In his new book, former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) said that the “status quo” for Taiwan means “not belonging to China,” which is why he has never backed the movement for Taiwanese independence.
According to reports in the Chinese-language United Daily Evening News, in Last Days: My Life’s Journey and the Roadmap of Taiwan’s Democratization, Lee writes that Taiwan already enjoys de jure independence, and if the president allows the conflict between pro-independence and pro-unification camps to grow, it would be to the detriment of the nation.
The report quoted Lee as writing that with the first direct presidential election in 1996, Taiwan “shook off the yoke of foreign occupation.”
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
While under “foreign occupation,” many tragedies occurred — which should be properly addressed — but Taiwan must ultimately move beyond such sentiments, Lee wrote.
When a person arrived in Taiwan should not be the deciding factor in whether they are considered Taiwanese, and while history must be understood, Taiwanese must look toward the future, Lee wrote, according to the report.
Taiwan must shake off the old system, with its notions of “one China” and that the Republic of China (ROC) is a legitimate continuation of “China” from the Qing Dynasty, Lee wrote.
More than 80 percent of Taiwanese back maintaining the “status quo” between China and Taiwan, and this “status quo” is that Taiwan is independent of China, Lee wrote, according to the report.
The nation should participate in international affairs under the name of Taiwan, which should be the only point of concern, Lee wrote.
The debate over whether Taiwan is independent would only tear the nation apart if allowed to continue, and Taiwan need not make controversial comments on the matter, because it already enjoys de jure independence, Lee wrote, according to the report.
Meanwhile, Lee yesterday canceled at the last minute his appearance at a publicity event for the book at the Taipei International Book Exhibition.
The book was originally scheduled for publication before the Jan. 16 presidential and legislative elections, but the date was pushed back due to concerns that it might influence voting, Metropolitan Culture Enterprise Co Ltd & Banner Publishing House (大都會文化事業出版社) president Lin Ching-pin (林敬斌) said, adding that the title of the book was chosen by Lee.
DEFENDING DEMOCRACY: Taiwan shares the same values as those that fought in WWII, and nations must unite to halt the expansion of a new authoritarian bloc, Lai said The government yesterday held a commemoration ceremony for Victory in Europe (V-E) Day, joining the rest of the world for the first time to mark the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. Taiwan honoring V-E Day signifies “our growing connections with the international community,” President William Lai (賴清德) said at a reception in Taipei on the 80th anniversary of V-E Day. One of the major lessons of World War II is that “authoritarianism and aggression lead only to slaughter, tragedy and greater inequality,” Lai said. Even more importantly, the war also taught people that “those who cherish peace cannot
Taiwanese Olympic badminton men’s doubles gold medalist Wang Chi-lin (王齊麟) and his new partner, Chiu Hsiang-chieh (邱相榤), clinched the men’s doubles title at the Yonex Taipei Open yesterday, becoming the second Taiwanese team to win a title in the tournament. Ranked 19th in the world, the Taiwanese duo defeated Kang Min-hyuk and Ki Dong-ju of South Korea 21-18, 21-15 in a pulsating 43-minute final to clinch their first doubles title after teaming up last year. Wang, the men’s doubles gold medalist at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, partnered with Chiu in August last year after the retirement of his teammate Lee Yang
The Philippines yesterday criticized a “high-risk” maneuver by a Chinese vessel near the disputed Scarborough Shoal (Huangyan Island, 黃岩島) in a rare incident involving warships from the two navies. The Scarborough Shoal — a triangular chain of reefs and rocks in the contested South China Sea — has been a flash point between the countries since China seized it from the Philippines in 2012. Taiwan also claims the shoal. Monday’s encounter took place approximately 11.8 nautical miles (22km) southeast” of the Scarborough Shoal, the Philippine military said, during ongoing US-Philippine military exercises that Beijing has criticized as destabilizing. “The Chinese frigate BN 554 was
The number of births in Taiwan fell to an all-time monthly low last month, while the population declined for the 16th consecutive month, Ministry of the Interior data released on Friday showed. The number of newborns totaled 8,684, which is 704 births fewer than in March and the lowest monthly figure on record, the ministry said. That is equivalent to roughly one baby born every five minutes and an annual crude birthrate of 4.52 per 1,000 people, the ministry added. Meanwhile, 17,205 deaths were recorded, resulting in a natural population decrease of 8,521, the data showed. More people are also leaving Taiwan, with net
RSS