The people of Taiwan should keep their "native consciousness" and plan for the long term in the nation's economic and political development, Lee Chang-kuei (李長貴), president of the Taipei Times, said yesterday.
Lee, also a honorary professor at National Taiwan University, was invited to be the guest speaker at the 15th District Conference of Rotary International District 3480.
Using a visual aid -- a ceramic artifact in the shape of a hand with an eye in the middle -- Lee illustrated his point.
"It seems to be illogical, but yet with profound meaning," Lee said, referring to the artifact. "It is telling us that a great piece of original art should at the same time have vision and intellect."
Today, because Taiwan has become a knowledge-based economy along with other advanced countries, it's crucial for Taiwanese to keep their native consciousness, Lee said. That means Taiwanese must have a clear understanding of their own identity and keep a long-term vision -- just like the eye in the hand, he told his audience.
Speaking on the debate over whether eight-inch wafer fab investment should be allowed in China, Lee questioned whether business executives have "eyes in their hands," or the long-term vision to bring benefits to Taiwanese society, not just short-term gains.
Lee also spoke on the issue of "one China." "Accepting the `one China' ideology is indeed acknowledging that Taiwan is a province, a colony, of China," Lee said.
Lee also said that the KMT has strayed from the path of former president Lee Teng-hui (
"He tried his best to localize the KMT, because Lee was aware that if Taiwan did not embrace democracy, China will take us over sooner or later," Lee said.
"It's sad that after becoming the opposition party, the KMT went back to its old path and has become the ground force of the PRC in Taiwan.
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