(Third in a Series of "Let’s Be Candid”) Taiwan Is a Founding Stockholder, How Could It Forfeit its Rights?

  (Third in a Series of "Let’s Be Candid”)

Taiwan Is a Founding Stockholder, How Could It Forfeit its Rights?

 China Times Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)

March 28, 2017

 Translation of an Except

"Taiwan independence" is ​​the DPP’s core advocacy, but it has been used for sloganeering, not for real promotion. In 1991, the DPP adopted the "Taiwan independence platform," proposing the advocacies of ​​"establishing a sovereign, independent, and autonomous Republic of Taiwan" and "authoring a new constitution." In 1999, the DPP, in order to win the election, declared in its "Resolution on Taiwan's Future ": "Taiwan is a sovereign independent state... it is called the Republic of China according to the current Constitution." The DPP also believes that Taiwan has been independent, only the national title is temporarily called the Republic of China; if people want to change the status quo, an agreement must be secured through a plebiscite. In 2016, the DPP assumed power, controlling both the Executive and Legislative branches of government, completely accepting the reality that "Taiwan independence" could be used for sloganeering, but not for real promotion.

The DPP advocates that "Taiwan is a sovereign, independent state" and “Taiwan’s future shall be decided by its 23 million people.” Ma Ying-jeou's Kuomintang (KMT) advocated “the Republic of China (ROC) is a sovereign, independent state” and the “ROC’s future shall be decided by its 23 million people.” The difference is that Tsai Ing-wen considers the other side of the Strait a “foreign state”; Ma Ying-jeou’s KMT, on the other hand, defined cross-Strait relations as “not one country.” However, in essence, for both of them, cross-Strait relations are a “relationship” with an entity different from ourselves.

Under all leaders from Lee Teng-hui on down, Taiwan either actively or passively, either proactively or allowing both sides of the Strait to become “strangers” from “us becoming not one of us.” In reality, regardless of provincial origins, natives of Taiwan or other provinces, the ancestors of the majority of people on Taiwan all came from China. From the very beginning, Taiwan has had the best advantages owning China as its hinterland, coalescing further with the world, and entering the world market. Taiwan has not only forsaken its birthright, but has also drummed up antagonism toward China. This approach of shying away and withdrawing has caused Taiwan to denigrate from a rose in full bloom--a radiant dragon in Asia-- to a withering flower with no future, eliciting a sigh of regret from other countries.

The Republic of China, now anchored in Taiwan, is a founding stockholder of China; cutting off from China means exactly cutting off from the road of survival and development. With stupidity prevalent among political figures, both Blue and Green, the people of Taiwan must not follow their stupidity. They should actively reassert the role of a founding stockholder, demanding to exercise the rights and interests of a stockholder.

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