In response to Chen I-chung's (陳宜中) article ("Pragmatic path is the best solution," Feb. 24, page 8) I would like to clarify one point made in his article. When declaring that there are slim chances for Taiwan's independence even if China democratizes, Chen referred to Canada and the situation in Quebec, writing: "Looking at it today, the possibility of this kind of peaceful separation is not very high, because even if China does democratize, there are no guarantees that it will agree to Taiwan's independence. This is no surprise, since even an old democracy like Canada refuses to agree to Quebec's unilateral demands for separation."
Chen is mistaken if he believes there has been a "unilateral demand for separation" from Quebec.
While a separatist provincial government has held power on various occasions, there has never been any formal demand for separation from the province of Quebec. The separatist Partis Quebecois passed a Sovereignty Bill in 1995 that reserved the right for Quebec's National Assembly to unilaterally declare independence if Canada did not recognize a referendum win by the Yes side, but there has never been a referendum win by the sovereigntists. Sovereigntist Quebec governments have held two referendums (1980 and 1995) on separation from Canada. In both of these referendums the Yes side was defeated.
Canada has never had to deal with a unilateral demand for separation from Quebec, so it cannot be said to have ever refused.
Contrary to simply refusing the possibility of Quebec's independence, the Canadian government has taken action to explore and clarify the issue. The Canadian Supreme Court, in a request from the government for answers to three questions regarding the legality of a possible Quebec secession declaration, wrote: "The other provinces and the federal government would have no basis to deny the right of the government of Quebec to pursue secession should a clear majority of the people of Quebec choose that goal, so long as in doing so, Quebec respects the rights of others."
Hopefully in the future a democratic China will be able to enter into a discussion with Taiwan about de jure Taiwanese independence in the same legal,respectful and civilized manner that Canada and Quebec have done.
David May
Tainan
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