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Tsai, Han Wrestle China Policy on 10/10 National Day |
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President Tsai Ing-wen said no one has patent to the Republic of China.
(Photo from: United Daily News) |
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In Showdown Between Tsai And Han, Crossfire Of Cross-Strait Policies On 10/10 National Day
United Daily News, October 11, 2019
President Tsai: “Republic of China (Taiwan)” is overwhelming consensus of Taiwanese society
Yesterday both President Tsai Ing-wen and Kuomintang (KMT) presidential nominee Han Kuo-yu presented their platforms on cross-strait relations in a direct showdown. Tsai rejected “One Country, Two Systems” and claimed that the Republic of China (Taiwan) was the overwhelming consensus of Taiwanese society. Meanwhile, Han claimed that under the “1992 Consensus” of “One China, subject to respective interpretations” both sides of the Taiwan Strait should restore mutual trust and rebuild mechanisms of dialogue. He would not allow anyone to harm Taiwan, and, if necessary, he would take it to gun point to defend R.O.C. sovereignty. Han said that at present, there are no conditions for unification or independence.
Since Tsai began to assume presidency, from inauguration to National Day, she has always put cross-strait issues towards the last few paragraphs of her speeches. Starting from last year, she began to move it up forward and yesterday she opened her national day speech by mentioning China’s use of “One Country. Two Systems” formula continues to threaten Taiwan. Tsai emphasized that if Taiwan were to accept “One Country, Two Systems,” the R.O.C. would lose her space of existence. As president, she said it is her duty to protect national sovereignty. Standing up is not provocation.
President Tsai stated that, as long as we live on this land, we could not divide among ourselves. The Republic of China is not anyone’s patent, neither could Taiwan be monopolized by anyone. The words “Republic of China (Taiwan)” are neither blue nor green color-wise; this is the overwhelming consensus of Taiwanese society. Rejecting one country two systems is another overwhelming consensus among the 23 million people of Taiwan, regardless of party affiliations or political positions. According to Tsai, only democracy could safeguard the hard earned freedom and allowed next generation to reserve the right to decide their future.
Following President Tsai’s National Day speech, Han published his white paper on cross-strait policy, criticizing Tsai’s acting herself as the Taiwan Spicy Girl frequently using inciting words to provoke the other side cross strait relations; though vowed to defend and love Taiwan, in her inner heart, Tsai never respected the existence of the R.O.C. and always fed Taiwanese with dried mango (a play-on words pointing to national demise), at best she was nothing but a mango (national destroyer). For more than three years under the Tsai administration, the president has tattered mutual trust across the Taiwan Strait and lost seven of 22 diplomatic allies in a row, rendering Taiwan the most isolated in history.
Han emphasized that a transition of power is a normal phenomenon in a democratic society. However, when national identity is divided, it is tantamount to trampling the national base and fate on which the well being of 23 million Taiwanese hinged. Han expressed his profound love for Taiwan, especially its beautiful landscape and warm hospitality of the people. According to Han, the colors of Taiwan was never blue, green, orange or white. They are the blue sky, white sun, and a wholly read earth, the colors of the national flag.
According to Han, in recent months, Tsai was complacent in picking up guns (booty) from the Hong Kong protests. As a matter of fact, she was simply giving the guns to Chinese mainland to hurt Taiwan making Taiwan even more insecure politically and depressed economically. Over the past three and a half years in power, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration achieved nothing. When facing election, they could only peddle sense of national demise to win votes. Han said that this is not what a responsible politician or political party should do.
Han: At present, there exists no conditions for unification or independence
Han pointed out that at present, there exists no conditions for unification or independence across the Taiwan Strait. Our generation has no right to limit the rights for the next generation to decide Taiwan’s destiny, but it is the duty of the current generation to cultivate and build a more substantive and peaceful environment and conditions for them. Taiwan is not an accessory (pet) to anyone. Han said that he would never allow anyone to harm Taiwan. If necessary, Han and his fellow citizens would take up arms to defend the national sovereignty of the R.O.C.
From: https://udn.com/news/story/12702/4098242
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KMT presidential candidate Han Kuo-yu said that Taiwan is not anyone's accessory.
(Photo from: United Daily News) |
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Fake Calls Of National Doom May Come True
China Times Editorial, October 11, 2019
Su Chi, former secretary-general of the National Security Council, pessimistically predicts the increasing possibility of an “earth shaking” movement across the Taiwan Strait. According to the assessment of Brendan Taylor, the leading expert of Asia-Pacific Security at the Australian National University, the risk of Taiwan Strait’s “strategic crisis” is soaring. In addition, Michael Pillsbury, a top adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump on China, pointed out that Trump has no intention of provoking a cold war with China or overthrowing the Communist Party. In spite of this international reality, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) still chooses to hide behind calls of national doom while wishing to ally themselves with the United States to fight China.
The reason that Taiwan is sucked into the center of an international political and military storm can be traced back to many factors and President Tsai inevitably bears much of the responsibility. In 1999, Tsai participated and devised the “special state-to-state relations” or “Two-State Theory” where she gravely misjudged the entire situation. Her careless estimation that the United States would “understand and support” her stance, and that the Chinese bureaucratic system was too large to instantly react, all led her to misbelieve that the Two-State Theory could easily be accepted. The result was an intense backlash domestically and internationally, forcing the policy based on this theory to be dissolved. Instead of giving up, in May 2000, just before Former President Chen Shui-bian took office, Tsai told Su that, “from now on, the Two-State Theory will only be practiced but not spoken of.”
After 20 years, President Tsai Ing-wen has surely demonstrated her remarkable persistence. On the surface, the situation of the two sides of the Strait is maintained, but in reality, the Two-State Theory is put into practice under the table. In her National Day address, President Tsai mentioned, “The Republic of China (Taiwan) is the overwhelming consensus of Taiwanese society,” which is precisely the Two-State Theory in another form. It is still based on the wrong strategic mentality of twenty years ago that says China will not and cannot fight Taiwan with force, and that the United States will provide military help. Yet, China is no longer incompetent due to its decades of military modernization, and Taiwan’s militant advantages such as technical advancement or beneficial island defense is gradually disappearing, as pointed out by the U.S. Department of Defense’s military report on China.
Professor Taylor further indicates that the military balance across the Taiwan Strait no longer exists and the U.S. ability to assist or protect Taiwan will also disappear in the next ten years. These factors contribute to the alarmingly increasing level of crisis across the Taiwan Strait.
Although no one hopes to see a destructive war take place across Taiwan Strain, all three parties involved seem to be challenging the already fragile and risky circumstances. Any misjudgment or military act could be earth-shaking.
In terms of military infrastructure, Taiwan’s lagging gap is worsening and unamendable despite recent acquisitions of M1A2 battle tanks and F-16V fighter jets. Military parades celebrating the 70th anniversary of Communist China showcased new unmanned aerial vehicles and advanced intercontinental and hypersonic missiles that can attack aircraft carriers or bases. Such massive weaponry display can be interpreted as a warning to the United States and Taiwan.
Furthermore, China’s anti-access and area-denial strategies have proven effective, which greatly diminish the U.S. ability and chances of helping Taiwan. Instead of striking a balance between China and the United States and creating the greatest benefit for Taiwan, the DPP attempts to take advantage of a potential new cold war conflict between the two giants while endangering Taiwan and allowing Taiwan to be used by the United States as a card against China. Outwardly, the United States and Taiwan’s relationship may seem close and friendly; in reality, the United States not only denies Taiwan substantive benefits such as sending ministerial officials to visit Taiwan but also has no intention of admitting Taiwan as a sovereign country and even rejects the reopening of TIFA negotiations.
When analyzing the diplomatic actions taken by President Trump, which include withdrawing American troops from Afghanistan and Syria, betraying Kurds to side up with Turkey, and not taking firm actions towards North Korea and Iran, it can be concluded that the United States no longer practice the role of an international cop. It is clear that Trump’s strategic plan doesn’t include a new cold war with China, much less involve military actions in the Taiwan Strait issue. If the DPP continues to ride roughshod over these clear red flags, the security of all Taiwanese people will be sacrificed.
Regretfully, the Taiwan Strait is clouded with potential outbreak of war due to factors including the DPP’s refusal to recognize the 1992 Consensus, the rivaling power confrontations between the United States and China, Xi’s strong will on unification, and the unclear future of Hong Kong. The most alarming factor is the lack of trust and a “crisis management mechanism” across the Strait. If the DPP continues to rule, the level of crisis across Taiwan Strait will only escalate, and the threat of war will forever follow.
We rationally hope that the United States and China can successfully resolve their trade and strategic conflicts and together manage Taiwan’s problem. However, as China rises and East Asia’s old orders reform, calls of national doom may become a reality. The right choice for national security lies in active communication and balanced maintenance in the cross-strait relationship. If the DPP unyieldingly manipulates people through calls of national doom, the answer to whether or not people should vote the DPP out is crystal clear.
From: https://www.chinatimes.com/opinion/20191011002135-262101?chdtv
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Tsai And Han Face Off On Cross-Strait Policy
By Chen Chien-chung
China Times, October 10, 2019
Facing the pressures of next year’s elections and cross-strait relations, President Tsai Ing-wen, in her last National Day address of her first term, again positioned the Chinese mainland an authoritarian regime utilizing its “sharp power” to challenge universal values of freedom and democracy and the world order. Tsai also appealed to the general public to oppose the “One Country, Two Systems” formula. On the other hand, Kuomintang (KMT) presidential candidate Han Kuo-yu presented his platform on cross-strait relations on the same day. He proposes to defend sovereignty and uphold “One China, with respective interpretations.” Both Tsai and Han celebrate Taiwan’s democratic values, but Han’s stress on rebuilding cross-strait dialogue has a broader appeal to moderate voters.
In face of the presidential and legislative elections next year, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has decided to utilize Hong Kong’s situation as to play “doomsday” card. Tsai accuses that Beijing’s “One-China, Two-systems” has failed in Hong Kong, thus brought Hong Kong to the brink of chaos. What is Hong Kong today may be that of Taiwan tomorrow. China still incessantly threats Taiwan with menace and military muscle. Such threats make “doomsday feeling” prevail.
In her speech, Tsai mentioned common memories of the PRC’s bombardment of Kinmen in 1958 and Taiwan’s withdrawal from United Nations in 1971. Then she appealed unity to Han’s supporters with “the Republic of China is exclusive to no one”. Well-said. If today’s confrontation between two sides of the Taiwan Strait, and Taiwan’s diplomatic setbacks were caused by wrong policy of Tsai Administration, how can people be united under DPP’s confrontational policies?
In her inaugural address, President Tsai stated that the new government will handle cross-strait affairs according to the Constitution, Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, and other relevant laws. Today we are witnessing five national security laws being brutally passed, which leave all cross-strait affairs under the Damocles’ Sword in the name of the Criminal Law of “China’s agents”. Cross-strait relations have substantially changed. In addition, cyber censorship, and governmental agencies’ ideology bullying, have already made chilling effect among media, academia, and general public.
President Tsai proclaims that the “Republic of China (Taiwan)” is the overwhelming consensus of Taiwanese society. Yet many, including mainland China and Pan-Blue supporters, see Tsai’s intention as moving cross-strait relations towards “state-to-state” relations. It is a break-away from her commitments in her first National Day Address in 2016 in which she said that she will “do my utmost efforts to maintain cross-strait dialogue and communication mechanism”. To Pan-Blue supporters, the Republic of China is dying under DPP ruling. To Beijing, the hope for peaceful unification is dimming. Not only is maintaining the status quo becoming more difficult, there is a growing crisis of sliding into military conflict.
President Tsai’s National Day Speech this year was inundated with campaign languages instead of visions to face the unemployment rate over 4 percent and eight straight months of blue light in business indicator. Examining President Tsai’s four National Day addresses during her term, it has moved from “seek dialogue” to “refuse to answer the unfinished 1992 Consensus” and then to escalate the tension as to provoke Beijing directly. It is totally a breach of her former commitments.
Viewing cross-strait relations have severely damaged by President Tsai’s administration, Mayor Han proposed that both sides to “restore mutual trust, rebuild dialogue mechanism”. It is an important starting point. Only reopen negotiation mechanism between SEF (Straits Exchange Foundation) and ARATS (Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits), can our side re-enter UN’s functional Agencies, People’s Liberation Army (PLA) navy vessels and aircrafts cease actions near Taiwan, and no crises break out due to sudden unexpected incidents.
President Tsai intends to pin a label on Han as “supporting China’s One-Country Two Systems”, but Mayor Han upholds “safeguard sovereignty, One China subject to respective interpretations.” Tsai said that “Republic of China is exclusive to no one”. Han replied that “Taiwan is no one’s accessory.” Tsai and Han’s debate on cross-strait relations is a policy face-off, a straight-ball duel.
Prior to last presidential election in 2016, Tsai criticized then incumbent President Ma Ying-jeou: “When his performance cannot let people live in ease, and during the election season he has to manipulate fear and confrontation in order to create social instability and accumulate sympathy votes, this kind of government, like tainted food, must be removed from the shelf!” Looking now at President Tsai’s National Day Address and her performance over the past three years, the words sound especially ironic.
From: https://www.chinatimes.com/opinion/20191010003471-262105?chdtv
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October 7: The first Pacific Islands Dialogue was held in Taipei. On behalf of President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Sandra Oudkirk, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state, lauded Taiwan as a trustworthy and responsible partner and a force for good in the Pacific and the world. The United States stonily supports Taiwan’s relationship with Pacific island countries.
October 8: Li Shaodong, a mainland Chinese tourist, entered the National Taiwan University campus on October 7 and tore up posters supporting Hong Kong protests on the John Lennon Wall. He was fined $30,000 NTD (about $980 USD) and repatriated on October 8. He is not to enter Taiwan again within five years. Recently, several Taiwanese universities, including Yishou University and National Sun Yat-sen University in southern Taiwan, as well as Chinese Culture University, Soochow University, and Shih Hisn University in Taipei, saw pro-Hong Kong posters torn by mailand Chinese students. Some even saw violent conflicts break out.
October 8: In a National Day banquet held by the Fukuoka Branch, Taipei Economic Office in Osaka, on October 4, a congratulatory message supposedly from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was displayed and which referred to Taiwan as the “Republic of China.” The Japanese government publicly denied the authenticity of this message, indicating that there is no official record of Abe’s greeting. Premier Su Tseng-chang responded in the Legislative Yuan that this is indeed inappropriate and should be investigated. Frank Hsieh, Taiwan's representative to Japan, said that he was not aware. It is said that the greeting was forwarded by a Japanese politician friendly to Taiwan.
October 9: In the 2019 Global Competitiveness Report published by the World Economic Forum, Singapore trumped the United States to become the most competitive among 141 ranked economies. Taiwan was ranked 12th, improving one place from 13th last year. Taiwan was ranked as high as 4th in 2004 but retreated to 13th in 2006, 17th in 2008 and fluctuated between 12 and 15 thereafter. This year, Taiwan was ranked 1st in terms of economic stability and 4th in innovation but 24th in terms of institutions, 24th in health, and 23rd in skills.
October 10: In celebration of the National Day of the Republic of China (Taiwan), a total of 317 foreign guests from 20 delegations attended the ceremony in Taiwan. U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, who was a presidential candidate in the 2016 Republican primaries, became the first American senator to attend Taiwan’s National Day celebrations in 35 years. Other important guests include Eswatini Prime Minister Ambros Mandvulo Dlamini, Saint Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, Guatemala Vice President Jafeth Cabrera, Paraguay Vice President Hugo Velazquez, and Belize Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber.
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Taiwan Weekly is a newsletter released every week by Fair Winds Foundation, Taipei Forum, and Association of Foreign Relations that provides coverage and perspectives into the latest developments in Taiwan.
The conclusions and recommendations of any Taiwan Weekly article are solely those of its author(s), and do not reflect the views of the institutions that publish the newsletter.
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