To Love Taiwan with Veritable Truth, Rationality and Seek a New Cross-Strait Consensus Series Part 4: Fear, Fear, Fear! Tear Down Psychological Wall of Fearing Reunification

 To Love Taiwan with Veritable Truth, Rationality and Seek a New Cross-Strait Consensus Series Part 4:

 Fear, Fear, Fear! Tear Down Psychological Wall of Fearing Reunification

China Times Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)

June 7, 2017

 Translation of an Except

The Mainland’s system is different from Taiwan’s. People in Taiwan believe in democracy, freedom and pluralistic values; they like to vote for their leaders and do not accept one-party politics and the collective leadership system of the Mainland, thus fearing reunification. The recent years have seen the rise of the Mainland's economy, elevating its international status; in contrast, Taiwan’s competitiveness has gradually been drained; its GDP has fallen to a level equal to the Mainland’s provinces; the per capita GDP has fallen behind Shenzhen, with its impact on the international society trailing behind the Mainland. Three factors, i.e., anti-Chinese sentiment, anti-Mainland system, and the draining of competitive edge, added together constitute Taiwan society’s mentality of fearing reunification.

However, the mentality of fearing reunification cannot be interpreted to mean the society supports splittism or the so-called "natural pro-independence." Public opinion surveys on the DPP’s anniversary in power show that the public have never wavered in their conviction that they demand cross-Strait relations continue to move forward, and their will has even more determined to demand cross-Strait peace. We believe that as long as the cross-Strait political divergences restart from compassion, making appropriate arrangements for disputes which have been shelved, build a broader platform for letting cross-strait exchanges flow like the waters of the Yangtze and Yellow River, then the so-called "de-sinicization and splittist activities" naturally cannot become barriers that would block both sides from realizing the China dream.

The cross-Strait political confrontation is the main cause creating the stagnation and even backpedalling of cross-Strait relations. If we want to continue to promote cross-Strait meeting of the minds, we must first shelve disputes over sovereignty. Lamentably, because of the manipulations of pan-pro-independence groups, the situation has led to Beijing’s flip-flopping in its attitude toward cross-Strait political divergences, sometimes exhibiting flexibility, letting Taiwan see hope, other times pouring cold water on Taiwan people by tightening the screws. Instead of blaming the Mainland, the DPP should do some soul-searching. If all its undertakings demonstrate attempts to build a "new nation," hoping to realize Taiwan independence or seeking "two Chinas," "one China and one Taiwan," or self-alienation, then how does it expect the Mainland to treat Taiwan as "one family"? At the same time, Beijing should also give space for discussing the joint creation of "a one China in the future," jointly studying a feasible mode, and jointly exploring future possibilities; this would be conducive to breaking down psychological barriers.

Xi Jinping has said numerous times that "reunification is not a reunification in form but is the meeting of the minds across the Strait”; this not only requires Beijing to insist on peaceful reunification, it also tells its Taiwan policy must win the hearts of people on Taiwan. Especially in the progression from promoting the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations to peaceful reunification, it also should pay more attention to the psychological feelings of the people in Taiwan so as to achieve a meeting of the minds. Authorities across the Strait should immediately push for political dialogue, and conclude once again a new consensus for shelving disputes, moving toward dissolving the deadlock, and pounding the most critical gavel for breaking down the barriers of the mind and for realizing the renaissance of the nation. 

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