Chen Shui-bian's Words Tell His Untrustworthiness and Political Naivety

Home>>Opinion

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, August 06, 2002

Chen Shui-bian's Words Tell His Untrustworthiness and Political Naivety

Sometimes, it's hard to assess a man's wisdom or sanity until he speaks up. Having said that each side (across the Taiwan Straits) is a country, Chen might feel quite relieved, unaware, however, that he has actually confessed his lack of two valuables to a political leader: trustworthiness and good judgment.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Sometimes, it's hard to assess a man's wisdom or sanity until he speaks up.

Last weekend, Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian finally let out words long smothering in his heart: With Taiwan and Chinese mainland on each side of the (Taiwan) Straits, each side is a country.

He also suggested Taiwan should amend its laws to allow a so-called referendum to decide Taiwan's future.

Having uttered this, Chen might feel quite relieved, unaware, however, that he has actually confessed his lack of two valuables to a political leader: trustworthiness and good judgment.

Everyone who has ever heeded Taiwan's affairs should remember that Chen marginally won the 2000 local presidency election only after promising that he would not put Taiwan's future to a referendum (although the internal division within the Kuomintang during the election also in a way helped his win).

Now, with those words still ringing at our ears, he bites them back.

With two-year experience in power, Chen should know that for a statesman, his most reliable resource is nothing but his trustworthiness.

Nonetheless, his straight swallow of his promise forces us to conclude that what is in his mind is by no means Taiwan people's appeal for peace, prosperity and stability, but the selfish interests of his party and himself.

Wrong calculation

For a time, Chen has appeared reserved on the issue of Taiwan's independence. He has even posed to talk with the Chinese mainland on thawing the political frost and help to promote business exchanges across the Taiwan Straits.

But immediately he withdraws, once the mainland central government agrees to talk over whatsoever as long as within the One-China frame.

Now his hypocrisy is bone-bare: He does not want a peaceful reunification. He simply wants two countries along the Straits - the same route as former Taiwan leader Lee Teng-hui.

But one question is why Chen has changed so dramatically.

Over two weeks, he has shifted from advocating "walk down our own Taiwanese road" to blaring to split China.

The arch-worry of pro-independence activists in Taiwan is the central government's reserve of a military take-back of Taiwan if the latter blindly head for independence.

So, Chen might have mustered some courage from the United States' recent promise to hand over to him another couple of advanced weapons, for example submarines and missiles, and scale up the relationship between Taipei and Washington.

But anyone who has got some sense of the politics in Washington, Taiwan's self-granted closest friend, should know that if a man pays a true attention to a small handful of hazy-headed politicians' mumbles, he has actually got baited.

In the US house and senate, both as noisy as a hot bazaar, it is no surprise to hear any kind of voices. If one or two voices make Chen feel heartened, he is actually self-cheating.

One point is clear; Uncle Sam will never risk ramming into China only for a small island, whose strategic significance has greatly discounted with the end of the Cold War.

This is especially true after the "September 11" tragedy: Washington's No 1 global concern now is fighting terrorism. From its Middle East diplomacy to its Asia-Pacific strategy, anti-terrorism is of the first priority.

Moreover, with its entry of the World Trade Organization, China is opening up its big domestic market, of which on one does not want to get a spoon.

Under this circumstances, can Chen expect Washington to sacrifice its business benefit and anti-terrorism strategy to launch another hot war?

To remember this, Chen might as well heed what US National Security Council spokesman Sean McCormack said on Sunday: "Our policy with respect to China is well-known and long-standing and has not changed."

A one-end lane

Maybe, Chen is just throwing a pebble to fathom Beijing's reaction to estimate how far he can wade into the waters of independence.

This is really unnecessary: He should turn to his godfather Lee Teng-hui, whose full-of-blister feet will surely show him that "Taiwan's independence" is a way without a trace of light.

One stark prospect is that no Chinese will budge any inch on the matter of the motherland's reunification with Taiwan.

Taiwan issue is, after all, a vestige of the civil war 53 years ago. When and how the central government wants to clear it is simply a question of time. But a peaceful reunification is obviously to the best good of all Chinese across the Straits

It is funny when a person treats illusion as reality.

But when Chen leads, for his political naivety, Taiwan to the brink of war, he is burying with himself the lives of the 23 million Taiwanese.

By PD Online staff Allan Tsui

Questions?Comments? Click here

Nobody Allowed to Separate Taiwan from China in Any Form: Spokesman

Taiwan Leader's Remarks Could Lead to Crisis: Experts

Chinese Americans Condemn Chen's Pro-independence Statements

WTO Chief Says China is a Responsible Member ( 2 Messages)

Experts Reject 'China Threat' Theory ( 35 Messages)

HK Financial Secretary Confirmed Marriage with Chinese Diving Queen ( 18 Messages)

China's High-tech Development Geared to Marketable Industries ( 16 Messages)

Christian Designs Found in Tomb Stones of Eastern Han Dynasty ( 36 Messages)

Missing Chinese Girl Found Safe in US East Coast ( 3 Messages)