This only furthers views of the US as a supporter of authoritarian and single-party systems of government that serve Washington’s goals, views that stretch back to pre-Cold War times. Although US-imposed democracy in Iraq appears to be an instrument of peace throughout the world, democracy in Taiwan, which includes the pan-green camp that both Washington and Beijing so obviously despise as rabble-rousers, is not worth protecting. And US President Barack Obama has shown almost no signs of supporting democracy in Taiwan even though he is viewed by so many in the world as a beacon of hope and freedom.
Whether you are blue or green, moderate or fanatical, you have to admit that the emergence and existence of the DPP and the pan-green coalition has given Taiwan its own bit of space — and respect — in the international eye. Years ago, as the Chinese Nationalist Party’s [KMT] single-party rule grew older and more repressive, people in the upper echelons of the US government began asking how on Earth the US government could continue to consider Taiwan “Free China”?
It is because of the emergence of the pan-green coalition, the existence of an “opposition” party and the election of an “opposition party” president that Taiwan has not only become a free and democratic society but also consolidated its democracy and earned the respect of other members in the global community, especially established democracies — and particularly the US. Even if Taiwan is a part of China and deserves to be called China, it can today truly be called “Free China” simply because it allows members of its own populace to regard Taiwan as something other than China.
What Tao’s statements — and those who agree with Tao — suggest is that Beijing equates a political comeback by the pan-green coalition as not only a show of belligerence by Taiwan and its people but also a reason for Beijing to act belligerently. In effect, what Tao is saying is that missiles aimed at Taiwan cannot be removed because opposition forces exist and have the ability to seize power. It is a cloaked threat — one that US academics and experts accept hook, line and sinker.
But Tao is merely creating a scapegoat. His statements admit the fear and weakness of the Beijing government. During the years that no opposition was allowed in Taiwan, Beijing acted belligerently. And crowning Ma King of Formosa will not raise Taiwan’s status in the global community — and certainly not in the eyes of Beijing. Let us remember that in any reunification scheme involving Taiwan and China, even the KMT would be considered an opposition party. And we all know that the Chinese Communist Party cannot accept opposition — from anywhere or anyone.
Nathan Novak is a Taiwan-based researcher in Chinese and Taiwanese history and cross-strait relations.
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