In 1991, the Democratic Progressive Party penned the "Taiwan Independence Clause," laying out its goal to found a sovereign and independent Republic of Taiwan. In 1999 however, as it geared up to win the 2000 election, the DPP adopted the "Resolution on Taiwan's future."
This resolution emphasizes that "Taiwan is a sovereign independent country," but does not reject the use of the name "the Republic of China," placing it within the "two Chinas" framework.
DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun and others now propose amending or abolishing this resolution and replacing it with a "resolution on making Taiwan a normal country."
The goal of this new resolution is to return to the platform the DPP was founded on -- to establish a Republic of Taiwan and promote normalization of the country.
The resolution on Taiwan's future still states that Taiwan is the Republic of China and de facto independent.
Now a resolution on making Taiwan a normal country is needed to take Taiwan toward de jure independence, through adopting a new constitution and abandoning the name "Republic of China" in the titles of state-owned companies, turning Taiwan from the name of a geographical place into the name of a country.
The former means "the Republic of China on Taiwan," the latter means "Taiwan is Taiwan."
Some people say such changes don't reflect the opinion of the people or are not realistic. However, many polls have shown that more than 60 percent of the people consider themselves Taiwanese, with less than 10 percent considering themselves Chinese.
More than 70 percent of Taiwanese consider Taiwan a sovereign, independent country, while more than 80 percent want Taiwan to join the UN under the name of Taiwan.
The percentage of people who want Taiwan to become part of China is less than 6.6 percent.
The DPP, with democracy as its core value, should not only respect the will of the people, but should also lead the way.
Twenty years ago, at the founding of the DPP, the party advocated founding a Republic of Taiwan.
Even earlier, people such as Peng Ming-min (
The pan-green public look forward to normalization of the country, but because of the pan-blue majority in the Legislative Yuan, it is hard to pass resolutions on name changes or a new constitution.
If the DPP can't clearly state its goals by adopting the resolution on making Taiwan a normal country and by abandoning the label of the Republic of China, then how can the people believe in the party's determination to promote the normalization of Taiwan?
How can the public believe that the party is making an effort for real change on a larger scope?
Only if the DPP can first reach consensus and determination within the party about normalization can it obtain the support of the people and achieve this goal.
Now that the DPP appears to have united behind Frank Hsieh (
Such a resolution can lessen the worries of the voters of the pan-green camp about statements like "a constitutional one China."
This will bring the supporters of the pan-green camp closer together, and facilitate unity and consensus.
Re-establishing the goal of normalization will also help the DPP distinguish itself clearly from Chinese Nationalist Party presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (
It can also clear up misunderstandings that may have arisen following the use of phrases like "a constitutional one China," and send a clear sign to the international community.
Hsieh promised in the primary elections to "abandon one China," and move towards a constitutional Taiwan.
The right direction for this nation is toward a Republic of Taiwan.
Cao Changqing is a political commentator based in the US.
Translated by Anna Stiggelbout
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