A Chinese writer has expressed his high opinion of Taiwan’s democracy, saying that the form of government is the reason why Taiwanese are so polite and law-abiding.
In an article titled “Masters of Taiwan” posted on the Sina Weibo microblogging site, Li Chengpeng (李承鵬) discusses his observations made during a visit to Taiwan.
Li wrote about a conservation he had with the owner of a noodle stand about Taiwan’s household garbage collection policy, under which people are required to put their garbage into specially designated trash bags before dumping it in garbage trucks.
Asked if anyone uses counterfeit trash bags to save money, the store owner replied: “This is my home. I would be doing myself a disservice if I did that.”
Li wrote that “this is my home” is an important concept developed as a result of a democratic process in which people have the right to take part in the governance of society.
People living in an undemocratic society cannot live by such a concept because everything is decided by a dictatorial government, Li said.
He also mentions Taiwan’s National Health Insurance program, which allows for universal access to healthcare. This stands in sharp contrast with the situation in China, where government officials, he said, treat people as if they are “thieves” and refuse to provide the disadvantaged with free medicine.
“Taiwanese are not more moral than mainlanders. They live in a leisurely manner because they are not treated as thieves. They know very well that Taiwan does not belong to the blue or the green camp, and firmly believe they are the masters of their homeland,” Li wrote.
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