Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) yesterday urged the people of Taiwan to shake off the notion that "Sinicization" equates to globalization and instead seek a new path to establishing Taiwan as a "world island."
Speaking at a meeting of a Hakka association, Lu said the Taiwan people should treasure the island's "soft powers," -- ?such as its strong human rights, democracy and technological development -- and allow Taiwan to become a great power in the world.
At a time when an ever increasing amount of Taiwan capital and talent is heading to China, Lu said the idea that Taiwan's future lies in the mainland is confused thinking, adding that those who hold this view forget about the efforts expended by Taiwan over the last half century in warding off the Chinese threat.
Pointing out that Taiwan is a democratic country that possesses high technology, Lu said there is no reason why Taiwan cannot become a major sea power in the world in much the same way that Holland, which is similar to Taiwan in terms of territorial size, did some 300 years ago.
The vice president also reminded those who consider that Taiwan's future lies in China that Beijing has deployed some 400 missiles along its southeastern coast aimed at Taiwan and has relentlessly obstructed Taiwan's efforts to join the UN and other international organizations.
China's leaders have always been eager to get their hands on Taiwan because of the island's advantageous geographic location and prosperity, Lu noted. She said that without Taiwan, it will be difficult for China to achieve its ambitions of becoming a marine super power, and therefore Taiwan is seen as an "aircraft carrier" which no other country wishes to see become a part of the People's Republic of China.
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