Mr. Lien Chan (
Our basic stance is that we welcome any opinion or action that helps defuse cross-strait tensions and the development of democracy on each side of the Taiwan Strait. Based on our long experience of fighting the CCP, however, and based on our hopes for a healthy development of cross-strait relations, there are a few suggestions that we want to put forward for your reference.
I remember that during the civil war between the KMT and the CCP, the democracy activist Chu Anping (
History has proven this conclusion to be right. In other words, it is an important standard for deciding the difference in the KMT's and the CCP's level of support for democracy.
As the cross-strait relationship has developed, we see ever more clearly that the difference between the system on each side of the Taiwan Strait is what lies at the heart of the problem. Mainstream public opinion in Taiwan generally opposes and distrusts the CCP's totalitarian system. If the China of today already had completed the transition into a new democratic state, we trust that the Taiwanese people's view of China would be greatly transformed. No person or group who truly hopes for the healthy development of cross-strait relations should neglect this fact.
To sum up, whether your point of departure is the KMT's founding ideals or the cross-strait relationship, we sincerely hope that during your visit to China you will be able to represent the KMT in bringing up the issue of democratization with the CCP.
We know that the KMT advocates eventual cross-strait unification, but we believe that, unless China becomes democratic, this is an unrealistic vision. Since the KMT now has the opportunity to engage in face-to-face talks with the CCP, it should be the KMT's unshirkable duty to clearly inform the CCP's leadership of the Taiwanese people's hopes for the democratization of China.
We are aware that the KMT has placed strong emphasis on the significance of democratic values when dealing with certain social issues that have occurred during Taiwan's development. We sincerely hope that these ideals will be given equal importance during talks with the CCP.
On the other hand, if a third round of talks between the KMT and the CCP are limited to discussing the protection of Taiwanese businesspeople and their interests, or technical issues such as Taiwanese agricultural exports, and avoid the basic problems in the cross-strait relationship or shy away from offering constructive criticism of the CCP's political system, then not only will we be disappointed, but that would also have a negative impact on your party's status and image.
If your party does not remain firm in its opinions, there is a risk that it will be used by the CCP as a propaganda tool. We do not wish to affect your party's policies, but only want to offer the lessons we have learned after many years of fighting the CCP as a point reference for you and the KMT. We beg your forgiveness should this letter have offended you.
Wang Dan is chairman of the Chinese Constitutional Reform Association.
Translated by Perry Svensson
On Sept. 3 in Tiananmen Square, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) rolled out a parade of new weapons in PLA service that threaten Taiwan — some of that Taiwan is addressing with added and new military investments and some of which it cannot, having to rely on the initiative of allies like the United States. The CCP’s goal of replacing US leadership on the global stage was advanced by the military parade, but also by China hosting in Tianjin an August 31-Sept. 1 summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which since 2001 has specialized
In an article published by the Harvard Kennedy School, renowned historian of modern China Rana Mitter used a structured question-and-answer format to deepen the understanding of the relationship between Taiwan and China. Mitter highlights the differences between the repressive and authoritarian People’s Republic of China and the vibrant democracy that exists in Taiwan, saying that Taiwan and China “have had an interconnected relationship that has been both close and contentious at times.” However, his description of the history — before and after 1945 — contains significant flaws. First, he writes that “Taiwan was always broadly regarded by the imperial dynasties of
A large part of the discourse about Taiwan as a sovereign, independent nation has centered on conventions of international law and international agreements between outside powers — such as between the US, UK, Russia, the Republic of China (ROC) and Japan at the end of World War II, and between the US and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) since recognition of the PRC as the sole representative of China at the UN. Internationally, the narrative on the PRC and Taiwan has changed considerably since the days of the first term of former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) of the Democratic
A report by the US-based Jamestown Foundation on Tuesday last week warned that China is operating illegal oil drilling inside Taiwan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Island (Dongsha, 東沙群島), marking a sharp escalation in Beijing’s “gray zone” tactics. The report said that, starting in July, state-owned China National Offshore Oil Corp installed 12 permanent or semi-permanent oil rig structures and dozens of associated ships deep inside Taiwan’s EEZ about 48km from the restricted waters of Pratas Island in the northeast of the South China Sea, islands that are home to a Taiwanese garrison. The rigs not only typify
RSS