Thu, Dec 31, 2015 page8

• [ LETTER ]

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  Where is Taiwan heading?

  On Oct. 28, 1980, while then-US president Jimmy Carter and former California governor Ronald Regan held a presidential debate, Regan presented two famous debate terms: “Here you go again,” and “Are you better off than you were four years ago?” US citizens in 1980 were not better off than they were in 1976, so Regan defeated Carter and was elected the 49th president of the US.

  In Taiwan, the first presidential political presentation was held on Feb. 25, 1996; there was no debate, but times have changed now there are presidential debates. On Sunday, the three presidential candidates – the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) Eric Chu (朱立倫), the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and the People First Party’s James Soong (宋楚瑜) — participated in the first debate for the 14th presidential election of the Republic of China (ROC), but the international media reported it as the Taiwan presidential election.

  The debate focused on the so-called “1992 consensus.” (A term former Mainland Affairs Council chairman Su Chi (蘇起) admitted making up in 2000, refers to a tacit understanding between the Chinese KMT and the Chinese government that both sides of the Strait acknowledge there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “China” means.) Chu repeatedly asked Tsai if she recognized the “1992 consensus,” and further probed: “If you do not recognize the consensus, then how can you maintain the status quo?”

  Soong said he recognizes the “1992” consensus as a tacit understanding, rather than an official document.

  Tsai said that people who pretend in their sleep can never be woken up. She said that in 1992, there were talks in Hong Kong and different opinions were presented, but what everyone agreed on was forgiveness and to identify a middle ground so that cross-strait relations could continue to move forward.

  “We acknowledge this event in history,” she said.

  “My stance on this issue is simple: We will continue to use the middle ground as the basis for dialogue. We can talk about anything. I believe that China would be willing to interact with the DPP sensibly,” she said.

  Chu holds the “1992 consensus” as his Bible. He said he recognizes it and insists on the “one China, with different interpretations” principle as a national policy. However, it has never been so.

  While it could be the KMT’s policy that binds the KMT and Beijing, it was never the policy agreed to by the majority of Taiwanese.

  In early May, while Chu met with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), he said that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China. He did not mention different interpretations. When President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) met with Xi last month, he also endorsed the “one China” view. The KMT’s former presidential candidate Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) openly promoted “one China, same interpretation.” The KMT dares not mention any difference of interpretation in front of Chinese leaders: One China without a different interpretation means Taiwan is a part of China.

  Chu asked Tsai how can she serve the cross strait ties and secure economic and trade stability with China if the DPP does not recognize the consensus?

  The KMT method of international trade is to first sell to China, then the rest of the world. However, the DPP considers China another part of the international market.

  The presidential election is a controversial issue. Why is the ROC’s president elected by Taiwanese, not Chinese? What is the ROC? Does it still own China and Mongolia as stated in its constitution? Why not change the constitutional territory? Why is Taiwan not listed in the ROC’s Constitution, but Taiwanese have to follow it?

  Throughout the debate, Chu repeatedly raised the “1992 consensus.” He is trying so hard to lock himself into one China.

  Soong acts more like a premier from days gone by.

  Tsai is running a serious campaign, trying her best to lead Taiwanese, but she said the DPP will follow the current ROC constitutional framework.

  Where is Taiwan heading? Are we electing a premier, governor or president? Are we better off than we were seven years ago?

  John Hsieh

  Hayward, California
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