President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) address to mark the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre was truly disappointing.
Was it necessary for him to change his principles to such an extent in order to maintain peace and economic and trade exchanges across the Taiwan Strait?
Will his praise for China’s efforts to improve human rights prompt Beijing to move toward a free democracy?
Ma’s kowtowing to Beijing has let down all Taiwanese.
It has also raised concerns that the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has no faith or confidence in the value of democracy and Taiwan’s cultural advantages.
When pan-blue media outlets portray Chinese tourism and procurement delegations as the saviors of Taiwan’s economy, they betray a loss of confidence in Taiwan.
So, too, with pan-green politicians who fear and oppose anything that has to do with China.
But if even our president has lost confidence in the nation he has been elected to run, how can we expect the general public to maintain its confidence?
Taiwan’s economic development and democratic achievements have always been a model for the Chinese-speaking world.
Many Chinese tourists and investors in Taiwan admire the freedom of expression that allows people to call in to political talk shows to harshly criticize former and incumbent presidents, and they are even more surprised to find that Taiwanese can get along despite their sometimes marked political differences.
Taiwanese treat people with respect, place importance on manners and live diverse lives.
Such a civilized way of life, combined with high living standards, is precisely what the growing Chinese middle class is aspiring to.
The marketing of Taiwan’s culture to the Chinese-speaking world in itself should provide Taiwan with a source of confidence.
After 20 years of practicing democracy, we have learned the importance of protecting the right of others to express an opinion even if it differs from our own. And even if we have retained the bad habit of unnecessarily accusing people, those on the receiving end are not filled with fear.
Despite media and political disputes, our harmonious society has been built on a base of equality, freedom and the protection of civil rights.
These are the standards that Taiwanese carry in their hearts and it is these things that make them civilized.
Governments may change, but the value of being “Taiwanese” will remain, and our community will improve as long as democracy is in place.
The creativity and taste that grew from our culture give Taiwan an advantage in the Chinese-speaking world, just as American culture created an entertainment industry that attracts people from all over the world.
Economically, Taiwan should move away from its status as an original equipment manufacturer and instead promote its creativity and culture across the Chinese-speaking world.
Politically, Taiwan should attempt to serve as a beacon that can lead China along the road to freedom and a civil society.
But by making excessive concessions on democratic principles, the Ma government has not only deviated from Taiwanese values, it has also abandoned the responsibility that Taiwan bears for the Chinese-speaking world.
Lee Wen-chung is a former Democratic Progressive Party legislator.
TRANSLATED BY TED YANG
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