Self-Confidence and Cross-Strait Relations

Self-Confidence and Cross-Strait Relations
China Times editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
October 9, 2009

The 8/8 Floods occurred two months ago. DPP legislators browbeat Premier Wu Den-yih over the amounts contributed by Mainland China. Premier Wu reportedly replied "eight to nine hundred million NT." Pan Green legislators were clearly dissatisfied. They demanded that Premier Wu guarantee that the entire amount pledged by the Mainland would actually be received. Premier Wu said he could hardly stand behind the other side's pledges. He added that some of the contributions from the Chinese Mainland were earmarked for the reconstruction of the Shuang Yuan Bridge. He said it was inappropriate for the Executive Yuan to make such an assessment, therefore he had to decline.
Premier Wu broached this subject on his own initiative. He hoped to prevent Green Camp legislators from villifying him as "pro-China," and as a "China-lover." He wanted them to believe that the government would not unconditionally accept Mainland Chinese generosity and goodwill. Elements within the Green Camp have long demagogued such issues. Will Premier Wu's public declarations make these legislators cease and desist? The answer is still unknown. But Wu's response reveals two things. The first is that the public on Taiwan has a hard time accepting other people's goodwill, especially from the other side of the Taiwan Strait. We are always on the defensive. We assume that anything the Mainland does relative to Taiwan, is always done for some ulterior motive. We view the other side through colored glasses. Therefore all we see are problems. If the Mainland fails to contribute, it has no conscience, If the Mainland contributes too little, it has no conscience. If the Mainland's pledges have yet to be fulfilled, it is guilty of bad faith. If the Mainland wants to earmark its contributions a certain way, then it is meddling in our affairs. In short, we constantly find fault, no matter what they do.

Frankly, there is nothing wrong with earmarking contributions. Contributors all want their contributions to be highly visible and long remembered. This is only human. When ordinary individuals make contributions they too think this way. But as long as the donation meets a real need and people are in fact helped, it is a good thing. Furthermore, earmarking contributions for certain high profile purposes such as major construction projects, makes it easier to solicit contributions. What's more, part of these contributions came from Taiwan businesses on the Mainland. They wanted to use the Shuang Yuan Bridge project to demonstrate their solidarity with Taiwan. Frankly there is nothing wrong with their way of thinking. When the Republic of China provides aid to other countries, doesn't it earmark its contributions the same way?

Secondly, regarding cross-Strait issues, isn't the Ma administration just a wee bit overcautious? It is deathly afraid of falling into traps set by the Green Camp. As a result, it second-guesses itself on every move. For example, the DPP alleged that rebroadcasting Mainland China's National Day troop review on local television was illegal. It demanded a Government Information Office (GIO) investigation. The GIO consulted experts and scholars, who concluded that it was not illegal. There was no need to impose fines on local rebroadcasters. The entire world has expressed an interest in Mainland China's National Day ceremonies. The Republic of China enjoys freedom of speech. How can rebroadcasting news footage of a troop review be considered illegal? Elements within the Green Camp are afflicted with a "No to everything Chinese" mentality that has left them bereft of common sense, and even their humanity. The Ma administration meanwhile, is "once bitten, twice shy." Premier Wu anxiously underscored the administration's refusal to accept contributions from the Mainland authorities. Clearly the DPP's Sinophobic propaganda has the Ma administration treading on eggshells. But the more the Ma administration cowers, the more the DPP tastes blood. The more it chomps down and refuses to let go. On cross-Strait issues, the thinnests of pretexts is enough to rally the Green Camp to arms. Why would it pass up any such opportunity? The more the Ma administration trembles before Green Camp intimidation, the more it encourages the DPP to demagogue every issue that comes along.

The Green Camp has repeatedly pummeled the Ma administration on cross-Strait issues. Clearly, it has had an impact. That is why it gleefully persists. Even more worth our attention is a certain collective mentality on Taiwan. Why is it so hard to view the other side with a normal state of mind? Why do we have so many negative feelings towards the Chinese mainland? Leave aside historical factors and the CCP regime's refusal to respond by removing its missiles. The public on Taiwan also feels unconsciously conflicted and bewildered over the gradual rise of Mainland China. Over the past three decades, Taiwan has experienced economic growth, social prosperity, democracy and freedom, diversity and openness. This has allowed the public to indulge in feelgood optimism in the face of a comparatively backward Mainland China. Now that Taiwan's economic outlook is less rosy, the public is experiencing confusion, and such feelings have faded.

When self-confidence on Taiwan becomes low, Mainland China's troop review is especially hard on the eyes. Chen Chao-jung's remark "China Will Be Strong" is especially hard on the ears. Mainland China's contribution to the 8/8 Flood relief is especially hard on the feelings. This is both sad and alarming. A lack of self-confidence may inspire some on Taiwan to adopt an Ah-Q "out of sight, out of mind" attitude toward Mainland China. It may encourage society to engage in unwarranted speculation, to constantly feel wounded and vulnerable. Frankly, such a mindset will lead to social contraction, squander energy, and yield nothing in return.

As we watch the massive 60th anniversary celebrations on the other side of the Strait, we hope the public on Taiwan will display the same confidence and proudly move ahead. The public on Taiwan must adopt a healthy attitude towards itself and toward cross-Strait relations. We must work toward a time when we too can walk with the same pride.

中時電子報 新聞
中國時報 　2009.10.09
社論－以更大自信看待自己 看待兩岸
本報訊

八八水災發生近兩個月，民進黨立委質詢行政院院長吳敦義，中國大陸的捐款來了多少，聽到吳揆說收到了八、九億元，綠營民意代表顯然很不滿意，直說要吳揆保證大陸捐的錢會全數到位，吳院長除了表示無法替對岸承諾些什麼之外，還說中國大陸的捐款部分指定要修建雙園大橋，但因行政院評估不適當，因此已予以婉拒。

吳揆主動把這段話說出來的目的，應是希望轉移綠營立委隨時會扣下的「親中」、「媚中」大帽子，讓這些人相信政府不會對中共「來者不拒」的，對岸的好意，台灣也不是照單全收。吳揆公開對民進黨立委做這樣一番表白，究竟能不能讓部分向來喜歡在這種議題上大開殺戒的綠營人士收歛、剎車也還未可知，倒是顯露了兩件事，第一是台灣對別人、特別是對對岸的善心好意，似乎很難心平氣和、很難就事論事的評估，總是帶著一個防衛心，認為中共如果對台灣要做什麼的話，就一定是帶著特定的目的；因為戴著有色眼鏡看對岸，所以看到的都是問題：大陸不捐款是沒良心，捐款太少一樣沒良心；捐款還沒到位是沒誠意，希望捐款用在什麼地方是干預…永遠都在挑剔。

老實講，捐款指定用途也並沒有那麼不對、不應該，一來，捐款做好事的人想做在一些明顯、容易被看見、被記住的事情上，算是人情之常，就是一般人捐款時也難免會有這種心態，只要被捐贈、被幫助的人與地方的確有此需要，就算是好事一樁；其次，捐款做一些明顯可見的事，例如重大工程，比較容易昭信，更何況，這批捐款也有些來自台商，他們希望透過像蓋雙園大橋這種比較大的工程，顯示根留台灣的心意，這種想法和做法，老實講無可厚非；當台灣對其他國家進行援助時，不也常常表明希望參與的是重要的建設嗎？

第二，關乎到兩岸議題的事，馬政府會不自覺有一種過了頭的小心翼翼，因為深怕掉進了綠營設下的陷阱，於是進行嚴格的自我檢查。如民進黨認為電視台轉播中國國慶閱兵違法，要求新聞局查處，新聞局就請了專家學者討論，結論是沒有違法，不需開罰。中國大陸的國慶典禮全世界都關注、轉播，在言論自由的台灣，人民透過新聞畫面看到閱兵畫面，竟然違法？部分綠營人士「逢中必反」的慣性已讓他們愈來愈缺乏常識，甚至於扭曲人性，而馬政府似乎也被「電」得有些矯枉過正，從吳揆主動爆料不接受中共的捐款來向反中勢力表明愛台灣、不受中共制約的心意做法看來，民進黨的反中策略的確已讓馬政府神經緊張；但愈是如此，民進黨食髓知味，愈是會緊咬不放，在兩岸議題上，任何風吹草動、任何蛛絲馬跡，綠營文章會愈做愈起勁，豈肯放手？馬政府愈是害怕，愈是讓民進黨看到出招機會。

綠營人士一再就兩岸議題猛打馬政府，顯然多少有些政治效益，因此才會如此樂此不疲，因此更值得關注的是台灣社會的某種集體心態：為什麼那麼難以平常心來看待對岸，為什麼會對中國大陸有這麼多負面感受？除了歷史性的因素以及中共政權至今仍不肯就台灣人民最在意的飛彈問題等予以正面友善的回應之外，還有一個潛在的心態是台灣面對著逐漸崛起的中國大陸有了種種矛盾和失落。台灣過去三十年因為經濟成長、社會繁榮、民主自由、多元開放，讓台灣在面對相對比較落後的中國大陸時自信樂觀、自我感覺良好；曾幾何時，這種光榮的感覺隨著台灣經濟表現不再那麼亮眼，社會又呈現某種混亂對立，有了轉淡的趨勢。

當台灣的自信心變得低落時，中國大陸的閱兵大典看起來就特別刺眼、陳昭榮的「中國一定強」聽起來就特別刺耳，捐給台灣八八風災的捐款也就特別扎心。可悲也可怕的是，沒有自信心不但會讓台灣一些人對中國大陸的現狀懷有「眼不見為淨」的阿Q心態，還會鼓動社會的集體情緒陷入不必要的敏感猜疑，動輒受傷並且脆弱；老實講，這真的會讓台灣的社會力萎縮，消耗能量、甚至於一事無成。

看到對岸的六十慶典如此聲勢浩大，我們的心裡多麼希望台灣也可以自信滿滿、昂首闊步前進！台灣應該要用健康的態度看待自己、看待兩岸關係，積極地為自己創造下一個走路有風的時代。