A recent survey conducted at the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicates that around 60 percent of people support printing the word "Taiwan" on passports, far exceeding the 20 percent of people who oppose this. Upon briefing the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Legislative Yuan and obtaining the support of the majority of lawmakers across the ruling and opposition camps, the ministry has decided to issue passports with the word "Taiwan" on them.
For the longest time, passports of Taiwan have created all sort of disruptions in transit. One can hardly blame customs officials because of the close resemblance of the names on the passports of this country and China and, unfortunately, they are not as educated on the cross-strait situation as we would like them to be. There are those who harbor reservations about adding the word "Taiwan" to passports. But most greet the change with gladness and a sense of relief.
Taiwan is a sovereign nation in terms of how people live their lives and how its government has complete control over a distinct territory. Passports are a form of identification that also serve to carry visas that allow passage into countries. The people here of course have every right travel abroad with their chin held up high. Unfortunately, due to the unique situation of this country, foreigners often are incapable of distinguishing the differences between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. The name of the two countries, both in English and Chinese, are easily confused with one another, causing the people of this country to become subjects of unfair treatment.
From the perspectives of both human rights and national sovereignty, this problem has to be dealt with. With the inclusion of the word "Taiwan" on the passports, foreigners can begin to understand that the holders of these passports are from the democratic and prosperous Taiwan. The measure obviously will have a positive impact in terms of protecting the integrity of our countrymen and our image.
Within the country, people use the national identification cards; abroad they use passports. It may be said that passports are the identification cards of the global village. Besides the convenience offered, there are many other reasons people support changing the passport.
Over the past few months, Taiwan has come under attack by the SARS virus. The people here are not only exhausted from the fight against SARS, but must also deal with the various blows from China at the same time. In difficult hours such as these, even more people saw with their own eyes how China was willing to openly lie to the international community in an effort to keep intact the illusion of "one China."
On Wednesday, again under pressure from China, the World Health Organization (WHO) refused to remove Taiwan from the list of countries on which it has issued placed a travel advisory, although Taiwan already had met the requirements for such a removal. The rampage of the epidemic here is near the end, yet China still wants to bully its way through the situation by drawing false ties between China and Taiwan. This is a total disregard of the welfare of the people here. How can the people who warmed up to China continue to hold any illusion about it?
The reason for the repeated setbacks in Taiwan's efforts to join the WHO and to seek removal of the travel advisory was none other than the obstruction and meddling of China. Taiwan must protect its national integrity. This is a goal built on strong popular consensus. However, the opposition and ruling camps continue their battle over ideologies, pointing their gun barrels toward their own countrymen rather than their common enemy. Not long ago, the pan-blue leaders even boasted about pushing for Taiwan's membership in the WHO and other international nongovernmental organizations under the so-called "one China based on the ROC Constitution" and the "one-China roof."
On the other hand, proposals about a public referendum on Taiwan's participation in the WHO were labeled as needlessly making troubles and paving the way for Taiwan independence. Actually, based on China's enforcement of the so-called "one China" principle during the SARS epidemic, everyone should see that the only goal of China with respect to Taiwan is to make it part of China. Currently, the international community in general acknowledges Beijing as the sole representative government of China. The so-called "one China based on the ROC Constitution," and "one China roof" may come off as innovative, but in reality this kind of false advertising only diminishes the status of Taiwan.
Taiwan belongs to the Taiwanese. It does not belong to China. Taiwan is part of the world, not part of China. China has spared no efforts to strike blows against Taiwan. Even though Taiwan has already become a member of the WTO, China is still trying to downgrade the status of Taiwan's membership there. Taiwan has all the elements of a country, including people, territory, government, sovereignty, as well as autonomous national defense and foreign ties. The top leader of this country is also elected through democratic elections.
The reality of Taiwan's status as a sovereign nation cannot and will nt be changed as a result of all the low blows by China. Many countries are simply paying lip service to China's so-called "one China" principle as a result of China's rogue diplomacy. These countries have also built and maintained substantive relationship with Taiwan. Under the circumstances, the people of Taiwan must voice their demands and fight for their rights in the international community, unless they want to forever rely on others.
Adding the world "Taiwan" to the passports may be merely an "unsatisfactory yet acceptable" measure to many, but it at least helps protect the integrity of the country and the national image. It is a measure worthy of recognition.
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