Blue vs. Green Electioneering: Eschew "Taiwanese" Identity Politics

Blue vs. Green Electioneering:
Eschew "Taiwanese" Identity Politics
China Times editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
July 12, 2011

It may be hard to believe, but the Republic of China is now holding its fifth direct presidential election. Yet the issue of "who is Taiwanese" has become the main election issue. Even now, questions about "who is Taiwanese" and "who loves Taiwan" remain bones of contention. During the past decade or so, four presidential terms have elapsed, during which three presidents were directly elected. Does that count for nothing?

Recently Tsai Ing-wen ran a campaign commercial. In it she stressed that "I am Taiwanese," inciting social frictions. She later engaged in damage control, saying that "Anyone living on Taiwan whose allegiance is to Taiwan, is Taiwanese. To loudly proclaim that I am Taiwanese, is an affirmation of our democratic society and its progressive values. This represents new heights that the Democratic Progressive Party seeks to attain in 2012. Economics, politics, democracy, and human rights protection, will all experience a rebirth." She said the suspicions voiced about her declaration were the result of "misinterpretations."

Responding to Tsai Ing-wen, President Ma Ying-jeou said that he and others drew no such distinctions. He expressed solidarity with everyone who dedicates himself to Taiwan. We loudly proclaim in the international arena that "We are Taiwanese. We are also Republic of China citizens."

Given Ma and Tsai's remarks, do their definitions of "Taiwanese" really differ? Frankly, both Ma and Tsai are talking nonsense. Whether one is born here or grows up here, who has not sacrificed for Taiwan? Who is not Taiwanese?

Tsai Ing-wen said that "To loudly proclaim that I am Taiwanese, is an affirmation of our democratic society and its progressive values." Must we remind Tsai Ing-wen that Chiang Ching-kuo long ago affirmed that "I am also Taiwanese?" President Lee Teng-hui seized Ma Ying-jeou's wrist, raised Ma's hand, and announced that "He is a New Taiwanese." Distinctions between those born on Taiwan and those born in other provinces no longer have any meaning. To cast aspersions on an opponent's provincial origins, at this late date, or to insinuate that he is "afraid to proclaim that he is Taiwanese," is not progress. On the contrary, such campaign tactics represent a backward step.

Ma Ying-jeou added "I am also a Republic of China citizen." Tsai Ing-wen may consider his addendum superfluous. Tsai Ing-wen, who is running for Republic of China president, refuses to recognize the Republic of China. Was Ma's addendum a reference to Tsai's hypocrisy? If so, Ma Ying-jeou is also guilty of electioneering.

Given Ma and Tsai's political rhetoric, can we still consider democracy on Taiwan mature? The president is elected by the people as a whole. The Blue and Green camps seem incapable of offering any concrete policy proposals. Instead they engage in meaningless shouting matches. The Green Camp questions the Blue Camp's "love of Taiwan." The Blue Camp questions the Green Camp's allegiance to the Republic of China. Both the Blue and Green camps are competing for high office, But does either care a whit for the public? in their pursuit of votes, they stoop to meaningless and outrageous political rhetoric. What are they doing, but treating 23 million Republic of China citizens as idiots?

Tsai Ing-wen argues that if we wish to connect with the international community, we must loudly proclaim "I am Taiwanese." We must make sure that the international community is aware of Taiwan's economic prosperity and progressive democracy. She argues that this will enhance Taiwan's visibility. Tsai's argument is nonsense. When people from Taiwan go abroad, they refer to themselves as Taiwanese. They even refer to themselves as Taiwanese when they visit the Chinese mainland. This is not the way to differentiate us from our rivals.

Taiwan needs international visibility. But that international visibility was not achieved by politicians engaging in shouting matches. It was achieved by Wang Yung-ching of Formosa Plastics, of Morris Chang of TSMC, of Cher Wang of HTC, of golf champion Tseng Ya-ni, of baseball champion Wang Chien-ming, of chess champion Chang Hsu, of Ultra Marathoner Kevin Lin, of fashion mogul Johan Ku, who built his own brand. It was achieved by a wide variety of young people who have excelled in the international arena. When American singer Lady Gaga met with fans on Taiwan, she generated greater international visibility for Taiwan than any politician shouting "I am Taiwanese!" The impact was far greater. What right do Tsai Ing-wen and other Green Camp leaders have to doubt whether other people are "Taiwanese?" Does their behavior increase "Taiwan's international visibility?" Perhaps. Perhaps it makes Taiwan a laughing stock. Perhaps it shows the international community just how primitive electoral politics on Taiwan is.

Two ruling party changes have already taken place. Soon it will be three, four, even five. Every political party seeks to rule. With every ruling party change, every political party seeks to scale new heights in politics, economics, democracy, and human rights. But reactionary conservative political rhetoric cannot bring about a new political order. It can only undermine the quality of democracy. It can only lead to endless bickering between communal groups.

Hsu Cho-yun of the Academia Sinica is concerned about the vicious struggles between the two major parties. In particular he is concerned about 2012. He says the two major parties need a framework which will allow heated debate but ensure a united front against Beijing. He feels the two major parties must work together for the future of Taiwan, and arrive at the best solutions in cross-Strait policy.

The Blue and Green camps remain at loggerheads on cross-Strait policy. For the Green camp, a person's stance on cross-Strait policy determines whether he is a bona fide "Taiwanese." This is absurd. The Democratic Progressive Party has opposed every cross-Strait policy measure ever proposed, from allowing tourists from the Chinese mainland on to Taiwan, to the signing of ECFA. Chiang Ching-kuo allowed veterans to visit the Chinese mainland. Lee Teng-hui allowed cross-Strait trade and investment. Even Chen Shui-bian's eight years in office did not halt cross-Strait exchanges. Ma Ying-jeou allowed tourists from the Chinese mainland to visit Taiwan, and students from the Chinese mainland to study on Taiwan. He has repeatedly stressed his policy of "no [immediate] reunification, no independence, and no use of force." Who doesn't put Taiwan first? Who dares to accuse others of not being Taiwanese?

藍綠選舉 別在台灣人上噴口水
2011-07-12 中國時報

不可思議，台灣總統民選進入第五任，「台灣人」還能成為選戰主議題，此刻還在爭議誰是台灣人，誰愛台灣？前面四任十多年來，包括三位民選總統和全體台灣人，豈不是白過了？

蔡英文對「我是台灣人」廣告所引發的挑撥族群聯想解釋說，「任何住在台灣、認同台灣的，都是台灣人；大聲說出我是台灣人，代表著一個民主的社會和進步的價值。這也是民進黨在二○一二年要再次創造進步的高峰，不論經濟、政治、民主到人權保護，都要做一個全新局面的開始。」她認為，外界的質疑是「錯誤解讀」。

對蔡英文的論點，馬英九總統說，包括他自己和所有不分彼此、團結一致，共同為台灣奉獻的朋友，大家都會在國際上大聲說出「我們是台灣人，也是中華民國的國民」。

從馬、蔡的說法，實在看不出兩人對台灣人的界定有何差異？坦白講，馬蔡兩人講的都是廢話！生於斯、長於斯，誰不為台灣奉獻？誰不是台灣人？

蔡英文說，大聲講出我是台灣人，代表民主的社會和進步的價值。那麼我們必須再次提醒蔡英文：這個價值在蔣經國說出「他也是台灣人」之後已經確立，在李登輝總統舉起馬英九的手說出「他是新台灣人」之後，已經沒有本、外省的疑義，此刻一再質疑競選對手，甚至暗示對手「不敢大聲說出我是台灣人」，不但不是進步，相反的，這是一種選舉操作的退步。

蔡英文或許還要質疑，馬英九為什麼畫蛇添足加一句「我也是中華民國的國民」？這句多餘之言，是否暗示競選中華民國總統的蔡英文不認同中華民國？果若如此，那麼馬英九的語言同樣是選舉操作。

看穿馬、蔡的政治語言，我們還能說台灣的民主是進步的嗎？全民票選總統，藍綠提不出具體政見也罷，竟都在空洞浮泛的詞彙上噴口水，綠營質疑藍營不愛台灣，藍營質疑綠營不認同中華民國，請問：競逐大位的藍綠政治領袖，你們眼中還有人民嗎？用如此無聊加離譜的政治語彙企圖爭奪選票，豈不是拿中華民國二千三百萬台灣人當白痴！

蔡英文強調，走到國際社會，都要大聲說出「我是台灣人」，讓台灣的經濟社會繁榮和民主的進步，告知國際社會知道，也提升台灣的能見度。這還是廢話，台灣人不要說走在國際，連到大陸說自己是台灣人，這有什麼可以拿來區隔自己比對手更強的？

台灣需要國際能見度，台灣已經創造了國際能見度，靠的卻不是政客們的口水，而是台塑的王永慶、台積電的張忠謀、宏達電的王雪紅、打高球的曾雅妮、打棒球的王建民、下棋的張栩、超馬的林義傑、甚至創造時尚品牌的古又文、參加國際比賽得到各種獎章的台灣年輕人…，連美國人女神卡卡到台灣一場歌友會，創造的國際能見度，都比任何政客一番「我是台灣人」的廣告效益大得多，蔡英文或綠營人士有什麼資格，藉著質疑他人不是台灣人來創造台灣的能見度？如果真能因此創造台灣的國際能見度，也只是創造了笑話而已：讓國際間看到台灣的選舉多麼粗糙。

政黨輪替在台灣已經兩次，在可預見的未來，必然還會有三次、五次，對所有競爭政黨而言，每一次選舉的政黨輪替，都要期許自己為台灣再造政治、經濟、民主、人權的高峰，然而，退步保守的政治語言，開展不了任何新局面，只會讓台灣民主的品質，反覆陷入族群分歧的惡性循環，無以自拔。

中研院院士許倬雲對兩黨惡鬥憂心，特別撰文〈為二○一二進言〉，認為兩黨必須要有一個協議機制，「在機制中激烈辯論，但和對岸交涉時只能有一個立場」，同心合力共同為台灣的前途，尋找兩岸關係的最佳選擇。

如果兩岸關係是藍綠界定台灣人的核心爭議，這個爭議也是莫名其妙，從陸客觀光到兩岸簽定ＥＣＦＡ，都是民進黨中央反對而地方爭取，更別提蔣經國開放老兵探親，李登輝開放兩岸經貿投資，即使陳水扁任內八年兩岸交流腳步也沒停過，馬英九即使開放陸客來台觀光、陸生來台就學，同樣反覆強調「不統、不獨、不武」。誰不以台灣利益為優先？是那些懷疑他人不是台灣人的人！