The Republic of China: Past Achievements, Future Advantages

The Republic of China: Past Achievements, Future Advantages
United Daily News editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
October 10, 2007

Chen Shui-bian has been shouting "We demand the rectification of names, the authoring of a new constitution, and a declaration of Taiwan independence!" Today he celebrated the Republic of China's Double Ten National Day, which commemorates the Xin Hai Revolution. On the one hand a sign attached to the tower of the presidential palace read "Taiwan demands membership in the United Nations." On the other hand a troop review provided a demonstration of military might. How can one begin to describe the absurdity of such a scene?

What sort of political message is Chen Shui-bian trying to send with this utterly surreal "National Day" celebration? Are we to understand that the "Taiwan demands membership in the United Nations" sign on the tower of the presidential palace means that a Republic of China National Day celebration has been transformed into a demonstration for the "Nation of Taiwan?" Was the troop review supposed to be evidence that Chen Shui-bian now commands the military might necessary to establish a "Nation of Taiwan?"

Chen Shui-bian sits in the office of Republic of China president. He enjoys the salary of a Republic of China government official. Wu Shu-chen obtained her diamond ring and illegal receipts because she was the wife of the Republic of China president. Yet Chen Shui-bian has the temerity to use the Republic of China's national day ceremony to raise the banner of Taiwan independence. Chen has abducted the armed forces of the Republic of China and used them to rally support for Taiwan independence. But this was only the first of many absurdities.

Chen Shui-bian asserted that the Republic of China "is neither fish nor fowl," therefore it was necessary to "demand the rectification of names, the authoring of a new constitution, and a declaration of Taiwan independence." But Chen Shui-bian has yet to explain what kind of fish or fowl a "Nation of Taiwan" founded on the corpse of the Republic of China would be. Besides, why does the Democratic Progressive Party feel the need to use the Republic of China National Day ceremony as cover for its Taiwan independence message? Why does it need to hijack the armed forces of the Republic of China, forcing them to become the amen corner for Taiwan independence? The Democratic Progressive Party might as well step forward and tell us on what day of what month of what year the banner on the presidential palace tower is going to read: "In celebration of the Nation of Taiwan National Day." On what day of what month of what year will the Nation of Taiwan's armed forces pass in review before the Nation of Taiwan's presidential palace?

The Republic of China may not be perfect. The Republic of China's existence may be troubled. But just because the Republic of China is not perfect does not mean that a Nation of Taiwan would be perfect. Just because the Republic of China's existence is troubled does not mean that a Nation of Taiwan would be viable.

The fact remains that the Republic of China's past achievements outweigh its failures, and its future advantages outweigh its shortcomings. The Republic of China's Kuomintang government made mistakes. The 228 Incident, the White Terror, "Black Gold" plutocracy. To the extent that its historical record is spotted, it deserves condemnation, and justifies future wariness. But the Republic of China's Kuomintang government also bled rivers of blood defending Taiwan from Communism. For 60 years and three generations it prevented Taiwan from falling victim to the Red Tide, to the Three Antis, Five Antis campaigns, the Great Leap Forward, and the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. The KMT was responsible for the historic Farm Rental Reduction to 37.5% Program, Nine Years of National Education Program, Ten Major Construction Projects, Taiwan's famed "Economic Miracle," increased social equality, reduced economic inequality, steady liberalization, Taiwan's leap to the head of the Four Asian Tigers, the lifting of martial law, and the opening of cross Straits exchanges. The Republic of China's past contributions to Taiwan and the Chinese people on Taiwan far outweigh any misdeeds. The 228 Incident hardly justifies writing off the Republic of China. The impossibility of joining the UN hardly justifies repudiating the Republic of China.

For the forseeable future, the advantages of retaining the Republic of China will outweigh any disadvantages. After all, the international consensus supports "maintaining the status quo." The Republic of China is the status quo. It is also what Taiwan's survival and development depend upon. The Republic of China is simultaneously unified and independent. The Republic of China offers any and all advantages a "Nation of Taiwan" might. A "Nation of Taiwan," on the other hand, is incapable of offering the same advantages that the Republic of China can. The Republic of China has the potentional to create a win/win proposition with 1.3 billion compatriates across the Strait. A would be "Nation of Taiwan" must be psychologically prepared to make bitter enemies of 1.3 billion people on the opposite shore. The Republic of China is a real, live community built on 60 years of blood and sweat. Any "Nation of Taiwan," by contrast, exists only in the saliva in the corner of Chen Shui-bian's mouth. Within the context of "maintaining the international status quo" any would be "Nation of Taiwan" is simply impossible. What makes the Democratic Progressive Party and Chen Shui-bian imagine that any "Nation of Taiwan" could ever stand?

The Republic of China is imperfect. The Republic of China's existence is troubled. But a "Nation of Taiwan" is hardly a formula that can improve Taiwan's circumstances. Establishing a "Nation of Taiwan" is not a feasible plan for Taiwan's future. In fact, from beginning to end, a "Nation of Taiwan" has never been anything more than saliva. A "Nation of Taiwan" has never existed in the past, does not exist in the present, and will never exist in the future. Chen Shui-bian and the Democratic Progressive Party's problem, is that they simply don't have the ability to govern the Republic of China. Therefore they hope to shift public attention away from this fact. They hope that the people will mistakenly believe they have the ability to establish and govern a would be "Nation of Taiwan."

The DPP's National Day celebration has revealed the absurdities and contradictions contained within the ideology of Taiwan independence. Chen Shui-bian stands in the Republic of China's National Day reviewing stand, hoping the public will experience the illusion that the Taiwan independence movement is in the driver's seat. Chen Shui-bian has abducted the armed forces of the Republic of China, using them to rally support for Taiwan independence. He hopes the people will experience the illusion that the Taiwan independence movement already has the military might necessary for independence. Is this stupidity? Or is this insanity?

After this surrealistic "National Day" celebration, Chen Shui-bian will return to the Republic of China presidential office. He will continue to enjoy all sorts of perks that Republic of China taxpayers provide him. He will continue to receive the Republic of China president's generous salary. Chen Shui-bian has maintained this fraud for nearly eight years. Are we to endure another eight years of the same fraud under Frank Hsieh?

中華民國：過去功大於過，未來利大於弊
【聯合報╱社論】
2007.10.10 03:08 am

高喊「要正名，要制憲，要台獨」的陳水扁，今日變調慶祝中華民國辛亥雙十革命建國紀念日；他一方面在總統府塔樓標誌「台灣加入聯合國」的變形台獨訴求，另一方面以「國防表演」展示武力。這是何其矛盾荒謬的場景！

陳水扁究竟欲藉這一場「變調國慶」展現何種政治意義？難道只因塔樓上「台灣加入聯合國」幾字，中華民國國慶就變成了「台灣國」的示威盛典？再者，難道這場「國防表演」是在展示陳水扁已有以武力建立「台灣國」的能力？

陳水扁位居中華民國總統，享用中華民國俸祿，連吳淑珍的鑽戒及發票亦是因中華民國總統夫人的身分而攫得；如今，陳水扁竟假藉中華民國開國革命的慶典，標舉其台獨圖騰，甚至挾持中華民國的三軍來為台獨造勢。矛盾莫甚於此，荒謬亦莫甚於此！

陳水扁說，中華民國是「什麼碗糕」，因此「要正名，要制憲，要台獨」。但是，陳水扁卻迄未說明，欲建立在中華民國屍體上的「台灣國」將是「什麼碗糕」？民進黨不必假藉中華民國國慶來偷渡今天這一場台獨派對，也不必挾持中華民國三軍來為台獨派對造勢。民進黨不妨明說，將於何年何月在總統府的塔樓上標出「慶祝台灣國國慶」的字樣？又將於何年何月讓台灣國的三軍通過台灣國總統府的觀禮台前？

中華民國確實不完美，中華民國也確實生存不易。但「中華民國不完美」，卻不能導出「台灣國完美」的結論；「中華民國生存困難」，也不能導出「台灣國可以誕生及活得下去」的結論。

實際的情勢是：中華民國，過去功大於過，未來利大於弊。過去，中華民國國民黨政府確實曾有過錯，二二八、白色恐怖、黑金弄權，史證斑斑，應受譴責，並足為後來者戒。但是，過去中華民國國民黨政府，反共保台，歷經血戰，使台灣六十年來數代人口未陷於赤禍，免於淪入三面紅旗、文化大革命等災難；除此之外，更有三七五減租、九年國教、十大建設、經濟奇蹟、均富社會、漸進民主、躍升亞洲四小龍之首，及解嚴、開放兩岸交流之功勞。若謂中華民國對於台灣或台灣人，過去功大於過，應當是尚屬公允之論；不宜因二二八而完全抹殺中華民國，或因未能入聯即完全否定中華民國。

展望未來，「中華民國」亦是利大於弊。畢竟，國際主流意識已出現「維持現狀」的架構；中華民國即是現狀，就是台灣生存發展的憑藉。中華民國不統不獨，亦統亦獨；中華民國可以包容及替代「台灣國」的利益，但「台灣國」卻不能取代中華民國的利益。「中華民國」有可能與對岸十三億人創造和平雙贏，「台灣國」則須有與對岸十三億人形成世仇的心理準備。尤其，中華民國是在台灣六十年血汗建構的真實生命共同體，「台灣國」卻只是掛在陳水扁等人嘴角的口水國家。其實，在「維持現狀」的國際架構下，台灣國根本不可能誕生，則民進黨及陳水扁何以認為這個死胎台灣國可以立足世界？

中華民國確實不完美，中華民國的生存發展也確實不易。但台灣國亦非改善台灣現狀的藥方，台灣國更非開創台灣未來的可行方案；其實，台灣國自始至今皆只是一攤愈來愈混濁的口水；台灣國過去不存在，現在不存在，未來也不可能存在。陳水扁及民進黨的問題，是在他們根本沒有「治理中華民國」的能力，所以轉移焦點，欲讓國人誤認他們有「建立台灣國」、「治理台灣國」的能力。

這個「變調的國慶」展現了所有的荒謬與矛盾。陳水扁站在中華民國國慶的觀禮台上，欲使國人產生「台獨得勢」的錯覺；陳水扁挾持中華民國三軍造勢，更欲使國人產生台獨已有武力憑藉的錯覺。這是愚昧，還是瘋狂？

在這場「變調國慶」之後，陳水扁又將走回觀禮台後方的中華民國總統辦公室，繼續享用中華民國稅金供養的種種優遇，繼續領用中華民國的豐厚薪俸……。這場「自欺欺人」的騙局，陳水扁已經演了近八年；未來難道還要由謝長廷接棒繼續演下去？