Since the late 1980s, Taiwan has undergone a democratic transformation, including the lifting of martial law and bans on political parties and newspapers, and the holding of complete legislative elections and even direct presidential elections.
On the surface, the nation seems to already have accomplished its democratic reform process. However, judging from the performance of many politicians and members of the media, the foundations of our democracy are unstable.
Particularly, the "Greater China" consciousness often overrides democratic values, and is therefore threatening our democratic politics.
Many media outlets are still controlled by this "Greater China" consciousness, and a Taiwan-centric consciousness is often oppressed or smeared. Under such circumstances, opinions that uphold democratic ideals based on Taiwan's localization are especially valuable. The Lee Shiao-feng Column (
Lee, a professor at Shih Hsin University, analyzes things from the perspective of a historian. Using his articles to correct wrongs and fight against the "Greater China" consciousness, Lee can be called a sharp pen in Taiwan's democratization debate.
On the one hand, he mocks and satirizes politicians with a sense of humor. On the other hand, he interprets and analyzes news using his rich historical knowledge, which makes his articles cheerful to read.
Therefore, my wife and I have developed the habit of reading his column. My better half particularly enjoys his column, and often cuts his articles from the Liberty Times to preserve them.
As Lee says, many people are opposing Taiwan independence while living in an independent Taiwan.
This is complete hypocrisy, and a matter of self-alienation.
This phenomenon is shaped by many factors, but I believe that people's ignorance of their own land is perhaps one of the main reasons.
Taiwan has in the past experienced the rule of many foreign regimes. As those in power change, the target of the Taiwanese people's identification also changes, and so the teaching of our history has never completely taken root in Taiwan.
Lee has devoted himself to the teaching of history. Through the influence of history, he hopes to help more people know this land and the history behind it, so as to build their national identity.
After all, people can only identify with their land after truly understanding it. Identification without understanding is empty.
Promoting Taiwan consciousness is not advancing the division of ethnic groups. On the contrary, Taiwan consciousness is the glue that unites all residents.
I firmly believe that ethnic diversity is not the nation's original sin. Instead, it is a precious asset bequeathed to this land by history. The different ethnic groups in this nation will gradually form a community with a shared destiny and generate even more splendid cultural sparks.
If we all show compassion and tolerance, and put aside prejudices in order to build national identity, the Taiwanese people will certainly create a diverse and unique culture of their own someday. At that time, we will stride proudly ahead and walk our own way.
I believe that Lee's efforts over the years to write books and expound his doctrines will not be in vain.
Lee Teng-hui is the former president of Taiwan.
TRANSLATED BY EDDY CHANG
It is employment pass renewal season in Singapore, and the new regime is dominating the conversation at after-work cocktails on Fridays. From September, overseas employees on a work visa would need to fulfill the city-state’s new points-based system, and earn a minimum salary threshold to stay in their jobs. While this mirrors what happens in other countries, it risks turning foreign companies away, and could tarnish the nation’s image as a global business hub. The program was announced in 2022 in a bid to promote fair hiring practices. Points are awarded for how a candidate’s salary compares with local peers, along
China last month enacted legislation to punish —including with the death penalty — “die-hard Taiwanese independence separatists.” The country’s leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), need to be reminded about what the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has said and done in the past. They should think about whether those historical figures were also die-hard advocates of Taiwanese independence. The Taiwanese Communist Party was established in the Shanghai French Concession in April 1928, with a political charter that included the slogans “Long live the independence of the Taiwanese people” and “Establish a republic of Taiwan.” The CCP sent a representative, Peng
Japan and the Philippines on Monday signed a defense agreement that would facilitate joint drills between them. The pact was made “as both face an increasingly assertive China,” and is in line with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s “effort to forge security alliances to bolster the Philippine military’s limited ability to defend its territorial interests in the South China Sea,” The Associated Press (AP) said. The pact also comes on the heels of comments by former US deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger, who said at a forum on Tuesday last week that China’s recent aggression toward the Philippines in
The Ministry of National Defense on Tuesday announced that the military would hold its annual Han Kuang exercises from July 22 to 26. Military officers said the exercises would feature unscripted war games, and a decentralized command and control structure. This year’s exercises underline the recent reforms in Taiwan’s military as it transitions from a top-down command structure to one where autonomy is pushed down to the front lines to improve decisionmaking and adaptability. Militaries around the world have been observing and studying Russia’s war in Ukraine. They have seen that the Ukrainian military has been much quicker to adapt to