Essence of Taiwan Authorities' 'Five-aspect Desperate Fight'

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, March 26, 2002

Essence of Taiwan Authorities' 'Five-aspect Desperate Fight'

At a recent meeting, the leader of Taiwan authorities put forward so-called five-aspect desperate fight, i.e., "fight for economy", "fight for diplomacy", "fight for security", "fight for rectification of name" and "fight for constitutional reform".

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The "world Taiwanese meeting" with the background of "independence for Taiwan" was held in Taipei on March 17 this year. The conference agitated "rectifying the name of Taiwan" and "drawing up state constitution". "Taiwan independence" elements from various routes gathered in Taiwan and echoed to each other, their inflated arrogance and undisguised words and deeds have shocked and angered all sons and daughters of the Chinese nation! At the meeting, the leader of Taiwan authorities put forward so-called five-aspect desperate fight, i.e., "fight for economy", "fight for diplomacy", "fight for security", "fight for rectification of name" and "fight for constitutional reform".

Internal and External Background

For quite a while, "Taiwan independence" elements on the Island have been quite arrogant and barefaced. There are two basic reasons for this:

--One is the macro international climate. The most important of which is that the words of the US government do not match its deeds in its China policy. The anti-terrorism struggle and Bush's China visit had somewhat improved and relaxed the situation regarding China-US relations, however, recently the United States issued a visa allowing Tang Yiau-min to visit America; in the US leaked-out report on the "evaluation of the nuclear situation", America listed China as one of the seven countries that might be subject to the nuclear attack to be launched by the United States; recently the United States again announced the dispatch of three nuclear submarines from the Mediterranean Sea to Guam Island in Asia, its aim is self-evident; for quite a time, certain Japanese have echoed the United States in their big talks about "China threat". All these have led Taiwan authorities to think that there is an opportunity for them to take advantage of.

--Second is the micro climate in the Island. The most important of which is that following its seizure of power after winning the "March 18", 2000 election, the Democratic Progressive Party again grabbed the "Legislative Yuan" seat as the first big party through the "December 1" election at the end of last year, at the same time, the newly established Taiwan solidarity union with Lee Teng-hui as its "spiritual leader" also gained 13 seats, these put together added up to 100 seats, although this does not outnumber half of the total, it, after all, means a big increase in seats. One is pushing a "radical Taiwan independence", the other is pursuing "gradual Taiwan independence", both leading to the same goal of "Taiwan independence".

Encouraged by macro international climate and micro island climate, some "Taiwan independence" elements became swell-headed and obsessed with the idea that a golden opportunity has come for them to "rectify the name of Taiwan, and draw up state constitution".

Essence of the "Five-aspect Desperate Fight"

What is the essence of Taiwan authorities' so-called five-aspect desperate fight? To put it in a nutshell, it is that a group of diehard separatists in the Island, supported by anti-China forces abroad, are bent on attempting to realize their dream of "establishing an independent state".

Leaving aside the mentioning of others, here we just take up two representatives coming from the United States and Japan. One is Hsu Shi-mo, chairman of the "Taiwan independence union" headquartered in the United States. Living for a long time in the United States, he is a notorious "Taiwan independence" element. The other is Chin Mei-ling, superficially she is a native of Taiwan, but actually she is a Japanese, and not ordinary Japanese. In the marrow of her bones, she is steeped with the idea of being a "person of the imperial family". She has been living in Japan for over 40 years, and is keeping close ties with Lee Teng-hui. One of them is called "father of Taiwan", and the other is called "mother of Taiwan".

It is with the support and encouragement of the anti-China forces abroad and the representatives of "Taiwan independence" elements that a horde of "Taiwan independence" elements in the Island, like having a shot in the arm, have lost their heads and are crazy with excitement. The leader of Taiwan authorities, in order to express that he has mutual affinity and the same aspiration with them, went so far to personally come to the meeting and, in the capacity of self-styled "son of Taiwan", kissed the face of Chin Mei-ling. He indicated to the "Taiwan independence" elements on the occasion, "I know what you dream and I'll never forget this."

Of the "five-aspect desperate fight", the fight for economy is only a pretense, other so-called "fight for diplomacy," "fight for security", "fight for rectification of name" and "fight for drawing up constitution" are, in the final analysis, fighting for secession and for "Taiwan independence". People must not be tricked and must not relax vigilance!

Illusion Is Sure to Be Broken

Recently, "Taiwan independence" elements in the Island made a great fanfare. The "Taiwan independence" elements are sinking increasingly deep into their fond dream, it is time to jerk and sober them.

Their first illusion is that they thought they had built up quite a big influence in the Island and they had by and large "consolidated" their position after they had seized political power and had become the first big party of the "Legislative Yuan", that the general public of Taiwan would have to follow them, and that counting on this they could do as they please. However, this is an out-and-out miscalculation of the situation. In the two elections on the Island, the votes they got were less than 40 percent, even these 40 percent votes did not all support "Taiwan independence". It must be pointed out here that the Taiwanese, after all, are Chinese, the majority of them, whether they are natives of Taiwan Province or from other provinces, have an impregnable, patriotic feeling. Although historical reasons have caused certain misunderstandings and "complex" between the Chinese across the Straits, with the passage of time, these misunderstanding or "complex" will definitely be diffused.

Their second illusion is they ignore the fact that over 1 billion people on the mainland are determined to defend State sovereignty and territorial integrity. In their eyes, the mainland is busy with economic construction and itself has many problems in need of prompt solutions and simply has no time and strength to attend to the Taiwan issue. Therefore they deem this to be the excellent opportunity for their so-called "rectification of the name of Taiwan and the drawing up of state constitution", this is, likewise a miscalculation of the situation. It should be noticed that the people on the mainland, in an effort to shake off the phase and history of prolonged poverty and backwardness, and the suffering of being bullied and oppressed, are indeed enthusiastically plunging themselves into national economic construction and have gained achievements of world interest. However, they will never tolerate those internal and external evildoers attempting to carve Taiwan out of the motherland. The restraint and tolerance of the mainlanders are limited. Once a change is to take place in the situation and a call is issued by the motherland, they will not hesitate to go through fire and water for the defense of the unification of the country. In a word, their determination to defense the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the motherland is unshakable.

Their third illusion is the promise made by anti-China forces abroad to support the separatist forces in the Island. However, it must not be forgotten that the US foreign policy, including its China policy, always turns around the American national interests. It is inconceivable that the US government and the American people would finally pay the price of their own lives, which they shouldn't do, for the interests of a handful of "Taiwan independence" elements in the Island by ignoring the general situation concerning China-US relations, the over 1 billion Chinese people's desire and demand, and peace in Asia and the world at large. A look back on history shows that those who sought self-importance by relying on foreign forces, pursued glory by selling their own country and even invited a wolf into the house and opposed the people of their own country all came to no good end. They must be aware that past examples serving as a warning are not far to seek.

In short, it is advisable for the Taiwan authorities to keep calm and to be sober-headed.

The above commentary, written by Li Jiaquan on cross-Strait relations, is published on page 5 of People's Daily (Overseas Edition) on March 25.

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