People often describe the process of Taiwan's democratization as a "silent revolution" -- spanning Lee Teng-hui's (
Although the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lost its monopoly on power in 2000, it remains largely intact as an opposition party. The dislodging of such a powerful entity as the KMT without a major incident proves that Taiwan's democratic evolution has indeed been silent. That the KMT did not go into exile again is proof that it has survived in a new era -- an era markedly different than when it operated in China.
In 1949, the KMT regime in China was overturned by a military revolution, with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) supplanting the "Republic of China" (ROC) with its "People's Republic of China" (PRC). The KMT then fled to Taiwan, where people, especially native Taiwanese, were unable to fathom the self-destruction and other dark events that occurred in China following the CCP's rise to power.
Countless KMT members who remained in China were labeled KMT spies. Cross-strait tensions also peaked as the KMT and the communist faction led by Zhu De (朱德) and Mao Zedong (毛澤東) continued to cross swords.
The ROC plotted to regain China and slaughter Zhu and Mao with help from native Taiwanese. The PRC, meanwhile, threatened to "liberate" Taiwan by force. Taiwan was caught in the cross-fire of the KMT-CCP civil war, its people and culture effectively held hostage. Eventually, the Taiwanese also lost their UN seat in 1971 -- and with it the chance to evolve into a normal country -- because of the KMT regime's selfishness.
Although the ideal of the "si-lent revolution" appeals to many ethnic groups in Taiwan, it fails to hold the KMT accountable for its authoritarian past. Long after the erosion of its absolute power, the KMT still exhibits colonial tendencies and has not fully accepted democratic values. It is merely appropriating such values as a means to regain power.
Unfortunately, since displacing the KMT in 2000, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has failed to wipe the historical slate clean, inheriting a problematic system of governance and the shortcomings of its predecessor. As a result, its political future looks dim.
In a "silent revolution," "silence" refers to the manner of change, and "revolution" points to the pursuit of values. Chen and his party have failed to safeguard democratic values. However, the KMT is unlikely to do a better job of respecting and upholding them than the DPP.
The KMT has been chipping away at the DPP by bringing forth numerous scandals, but in the end, these efforts -- under the pretense that the KMT loves Taiwan -- are merely an attempt to monopolize the party's hold on the country.
Lee Min-yung is a poet.
TRANSLATED BY EDDY CHANG
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