Recently, a memorable election campaign video was uploaded. In this short clip, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) is driving on “Democracy Road,” with Vice President William Lai (賴清德) sitting in the front passenger seat. They discuss all kinds of issues related to Taiwan. In the end, Tsai passes the key to Lai, who continues the journey with Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) vice presidential candidate Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴).
The video has been well received. Many comments said that the promotion is unique and not only meaningful, but also touching.
NO ANTAGONISM
In this video, no criticism is made against the DPP candidates’ rivals. The video does not show any antagonistic elements; the atmosphere is far from aggressive or antagonistic. Instead, it is a lighthearted, tranquil campaign video in which Tsai, Lai and Hsiao demonstrate their devotion to Taiwan as they continue their journey on the road of democracy.
As they talk and laugh together, they show their tenderness and determination.
With a pleasant landscape in the background, the car goes from the highways in city areas to narrow paths in the countryside and lastly, it reaches the shore.
The road to democracy cannot be as glamorous and smooth as portrayed in the video. The journey would be full of thorns and hardship, just as how Taiwan has been over the past few years. It has never been easy for Taiwan in the international community, nor has it been unchallenging to deal with domestic issues. Yet eventually, the campaign video displays the most beautiful and charming aspects of Taiwan.
TAIWANESE SPIRIT
Lai and Hsiao are to take Taiwan and move forward with smiles on their faces.
This is precisely the Taiwanese spirit. No matter how many difficulties we have been through, and no matter the price we have had to pay, we will keep pursuing freedom and adhere to democratic values. No matter how turbulent the times are, we can remain positive and hand the baton over to the next generation.
The idea of handing over the baton reminds me of the eve of the 2012 presidential election. That evening, former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) — whose health was failing at the time — attended a DPP campaign event and gave a moving speech. Lee said that for decades, Taiwanese were ruled by a number of different governments, but thanks to our predecessors’ efforts and perseverance, Taiwan could finally be governed by our own president, elected by Taiwanese.
Lee concluded his speech in Hoklo (commonly known as Taiwanese): “I now hand over the baton to you. You are in charge of Taiwan.”
Some voters might be hesitant about the decision we should make. Some might even feel reluctant to cast a ballot.
Yet in a way, voting is just like driving a car. Compared with the moment when we drive up a hill, we might have a stronger and better feeling when we start the car and begin to drive, but to move forward, we must continue to drive rather than stop by the side of the road.
Many of us are getting too used to driving on “Democracy Road,” but we should remember that the road was built through the great efforts of our predecessors.
We must not take it for granted; we should believe in the faith and values of democracy and freedom.
Most importantly, we need to believe in ourselves, taking great care of the baton that has been handed to us.
Ko Chia-wei is a former president of the National Chengchi University Student Association.
Translated by Emma Liu
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