Taiwan's future leader is going to face several unfinished reform missions: promoting democracy, carrying out public policies, establishing an environment to implement social justice and creating a stable peaceful relationship between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait in order to seek a respectable place for Taiwan.
This is exactly why all the presidential candidates need to declare their China policies now. People are looking forward to examining the various policies during the campaign.
Over the last few years people in Taiwan have reached a consensus to give top priority to the country's dignity. No one dare propose a policy that would sell out the country. Nor do many intend to be China's subjects. However, I am afraid that not many really intend to refuse to deal with China or to opt for a war at any price.
Based on these ideas, the China policies proposed by the candidates should not be very different. Since there is basically not much difference in the words, we should make our decision based on which candidate we believe will fulfill his promises.
The election may offer the people of Taiwan an opportunity to solidify a consensus on cross-strait relations.
If we then hold the same stance, how can we make the other side of the strait completely understand us? And through what kind of interaction can our stance actually be implemented?
Since this is a problem concerning the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, it will not be resolved by an one-sided domestic consensus. We should make it a cross-strait consensus. Of course, Taiwan itself needs to advance from a consensus of thought to a consensus of action.
If our thinking is far from that of the other side of the Strait, we need to make a stronger effort to shorten the distance and to have the wisdom to make a clear judgement.
Besides the campaign war of words, how will these candidates fulfill their promises? Can they really make it? In the end, the differing campaign platforms and theories proposed by the candidates don't matter much.
Chou Tien-jui is the chairman of the directors of the board at the Power News (勁報).
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