20100604 The KMT must face up to its past

The KMT must face up to its past

By Lu I-ming 呂一銘
Friday, Jun 04, 2010, Page 8

Talking about the Republic of China (ROC) is not taboo. After 60 years and democratization, expressions such as “government-in-exile,” “occupation government,” “totalitarian government” and “authoritarian government” are all things of the past. However, using these expressions today is part of freedom of expression, and there is no need to get upset about it.

It should be possible to discuss these matters in a rational, calm manner. That would be the only way to gain a clearer understanding, build a new political culture and turn Taiwan into a model of a diverse, democratic and open society that promotes ethnic harmony and offers a secure living environment. In this way we could build a common future together.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) recently said that “post-war Taiwan has been ruled by a government-in-exile.”

This is only a historical statement, but taken out of context, it has set off a nonsensical, pointless debate. If we look at what Tsai said at the launch of the book The Republic of China’s 60 Years as a ­Government-in-Exile on Taiwan and Taiwan’s International Status After the War and an article in the Chinese-language newspaper the Apple Daily titled “The main point is ‘divided group,’ not ‘government-in-exile,’” it shouldn’t be too difficult to see that she is trying hard to promote ethnic harmony. It has only been distorted and played up for political purposes. In the past, politicians have played on ethnic sentiment to gain electoral advantages. Such immoral behavior is gradually becoming less effective, in particular after the two changes in national government and the development of educational materials.

Clear evidence that the ethnicity issue is no longer of much use is that even Chinese talk of “the Chinese race” and “being of the same blood” cannot stop democracy, human rights, diversity, tolerance and national identity from surging forward.

The current ROC government is a popularly elected government, and the ROC is a sovereign and independent state. Despite that, it finds itself in a difficult situation from which it cannot extricate itself, and it is forced to use names such as “Chinese Taipei” that are not commensurate with its national status.

In China, its citizens must use “Taiwan compatriot entry permits” without national flag or title. This, of course, causes anger and unhappiness among Taiwanese and has set off many historical complaints that have led to disputes between dissidents of all stripes, which in turn has resulted in social and ethnic division. If we look for the sources of this situation, we find that they lie in the tragic period when the previous authoritarian government created terror and fear. It is this history that politicians need to face up to.

For example, in that unfair totalitarian system, a small number of ruling Mainlander cliques brought harm to almost every ethnic group, be it veterans from China or the local population. Furthermore, if the feelings among a minority of Mainlanders toward China’s history and culture are not understood and respected, or are seen as negative or criticized on ethnic grounds, or if the use of Hoklo (commonly known as Taiwanese) is increasingly accepted as Mandarin chauvinism weakens, that can easily lead to unnecessary ethnic tension. That would work contrary to the concept of a gemeinschaft, or “a community of fate,” that has developed over the past few years. This is an issue that the elites of the biggest ethnic group should find ways of resolving.

Tsai has said: “What the DPP should do is to earnestly resolve ethnic distrust and lack of recognition, and, while drawing up a blueprint for Taiwan’s future, create an environment where people feel that they are at home and can create a life where they won’t be displaced again. The Chinese Nationalist Party [KMT] must stop seeing the Mainlander ethnic group as the target of mobilization, and earnestly face up to the wounds it has inflicted on this land in the past.”

This is indeed a great undertaking that requires a full out effort to win the public’s trust. The DPP must not repeat the mistakes of its time in government.

As to what the ROC really means, and even whether or not it exists — the People’s Republic of China says it doesn’t — that all depends on your outlook, on whether you take a historical, cultural, political or social point of view, and on the degree of magnification. Whether a view is right or wrong, just or unjust, fair or unfair, will have to be decided by public debate. At the moment, the official name of Taiwan remains the Republic of China, but what that entails will depend on your outlook. The KMT must stop deceiving itself and instead take an earnest look at its past.

Lu I-ming is the former publisher and president of Taiwan Shin Sheng Daily News.