The Final Showdown between the Republic of China and the "Nation of Taiwan"

The Final Showdown between the Republic of China and the "Nation of Taiwan"
United Daily News editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
September 08, 2007

The upcoming presidential election is being defined as a final showdown between the Republic of China and a would-be "Nation of Taiwan." It was inevitable that it would come to this.

First, let's look at what it has come to. On the day of the Hu/Bush summit, Chen Shui-bian was in Nantou, where he repeated 13 times, "We demand Taiwan independence!" (The only thing he didn't say was "So what are you going to do about it?) Frank Hsieh declared that if he was elected he would become the "President of the Nation of Taiwan." Later he amended his statement, saying that "Taiwan is the Republic of China." But the Republic of China is of course not the "Nation of Taiwan." The "Plebiscite to Join the UN" is no longer a means of pretending one is "not seeking Taiwan independence," but merely a means of "joining the UN under a new name." As matters stand, the rhetoric and thinking of those on the political stage is now aligned with that of the Green camp's pirate radio stations. The Nation of Taiwan has now revealed its true face.

Chen Shui-bian has hijacked the Democratic Progressive Party. As long as he can use "Chen Shui-bian the Champion of Taiwan Independence" to rescue "Chen Shui-bian the Kleptocrat who faces Indictment," his strategy will not change. This presidential election will be turned into a showdown between the "Nation of Taiwan" and the Republic of China. Therefore, even if Frank Hsieh is elected, he will not be able to start anew "March next year" as he promised in the US. Who doesn't know that so-called Taiwan independence "elders" have already warned him: "If you don't promote the "rectification of names" and the "authoring of a new constitution," we are going to put the screws to you." Therefore, the theme of the upcoming election has already been set. The Democratic Progressive Party has already defined Taiwan's political scenario as a showdown between the "Nation of Taiwan" and the Republic of China.

Next, let's look at why it has come to this. The "Nation of Taiwan" has not shown its face for some time. Instead, it has been reincarnated under various aliases, as "nativization," as "Taiwan uber alles," as "loving Taiwan," as "Taiwanese pathos," as "normalization of the nation," as the "rectification of names," and as the "authoring a new new constitution." The same applies to the "Plebiscite to Join the UN." From the very beginning Chen Shui-bian insisted that it "has nothing to do with Taiwan independence," and that he "has not violated the Five Noes." Ever since the Democratic Progressive Party assumed power, it has been playing word games. Switching back and forth between the "Nation of Taiwan" and the "Republic of China," turning black into white. The result is the public on Taiwan has not been able to distinguish between the two. Now however, the "Nation of Taiwan" has revealed its true face. The public no longer has any reason not to make a clear choice. Therefore, the upcoming presidential election will inevitably become a final showdown between the Republic of China and the "Nation of Taiwan." Everyone has made his position clear. No need to remain in hiding any longer. No need to use a smoke screen.

This time Chen Shui-bian's Taiwan independence moves cannot be dismissed as mere "election ploys." One cannot assume that after March next year everything will simply return to the way it was. This time Chen's Taiwan independence moves involve his prosecution for corruption and his legacy. He is fighting for his political life. How else can he hijack the Democratic Progressive Party? How else can he deal with corruption indictments after leaving office? This time Chen Shui-bian's goal is to create a political and social psychological breakthrough for Taiwan independence by means of the upcoming election. He hopes to ensure his status as the standard bearer for Taiwan independence after stepping down. Therefore, the "Nation of Taiwan" is not a phony agenda that will automatically vanish once the election passes. Instead, it must be seen as a permanent break with the Republic of China, a path of no return. This election is the final showdown between the Republic of China and a would be "Nation of Taiwan." It is also a showdown between a president of the Republic of China and a would be president of a would be "Nation of Taiwan." This is what it has come to, and this is what it had to come to.

Looking back at the vicissitudes of the past eight years, we see that Chen Shui-bian once advocated a "new centrist path." He pledged "Five Noes." But now he is moving toward "Four Demands," toward a "Plebiscite to Join the UN" and a "Plebiscite for Taiwan Independence." During these eight long years, Chen Shui-bian has by increments adopted an ever more radical posture as cover for his gross incompetence and brazen malfeasance. Centrist voters have been bitterly let down. On the other hand, Chen Shui-bian has finally removed his political camouflage. He has revealed his Taiwan independence colors. For the first time, the public has the opportunity to make a clear choice between a would be "Nation of Taiwan" and the Republic of China. This is a turning point worth celebrating. The election is seven months away. This gives the public a chance to consider their feelings about a would be "Nation of Taiwan" and the Republic of China, and make a calm and reasoned choice.

The Nation of Taiwan has come out of the closet. It is no longer pretending to toe the "new centrist path." It is no longer pretending to honor the "Five Noes." The issue in the upcoming election is going to be: "The Republic of China or the Nation of Taiwan? Make your choice!" Which "country" will win? No one knows. Any would be "Nation of Taiwan" has an Achilles heel. Otherwise its champions would not have had to hide their real agenda along the way. But the case for the Republic of China also has vulnerabilties. Otherwise its defenders would not come across so mealy-mouthed and defensive.

The upcoming presidential election has been defined as a final showdown between the Republic of China and a would-be "Nation of Taiwan." Whoever fears to step onto this battlefield, whoever lacks the ability to direct this battle, will be the loser.

一場中華民國與台灣國的決戰
【聯合報╱社論】
2007.09.08 05:28 am

這場總統大選已經定位為中華民國與台灣國的決戰，且也必須定位為中華民國與台灣國的決戰。

「已經定位」是實然面，「必須定位」則為應然面。

先談「已經定位」。雪梨布胡會當天，陳水扁在南投說了十三次「我們就是台獨」（他只是沒說「嘸你嘜安吶」），謝長廷則宣示他選的是「台灣國總統」（後來，他修正說「台灣就是中華民國」，但「中華民國」畢竟不是「台灣國」），再加上「入聯公投」也不再以「不是台獨」來遮掩，而逕指是以「新國家的名義入聯」。事態至此，檯面人物的語言及思維已與綠營地下電台完全一致，台灣國儼然已以本來面目亮相。

民進黨被陳水扁挾持，只要他以「台獨的陳水扁」來挽救「貪腐的陳水扁」之大戰略不變，這場總統大選就必然被他導向「台灣國」與「中華民國」的決戰。因而，縱使謝長廷勝選，謝也絕無可能使一切在「明年三月以後」歸零（他訪美時如此說）；豈未聞如今已有所謂台獨「大老」警告謝長廷：「你當總統不搞這些（正名制憲），我們也會逼你搞！」所以，自這場大選至大選以後，台灣的政局皆已被民進黨定位為台灣國與中華民國的決戰。

再談「必須定位」。長期以來，「台灣國」並未以本來面目現身；而是以「本土化」、「主體性」、「愛台灣」、「台灣悲情」、「國家正常化」、「正名制憲」等「化名」與「化身」示人；甚至此次「入聯公投」，陳水扁一開始亦稱「無關台獨」，「未違反四不」。民進黨主政以來，始終在「中華民國」與「台灣國」之間穿出穿進，搞得虛實莫辨，真偽難分；影響所及，台灣民眾也一直未能在台灣國與中華民國之間作一認真的思辨。然而，如今情勢發展至此，「台灣國」既以本來面目示人，則國人也就沒有不作抉擇的餘地。因此，這次總統大選也就「必須定位」為中華民國與台灣國的決戰；大家都把話說清楚，勿再猶抱琵琶半遮面，也不要再打煙幕戰。

不可將陳水扁此番的台獨操作視為僅是「選舉議題」，而認為「明年三月以後」一切即可復原；因為，這次台獨操作，涉及陳水扁的貪腐官司及歷史定位，可謂是他政治生命的生死掙扎，不如此他如何挾持民進黨，不如此他又如何對付卸任後的貪腐追訴？陳水扁此時的目標是：透過此次大選，在政治上及社會心理上造成為台獨衝破「紅線」的效應，藉以確保他在卸任後維持台獨旗手的地位；就此而言，「台灣國」絕不會是大選過後就自動消失的「假議題」，而可視為自此與中華民國分道揚鑣的不歸路。

這次選舉是中華民國與台灣國的決戰，也是中華民國總統與台灣國總統的決戰。已經如此定位，亦必須如此定位。

回顧八年來的滄桑變化，陳水扁曾有「新中間路線」的思維，亦有「四不一沒有」的承諾，如今卻走向「四要」，及以「入聯公投」包裝「台獨公投」；漫漫八年，陳水扁一步步走上以更激進的姿態來掩飾其失政敗德的路子，中間選民對他的期待亦付諸東流，此皆十分可惜之事。但是，反過來說，陳水扁最後終於卸去一切偽裝的政治胭脂，以台獨的真面目亮相，卻亦使國人第一次有機會在台灣國與中華民國之間作一思辨與抉擇，這卻是一個值得國人慶幸的契機。何況，此時距大選尚有七個月，國人可將台灣國與中華民國置於胸臆腦際，慢慢咀嚼反芻，然後好整以暇地作出冷靜明智的抉擇。

台灣國已以本來面目亮相，沒有「新中間路線」的幻影，亦不再有「四不一沒有」的虛晃。這次大選的主題就是：中華民國與台灣國，你選何國？至於究竟最後何「國」勝出，恐無人可以逆料。畢竟，「台灣國」的論述者有其罩門，否則即不必一路遮遮掩掩，不肯以本來面目示人；而「中華民國」的論述者亦有弱點，否則即不會始終說不清楚，處處陷於挨打的狀態。

然而，無論如何，這次選舉已是一場中華民國與台灣國的決戰；誰不敢進入這個戰場，或沒有能力經營此一戰場，即是失敗者，就是輸家。