Failure of this effort to dissuade Ma could mark the beginning of more frequent and escalating confrontations centering on the future status of the nation — developments that would portend revolution in many cultures.
One of the merits of democracy is the elimination of the necessity for revolution.
But Taiwan’s democracy is far from normal. It’s not founded on concrete prospects for sovereignty. Rather, any growth in Taiwanese sovereignty goes in lockstep with growth in democracy. But without a Constitution to enshrine them, the loss of such rights could be just one ballot away — as Ma’s election may attest.
The only thing that guarantees Taiwan’s existence in practical terms is the US’ Taiwan Relations Act (TRA).
The TRA, however, has no safeguard against the likes of Ma. The drafters of the TRA didn’t foresee one because the KMT leadership of the day avoided communism like the plague. Neither did the drafters make allowances for the dynamics of democratization.
Washington nowadays exploits this omission rather than making amends in the form of policy encouraging democratic mechanisms (such as referendums) that would help to determine Taiwan’s future.
Washington would now use its duty to enforce the TRA as leverage to pressure Taiwanese into abandoning their right to self-determination if this suited its interests.
The TRA, as a US law, implies a degree of US sovereignty over Taiwan, but makes no reference to it.
Anecdotal evidence nonetheless indicates that the vast majority of Taiwanese believe that Washington has their best interests at heart and that the US would stop Ma and company from committing treacherous acts. Most of all, they trust that the US would prevent China from harming them.
As a result, Taiwanese have lost their vigilance. They have become careless in their exercise of democracy. They are slack on defense. They engage in recklessness that runs counter to national security interests — and all for monetary gain.
By meddling in Taiwan’s domestic affairs, including the installing of a ceiling on Taiwan’s democratic development and influencing presidential elections, Washington might be inadvertently turning the TRA into a crutch for Taiwan.
The belated awakening of Taiwanese from this state of affairs could coincide with violent rejection of Ma’s rule.
HUANG JEI-HSUAN
Los Angeles, California
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