ESWN has translated an excellent article by Taiwan-born acadamic Lung Ying-tai about how the Taiwanese view their future (original article here, in Simplified Chinese). The central premise is one I agree with completely: although there is a huge spectrum of opinions in Taiwan, for most people the central issue is guaranteeing their basic freedoms – not abstract issues about independence or reunification.
These people of Taiwan, like any other group of people in the world, yearn for social peace, economic stability, personal happiness and protection of individual rights under the law. But because they have lived through colonial and totalitarian rules, they are untrusting and contemptuous of those impressive-sounding grand narratives. Instead, they care about freedom of speech and thought, they are concerned about social justice and care for the socially vulnerable, and they want that the government should not invade their privacy and individual rights.
My main quibble with the article was that it idealises Taiwan’s system: implying a perfectly run democracy, with no corruption and an absolute trust in the rule of law (although he does provide a caveat at the end). Although this is a system that Taiwan is working towards, there is still some way to go … which makes the main point of the article all the more amazing: this article was published in the Chinese Youth Daily – a paper controlled by the Chinese Communist Youth League.
That an official CCP paper would promote a clear unbiased perspective of what Taiwanese people think – while glossing over the imperfections in Taiwan’s system – is very encouraging. Now we just need the rest of the Chinese media, the Taiwanese media, the CCP politicians, and the Taiwanese politicians to follow suit, and there might just be some chance for progress …
I thought it was really great too, and blogged it. ESWN is a consistently good blog, lots of insights and understandings that are hard to get elsewhere. The article was so prosaic and sensible, it almost made me cry.
Michael
Although it is encouraging to see some semblance of free-speech occurring in China, I have a problem agreeing with the main point of the article. At this moment in time (and in the foreseeable future), it DOES very much matter whether Taiwan is considered independent or is, in fact, a part of China. You see, to be assured these rights and freedoms are maintained and improved upon — it is currently (and in the foreseeable future) IMPERATIVE that Taiwan maintains, at the very least, a de facto INDEPENDENCE FROM CHINA. If anyone in Taiwan says that the “independence issue” is not a concern, either: 1) They have not thought it through carefully or 2) they are lying to you about caring about rights and freedoms & democracy.
Lien and Soong fall into category number 2. This was another important point missed in this article. There are still very powerful forces within Taiwan which care very little about the values talked about in this article.
As for the people who were polled — I would hazaard to say that the 50.9% that agreed with “the status quo” were, in actuality, thinking of maintaining the status quo OF DEFACTO INDEPENDENCE. Notice that small implicit detail is not mentioned.
In my humble opinion, I believe now is the time for Taiwan to (pardon my crudity) “shit or get off the pot”. The truth of the matter is — DE FACTO INDEPENDENCE is not going to last forever. Indeed, unless Taiwan formalizes their independence soon (while Taiwan still has political leverage to do so), the status quo will soon be DE FACTO PRC RULE.
George, the reason I liked the article so much (apart from where it was published) was that it highlighted the real issue: the freedoms that Taiwan has gained and doesn’t want to give up. Issues like independence, unification, keeping the status quo are just strategies to try to ensure that those freedoms are preserved. In other words: most Taiwanese don’t want independence for independences sake – they want it because they believe that that is the best way to ensure they can keep living the way they are now accustomed.
Talk to a moderate KMT supporter, a moderate DPP supporter and a moderate TSU supporter and you’ll get three very different answers on how to protect those freedoms (negotiate with China now, hold the position that Taiwan is independent, make a formal declaration of independence), but they would all be aimed at ensuring Taiwan’s well being. (Note that I’m talking about supporters not politicians – as you say the motive of some politicians is debatable).
So from China’s perspective, the fundamental issue is trust: if the Taiwanese could truly trust China to not interfere with its system, then there could be serious talk of unification under the banner of ‘China’ – but quite clearly, the Taiwanese cannot trust the PRC at the moment. How can you trust someone who’s holding a gun to your head?
To tell you the truth David, the author of this article lost me when she stated, “On both sides of the Taiwan strait, how could this [freedom and human rights] be an opposition between independence and unification?”
Currently (and in the foreseeable future), if Taiwan officially unites with China — Taiwan will lose the freedom and human rights she talks about. Unification and the maintenance of these values are NOT compatible — just look at Hong Kong.
I would also like to quibble with something you said: “Issues like independence, unification, keeping the status quo are just strategies to try to ensure that those freedoms are preserved. I’ll agree with you on independence and “the status quo”, but “unification” is certainly not a strategy for maintaining freedom and human rights. China is one of the worst violators of human rights and freedoms in the world, for goodness sakes.
David, for the most part, it seems as though we are talking the same language here. I just have a problem with authors who write a very good essay, only to lose their thesis at the end with an inaccurate conclusion.
You cannot separate the issues of independence (de facto or otherwise) and the values she spoke about.
http://spaces.msn.com/members/sevencastles/Blog/cns!1psdFdW3uWZp-A3c-JeidiRg!2624.entry