In the jungle of a southeast Asian country, an elephant calf fell into a deep well. The mother elephant was deeply upset and agitated. She walked to the main road and wailed, hoping that a passing vehicle would come to her aid. Most people, not understanding what she was doing, paid no attention to her pleas. Eventually, a truck driver stopped out of curiosity.
He followed the elephant to the well and saw what had happened. He immediately called for help. Workers arrived, digging the mud out to save the calf. The mother elephant was elated. She could finally take her baby back to the jungle.
The people cheered.
As the saying goes: Saving a life is a nobler act than building a seven-story pagoda for Buddha.
“Life” applies to human beings and animals.
Another story is even more touching. Two elephant calf siblings fell into a well. They could not get out. The mother elephant was afraid they would drown, so she got into the well and held the baby elephants above the water.
The father elephant sought help elsewhere. Whenever he saw a vehicle passing, he knelt down.
A driver stopped and discovered what was happening, and called for an excavator to save the three elephants. Thanks to the mother elephant and help from a human being, the calves were saved.
Similarly, Ukraine is being attacked by its hostile neighbor Russia. European countries and the US offer help out of humanity and fear of being attacked by Russia.
Taiwanese have also taken on some responsibility. In addition to generous donations from the government and the public, some young Taiwanese have volunteered to help the Ukrainian army.
However, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has sneered at such actions.
Some KMT members have mocked Ukrainians, saying they lack understanding. It was because the Ukrainians provoked Moscow that Russia invaded, some KMT members say.
The KMT also said that some Taiwanese were stupid enough to support Ukraine. They seem to believe that Taiwanese should protect themselves only.
The two elephant stories are worth thinking about. The well is like the “one China” principle. If Taiwan were to “jump into the well,” no other nations could save it even if they wanted to.
However, if Taiwan were to accidentally fall into the well and was trying its best to find a way out, the international community would become the people who saved the elephants. They would not pass by without understanding. Out of a sense of humanity and the fear of being caught in the same situation, nations would step up.
Taiwan’s security has everything to do with the survival of the international community.
If Taiwanese had not offered Ukraine assistance, who would help when it is in trouble?
How can the KMT be so cruel? Does it deserve any support from Taiwanese?
Teng Hon-yuan is a university professor.
Translated by Emma Liu
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