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Nation not yet free, Lee says

Former president Lee Teng-hui, right, gestures as he discusses Taiwan's goals for the 21st century with a group of young people during an event to promote his new book yesterday. PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES

Amid a packed house, former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) sat down yesterday with a trio of young people from the fields of pop music, politics and academics for a talk on Taiwan's goals in the 21st century.

The talk was part of the promotional activities for the release of the book From Taiwan to Taiwan Plus -- Taiwan's Overall National Goals in the 21st Century. The book is a collection of Lee's theses on the nation's future development in terms of building Taiwan's state identity, awareness of China's threats, national security, diplomacy expansion, economic development, promotion of Taiwan-centered education and culture, and reinforcement of democracy.

The three young people in the talk were: Freddy Lin (林旭佐), the lead singer of the pop band Chthonic (閃靈), Lee Yen-hui (李妍慧), a Taiwan Solidarity Union City Councilor, and Kuan Ta-wei (官大偉), a senior research fellow at Taiwan Advocates, a think tank established by Lee Teng-hui.

"Faith, ethics and justice are the most important characters an individual must bear in face of the fast-changing global society."

Lee Teng-hui, former president

In a question and answer session, the former president, in his 80s, spoke passionately about the need for young people to understand this moment of nation building.

Lin asked how it was that Lee Teng-hui had gone from Japanese colonization to the rule of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) dictatorship, to a fervent supporter of independence.

Lee Teng-hui said he has witnessed the grief all Taiwanese feel who have long been unable to be the boss of their own country.

"When I was still in the KMT, I always said Taiwanese people were unfortunate because Taiwan was ruled by an alien regime. Then KMT secretary-general Chiang Yang-shih (蔣彥士) asked why I said so. I said bluntly that it was indeed true because the KMT came from abroad," Lee Teng-hui said.

He said the result of Taiwanese people being ruled by alien regimes has been that their mouths have been sealed for fear of improper speeches.

The former president said it is important to understand history and to be firm and consistent in fighting against all odds.

In addition, he said he keeps a strong Christian belief, which has seen him through the darkest times as he pushed for the causes of the country and stood up to fierce opposition and partisan feuding.

"I don't mind that other people have spoken ill of me. I also don't care about the protests and attacks by members of the pro-unification Patriot Association (愛國同心會)," Lee Teng-hui said, referring to the association's protests at every public function he attends.

"Faith, ethics and justice are the most important characters an individual must bear in face of the fast-changing global society," he said.

Lee Yen-hui asked how young people should strike a balance between the pursuit of individual success and the attention for the state's prosperity.

Lee Teng-hui urged young people to reinforce their national identity, which, he said, should be a premise for personal success.

"Many young people in Taiwan thought they were born in a free and democratic society and have enjoyed much comfort of freedom. However, this is just material freedom. There are many areas showing Taiwan is not entirely free; that is, Taiwan is not completely a free state," he said.

The former president said, for example, that education in the country still lacks a focus on Taiwan's history and geography, as in the past five decades under the KMT, education disproportionately focused on China.

In addition, Lee said, Aboriginals' rights to autonomy should be respected.

"The Aboriginals are the earliest residents of this island, who came to Taiwan about 450 years ago. But they were driven to the mountainous areas and deprived of many of their inherent rights. What they need most is the skills and management abilities to help them out of poverty and relieve their grave unemployment problems. Their indigenous culture and art should be preserved," Lee Teng-hui said.
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