The Use of Religion in China's Annexation Drive

Store near Guguan

BBC Monitoring forwarded a translation of a China owned Hong Kong paper's commentary on independence and Taiwan...

By BBC Monitoring

On 30 December 2017, China-owned Hong Kong daily Ta Kung Pao ran an article by commentator Chin Lin-yuan, regarding Taiwan's attempt to "promote cultural independence" for the island.

....

According to the author, economy, trade and culture play a vital part in maintaining cross-Strait ties. Over the years, cross-Strait economic and trade interactions have been "smooth and successful." Today, great efforts should be made to enhance cross-Strait cultural exchange, the author said, adding that more TV series and films with themes that people in both the mainland and Taiwan can relate to, "especially" the country's reunification, can be produced to attract Taiwanese viewers. Most importantly, "we should make greater efforts to promote cross-Strait religious exchange." The author said Buddhism is the most popular religion in Taiwan. The Buddhist schools of the mainland and Taiwan share the same root. Many eminent monks in Taiwan are disciples of monks who migrated from the mainland to Taiwan in the past. Exchange between Buddhists on both sides of the Strait can help promote Chinese culture and tradition, the author added.

CREDIT: Ta Kung Pao, Hong Kong, in Chinese (written) 1000 gmt 8 Jan 18
Word count: 410
Ta Kung Pao, Hong Kong, in Chinese (written) 1000 gmt 8 Jan 18/BBC Monitoring/© BBC
https://search.proquest.com/docview/1985540600

I've long commented on the tight relationship between religion and cross-strait annexation politics.The Mazu cult remains a key nexus of organized crime, religion, and annexation politics, as I have commented and also here. Of course Buddhism is a major arena of annexation politics, as I observed here on an Ian Johnson piece. Taoist deities underwent the same transformation, as Johnson, who has written a major work on religion in modern China, noted in a WSJ piece several years ago.

It is good to see this point made openly in the Chinese media....
____________
Daily Links:

• Piece from  Shepard Media is strange. On the one hand, it wants to argue that the US won't intervene in a Chinese attempt to take Taiwan. On the other, it gives a load of cogent geostrategic reasons why the US should, as a friend pointed out to me. It leaves out quite a bit -- there's no direct reference to Japan's involvement in Taiwan's defense, for example, and Japan is treated simply as a passive recipient of US and Chinese decisions. And for straight out crapshit hilarity, nothing beats the stupidity of the last couple of paragraphs.
• SCMP argues Xi needs to take Taiwan ASAP.  
• Proposed White House trade crackdown on China.... guys, this could really hurt Taiwan. Probably Japan as well, and any other country that supplies high end materials, parts, and machinery to China. 
• Jeff Jacoby in the Boston Globe: Taiwan isn't China and Taiwanese aren't Chinese
• Exports up for 15th straight month.
• Jenna on traveling in Taiwan as a woman
• Ed Royce, longtime Taiwan supporter, to retire from Congress
• From Al Jaz: Taiwan's Lost Islamic traditions.
• Longtime Taiwan supporter Ed Royce to retire from Congress
• Center for American Progress: Reform of Taiwan's Fishing Fleet necessary. The behavior of Taiwan's fishermen is a major negative for Taiwan's image. And it is evil and destructive as  well.

_______________________
[Taiwan] Don't miss the comments below! And check out my blog and its sidebars for events, links to previous posts and picture posts, and scores of links to other Taiwan blogs and forums!