Taiwan's Sorrow and Lee Teng-hui, a Politician Fooled by History

Taiwan's Sorrow and Lee Teng-hui, a Politician Fooled by History

United Daily News Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)

A Translation

August 22, 2015

Executive Summary:

Lee Teng-hui has been playing with other people all his life. But in the end, he cannot escape becoming the plaything of history. Why? Because he can never forget how much he cares about “the glory of being born Japanese.” Because the ROC won the war against Japan, he was relegated to “the sad fate of being born Taiwanese.” Never mind that he was ROC president for twelve years. Never mind that he has lived to be 90. He longs to return to the past, to when he was “born Japanese.”

Full Text Below:

Lee Teng-hui has been playing with other people all his life. But in the end, he cannot escape becoming the plaything of history. Why? Because he can never forget how much he cares about “the glory of being born Japanese.” Because the ROC won the war against Japan, he was relegated to “the sad fate of being born Taiwanese.” Never mind that he was ROC president for twelve years. Never mind that he has lived to be 90. He longs to return to the past, to when he was “born Japanese.”

When the rest of the world was commemorating and reflecting upon the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, former ROC President Lee Teng-hui contributed an article to Japan's right-wing media. Lee regaled them on how he and his brother Lee Teng-ching volunteered for the Japanese Army and Navy. Lee boasted that "Taiwanese back then were Japanese, and fought for the motherland". He denounced President Ma Ying-jeou for commemorating the War of Resistance against Japan. He accused Ma of "harassing Japan" and" currying favor with the CCP". Lee's ludicrous remarks left people stunned. His pro-Japanese rhetoric showed Lee Teng-hui for what he was, a two -faced hypocrite utterly devoid of self-esteem. He is a prisoner of his memories. He is a hostage of history.

Lee Teng-hui was right about Taiwan not taking part in the War of Resistance against Japan. The War of Resistance against Japan was fought by the Republic of China government on the Mainland. Japan used Taiwan as an outpost for its aggression against and plunder of East Asia. But Lee Teng-hui was dead wrong when he said Taiwan and Japan "were both part of one country" 70 years ago. Taiwan was never part of Japan. Taiwan was merely a colony of Japan forcibly annexed through military coercion. Being colonized is no shame. But worship of one's colonial masters and nostalgia for one's colonial status, 70 years after liberation and democratization, are worse than senility. It is an indication that Lee Teng-hui is a victim of Stockholm Syndrome.

The number of Taiwanese similar to Lee Teng-hui who still considers themselves "Japanese imperial subjects" may not be small. But Lee Teng-hui served 12 years as President of the Republic of China. He receives generous retirement perquisites and courtesies reserved for former heads of state. Yet he openly proclaims that "Diaoyutai is Japanese territory," and boasts that he "volunteered to serve in the military of the motherland (Japan) in its struggle [against China]." For an individual in such a position to undermine the sovereignty of the nation and the dignity of its people in such a manner is truly a rarity. For a long time, if the people of Taiwan wish to know the truth about how Lee Teng-hui thinks and feels, they must read the Japanese press. Whenever Lee speaks to the Japanese press, he reflexively abases himself, and begins uttering remarks appropriate only for a subject of the Japanese empire, and totally inappropriate for the former chief executive of another nation. Does this not humiliate the people of Taiwan? Does this not trample over Taiwan's self-identity?

Many years ago, President Lee Teng-hui was interviewed by Japanese author Shiba Ryotaro. Lee spoke of "the sorrow of being born Taiwanese." He lamented Taiwan's prolonged suffering under "rule by foreign regimes." The interview provoked considerable controversy. Some thought it revealed his anti-China sentiment and Taiwan independence mindset. Some interpreted it as heartfelt Taiwanese Nativist sentiment. Now the answer has been revealed. Lee Teng-hui's real lament was being born Japanese but subsequently relegated to Taiwanese, a status inferior to being Japanese because Japan lost the war. In his mind, even becoming President of the ROC failed to compensate for the loss of his Japanese identity.

While the whole world was reflecting upon wars of aggression and colonialism, Lee Teng-hui, who served as ROC President for 12 years, completely ignored Japan's war of aggression against East Asia. Lee pretended not to see the reality of Taiwan's colonization. Instead, he attempted to join the history of Japan's war of aggression out of "personal love and reverence" and "patriotic zeal." Through singing the praises of Japan, he leveled recriminations against the ROC. Was this merely evidence of his idolatry toward all things Japanese? Perhaps he thought that the Republic of China's eight-year long war of resistance against Japan and Taiwan's half century of suffering under Japanese colonial rule was something he could single-handedly hijack and interpose.

Ironically, Lee Teng-hui, who was once hailed as "Mr. Democracy", is now taking the lead in whitewashing Japan's wars of aggression. These are wars that even the Japanese government itself has publicly apologized for. To Japanese of conscience, Lee Teng-hui's words probably provoke discomfort, impropriety, or even shame. Even more seriously, Lee Teng-hui trumpeted "Taiwanese consciousness" for 20 years. Now, the truth is out. Lee shows only idolatry toward Japan and no hint of "Taiwan-centric thought." President Ma thinks Lee's remarks have humiliated the people of Taiwan. Does the DPP consider Lee's remarks acceptable? Can anyone serious about Taiwan independence actually consider Lee Teng-hui, who exhibits not one iota of "Taiwanese consciousness", the "Godfather of Taiwan independence"?

This 90-year old man has deeply rooted identity of feelings. It is unlikely that any outsider can ever change his mind. However, what is alarming is that in contrast to the fact that Lee Teng-hui considers Japan his motherland and the fact that opponents of adjustments to history textbook guidelines idolize Japan, just how much genuine "Taiwan-centric thought" remains in the "Nativist movement" and "Taiwan independence consciousness," which have simmered for years, beneath the facade of the anti-China sentiments?

Lee Teng-hui used "Taiwan's sorrow" to obscure decades of Japanese thought. Strip that away, and all that remains is a beating Japanese heart. How did such a deceitful and Machiavellian individual get away with manipulating Taiwan for so many decades? And how can such a society not regress? 

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