Sunday’s street demonstration was an explosion of public discontent triggered by government misconduct. However, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) did nothing and responded in his typical bureaucratic manner, saying that the actions taken by the protesters were understandable. He also said that Taiwan’s sovereignty has not been damaged, but did not propose any concrete strategy or method to improve the situation. Clearly, a huge gap exists between Ma and the protesters.
Since taking office last year, Ma has made no change to the “one China” principle. Nor has he altered any policy details or implementation procedures. By accepting the “one China” principle completely, how can we not be suspicious of and worried about such close cooperation between the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)?
In addition, in the face of China’s propaganda against Taiwan, Ma said in a recent interview that we do not have to worry about the CCP’s United Front stance because this policy has existed for the past 60 years.
The problem is that, even if Taiwan were to abandon its old anti-communist ideology, it should have a set of thorough self-defense strategies and tactics, or perhaps an “anti-United Front” strategy against China. As our new leader, shouldn’t Ma remind the public of the dos and don’ts?
Shouldn’t the people of Taiwan have a sense of alertness to distinguish friend from foe? If not, what is the purpose of our armed forces?
As for the opening up of cross-strait policies and a diplomatic truce, Ma’s team failed to take the lead and lacks vision. The Ma government has only made a heap of concessions to China. Taiwan’s attendance at the World Health Assembly, which requires China’s annual approval, is a good example of this.
The government’s economic policies are ineffective and have no concrete direction. However, the administration has blamed their failure on the global financial downturn.
Despite much criticism, the Ma government is relying on signing an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China, as well as the “economic zone on the west coast of the Taiwan Strait” and the “Fujian-Taiwan economic zone.”
Therefore, the Ma administration is viewed as trying to curry favor with Beijing in order to not be described as a troublemaker.
This is favorable to China’s pro-unification strategy that involves swallowing up Taiwan gradually. How can we not be concerned in light of such examples?
Today, Ma has greater legitimacy than his mentor, former president Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國). He should learn from Chiang’s spirit of knowing “what a man can and can’t do” (有所為有所不為), because this is the correct way to deal with Beijing.
The president’s power comes from the people and the public has the role of monitoring what goes on in our country. This is a basic right of every Taiwanese citizen.
Not all Taiwanese are opposed to exchanges with China, despite the anti-communist line of the earlier party-state. Opening up to China is not really a bad thing. But where will it end? Ma should explain this clearly and directly.
The demonstration on Sunday was a means for protesters to voice their opinions and will help ensure that Ma abides by the principle of “putting Taiwan first for the benefit of the people” as he pledged in his inaugural speech.
RSS