'Gradual Independence' Is Open Defiance: Scholars

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, March 22, 2002

'Gradual Independence' Is Open Defiance: Scholars

Mainland scholars point out that "independence of Taiwan" is a dead end, for peace, stabilization and development are what the Taiwanese desire. Trying to split the island province from the motherland in any way would only defy cross-Straits relations, aggravate tensions, and bring disasters to the Taiwan compatriots.

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The Taiwan authorities are moving towards "gradual independence", defying and aggravating cross- Straits ties, say mainland scholars.

Split attempt in various ways

The attempt has taken place in various ways. One is to stamp the province's name to organizations stationed abroad, in a bid to establish the so-called "fact" of "being a sovereign independent country." They also support a splittist organization, "The World Taiwanese Assembly," which held a convention in Taiwan on March 17.

The Taiwan authorities added the word "Taiwan" to all outgoing passports, and designed a new badge for the "Government Information Office" to replace the former China map pattern. And the hard-liner forces for "Taiwan independence" have openly aired splittist remarks.

Hard to detect, therefore more dangerous

Xu Bodong, director of the Institute of Taiwan Studies in Beijing Union University, said the Taiwan authorities are clear that they will earn international condemnation if they continue preaching "Taiwan independence" openly, so they veered towards a covert strategy.

Taiwan senior officials confirmed the analysis at the just- ended "World Taiwanese Assembly," in which they echoed activists of "Taiwan independence" and proclaimed that their "aims" were " the same."

Li Jiaquan, a research fellow with the Institute of Taiwan Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said "gradual independence" is more dangerous, since it is hard to detect. With the camouflage of "localization" and "nativism," the Taiwan authorities pin their hopes to quantitative change by administrative means in order to split Taiwan from the motherland.

Xu said "gradual independence" defies the one-China principle and erodes the base for peaceful reunification, as well smashing trust across the Taiwan Straits and hurting people's feelings.

Li said three main forces are fighting the separatist: local Taiwan compatriots, overseas Chinese and mainland Chinese. On March 17 the Taiwan compatriots stood in the rain for hours to protest against the "World Taiwanese Assembly."

Scholars point out that "independence of Taiwan" is a dead end, for peace, stabilization and development are what the Taiwanese desire. Trying to split the island province from the motherland in any way would only defy cross-Straits relations, aggravate tensions, and bring disasters to the Taiwan compatriots.

What is "Gradual Independence" of Taiwan?

Since he assumed office, the leader of Taiwan authorities has taken incessant actions for so-called "gradual Taiwan independence":

Ordering the army to cancel anti-"Taiwan independence" education and demolish "national reunification"-related billboards in the barracks;

Tearing down posters relating to "reunification of China" on the square of Taipei;

Regarding Chinese history and Chinese literature as foreign history and foreign literature;

Stopping the use of so-called "national emblem" in offices stationed abroad;

Doing away with the "information bureau" symbols carrying with Chinese maps;

Forcing a certain Taiwan academic body to alter its title of "China" on its annual; and

Putting added character "Taiwan" on the travel documents of the general public in Taiwan.

Through the method of "gradual Taiwan independence", the Taiwan authorities attempt to add up minor changes into major ones, and quantitative change into qualitative change, thereby laying the bedding for final "Taiwan independence", and fulfilling their "dream of Taiwan independence". (In Detail)

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