Hundreds of volunteers preparing to campaign for the rectification of the name of Taiwan yesterday vowed to hold a "dignified and proud" rally on May 11 in order to rally public support for their concern.
Wang Cheng-chung (
PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
The rally, organized by the Alliance to Campaign for Rectifying the Name of Taiwan (
Wang said yesterday the campaign is a long-term project to achieve the rectification of the name of Taiwan. "In 2003, we hope to amass 100,000 people to join the march, and in 2004, we aim to have 500,000 people join the bid," Wang said.
Hundreds of volunteers yesterday convened in front of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall to line up in the shape of the numbers "5-1-1," which is the symbol of the campaign. They also chanted the slogan "My mother is Taiwan," and "Let Taiwan join the United Nations."
Joint convener of the rally and an advisor to the president Ng Chiau-tong (
"The outbreak of SARS in China showed how authoritarian and conservative the Chinese leadership is, by concealing the SARS situation. It is a time for Taiwan people to reflect on the one country on each side of the Taiwan Strait and clearly distinguish between the two different systems across the strait," Ng said.
The campaign for rectify the name of Taiwan is aimed at ensuring Taiwan-centered values, and is a necessary step towards a comprehensive recognition of Taiwan as a country, a statement of the campaign said.
Wang Cheng-chung, who is also a second generation Chinese mainlander in Taiwan and the former chairman of the Goa-Seng-Lang Association for Taiwan Independence, said yesterday the campaign bid is aimed at enabling Taiwan to join the international organizations using the title of "Taiwan," and use "Taiwan" on passports.
Wang said it is hypocritical and unethical for some of the pro-China politicians to say "I am both a Chinese and Taiwanese." He cited the KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
"Lien once said the reason for the existence of the Republic of China is in order to serve the 1.3 billion Chinese in China. It would seem that Lien was irresponsible when making such a comment, because he is not even clear of his target audience -- the 23 million of people in Taiwan or the 1.3 billion Chinese in China," Wang said.
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