The recent enthusiasm for revisionism in Taiwan is a reminder that the nation's democracy is still in its infancy. At the same time, it is a sign of vigor.
In the latest edition of history textbooks for high school students, Sun Yat-sen (
This change to a 60-year-old practice was inspired by more than just the realization that Sun's position in Taiwanese history is a result of concerted efforts by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT). Rather, it's recognition of the fact that much of what is ailing Taiwanese politics today can be traced back to the KMT's attempts to glorify the occupation of Taiwan by Chiang Kai-shek (
In fact, the new depiction of Sun is just one part of the first significant overhaul of high school textbooks in an attempt to make them more Taiwan-centric. The revamp's purpose of bringing education more in line with the political reality in a country where three direct presidential elections have taken place in the last dozen years should not overshadow its significance in the overall scheme of decolonization of Taiwan. The outcry from former KMT chairman Ma Ying-jeou (
There were years when these colonialists -- disavowed by their home country and severed from their homeland -- were left without much hope of ever being able to fulfill their dreams of returning home in triumph. At one point, late president Chiang Ching-kuo (
But the visits by former KMT chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) to Beijing nearly two years ago changed everything. The pact Lien made with Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) rekindled the dormant colonial sentiment in diehard Chiang followers.
This rekindled hope is the real reason why Ma and the KMT are so resistant to the idea of a new constitution and continue to drag their feet on arms procurement -- they dream of one day unifying with China.
It also helps to explain the pan-blue legislative coalition's fondness for coffer-busting measures such as the 18 percent interest rate on public employee pensions and the NT$40 billion (US$1.21 million) package of largesse for veterans.
Ma's claims that the KMT's stolen assets were acquired legitimately is a tacit admission that the party has always been a colonial presence.
The self-righteousness which Ma and his like exude, seemingly oblivious of how outrageous their attitudes are in the context of a modern democracy, only reinforces the idea that they live in a colonial cocoon of their own creation.
What's most astonishing is that while many are preoccupied with combating the onslaught of colonialism, former president Lee Teng-hui (
At a minimum, he appears to be on the fence.
The public would do well to realize that while individuals might vacillate when it is politically expedient to do so, democratic principles remain constant.
The removal of two paternal icons could serve to strengthen Taiwan's democracy.
Huang Jei-hsuan
California
In their recent op-ed “Trump Should Rein In Taiwan” in Foreign Policy magazine, Christopher Chivvis and Stephen Wertheim argued that the US should pressure President William Lai (賴清德) to “tone it down” to de-escalate tensions in the Taiwan Strait — as if Taiwan’s words are more of a threat to peace than Beijing’s actions. It is an old argument dressed up in new concern: that Washington must rein in Taipei to avoid war. However, this narrative gets it backward. Taiwan is not the problem; China is. Calls for a so-called “grand bargain” with Beijing — where the US pressures Taiwan into concessions
The term “assassin’s mace” originates from Chinese folklore, describing a concealed weapon used by a weaker hero to defeat a stronger adversary with an unexpected strike. In more general military parlance, the concept refers to an asymmetric capability that targets a critical vulnerability of an adversary. China has found its modern equivalent of the assassin’s mace with its high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) weapons, which are nuclear warheads detonated at a high altitude, emitting intense electromagnetic radiation capable of disabling and destroying electronics. An assassin’s mace weapon possesses two essential characteristics: strategic surprise and the ability to neutralize a core dependency.
Chinese President and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Chairman Xi Jinping (習近平) said in a politburo speech late last month that his party must protect the “bottom line” to prevent systemic threats. The tone of his address was grave, revealing deep anxieties about China’s current state of affairs. Essentially, what he worries most about is systemic threats to China’s normal development as a country. The US-China trade war has turned white hot: China’s export orders have plummeted, Chinese firms and enterprises are shutting up shop, and local debt risks are mounting daily, causing China’s economy to flag externally and hemorrhage internally. China’s
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) were born under the sign of Gemini. Geminis are known for their intelligence, creativity, adaptability and flexibility. It is unlikely, then, that the trade conflict between the US and China would escalate into a catastrophic collision. It is more probable that both sides would seek a way to de-escalate, paving the way for a Trump-Xi summit that allows the global economy some breathing room. Practically speaking, China and the US have vulnerabilities, and a prolonged trade war would be damaging for both. In the US, the electoral system means that public opinion
RSS