Reframing the Question of Taiwan Independence.
While the Cold War of the West is slowly becoming a memory of a bygone era, the Cold War of the East carries on between the Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China. Much the same is at stake, the ideals of Democracy vs. those of Communism, be they watered down and with “Chinese Characteristics” or not. Though this Cold-War of the East hardly seems much of a war at all, with the bulwark that is the PRC ready to pounce upon the miniscule yet highly visible ROC on Taiwan at any moment, it is nonetheless a standing war, and one of great consequence.
And this is precisely what must be understood by all. Despite friendly overtures between the KMT and the CCP in recent years, a silent war of ideas rages on. The ROC, which still claims sovereignty over the Chinese mainland, stands as a staunch challenge to the authoritarian style of government currently presiding over the mainland. As such, Taiwan serves as a shining and successful example of a thriving society that is both Democratic and Chinese at the same time, proving that the two are not incompatible and thus challenging the status quo on the mainland. Democracy and Socialist authoritarianism, the two contending schools of thought of the modern era, thus continues to be debated within the minds of all Chinese and within the Chinese civilization itself, no different than the passionate debates between the schools of Confucian, Legalist, and Taoist schools of thought during the “Golden Age”.
Recognizing the ongoing debate that the claim of sovereignty poses to the civilization, it is now easy to see how the Taiwan independence issue is really the issue of whether this debate (the debate between Democracy and Authoritariansim) is to be a continued. The issue of secession is not one of ethnicity, as it is often construed to be, but rather the question of whether the Democratic school will continue to vie for its proper place within the Chinese civilization. As long as the ROC retains its claim of sovereignty over the mainland, and by extension the Chinese civilization itself, the question of democracy continues to be a point of debate. However, if the ROC constitution is revised and in particular the claim of sovereignty over the mainland is relinquished, Democracy, as embodied by the ROC, effectively admits defeat leaving Authoritarianism the sole remaining and victorious school of thought on government within the greater Chinese civilization.
It is with this in mind that I ask the secessionists to look at the greater picture when they approach the issue; while you may be content in having achieved democracy for yourselves, and clearly you believe in its merits for it is an accomplishment that makes you so proud, leave not the fate of your brethren across the strait in the hands of authoritarian rule for what may be another 2000 years of unquestioned authority. If Democracy has been good to you, then illuminate its merits for all under heaven; help not yourself but all humanity for after all divisions are put aside, we are all of the same blood and flesh. And for those who continue to wish for peaceful re-unification, the revolution lives on! The land has long been lost, but the debate is far from over and hope is not extinguished. When Qin Shih-Huang called for the burning of all Confucian texts and exterminated China’s Confucian scholars in favor of the Legalists and the Legalist school of thought, nothing could stop the Confucian ideals from resurfacing. And look how it did oh so completely! So I ask the sons and grandsons of the revolution to carry on the dream and never lose hope! for only then can we say that the blood, sweat and tears of our forefathers were shed for a cause and not shed in vain.
