Commentator Ting-i Tsai has another good piece in the Asia Times on the Hu "peace offer"Hu's olive branch, therefore, is consistent with Hu's previous practices, in the minds of some observers. At a summit with Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang on April 29, 2005, an agreement to sign a peace accord was among some of the points of consensus.
To some observers, Hu's remark might seem fresh and friendly, but others disagreed. "Hu's speech looks more like setting a framework. For the upcoming five years, a precondition [one China] would be required for political negotiation," said a former senior official at the Mainland Affairs Council, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, "Party-to-party negotiation would be the format. This is a regression [of China's friendliness]."
Former communist Ruan endorsed the former official's argument, and contended that "technically, the hostility is only between the CCP and KMT", suggesting Hu's proposal was for the KMT but would not be applicable to the governing Democratic Progressive Party.
Tsai also presented some local views of the issue, emphasizing its totally ho-hum nature to the locals. Massive, massive kudos for Tsai mentioning that the CCP and KMT are interwined like snakes mating in the spring. Why that pertinent fact fails to find mention in the international media is a mystery to me.
Even worse for Beijing, Ma Ying-jeou, the presidential candidate of Taiwan's opposition party Kuomintang (KMT), which has interacted closely with the CCP since 2005, rebuked Hu's remark by arguing that Taiwan's future should be determined by the island's people, and the decision is neither associated with CCP nor could the island tolerate any CCP interference.
The worst news for Hu was probably the reactions of people in Taiwan. Beijing has tried to win the hearts and minds of the island's residents, but few in Taiwan paid attention to China's political drama, and even fewer were aware of Hu's apparent olive branch to Taiwan.
In downtown Taipei, Amy Kuo, a 36-year-old office clerk, noted that she had not heard the term "17th National Congress" of the CCP.
Yeh Hung-yuan, a 34-year-old sales manager of a medical machinery company, had some understanding of the meaning of "17th CCP Congress" but was not aware of Hu's remarks. "It would be either threatening Taiwan independence or talking about an unrealistic 'peaceful unification'," he guessed.
Jesse Chuang, a 27-year-old doctorial program student, said he had no impression of Hu's remark. "I only remember that Jiang Zemin didn't clap his hands [after Hu's speech]," Chuang said.
I got curious about whether Tsai was right on the extent of the ignorance, so I started asking my night class students about Hu's offer (it would have been pointless to ask the day class of 18-22 yr old kids). Out of fifty or so adults in their twenties and early thirties, most -- hell, all but one -- had no clue that there was a Party Congress or that weighty words on the subject of Taiwan had been uttered by His Huness. It seems sometimes that "Taiwan consciousness" is not consciousness of Taiwan, but unconsciousness toward everything else....
[Taiwan] [media] [US] [China] [Chen Shui-bian]
Yes, the not-so-strange bedfellows of the KMT and CCP is curiously ignored, as is the fact that Mao, Chiang and Sun all married into the same family and are related to each other.
ReplyDeleteThis kind of unawareness doesn't surprise me at all. When I wrote about Baidu a couple of years ago, not only did none of my foreigner friends here know what the heck Baidu was, but even my Taiwanese friends had never heard of it-- alredy the 5th busiest web site in the world, and the most successful NASDAQ IPO in history. Not only that, but it was the place to find MP3s of Taiwanese music.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it's like people here, including foreigners, are living in a bubble, oblivious to the outside world.
As for Ma's poor reaction towards this olive branch, and Hsieh's (sp?) warmer reaction, it reminded me of the old phrase "Nixon in China".
The people are too busy watching variety comedy shows and catching up on the latest IMPORTANT news--such as Jolin getting a new haircut.
ReplyDeletePop culture retards understanding of current issues.
It seems sometimes that "Taiwan consciousness" is not consciousness of Taiwan, but unconsciousness toward everything else....
ReplyDeleteyes...i find it quite worrying that many taiwanese people i've spoken to (mostly 20-30yr olds) about taiwanese politics and history and other global issues that affect taiwan, either don't know much, have very slanted views, or don't really care....
(although i have to say that had i not found your blog i wouldnt be as knowledgeable as i now am)
do you think this is a consequence of the media in taiwan?
Try ask a few Americans on the street of any town USA who the US secretary of state is.
ReplyDeleteMichael, I know the feeling:
ReplyDelete"Out of fifty or so adults in their twenties and early thirties, most -- hell, all but one -- had no clue that there was a Party Congress or that weighty words on the subject of Taiwan had been uttered by His Huness."
But at least--at least--now they do have a clue, thanks to your good works. This is exactly why teaching critical thinking is so important!
Honestly, I didn't pay much attention to what Hu said either. Why? 'Cos I just don't think any shit will come out of his mouth. I can't believe an authoritarian country who walks a path for decades would out of nowhere suddenly turn to a new direction. Just remind me, what position toward Taiwan China had ever changed in the past 10 years? Or maybe 20, 30 years?
ReplyDeleteChina will stay on her path, and will be like that for years to come.
In contrary to the fixed position on the other side of the Strait, the politics in Taiwan is like fast pacing drama that is certainly far more attracting. It is a nearby, domest fight that is more critical for daily survival for the people in Taiwan.
Like I said previously, Taiwan's most urgent threat is domestic, not global.
Try ask a few Americans on the street of any town USA who the US secretary of state is
Oh yea, some American don't even know where Canada is.
the fact that Mao, Chiang and Sun all married into the same family and are related to each other.
ReplyDeleteugh... clarification please?