During World War I, US president Woodrow Wilson proposed to resolve territorial conflicts around the world through the principle of self-determination.
When the UN was formed after World War II, it declared that self-determination was a major principle of international law.
As its charter stresses, one of the UN’s major aims is to “develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace.”
In 1966, the UN passed the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which states: “All peoples have the right of self-determination.
“By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development,” it says.
Thanks to the principle of self-determination, those who have been colonized or have been ruled by foreign regimes are able to declare independence and build their own countries.
For an independent, sovereign state, this principle can also be applied to remove foreign interference or threats, to maintain national sovereignty and ensure that the nation’s status and future will be decided by the public.
Since 1945, Taiwan has transformed from a land of military occupation into an independent, sovereign state characterized by freedom and democracy.
However, bilateral relations between Taiwan and China have changed significantly since President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) came to power on May 20.
Ma’s government has repeatedly violated campaign promises by leaning toward China to the extent that the status quo of “one country on each side” of the Taiwan Strait has been severely challenged.
Where should Taiwan go now?
I believe that Taiwan’s future must be decided by all our people, not by political slogans, and that any change to the status quo must be decided by Taiwanese through democratic processes.
Taiwan has a dual challenge. Internationally, it faces China’s military threat and its ambition to annex Taiwan.
Domestically, the Ma administration is breaking campaign promises by leaning too closely toward China.
This behavior has damaged the dignity of Taiwanese as well as jeopardized the health, stability and welfare of our society.
Therefore, Taiwanese must stand up and decide their future for themselves and realize self-determination in a referendum.
The long-cherished principle of self-determination is sacred and nobody can deprive us of it.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) will hold a rally tomorrow in the name of “safeguarding Taiwan.”
At a time when the nation is facing critical challenges internationally and domestically, this gathering is of great significance.
We must take real action and participate in the event. We must take to the streets hand in hand to protest against the Ma government and express our opposition to its pro-China policies.
We must demonstrate to the international community the public’s will to secure Taiwan’s status as an independent, sovereign state.
Chen Lung-chu is chairman of the Taiwan New Century Foundation.
TRANSLATED BY EDDY CHANG
There is much evidence that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is sending soldiers from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — and is learning lessons for a future war against Taiwan. Until now, the CCP has claimed that they have not sent PLA personnel to support Russian aggression. On 18 April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelinskiy announced that the CCP is supplying war supplies such as gunpowder, artillery, and weapons subcomponents to Russia. When Zelinskiy announced on 9 April that the Ukrainian Army had captured two Chinese nationals fighting with Russians on the front line with details
On a quiet lane in Taipei’s central Daan District (大安), an otherwise unremarkable high-rise is marked by a police guard and a tawdry A4 printout from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicating an “embassy area.” Keen observers would see the emblem of the Holy See, one of Taiwan’s 12 so-called “diplomatic allies.” Unlike Taipei’s other embassies and quasi-consulates, no national flag flies there, nor is there a plaque indicating what country’s embassy this is. Visitors hoping to sign a condolence book for the late Pope Francis would instead have to visit the Italian Trade Office, adjacent to Taipei 101. The death of
By now, most of Taiwan has heard Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s (蔣萬安) threats to initiate a vote of no confidence against the Cabinet. His rationale is that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led government’s investigation into alleged signature forgery in the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) recall campaign constitutes “political persecution.” I sincerely hope he goes through with it. The opposition currently holds a majority in the Legislative Yuan, so the initiation of a no-confidence motion and its passage should be entirely within reach. If Chiang truly believes that the government is overreaching, abusing its power and targeting political opponents — then
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), joined by the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), held a protest on Saturday on Ketagalan Boulevard in Taipei. They were essentially standing for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which is anxious about the mass recall campaign against KMT legislators. President William Lai (賴清德) said that if the opposition parties truly wanted to fight dictatorship, they should do so in Tiananmen Square — and at the very least, refrain from groveling to Chinese officials during their visits to China, alluding to meetings between KMT members and Chinese authorities. Now that China has been defined as a foreign hostile force,
RSS