History is written by powerful people. "Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past." George Orwell's famous lines in his book 1984 were once again proved in Taiwan recently.
The 1992 negotiations between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to the past. President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has the power to control the present. According to Orwell's principle, since Chen can control the present, he certainly can control the past of 1992 and the future across the Strait.
The strange thing is that the term "1992 consensus" has never officially existed. The phrase "one China, with each side having its own interpretation" (一個中國,各自表述), however, has continuously appeared in official and non-governmental documents since 1992. Politicians from all parties also used to parrot this line. But why has the phrase suddenly vanished now that the "1992 consensus" is being denied?
Is it possible that all the newspapers, magazines, books, files, documents, recordings, video tapes and computer databases that have recorded the phrase over the past eight years were thrown into 1984's "Memory Hole" and disappeared? Or have all 23 million people of Taiwan been collectively brain-washed by a certain unbelievable power to believe that the phrase, which has never existed, was real? Or was there another unbelievable power which made many people collectively forget that the phrase did exist in the past?
Those with different historical perspectives may write down "different histories" but cannot create "different historical facts."
Chen's denial of the "1992 consensus" is the denial of that the term ever existed. His denial is not an effort to control the past, nor to rewrite historical facts. But when he repudiated the existence of the phrase "one China, with each side having its own interpretation," he was rewriting historical facts and trying to control the past.
Successors universally deny and change their predecessors' policies and political paths. On the issue of national identity, the DPP has differed greatly from the KMT. If Chen wants to reverse "one China, with each side having its own interpretation" made under KMT rule -- just like his ending of the "no haste, be patient" (戒急用忍) policy -- he is certainly empowered to do so.
But to reverse a policy and to deny its existence are two different matters. To reverse a policy is to reverse a policy path. To deny its existence, however, is to deny historical fact. Chen may refuse to agree to, accept and carry on with such a policy, but he must admit to this period of history.
In the future, different historical accounts of Taiwan based on pro-unification and pro-indepen-dence viewpoints may emerge. But if different historical facts emerge on the basis of either the unification or independence stance, Taiwan may become Oceania of 1984, where the leaders become Big Brother. Its government may have a branch, called the Ministry of Truth, under which is a "Memory Hole," responsible for "vaporizing" recorded historical facts.
If Taiwan continues denying past events, what kind future lies ahead?
Wang Chien-chuang is the president of The Journalist magazine.
Translated by Jackie Lin
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