Intensified 'gradual Taiwan independence' does more harm: commentary

Home>>Opinion

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, February 12, 2004

Intensified 'gradual Taiwan independence' does more harm: commentary

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Since taking office, Chen Shuibian-led Taiwan authorities have always comprehensively advanced "gradual Taiwan independence" by antagonizing the Chinese nation, ostracizing Chinese culture and clearing away Chinese characteristics, a recent article in PLA Daily said. In doing so, Chen placed the focus on consolidating Lee Teng-hui's "independence achievements", while in the meantime, made "gradual advance" in the fields such as social ideology, ethics, science, culture, education, science and technology and the military, with the result that the "Taiwan independence" ideology has spread in the Island, doing increasing harms.

"Gradual Taiwan independence" further intensified

The Chen Shui-bian authorities have been fanatically pushing their "de-China" scheme. In ideological and political fields they play the card of "independence" by provoking and intensifying "ethnic conflicts", making confrontations between "Chinese" and "Taiwanese", and "non-native power" and "native power". the focus on getting rid of all kinds of slogans, marks, symbols, features, designs and names that symbolize China, and replace them with the name of "Taiwan". They ordered their "departments stationed in foreign countries" to replace the so-called "national emblem" with plum design; add "TAIWAN" on "passport of the Republic of China"; and made arrangements for renaming "Taipei offices" stationed in "countries with no diplomatic relations" as "Taiwan offices"...

The Chen Shui-bian authorities openly support the "Taiwan name-rectification movement". It is originally a trick played by local radical "independence" forces. Under both internal and external pressure, Chen Shui-bian dared not to declare his open support for the campaign when he took office, but used it as a cover for his own "gradual independence". When he felt he had become full-fledged, he jumped to the front stage to personally bolster up the "Taiwan name-rectification" activity.

The Chen Shui-bian authorities desperately pursue "cultural independence". They distort and partition history by denying Taiwan as part of Chinese territory since ancient times, calling post-Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) history as "foreign history" and agitating public universities to put the original "Chinese language" departments into "foreign literature" faculties. They even "revamp" institutions that give concentrated embodiment to traditional Chinese culture such as the "imperial palace" in Taipei, and increase the display of "local relics" of Taiwan as well as "world relics", while listing the existing relics as "Chinese relics".

Meanwhile, the Chen Shui-bian authorities wantonly advertise colonial culture, energetically sow dissension between Taiwan compatriots and the Chinese mainland, fan up hostility toward the mainland and prate about the "mainland's indifference to and bullying of Taiwan". Besides, the local leadership also vigorously institute the so-called "Taiwan language education", in which they patched up a set of "general pinyin" based on southern Fujian dialects to replace the "Scheme for the Chinese Phonetic Alphabet", stipulating that primary school pupils must learn the said dialect which must also be used in the questions of examination for the promotion of public servants.

The Chen Shui-bian authorities also wildly push "military independence". They carry out within Taiwan army education on the "elimination of anti-independence" acts, "obedience to the new commander" and "hostility toward the mainland", and have quickened their steps to turn the army into a new position and a tool for "Taiwan independence". The Chen Shui-bian authorities have increased weaponry purchase from the West, planning to buy weapons worth 70 billion new Taiwan dollars each year in the 10 years starting from 2005, in a vain attempt to use advanced foreign arms to boost implementation of their strategy of "armed resistance to reunification.

Apparently, "gradual Taiwan independence" is an opportunity by which the Chen Shui-bian authorities make full use of "Taiwan independence" forces for their administration, hit out in all directions and make a breach in key areas in an attempt to advance "independence" to various social fields in the Island and "green a DPP-styled Taiwan", so as to realize their "timetable for Taiwan independence".

New tricks to deceive people

Knowing full well that "open declaration of Taiwan independence is but a dead end", the Chen Shui-bian authorities changed their tactics to vigorously push "gradual independence", a way more deceptive and practical, without changing the nature, direction and action of "Taiwan independence".

The first trick is to cover up the truth. The local leadership engages itself much in "playing with words", saying something like "consensus without consensus", "there is no '1992 Consensus' but only '1992 Spirit'", "there is no '92 Consensus' when all documents are searched"��in order to refuse and deny the "One China" principle.

The second trick is to seek alliance. To please certain foreign forces the Chen Shui-bian authorities trumpet the "China threat" theory. The promotion of "pragmatic diplomacy" and "internationalization of the Taiwan issue" are also the basic aims of the local leadership. Only Chen's attempt to split the country or create "one China or one Taiwan" is incompatible with the world trend and international norms and his search for international alliance often proves to be futile and brings disgrace on himself.

The third trick is slander and provocation. The Chen Shui-bian authorities advocate the "sacredness of Taiwan independence", distort the realization of peaceful reunification of the motherland according to the "one China, two systems" principle and acceptance of the "92 consensus" into something like the Chinese mainland "swallowing up" and "dwarfing" Taiwan. They position the two sides across the Taiwan Straits as "each side is a country", label anti-independence parties and individuals as "a clique betraying Taiwan" and try every means to defame the mainland and sow discord between ethnic groups on the Island.

Although the Chen Shuibian authorities and other "Taiwan independence" forces bear grudges against each other, but for the "Taiwan independence" objective, they make use of each other, and "have division of work without breaking up the family", Chen Shuibian often uses the soft tactic to ingratiate the middle voters, while Lee Teng-hui and other "basic creed factions of Taiwan independence" wear the black makeup on the stage to enhance "Taiwan independence awareness". They boost each other in a roundabout manner, and first take a big step to probe and "ask the way" leading to "Taiwan independence", then they take a small step back to "consolidate" and "take root", trying to advance to ultimate "Taiwan independence" step by step.

"Referendum" an attempt to deepen "gradual independence"

Since doing their utmost to promote the passing of the "referendum law", the Chen Shui-bian authorities, disregarding the vital interests of Taiwan people and opposition from the international community, have repeatedly clamored for a "defensive referendum" during the "March 20" election period. Public opinion holds that Chen is using "defensive referendum" as a tool of election, behind which is the craze of independence forces unscrupulously playing with fire. Their fight for "re-election" aims to continue their fight for "independence".

"Defensive referendum" is an important means for "gradual independence" whereby to "show off sovereignty of Taiwan" by a "legal" symbol and justify "independence" awareness. Chen's description of the "defensive referendum" as "deepening and consolidating democracy" aims to resist reunification and deceive international opinion by playing the "democracy card". The "March 20" referendum is only an exploration, once the "independence" forces deem the time is ripe, they would dish out an "independence referendum". Therefore, the "defensive referendum" must never be viewed as a mere trick of rigging up votes

It is predicted with certainty that as time passes, under the Island's mainstream popular will "in quest of peace, stability and development" and under the general trend featuring the development of cross-Strait relations and expansion of cross-Strait exchanges, "gradual Taiwan independence" can only be a road that leads nowhere.

By People's Daily Online

Questions?Comments? Click here

"Gradual Independence" Is Open Defiance: Scholars

'Taiwan Independence': Root Cause of Tense Cross-Strait Relations

"Gradual independence of Taiwan" will never succeed

Why Lai Changxing's appeal to Canadian court rejected? ( 6 Messages)

Japan decides to further cut back economic aid to China ( 30 Messages)

US media urge gov't not to surrender China market to EU ( 2 Messages)

Bird flu detected in US as virus wanes in Asia ( 2 Messages)

Handling Sino-Japan ties in an overall perspective ( 4 Messages)