with growing anxiety about World War III and nuclear Armageddon. “We’re a failing nation,” Trump ranted during his US presidential debate against US Vice President Kamala Harris in one particularly meandering answer (the one that also recycled urban myths about immigrants eating cats). “And what, what’s going on here, you’re going to end up in World War
Earlier this month in Newsweek, President William Lai (賴清德) challenged the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to retake the territories lost to Russia in the 19th century rather than invade Taiwan. He stated: “If it is for the sake of territorial integrity, why doesn’t [the PRC] take back the lands occupied by Russia that were signed over in the treaty of Aigun?” This was a brilliant political move to finally state openly what many Chinese in both China and Taiwan have long been thinking about the lost territories in the Russian far east: The Russian far east should be “theirs.” Granted, Lai issued
On Sept. 2, Elbridge Colby, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy and force development, wrote an article for the Wall Street Journal called “The US and Taiwan Must Change Course” that defends his position that the US and Taiwan are not doing enough to deter the People’s Republic of China (PRC) from taking Taiwan. Colby is correct, of course: the US and Taiwan need to do a lot more or the PRC will invade Taiwan like Russia did against Ukraine. The US and Taiwan have failed to prepare properly to deter war. The blame must fall on politicians and policymakers
Gogoro Inc was once a rising star and a would-be unicorn in the years prior to its debut on the NASDAQ in 2022, as its environmentally friendly technology and stylish design attracted local young people. The electric scooter and battery swapping services provider is bracing for a major personnel shakeup following the abrupt resignation on Friday of founding chairman Horace Luke (陸學森) as chief executive officer. Luke’s departure indicates that Gogoro is sinking into the trough of unicorn disillusionment, with the company grappling with poor financial performance amid a slowdown in demand at home and setbacks in overseas expansions. About 95