The International Affairs Forum in Tokyo, an organization of the US Center for International Relations, sponsored a forum with commentaries from six scholars on Taiwan Independence... The forum asked: "The Chinese government has said repeatedly Taiwan is an 'inalienable part of China.' Yet polls in Taiwan have indicated strong support for the country to join the United Nations under the name Taiwan. Can, and should, the international community do more to support Taiwanese independence, and what would be the consequences of doing so?"Six scholars responded with a variety of standpoints. For example:
Reviewing Taiwan’s separation from mainland China over nearly six decades, we see two contradictory trends. The first is long-term reunification, imposed by Beijing as the only option for Taiwan, and the sine qua non for normal relations with any country. With the post-Mao reforms and economic growth, as well as emotional ties, a significant sector of the Taiwan population accepts eventual convergence. The second trend is Taiwanese nationalism, which responded to its multi-cultural reality and vast political and economic differences with the mainland. As aggregate economic disparities decrease and Taiwan’s economic dependency on China increases, the objective desirability of unification grows.It is great that the IA Forum chose to focus on independence as a question.
[Taiwan]
Agreed, great topic choice! Bravo.
ReplyDeleteCould it be that a finding will eventually become public knowledge that the Taiwan population is split somewhat evenly between those who were there before 1949 and those who came after?
ReplyDeleteThere can be no even split between those who were there before 1949 and those who came after. The 49ers and their direct descendents make up only 15-20% of the population. Furthermore, inter-marriage is very common nowadays so its really blurry when it comes to identifying who are the new Taiwanese (49ers).
ReplyDeleteI noticed that no one from mainland (excluding HK) was interviewed. These people, unlike those brainwashed fools, understand that Taiwan hasn't been a part of China for over a century.
ReplyDeleteI was reading Dr. David Lai's response to the question. I have a few questions about it.
He said, "The elections clearly showed Taiwan people’s frustration with the DPP in its handling of Taiwan’s economy, and more pointedly, Chen Shui-bian’s confrontational relations with mainland China and the United States....An aggressive expansion of Taiwan’s economic exchange with China is the way to go."
Really? Did the DPP actually mismanage the economy? Is tying Taiwan's economy better if it is completely dependent on China's?
"Hu Jintao responded swiftly and positively to Ma’s initiative."
Does he have any ulterior motives?
"Ma Ying-jeou is not going to try it again (although Ma may continue to try UN under the name of ROC)." Will Ma continue to try or not?
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I like Andrew Ding's last paragraph: "The PRC is the source of tensions in the Taiwan Strait. They should face reality and deal with whatever legitimate ROC leader there is, on an equal footing. If their policy remains unchanged, tension in the Taiwan Strait will continue and the likelihood of people in Taiwan seeking Taiwanese independence cannot be ruled out."
Well said! *clap clap*
sigh.... all these committees, workshops, etc. never ask the Big Question:
ReplyDelete"what is the basis for China's claim to Taiwan?"
that one cannot be answered and would be the end of the story. duh.
As a Taiwanese but not represent all,my feeling is:
ReplyDeleteMaybe someone think Tiawaneses were kind of losers expeled from main-land china 60 years ago,but since we are in a modern world instead of chinese dynasty era,I think we should have the right to choose our own way despite the overwhelming power of China .
We respect China as a sovereign,and we wish to be respected in the same way.