|
Ma¡¦s inaccurate language
Thursday, Apr 15, 2010, Page 8
In his recent teleconference with Harvard University,
President Ma Ying-jeou (°¨^¤E) made the statement: ¡§The time for unification at
this stage is not ripe yet.¡¨
In making this statement, Ma misrepresents social and political realities in
Taiwan. It is certainly true that the time for unification between Taiwan and
China is not ripe.
In using this particular language, however, Ma implies that Taiwanese are moving
toward a time ripe for unification. In fact, public opinion polls in Taiwan
indicate quite clearly that Taiwanese are moving in the opposite direction. A
variety of polls from different organizations consistently show an increase in
Taiwanese versus Chinese identity and a greater desire for formal,
internationally recognized independence for Taiwan.
Why would the democratically elected leader of Taiwan choose to inaccurately
represent the opinions and attitudes of his constituents?
In making this statement, Ma is trying to appease the leaders in Beijing who, of
course, insist that unification with Taiwan is one of China¡¦s core interests,
and the deep-blue members of his party who still hold on to their dream of
unification.
Ma¡¦s appeasing language is very dangerous, however, because it sends the rest of
the world the message that Taiwanese are moving toward a desire for unification
and therefore encourages leaders in foreign governments to base their China and
Taiwan policies on an inaccurate interpretation of trends in Taiwan.
Ma is well advised to remember that he was elected to represent the interests of
the 23 million people in Taiwan, and not the feelings of the leaders in Beijing.
He should be more careful in choosing his words. Given the diplomatic
sensitivity of the issue, one might understand why Ma does not make the
statement, ¡§the time for independence is not ripe yet,¡¨ but he could certainly
make the statement, ¡§the time for the 23 million people of Taiwan to formally
decide on their future status is not ripe yet.¡¨
This language more accurately represents the realities in Taiwan and
demonstrates the kind of ambiguity that Ma claims to love so much when he
discusses his ¡§1992 consensus.¡¨
Don Rodgers
Visiting Associate Professor of Political Science at Soochow University,
Taipei
¡@
|
