Two Types of Reunification & Taiwan Independence Will Lead to Reunification without Dignity

 Two Types of Reunification & Taiwan Independence Will Lead to Reunification without Dignity

China Times Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan)

August 20, 2018

 Translation of an Excerpt

The overwhelming majority of Taiwan residents are descendants of Mainlanders; even undergoing Japanese colonial rule, Taiwan has still entirely inherited Chinese culture, celebrating the Lunar New Year and worshipping Matsu. Originally, Taiwan did not have the question of "de-Sinicization"; however, why does the Taiwan independence faction hold "de-Sinicization" as its icon?

From Lee Teng-hui, who "looks at China from the self-identity of Taiwan," to the Chen Shui-bian era, taking a step further, turning into "Taiwan is Taiwan, China is China," and then recently revising textbook guidelines, completely discarding "China," and directly turning into "East Asia." The Taiwan independence faction, to meet its needs for political movement, hopes to cut off the roots and veins for Taiwan culture; we could see its selfishness and egocentrism; however, the DPP is now in complete control of the government; if it truly wanted to be independent, using the two prongs, executive and legislative powers at the same time, who could do anything about the DPP? Not using the powers held in its hands, but talking and writing about certain formal issues, why?

The answer is very simple. It is because Taiwan independence is impossible, i.e., as Chen Shui-bian said, “If I say I could not do it, that means I couldn’t do it," therefore, the DPP wants "de-Sinicization." We oppose the "de-Sinicization" in textbook guidelines, because we are not only afraid that Taiwan’s next generation would hence become "naturally pro-independence" and forget their ancestry, but also because we worry that the children's learning would lose its macro-view, and lose an earlier opportunity to link with Chinese culture, self-forfeiting the advantages of Chinese culture that Taiwan’s people ought to have by birthright.

Independence is not feasible; Taiwan must consider how to be reunified. This is the only conclusion of rational logic. The best reunification is close and intense cross-Strait exchanges, mutual understanding, and the meeting of minds; this will not only be reunification, but also "reintegration." Taiwan could secure the best terms, using the entire Mainland as its hinterland for bustling prosperity.

The worst reunification is amid the impasse of "we cannot achieve Taiwan independence, we are unwilling to be reunified." Taiwan is increasingly being marginalized, isolated, and in a situation that the gap between the relative strengths of the two sides widens every year. Taiwan will eventually lose all the bargaining chips it now has, and be forced to be reunified in a situation where the people across the Taiwan Strait harbor mutual hostilities, while Taiwan people are not treated with dignity.

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