PFP Legislator Kao Ming-chien (
China is a problem for Taiwan both internationally and domestically. It is putting pressure on Taipei internationally. Taiwan joined the WTO not only due to trade needs, but also to gain visibility in international organizations. China put pressure on the WTO secretariat in an attempt at changing the name and status under which Taiwan could join the organization, something which Taipei firmly refused. Taiwan has made seven attempts to gain WHO observer status, both to give its people the medical treatment they deserve and to carve out some international living space.
Both sides of the Taiwan Strait have expended huge resources on winning diplomatic allies. Even though Taipei never will get more diplomatic allies than China, it is important for it to maintain a minimum number. Each time Taiwan's president visits a diplomatic ally, China does its best to stop him from crossing the borders of non-diplomatic allies, while Taipei does its utmost to break through China's defense lines. Taipei's purchases of defensive weapons is a necessary effort to avoid being militarily annexed by China. As soon as Beijing hears about a new purchase, it applies all the pressure it can. Taipei's efforts to avail itself of every opportunity are meant to send an important message to the international community -- Taiwan is a sovereign and independent state.
The PRC has ruled the Chinese mainland since 1949, while the Republic of China (ROC) has ruled Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu. The ROC was founded in 1911, long before the PRC was born in 1949, and the ROC government has all along maintained effective rule over Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu. For more than half a century, the people on either side of the Taiwan Strait have never paid any taxes or fulfilled any civic duties to the government on the opposite side. The two sides are mutually independent and sovereign states.
The concept that "one China means the PRC" that Beijing is trying to push on the international community is concerned only with power. The international confusion between PRC and ROC passports affects the right to travel of the Taiwanese. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' announcement that it will add "Taiwan" to the cover of ROC passports is meant to further differentiate the two.
The Kao incident only serves to awaken the people's awareness of this nation's sovereignty and identification with Taiwan. It will not tolerate being confused with China. Even though politicians trying to benefit by pandering to both sides of the strait may be temporarily successful, clever talk about "one China" will only result in being abandoned by the people once their awareness of Taiwanese sovereignty is awakened.
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