Upholding democracy
In less than two months, Taiwanese will go to the polls to elect their president. Against all odds, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) is challenging the incumbent, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), who is also the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman and who is cooperating with China — and against the electorate — in its scheme to annex Taiwan.
If Ma is re-elected, Taiwan will soon become a part of China, which denies human rights and freedom to its own people. Thus, the nascent democracy of Taiwan will be forever extinguished.
Just three years ago, Taiwan had briefly enjoyed democracy despite the KMT’s persistent counterattacks. Ma’s presidency has reversed the course.
Ma’s blatant and indiscriminate political persecution of opposition leaders by abusing the judicial system, despite criticism by international academics, raises questions about his qualifications as a leader of a free country. Furthermore, he continues to use the KMT’s illegitimate, massive assets, quasi-autocratic tactics and deception in his personal pursuit of having China annex Taiwan.
His current administration is fraught with incompetency, abuse of public funding, corruption and deception — a trademark of the old autocratic KMT. He worships the brutal dictators Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) and his son Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國). When faced with Chinese autocrats, he openly suppresses Taiwanese democracy. His mental incompetency and dishonesty are stark contrasts to the Harvard University’s tradition of excellence and the motto ingrained on its crest — veritas.
At this point, it would be appropriate to give a quick refresher on Taiwan’s history. For 400 years, the forebears of Taiwan — immigrants from China and Aborigines — endured the oppression of successive foreign occupations: Many of them lost their lives to protect their homeland and uphold their dignity. Taiwan’s history is reminiscent of that of the US.
The story of Taiwan after World War II is a story of continued struggles against the brutal, repressive KMT regime and of people frequently risking arbitrary imprisonment and even their lives. Now the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), with its new-found wealth, is actively supporting Ma and the KMT in this election.
Voters should not gamble on the propaganda that there will be political reform by either the KMT or the CCP. Both parties have failed to create a nation with genuine freedom and democracy, and both are heading in the wrong direction at this very moment.
Taiwanese need to wake up: Vote for Tsai and the DPP. Together, advance freedom and democracy. Say “No” to auto-cracy and communism. This is the only way to save Taiwan and the world.
There are more pertinent reasons to objecting to the cooperation between the KMT and the CCP: the persistent cries of Tibetan and Uighur people in their quest for autonomy; increasing numbers of anguished Chinese dissidents exiled abroad; the presence of many unjustly persecuted Falun Gong practitioners; and too many more to enumerate because of space constraint.
The recent rise of China appears to intimidate the world community, including the US. However, the Arab Spring in North Africa and the Middle East shows that autocrats will not be able to stop people from pursuing freedom and democracy.
Taiwan NEXT, as Tsai’s campaign slogan says — lifting the country out of the misery of the lingering KMT autocracy. A free Taiwan will safeguard the security in the western Pacific region.
Let the bell of liberty toll around the world and pray for the day the UN is finally controlled by free nations. When that day comes, pay tribute to the brave soldiers and common people who have fought the conflicts and wars fomented by communists and autocrats.
Samuel Yang, Arizona; Kuochih Hong, Michigan; and Bindon Chang, New York
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