In a recent editorial Richard Hazeldine wrote of cross-strait relations that "it is unlikely that things will improve whoever wins in 2008, unless they are willing to sacrifice Taiwan's sovereignty, something the electorate will not accept" ("It's got to be Annette Lu for 2008," Dec. 6, page 8).
I've read comments like this before in the Taipei Times. I wonder what it is that makes the writers so sure. As far as I can see, the Taiwanese electorate is prepared to put up with quite a lot. Following the 2004 presidential election, pan-blue legislators have created all kinds of problems in the Legislative Yuan by holding up all the bills proposed by the pan-greens.
Many of these were bipartisan bills which would have improved the lives of ordinary Taiwanese.
Then, with the parliamentary elections earlier this year, the country had an excellent opportunity to deliver a message to these legislators and to tell them that their actions were unacceptable.
Instead of punishing their behavior, however, the electorate voted them back into office with an even greater majority.
If the nation would not accept a president who is prepared to sacrifice Taiwan's sovereignty, then why would the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) seriously consider former KMT chairman Lien Chan (連戰) as their 2008 presidential candidate?
Lien's fawning attitude toward the Chinese Communist regime reveals that he is more than prepared to be their lapdog.
Then there is the chance that the nation will unwittingly elect a leader who is prepared to sacrifice its sovereignty. Given that KMT Chairman Ma Ying Jeou (
Can anybody truly say that they know what Ma would do on cross-strait issues?
We might hope that the electorate wouldn't accept a leader who is prepared to sacrifice Taiwan's sovereignty, but there is no way we can be sure. I fear this is just wishful thinking.
Andrew Crosthwaite
Minhsiung, Chiayi County
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