The positive economic opening between Taiwan and China has caused that several crystal balls to become overheated and imprecise. In his commentary July 3., Peter Kwong (PK) imagines a future federation between Taiwan and China. Thereby he displays a great ignorance about the Taiwanese population’s own wishes. In addition, he states wrong and one-sided information which do not benefit the understanding of Taiwan.
Michael Danielsen, chairman Taiwan Corner – Denmark.
Tranlation of article in the Danish newspaper Politiken July 8. 2008.
The positive economic opening between Taiwan and China has caused that several crystal balls to become overheated and imprecise. In his commentary July 3., Peter Kwong (PK) imagines a future federation between Taiwan and China. Thereby he displays a great ignorance about the Taiwanese population’s own wishes. In addition, he states wrong and one-sided information which do not benefit the understanding of Taiwan.
His thoughts about a federation ignore the wishes of the Taiwanese, when he suggests China’s Hong Kong model as a solution. The fact is that 70-80 % of the Taiwanese since 1993 has rejected this solution, no matter how it is formulated. Also, he ignores that one of Taiwan’s leading universities has demonstrated that the Taiwanese identity is growing significantly away from a Chinese identity, which is only approved of 5-6 %. In addition, the young Taiwanese consider China as a foreign country.
PK also makes a wrong assertion, postulating that Taiwan’s former president Chen tried to change the constitution in April. It would have been a headless act when Ma’s party has 72 % of the seats in the parliament. He also presents President Chen as guilty in China’s invasion threats. In his presentation he forgets China’s more than 1,000 missiles pointing at Taiwan, and China’s Anti-Secession Law which allows China to attack Taiwan.
In order to avoid misunderstandings about the wishes of the Taiwanese it is pivotal to know Taiwan’s domestic policy. The reason why the population elected President Ma was the economy, and especially the stagnating payments which have contributed to the dissatisfaction with the previous government. Thus, Ma is exposed to an enormous pressure to deliver economic improvements. Until now Ma has not delivered and his popularity has dropped to 48 percent from 70 percent.
In order to achieve short-sighted economic goals, Ma’s government has surrendered itself to the so-called oral 1992-consensus and thereby turn back the time 16 years. China’s version of the consensus demands that the one-Chine-principle is respected, but that the parties can talk about practical issues.
Taiwan needs more elbow room to navigate as a normal country without China’s prevention of free trade agreements and membership of international organizations. However, China will probably not allow a significant change in Taiwan international status because Taiwan’s democracy can replace Ma, and another president which could use the situation to formal independence.
Taiwan’s population lives in a well-run and rich democracy without any desire to unify with China, and China’s demands to Taiwan are also historic insufficient. Several commentaries to the conflict have the implied presumption that the best thing would be if the parties unify. The unanswered question is why?
