In addressing the issue of workplace bullying, Taiwan’s response has been that of a rational and civilized society. However, China’s frequent use of political and military intimidation to prevent Taiwan from becoming a normal country are threats far worse than bullying — why then, do some political parties swallow this humiliation?
Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) — who served two terms as Taipei’s mayor — and current Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) have both behaved courteously in the face of humiliation during the Taipei-Shanghai Twin-City Forum.
As mayor, Ko insisted on holding the forum despite opposition. Many big bosses scrambled to get a table at the forum, and many have been revealed to be on the list of people involved in Ko’s corruption scandal.
Chiang claims to be a proud member of the family of former presidents Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) and Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國), yet he holds no regard for his great grandfather’s and grandfather’s anti-communist spirit. Prior to his election, Chiang Wan-an insisted that the forum would not be held if the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) continued its military harassment of Taiwan — but he went back on his word and held the event. He even accepted the unequal condition that the forum would only be attended by Shanghai Vice Mayor Hua Yuan (華源). Chiang clearly deceived voters.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) sees Taiwan’s Republic of China (ROC) as a remnant of China — a fragment of its regime that fled to Taiwan — and seeks to eliminate it swiftly. The ROC is no longer under the control of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), but the KMT still intentionally views the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) — a party that came to power through a fair, democratic process — with more hostility than the CCP. This explains why the KMT reacts strongly to domestic workplace bullying, but disregards China’s incessant bullying of Taiwan.
Throughout the Twin-City Forum, neither Ko nor Chiang treated Taiwan with the dignity of an equal sovereign nation — instead, they subordinated themselves to a country that wishes to annex Taiwan. They prioritized their relationship with the People’s Republic of China while harboring animosity toward the ruling DPP, thereby failing to cherish the value of Taiwan’s democratization.
The Taipei side of the Twin-City Forum insists that there are benefits to exchanges. However, since the forum’s inception, it has failed to truly improve or promote the foundational cross-strait relationship via the two cities. Instead, it has become a tool for China’s “united front” propaganda efforts against Taiwan, while Taipei continues to submit to and flatter Shanghai. With the goal of annexation, China continues its military threats toward Taiwan. China is entirely ill-intentioned, and the forum serves as nothing but a political facade — an echo of Taipei’s placation in the face of China’s bullying.
In response to China’s harassment, Taiwan must adopt the attitude of a normal country — only when it respects itself can it expect to earn the respect of others. The fight against harassment should not be limited to discussions about workplace bullying. Politicians must also take a firm stance against China’s persistent bullying of Taiwan.
Chiang broke his pre-election promises, washing his hands clean of his father and grandfather. These anti-Taiwan political parties are welcoming China’s harassment.
Lee Min-yung is a poet.
Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
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