United Daily News Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan)

 

January 30, 2018

 

 Translation of an Excerpt

 

 

 

The US State Department, the US Trade Representative Office, and the Bureau of Consular Affairs under the State Department recently removed ROC flags one after another from their official websites; the people of Taiwan expressed their fury in unison. ROC Foreign Ministry officials also made representations. At the same time, a group of people congratulated themselves, believing that the US non-recognition of the White Star in Blue Sky over Crimson Ground was 100 percent in conformity with their wishes, and felt excited and jubilant. These Taiwan independence movement figures believe that Tsai Ing-wen does not know how to follow the trend and push for Taiwan independence, instead she makes moves to "protect the flag"; for them, it was fundamentally an absurd approach.

 

 

 

 

 

The disputes over the national flag, national anthem, and national title of Taiwan have been in existence for decades; many people all understand that this has been a difficult problem in the struggle for the survival of the Republic of China. Despite inevitable setbacks, they are not matters that defy handling or an unbearable matter; hence, it is not necessary to worry about wins and losses. The problem is that when Tsai Ing-wen repeatedly makes political concessions to the Taiwan independence faction, she only receives needling and ridicule in return, as well as demands for greater concessions, deeming national dignity and security child's play, even allowing other people to doubt "where is the purpose of this country." If Tsai Ing-wen cannot handle these contradictions properly, while believing she could please everybody, then we don’t know what the foundation will be for her leadership in rallying the people.

 

 

 

 

 

When national flags were being removed, there were people who shouted bravo, once we face external invasion, who shall we expect to come to our defense?