In response to suggestions that Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) had accepted independence as an option for Taiwan, he outlined his position as follows: "Maintain the status quo, a truce between unification and independence forces, adopt a pragmatic approach in relations with China and mobilize all Taiwan's people."
In view of the political reality across the Taiwan Strait, Ma's remark simply proves he is either incredibly naive about cross-strait relations, or he is only intent on pleasing Beijing.
After taking over the KMT chairmanship, Ma stressed that Taiwan should maintain the cross-strait "status quo." But since there are two sides to the Taiwan Strait, any unilateral wishes are utterly insignificant.
As China continues its military build-up and Taiwan drags its feet over the proposed arms procurement budget to buy weapons from the US, the fragile "status quo" is clearly in danger of falling apart.
The KMT, therefore, should ask the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to make a reconciliatory statement in response to Ma, in order that Taiwanese may live without fear of invasion. If Ma succeeded in this, it would be a great achievement for both himself and the KMT.
It would certainly be a good thing if the nation could negotiate a truce between independence and unification forces.
However, I wonder if China is really willing to call a truce on this issue? Taiwan would be making a mistake if it calls an end to the independence-unification debate while Beijing is still hell-bent on pursuing its "united front" strategy.
Ma's insistence on Taiwan taking "a pragmatic approach" in dealing with China effectively means that Taiwan should open up to China. In fact, he claims that there is no way that Taiwan can survive unless it seeks to open itself up to China.
Taiwan now accounts for 50 percent of global investment in China. And 70 percent of Taiwan's foreign investment is in China.
Is allowing China to control our economy the only option for Taiwan?
What can be said about Ma's insight into international affairs if he doesn't realize that China is attempting to marginalize Taiwan by participating in ASEAN?
It should be clear even to an elementary school student that Taiwan will face dire consequences if it calls off the debate between unification and independence forces.
When he talks about "mobilizing the whole nation," Ma is referring to the need to boost the economy. If Taiwan were a normal country and didn't suffer oppression from China, building up the economy would not be a problem.
However, this is not the case. Ma's argument happens to correspond with the image that the CCP has long wanted to promote.
In both China and Hong Kong, the CCP has encouraged people to strive for economic success. However, the CCP is also well aware that it must retain an exclusive handle on the political process if it is to remain in power.
If we follow Ma's advice, Taiwan will not only return to the days of the KMT one-party state, but will also come under the authoritarian rule of the CCP.
Ma should realize that the "status quo" can only be "maintained" with Beijing's compliance.
Ma should make use of his party's special connections with the CCP and suggest that Beijing renounce unification as the best way of maintaining the status quo.
However, it is very unlikely that he has the courage to make such a request.
Paul Lin is a New York-based political commentator.
Translated by Daniel Cheng
Singaporean former Prime Minister and current senior minister Lee Hsien- Loong(李顯龍) last month stood on Chinese soil and told Beijing that Singapore cooperates because of “shared interests”, not because of common “ethnic descent,” a significant statement that has upended China’s cognitive warfare tactics of “ethnic nationalism.” Along with using its military buildup and economic growth to expand its international dominance, China has long deployed ethnic politics to promote the idea that all ethnic Chinese around the world, regardless of citizenship, share a tight bond with the Chinese motherland, by which it means the regime of the People’s Republic of China (PRC)
A recent report concerning a student who is suing his teacher posed the question in its headline: Does failing a student in two subjects constitute bullying? The college student in Chiayi County apparently sought NT$2 million (US$63,603) in state compensation, but a court dismissed the case. The first reaction of many might have been to ask: What has happened to students nowadays? Some say that teachers have lost their authority, while others say students are overindulged. Some even start reminiscing over the days when “whatever the teacher says goes.” However, the real issue might be overlooked if emotional reactions like that are the
When I visited Taiwan last summer, I called on the nation to use its status as a technology superpower to build superweapons. It is obvious to me as I return a year later that Taiwan is now answering that call. By 2030, Taiwan envisions a domestic drone hub, capable of producing large quantities of drones per year. The nation continues to tighten cooperation across the private sector, scientific researchers and the elected government, on creating new and innovative production avenues for defense, while efforts to become central to the “democratic supply chain” are only increasing. Anduril is seeing all of these positive
On Thursday last week, the Philippines and Japan issued a joint statement on their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, reaffirming the need to further promote peace, stability and mutual trust through maritime cooperation grounded in respect for international law. They also announced the commencement of formal negotiations on the delimitation of their respective exclusive economic zones (EEZ) and continental shelves, to be conducted in accordance with international law — particularly the relevant provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) — and with reference to relevant international judicial precedents, with the aim of enhancing legal certainty in the
RSS