To the Taiwan Sovereignty Watch (台灣主權觀測站)

Last March I traveled to Taiwan with the intention of observing Taiwan’s election process, which up to then I had only known through Internet news articles. I fully expected the Taiwanese to be so disenchanted with the ruling party such that the KMT would declare overwhelming victory, but I also felt hopeful that the same people who voted for Chen Shui-bian in 2004 would not vote based on their raw, betrayed emotions. In the end I could not believe the results. Not only did the KMT sweep the executive office with ease, the KMT gained a large majority over the DPP such that all branches of government were to become overwhelmingly blue. More than a handful of analysts warned Taiwanese to expect a return to pre- Lee Teng-hui style of martial law. While I was struck by the results, I did not believe Taiwan would fall back so quickly. That is, until Chen Yun-lin’s anticipated arrival. The Ma administration has marginalized freedom of expression among the public, in a type of kowtow to Beijing. Even more disturbing is Ma Ying-jeou’s allusion to voter mandate, as though all of Taiwan supported him during the election process, and should continue to lend him free reign over the shoving of Taiwan to the West.

What I dread most surpasses the threat of China’s aggression or the KMT’s cross-strait policies. I was only able to attend one political rally in March, and that happened to be during Frank Hsieh’s rally speech in Chiayi City the night before the elections. Absent were the scores of youths I was used to seeing in California’s political scene. I walked over to the KMT rally section and found an equally small showing of Taiwan’s younger voting demographic. Why have all of Taiwan’s political burdens fallen on the older generations? While it is true that 228 and the White Terror have been sent to the background of Taiwan’s memory, it is still hard to believe that the 『Strawberry Generation』 has such little interest in its political future.

I also happened to visit China for the first time during early Autumn. Upon my return, I recalled the words of an anonymous ex-KMT soldier who visited China after its doors opened: 『Taiwan is Heaven, China is Hell.』 While I would not consider China to be synonymous with any type of hell at this point, it smacks of a chaotic Purgatory. The Chinese citizens I ran into have restless, self-involved lives, and the society has no resemblance of dynastic tradition. Taiwan, on the other hand, has maintained its aboriginal / Fujian Han / Japanese customs, which are distinct from post-Cultural Revolution China. I cannot imagine why Taiwanese, or even post-WWII / pre-Communist Chinese on Taiwan, would want to unify with the PRC (not re-unify, since combined rule has never occurred with the current Chinese Communist Party).

In Mr. Ma’s defense, the KMT is bringing change to Taiwan as promised. It is a pity that the changes will bring Taiwan back several decades into Imperial rule. If Mr. Ma loves China and her history so much, perhaps he should read up on its Shinhai Revolution. Public discontentment will not be ignored.

Sincerely,

your friend D.W.