We, all the Westerners in Taiwan
who know about the several wars of the past century, should tell all of
you how much you should care of each other, respect and love each other.
Even during the exacerbated challenges of present times, due to
globalization, between students, companies, political parties, etc.
Competitiveness and competition do not mean that people should disregard
each other. Otherwise, one day (which might
come soon), our lives of foreigners will be blown away of this Earth at
the same time as all of yours, because of Mainland leaders. Our lives of
foreigners who came to your land so as to share your life, culture and
language, educate your kids, participate in building up your land and
future. The name of “Republic of
China” is very confusing for many people in the world who assimilate
both parts of the Strait. But this shouldn’t be suitable for
Mainlanders. Indeed they say that their land and people are so different
from Taiwan and Taiwanese. They think they are much better than the other
side. For sure, they would not accept people to misunderstand and think
Republic of China equals People’s Republic of China. Since there are still many people
who misunderstand because of both names resemblances, one of those names
should be changed. Yet, it does not make any doubt that China is not
willing to change its official identity. At the same time, they forbid
Taiwan to change theirs. Let’s think another way. Let’s
think the same way as those people who think that Especially, foreigners should be
able to live on any of both sides of the Strait. Mainland leaders should
know that there are so many foreigners in Taiwan. They are on this land,
why should they leave? Where would they go? If we are on this land, our
purpose is to share happiness with Asian people. On that land, I mean, on
Mainland, our goal would be the same. Wherever we are in Asia, we are part
of the big Asian family. Wherever we are on one of both sides of Taiwan
Strait, we are part of the Chinese family. So, where a foreigner might live:
in China or on Taiwan? A tough decision: if a foreigner wants to live in
Mainland China, there will still be a risk that its leaders decide and
detain him / her for any alleged reason. That’s what is currently
happening more and more. Should foreigners live on the island of Taiwan
that one day we might go away from this world with all Taiwanese people. Since Mainland China does not
tolerate Taiwan’s differences, then, it should be said in History books,
magazines and newspapers of all over the world that Republic of China is
Taiwan, which does not mean that it would be said to be independent. Of
course not. Mainland China should then be proud considering that every
person on this Earth knows the difference between both lands, even we all
know that both lands could be one country. A China is everybody’s dream:
that Chinese nation full of peaceful ideals. Since nobody wants blood to be
spread in the big Chinese nation, let’s make those ideals come true.
Stéphane Tignel,
Who am I? I have been staying in Taiwan for
two years and a half. In 1999 I was hired as a consultant of Taiwan Tati
Cultural and Educational Foundation so as to help for the promotion of
peaceful relations in Taiwan’s Strait, and especially, so as to
encourage E.U to foster the dialogue between both parts of the Strait by
any indirect (or direct) means. This
month, a CD Rom containing the translation of an essay, Formosa History,
written by Dr Yang Hsu Tung is being published, in a French / English
version, thanks to Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation.
Figures of love If
there were thanks upon the clouds That world - a kind of book read the same way Forever Stéphane Tignel, May, 29th, 2001
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