Government officials can choose not to believe the media reports
claiming that China plans to pump US$1 billion into Taiwan's economy
in order to manipulate it. However, there is the possibility that
Beijing may take advantage of Taiwan's economic difficulties and try
to manipulate the media and media advertising. As Chen Po-chih (陳博志),
chairman of the Council for Economic Planning and Development, said:
"One doesn't need to spend US$1 billion to influence Taiwan's
economy. One can do it by just starting a few newspapers [in Taiwan]."
Quoting
the results of an opinion poll it conducted, the United Daily News
(聯合報) claimed last week that the proportion of people in Taiwan who
support "one country, two systems" had risen to 33 percent.
Anyone familiar with polling knows how easy it is to manipulate a
survey to get the desired results. In the United Daily New's questionnaire,
the key phrase "one country" covers both supporters of the
PRC and ROC -- people who support different ways of interpreting the
word "China." The problem is that a "one country, two
systems" model generated by such a broad definition of China
is not what Beijing is talking about. To Beijing, "one country"
means the PRC.
Such manipulation of a storyline lowers the United Daily's actions
to the level of Beijing's Xinhua reporters stationed in Taiwan --
who consistently blacken Taiwan's image, misleading the government
and the people of China.
Taiwan
has long witnessed the dissemination of pro-China propaganda by a
handful of people who have control over the print and electronic media.
Negative reports and commentaries about Taiwan are found in the local
media on a daily basis, writing the country off. Meanwhile, China
is viewed through rose-colored glasses -- its economy is said to be
shining, with the world's second-largest foreign exchange reserves
(the fact that China's foreign debt surpasses its foreign exchange
reserves is overlooked). According to several stories, China is Taiwan's
only savior, the only force able to pull Taiwan's out of its economic
doldrums and, of course, the only torch-bearer of hope for ethnic
Chinese throughout the world. The electronic media is even worse,
with biased politicians and scholars presented as political observers
on call-in shows. Their constant barrage of abuse at everything the
government does has a corrosive effect on public opinion.
There have been rumors recently that Beijing wants to wrest control
of Taiwan's media and advertising companies in the run-up to the year-end
legislative and local elections by infusing capital via Hong Kong.
According to these rumors, Beijing wants to back an advertising campaign
for pro-China legislative candidates in order to weaken the impact
of an alliance between the DPP and former president Lee Teng-hui's
(李登輝) new political party and to prevent pro-Taiwan groups from winning
a majority in the legislature.
While it is easy to dismiss such rumors as paranoid delusions, the
people of Taiwan should still keep up their guard against a foreign
regime using a handful of greedy, unscrupulous people to interfere
domestically. Otherwise, once the campaign begins in earnest, people
may be shocked to find their streets filled with anti-Taiwan and anti-localization
propaganda. Both the government and the people must be alert to any
attempt by Beijing to manipulate the mass media. The people of Taiwan
must be willing to stand up for themselves, otherwise they will be
nothing more than lambs headed for the slaughter.
PRC
WILL NOT ASK TAIWAN TO FOLLOW HK FORMULA: SAYS PRC VICE PREMIER
Beijing, July 12 (CNA) Mainland Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen
told a delegation from Taiwan's New Party (NP) Thursday that Beijing
has no intention of forcing Taiwan to "exactly follow" the
Hong Kong and Macao models regarding the country's unification.
According to group spokesman Yu Mu-ming, Qian said during a discussion
on cross-Taiwan Strait relations that Beijing's basic stance on the
Taiwan issue is the so-called "one-two-three insistence"
-- insisting on "one China, two-side (cross-strait) negotiation
and three direct (trade, postal and transport) links."
Although Taiwan has adopted capitalism like Hong Kong and Macao, the
Beijing official said that the mainland will not ask Taiwan to completely
follow the models used for the 1997 return of Hong Kong and the 1999
return of Macao to Beijing rule.
He
spelled out what he described as seven "concrete measures"
for implementing the "one country, two systems" policy in
Taiwan:
-- Taiwan will continue to use its currency;
-- Taiwan will continue to keep its troops;
-- Taiwan will be an independent region for customs and tariffs;
-- Taiwan will continue to keep its government framework;
-- The mainland will not take even one cent from Taiwan and will not
use Taiwan's capital;
-- Taiwan people and businessmen will continue to keep their property;
and
-- Taiwan's government personnel will remain independent from the
mainland's and no mainland officials will be dispatched to Taiwan.
After hearing Qian explain Beijing's policy toward Taiwan, the leader
of the tiny opposition party delegation, Hsu Li-nung, told Qian that
the Beijing trip was designed to conduct direct talks between party
organizations with the hope of ensuring peace across the Taiwan Strait
and promoting unification of China.
He said that under the current international situation, Beijing's
national policy should place insistence on economic development, a
door-opening stance and reform toward market economy and democratic
politics.
Hsu especially stressed to Qian that the use of military force against
Taiwan would adversely affect the mainland's economic development,
to which Qian replied that "we have been pursuing peaceful unification." (By
Huang Chi-kuan & Victor Lai)
2001.07.12 / Guest Opinion / By Chang Ching-hsi (張清溪)
Following the so-called "self-immolations" by Falun Gong
followers on the Tiananmen Square at the beginning of this year, it
was again reported recently that 15 female practitioners had "committed
group suicide by hanging" at the Wanjia labor camp in Heilongjiang.
Being Falun Gong practitioners, we are certain beyond a shadow of
a doubt that these allegations are all false. In the face of malicious
slanderings by the Chienese government, we urge all good people around
the world to denounce in unison the barbaric oppression perpetrated
by China, and to go into immediate actions to rescue Falun Gong followers
persecuted in mainland China.
China
has been quick to seize on the "self-immolation" incident
as mighty evidence in its accusations against the Falun Gong and has
used it as a rationale to intensify attacks on Falun Gong across the
country since the beginning of this year. Who can buy this utter nonsense?
To begin with, even if, in fact, the self-immolators had been Falun
Gong followers, would this automatically make the spiritual movement
an evil cult? During the Vietnam War, there were quite a few Vietnamese
Buddhists who committed suicide by self-immolation; China did not
thereby denounced Buddhism as evil, but lauded these suicides as heroic
actions against American aggression. In Taiwan there have also been
self-immolations in the past for political, environmental, or other
causes. It is true that the general public did not concur with such
extreme resort, nevertheless we all felt the greatest reverence for
those who sacrificed themselves in this way.
On the other hand, if the self-immolators had not been Falun Gong
followers, then the Chinese government would have had to answer a
number of questions. Why would people prefer to die instead of living
in China's present circumstances? Then, how could China blame Falun
Gong for these suicides? And finally, isn't it likely that the self-immolations
were not acts of free will, but staged by the government? Is this
really possible? Could there be such an evil government under the
sun?
The videotape of the self-immolation incident aired by China Central
TV Station has been analyzed by some American senior media workers.
In slow motion, it was found that Liu Chunling, who died at the site
of self-immolation, did not suffer fatally from the burning, but from
a heavy blow delivered by someone to the back of her head while she
was trying to run away! There are many other inexplicable things.
For instance, it is beyond comprehension that several people could
have made preparations for self-immolation on the Tiananmen Square,
where -- think about this -- merely striking up a Falun Gong exercise
posture would have been more than enough to invite assault and arrest
by the plainclothes public security. And then, there were even some
public security officers ready with fire extinguishers waiting for
the self-immolators to run toward them. No doubt, everything was staged.
This
is absolutely outrageous! And all of this has been done by a government
which claims to be a major world power! In the public eye, in the
Tiananmen Square, these atrocities were carried out and then the blame
put on other parties. We have seen this happen; sad to say, we may
yet see something worse. What kind of barbaric government is this
in Beijing? How can anyone believe that the 15 female Falun Gong followers
at the Wanjia labor camp committed group suicide?
It has been almost two years since China began to crack down on Falun
Gong on July 20, 1999. On the eve of the second anniversary of this
sad date, the Chinese government stepped up persecution by putting
into effect a "responsibility system," whereby any superior,
administrative executive, policeman, village or neighborhood official,
or family member associated with a Falun Gong practitioner will be
"equally punishable for the crime." The practitioners are
being persecuted one by one and more severely; death by torture occurs
almost daily. According to the data gathered by the Falun Dafa Information
Center, there have been 252 traceable cases of death so far. Many
practitioners have had their homes destroyed and their beloved killed.
Everywhere in China, public security officers, reformation institution
workers, and other government officials have perpetrated all sorts
of sexual assaults against female Falun Gong practitioners, the savagery
of which surpasses even the sexual violation of Chinese women by the
Japanese army during the last Sino-Japanese war.
Can a government treating its own people in such a bloody manner
be amiable to other countries and peoples? We urge Taiwanese people
to recognize the truly autocratic and cruel nature of the Chinese
government and lend spiritual support to the righteous Falun Gong
followers in China. We must demand that China puts value on human
rights and stops all oppression. Only thus can the two sides across
the strait and the world enjoy freedom and peace.
The writer is a professor in the Department of Economics, National
Taiwan University, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Falun Gong
Research Society
Hong Kong passes law seen surrendering independence
2001.07.12／The China Post
HONG KONG, AP
After
a raging debate full of charges Hong Kong is surrendering its cherished
independence, lawmakers voted Wednesday night on a bill that declares
Beijing can fire the territory's government leader.
"We
are heartbroken that Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy is now destroyed,"
said Yeung Sum, a member of the opposition Democratic Party.
Constitutional Affairs Secretary Michael Suen said pro-democracy
politicians were overstating their fears - because the mainland Chinese
leadership would have to follow Hong Kong's constitution in any change
of government here.
The constitution, known as the Basic Law, already implies that Beijing
can remove the Hong Kong leader, and the bill passed Wednesday night
does not offer any new powers to the mainland government, Suen said.
"These worries over the autonomy of Hong Kong have no grounds,"
Suen told the lawmakers.
The
opposition vehemently disagreed as it tried to stop the Legislative
Council from passing a bill setting out the rules for the next Hong
Kong leadership election, to be conducted in March by an 800-person
committee that critics say is unfairly tilted toward pro Beijing interests.
Opponents say the bill all but assures that Hong Kong's highly unpopular
leader, Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa, will get a second term. Tung
is a former shipping tycoon who has been in charge of Hong Kong ever
since Britain returned its former colony to mainland China four years
ago.
"Tung is happy to be a puppet and he wants to make sure that
others who come along will become puppets," said Martin Lee,
who as chairman of the opposition Democratic Party is Hong Kong's
main opposition figure.
"Obviously,
the government wishes to confer upon the central government what it
didn't even ask for or want," Lee said. "Why kneel down
and present a silver plate to give the autonomy back to Beijing?"
After a day of arguments and demonstrations outside, lawmakers voted
35-18 on a clause in the election bill that states Beijing can throw
out the Hong Kong chief executive, then they passed the whole bill
36-18. The political opposition made an earlier plea in vain for ordinary
Hong Kong voters to pick their leader, wrapping the dome-shaped Legislative
Council building in a banner containing 30,000 signatures of people
who want full democracy.
Some protesters made their point by hanging up pieces of smelly durian
fruit outside.
But
the vocal pro-democracy camp was overwhelmed by the votes of big business
interests and pro-Beijing forces. Critics say the clause stating that
Beijing can remove Hong Kong's political leader at will could undermine
the autonomy and Western-style freedoms Hong Kong is supposed to enjoy
for at least the next 46 years.
The territory's biggest pro-Beijing party, the Democratic Alliance
for the Betterment of Hong Kong, accused the naysayers of gross exaggeration.
Since Hong Kong was returned to China, it has been run under an arrangement
dubbed "one country, two systems" that gives the local government
considerable say over day-to-day affairs.
DAB lawmaker Ip Kwok-him said the opposition politicians were "deliberately
twisting the facts."
"Some people look at things with their minds already made up,"
Ip said. "During 150 years of British colonial rule, there was
never an election."
Earlier, the protesters brought out pieces of durian fruit, loved
by some in Asia but reviled by many others for its strong odor.
A pro-Beijing figure had previously angered the pro-democracy camp
by saying picking a political leader is like picking out a piece of
durian - only experts can do it right. The opposition hung up pieces
of durian to illustrate their view that Hong Kong people had the right
- and the expertise - to choose durian, as well as their leader.
Russian police break up protest against China's Olympic bid
2001.07.12 / Associated Press /
MOSCOW
Russian
riot police swiftly broke up a protest yesterday by about 10 Tibetan
demonstrators objecting to China's bid to be host of the 2008 Olympics,
trying to tear a five-meter-wide (15-foot-wide) banner out of demonstrators'
hands and detaining several of the protesters.
The demonstrators, members of the Tibetan Youth Association in Europe,
unfurled a banner opposing Beijing's candidacy on the Moscow River
embankment across from the International Trade Center, where the International
Olympic Committee is meeting this week.
The
banner, about two meters (6.6 feet) high, had a picture of five bullet
holes in place of the Olympic logo of five linked circles.
As soon as the banner was displayed, riot police broke up the protest
and tried to seize the banner.
"You are on Russian soil, you must obey Russian law," a
riot police officer told the demonstrators.
"This is the same thing that would happen in China," shouted
demonstration leader Yangzom Brauen.
After the demonstrators continued to resist, trying to unfurl the
banner again and speak with journalists, police detained six of them,
including Brauen. They carried her, weeping, by the arms and legs
into a waiting police bus. Police also detained at least one journalist,
an Associated Press photographer.
It was not immediately known whether any of those detained would
be charged.
Tibetans said that the Chinese Embassy had previously attempted to
block a news conference organized by the Tibetans and pressured the
city authorities to deny them a permit to demonstrate near the IOC
meetings.
Beijing is widely expected to win when the IOC on Friday chooses
from among five cities bidding for the games. The other candidates
are Paris, Toronto, Istanbul, Turkey and Osaka, Japan.
Tibetans
and other human rights activists oppose awarding the games to Beijing,
saying the move would be seen by the Chinese government as tacit endorsement
of its hard line against dissent and repressive policies in Tibet
and Inner Mongolia.
"China has been putting a lot of pressure on the Russian government
to make sure that our people have no opportunity to voice their opposition
to Beijing's Olympics bid," said Shola Dhondup of the Moscow
Tibetan Association. "If this is how they act in Russia, how
will China treat us in Beijing if they get the games?"
But advocates of the bid say having the games in Beijing would encourage
China to liberalize, because of the intense attention that the Olympics
would focus on the country.
The Tibetan Youth Association in Europe is one of several groups
that have come to Moscow in small numbers to protest the Beijing bid.
Another group plans to hold a demonstration before the vote Friday
outside the meeting site, a heavily guarded complex surrounded by
a high iron fence.
The latter group had tried to bring in famed exiled Chinese dissident
Wei Jingsheng to support its protest, but he was denied a Russian
visa.
