President Chen Shui-bian(
This has caused some members of the pro-unification camp to instinctively believe that Chen is moving toward Taiwan independence and thus to seriously condemn him for it.
On the other hand, there are pan-blue politicians who either remain mute on the new proposal or dodge the whole issue of democratic and constitutional reforms by saying that they have "no time to comment."
Although President Chen's talk about giving birth to a new Constitution remains something to be hoped for in the future, and no substantive bill or policy has been proposed in this regard thus far, it has already become a goal of his government.
China has not yet made any concrete comments or responses to Chen's proposal. However, both the Chinese government and many pro-China people in Taiwan ought to know very well that the birth of Taiwan's new Constitution will be attended by the never-ending threats from China.
Since the People's Republic of China's (PRC) founding in 1949, Mao Zedong (
The Chinese leaders have long declared that the ROC died in 1949 and that Taiwan is part of China's territory. Even though the ROC name and national flag continue to be in use on Taiwan, to the PRC these are political totems from the past.
Therefore, it is no exaggeration to say that, in the entire international community, the one who most wants to vanquish ROC is none other than the PRC.
Therefore, from the phase of cross-strait military standoff, to phase of peaceful exchanges between the two sides, China has never ceased to deny the sovereignty of Taiwan.
Even with its military prowess not yet fully matured and with economic development getting top priority, military threats have become the primary part of China's two-handed tactics with Taiwan.
Facing China's barbarism, if we called ourselves "Republic of China," Beijing will say that we are plotting for the recognition of "two Chinas."
If we suggest the existence of a "special state-to-state relationship" with China, we will be accused of moving incrementally toward "Taiwan independence."
If we called ourselves "Taiwan," China will respond by saying that we are practicing a "one China, one Taiwan" policy.
Even depicting the cross-strait reality -- "one country on each side" -- is condemned as practicing "Taiwan independence."
Even more absurd is that all efforts to highlight our Taiwan-centered culture is referred to as "cultural Taiwan independence" and strengthening our military defenses is called "military Taiwan independence."
The way that China has been elbowing Taiwan every chance it gets can only backfire and win nothing but the disgust of Taiwan's people.
China's threats toward Taiwan are not only political, they are also economic. The rapid economic development of China has sucked out Taiwanese capital, talent and technology. Chinese efforts to promote investments have been one way -- getting money from Taiwan to China. These efforts are not made with bilateral benefits in mind.
Statistics from Chung-Hua Institute for Economic Research indicate that Taiwan's economy is becoming increasingly dependent on China. Currently, Taiwanese investments make up about 63 percent of all foreign investments in China.
If China imposes any economic sanctions or other hostile measures against Taiwan for political reasons, dire consequences for Taiwan's economy will be at hand.
Although there are hundreds of thousands of Taiwanese businessmen in China earning foreign reserves for China and helping the country develop its economy, the Chinese government and their people remain very hostile toward the motherland of these Taiwanese investors. Therefore, the lives and property of Taiwanese businessmen in China are far from being protected.
In the area of foreign relations, China has used the "three noes policy" to stifle our survival space. Even the recently issued ROC passports (with the word "Taiwan" appearing on the front covers) have been rejected by a small number of countries as a result of Chinese coercion.
According to our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chinese maneuvers targeting these new passports range from the earliest failed attempts to solicit the help of Afghanistan and Pakistan to bribing members of the former Republic of Yugoslavia to adopt various obstructive measures -- making it difficult or impossible for Taiwan passport holders to get visas for those countries.
These efforts by China to trample on Taiwan cannot influence the existence of Taiwan's independent sovereignty. In fact, the inconvenience and frustration visited on the people of Taiwan can only make them resent Chinese barbarism even more.
In a nutshell, the never-ending threats of China have become serious obstructions and barriers to Taiwan's development and survival. These obstructions and threats have become more serious as a result of the existing complicated political relationship.
The optimistic expectations and underestimation of China's threats by people here in Taiwan have caused many people to be off guard.
As the two sides each proclaim sovereignty over each other, the emerging relationship is neither between two friendly countries nor between two enemy states. The two sides have always considered each other as hypothetical enemies.
With a backdrop of a superficially friendly relationship that is in reality tense, the situation can only be described as murky.
When Taiwan sincerely made proposals to improve cross-strait relations, Beijing accused Taipei of making phony gestures. In contrast, some people within Taiwan mistake China's tactics in the propaganda war for genuine goodwill gestures.
To counter Chinese threats toward Taiwan, one must thoroughly re-examine the future national status and political system of Taiwan, and clarify the complicated political relationship with China.
While Taiwan does not need to sever its cultural and historical links with China, Taiwan's people will not hesitate to cut off their relationship with a Chinese regime that poses threats to the lives and property of Taiwanese people.
The people of Taiwan should rethink future developments from a frame of mind that is Taiwan-centered.
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