End of cycle brings change
According to the lunar calendar, the current Year of the Horse — also known as a Jiawu (甲午) year — ends today, concluding a 60-year cycle.
Two cycles ago, Qing Dynasty China was defeated by the Empire of Japan in 1894, ceding Taiwan to Japan under the Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895.
One cycle ago, the Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty was signed on Dec. 2, 1954, in Washington. This treaty essentially prevented China from taking over Taiwan, as an attack on the latter would cause the US to respond in its defense.
It was predicted that some big events would happen during the current cycle that would seriously impact Taiwan’s status. In addition to the Kaohsiung gas pipeline explosions, two TransAsia Airways flights crashed and six inmates committed suicide after a hostage siege in a prison. Probably even more shocking were the Sunflower movement and the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) landslide defeat in the nine-in-one elections on Nov. 29 last year.
In the past 120 years, Taiwan has been repeatedly manipulated by outside powers: ceded by the Qing Dynasty to the Empire of Japan; surrendered by Japan to the US Military Government; US General Douglas MacArthur’s General Order No. 1 authorized Chiang Kai-shek’s (蔣中正) military occupation; and the Taiwan Relations Act defined the Republic of China (ROC) government in exile and established that it is Taiwan’s governing authority. In Taiwan, the pan-blue camp claims that the ROC owns Taiwan, and the pan-green camp’s politicians say that Taiwan is the ROC and the ROC is Taiwan.
Once the current Jiawu cycle is complete, it will be time for Taiwanese to face the most important issue for the nation’s future. Next year’s presidential campaigns are about to begin. Candidates from both sides and voters would be required to present and discuss the future of Taiwan. What are the challenges the nation faces today? Will it continue to be the colonial slave of the ROC government in exile? Will it continue to sell its future to politicians who use taxes to buy our votes?
Ever since Chiang and the KMT’s military occupation of the nation, Taiwanese have been suffering from Stockholm syndrome, willingly joining the thieves. It is a joke that a Chinese party, the KMT, rules Taiwan and its people accept it. Why does the KMT not change its name to Taiwan KMT if it wants to continue living in the nation?
The challenge Taiwan faces today is clearly understanding its own political status. Once that is achieved, the nation can then set clear objectives to pursue. We all need to understand and realize that the ROC is passe. It cannot represent Taiwan. No matter what happens to Taiwan in the future, there is no ROC. If Taiwan is annexed by China, it would be part of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), not the ROC. If Taiwan gains independence, it would be the Republic of Taiwan, not the ROC. If Taiwan becomes the commonwealth of any other entity, it would not be under the ROC.
Taiwan has almost lost its identity during President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration, because his lifetime dream of unification has set the nation on a course to ultimately be annexed by China. Thanks to the Sunflower movement, Taiwanese are waking up to face the reality of the nation’s status.
The “status quo” never remains still, but rather moves all the time. Even though China is growing bigger and tougher than before, Taiwan can still find a way to survive if Taiwanese realize that Taiwan is not the ROC and the ROC is not Taiwan.
Democratic Progressive Party Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) just declared her intention to run in next year’s presidential election. It is time to establish an age that belongs to the public, an age of new politics of transparency, honesty, public participation, tolerance, clear division of power and responsibility, as well as firm protection of national sovereignty.
However, what is Taiwan sovereign over today? Why is it not a member of the UN? Are we Taiwan or the ROC? Why does the US restrict the raising of the ROC flag at the Twin Oaks estate in Washington? How come the ROC flag cannot be displayed whenever a PRC envoy visits Taiwan? Let us check it out honestly and transparently.
John Hsieh
Hayward, California
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