Wang Dan Debunks Myth of Emperor’s New Robe

 A UDN Commentary

Wang Dan Debunks Myth of Emperor’s New Robe

Source: United Daily News

June 8, 2017

Wang Dan recently recommended that “With no bloodshed, don’t talk about independence because that will be empty talk.” Almost at the same time, Tainan Mayor Lai Ching-te suddenly started singing “pro-China and loving Taiwan.” In such a case, Wang Dan’s recommendation is truly “empty talk.”

When the DPP was inaugurated 30 years ago, it didn’t dare to openly refer to Taiwan independence. Cheng Nan-jung was furious; he went to the DPP 2^nd National Party Congress, to show his flag, and had a scuffle with attendees resulting in bloodshed.

During the Sunflower Student Movement three years ago, some on the site erected a makeshift shrine for Cheng Nan-jung. Many young people posted pictures of the shrine on Facebook and donned t-shirts bearing Chen Nan-jung’s portrait, then DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen publicly declared that the younger generation was “naturally pro-independence.” The so-called “Taiwan Civil Government” not only made and issued IDs on their own, a few days ago, it even called up crowds, waving Japanese and American national flags at a rally on Ketagalan Boulevard.

Inside Taiwan, “Taiwan independence” was long ago no longer a taboo. However, outside of Taiwan, is the great cause of independence making even miniscule progress? The whole world knows there exist two different political entities across the Strait, but which country did ever support that Taiwan could become independent in jurisprudence by shaking off China? Beijing endlessly stresses that if Taiwan declares independence, it will use force, and even enacted an Anti-Secession Law. The United States, as the biggest security partner, has always had a consistent policy of opposing uninlateral changes to the status quo by either side.

Wang Dan debunked the myth of Taiwan independence, but he has also oversimplified, even twisting the differences of options for Taiwan consciousness, national identity, and the politico-social system. For this reason, both the Blue and Green camps criticized him in unison. Some blamed him for touching on cross-Strait sensitive nerves; others reprimanded him for igniting and encouraging a bloody war. While the independence faction, on the other hand, said that the thinking of a bloody war was something backward, even ridiculing him for harboring sorrow and grievances, feeling that his utilization value had ended.

However, as Lai Ching-te has shifted to being “pro-China and loving Taiwan,” Wang Dan should, in truth, apologize. He has lived in Taiwan for years and maintained close connections with the Green camp; yet he hasn’t seen through that the myth of the Emperor’s new robe should never be debunked. 

Attachment : none