Pondering on the Death of Liu Xiaobo on the 30th Anniversary of the Lifting of Martial-Law Rule

 Pondering on the Death of Liu Xiaobo on the 30^th Anniversary of the Lifting of Martial-Law Rule

China Times Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)

July 15, 2017

 Translation of an Except

On July 15, two political events were circling in the skies over Taipei, becoming the topic of media, the Internet, and activities of many social groups, even on occasions of many social gatherings. One is the 30th anniversary of the lifting of martial-law rule in Taiwan; the second is that Liu Xiaobo, a Mainland civil rights activist, died on the 13^th. The two events of different nature, however, because of circumstances, entered the same platform for dialogue, pointing out the issues of political predicaments that each side of the Strait faces. Of course, in the democracy lessons that Taiwan faces, whether the essence of the issues, progression of democracy, or the challenges it confronts, all are different from those of the Mainland; however, both sides face the question of the "next step in democracy." Governments and people across the Strait must fathom and ponder this question.

30 years ago, Chiang Ching-kuo proclaimed the lifting of martial-law rule, lifting the ban on new political parties and new newspapers, and allowing army veterans to travel to the Mainland for family business. This was the turning point from authoritarianism towards democracy in Taiwan, starting the progression of deregulation and lifting of taboos in political, economic, social and cultural fields. So much so, the people on Taiwan can now breathe the air of freedom to their heart’s content, and pursue self-realization without any taboos. As far as the Mainland is concerned, the death of Liu Xiaobo pointed out an issue of democracy exclusive to the Mainland, and different from that in Taiwan. “The draft constitution of 2008” written by Liu Xiaobo, which advocates implementing Western democracy similar to that in Taiwan, perhaps is not applicable to today's Mainland. In the midst, there is space for dialectics in doctrines of stages in democratic development, the special political culture of China, and the historical traditions of the Chinese Communist Party.

In the process of practicing democracy in Taiwan, there have been many immature or even unsuccessful places; however, the approach apropos this was not abandoning democracy, but to make democracy more mature. On the Mainland side, when observing and noticing the development of Western democracy in Taiwan, it must "harbor patience." Whether it is Chinese-style democracy or Western-style democracy, both have identical core values. What are the core values of democracy? They are allowing the people to have a happier future, allowing people to have a better life, thus they could attain full self-realization.

In the pursuit of systems, both sides, in reality, face different situations and different difficulties; however, in mentality, they should have the same feelings that "both are Chinese, like one family," wishing each other well, praying for blessings for each other, allowing each other's system to grow and progress without stop, which may serve as a benign point of reference for each other.

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