Monday, July 30, 2012

ROC National Flag Taken Down on Regent Street: Su Tseng-chang "Protests"

ROC National Flag Taken Down on Regent Street: Su Tseng-chang "Protests"
United Daily News editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
July 27, 2012

Summary: The Republic of China flag that was flying on London's Regent Street has been taken down. This reveals the plight of our national flag on the international stage. DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang spoke out on Facebook, saying "Those who love this country must fight for the dignity of its flag." This reveals the plight of our national flag in domesic disputes. Both provide food for thought.

Full Text below:

The Republic of China flag that was flying on London's Regent Street has been taken down. This reveals the plight of our national flag on the international stage. DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang spoke out on Facebook, saying "Those who love this country must fight for the dignity of its flag." This reveals the plight of our national flag in domesic disputes. Both provide food for thought.

The London Olympics have begun. Regent Street in downtown London is welcoming visitors. The flags of 206 participating countries line the street. The red, white, and blue flag of the Republic of China was among the flags fluttering in the breeze.

The flag flew there for three days. Republic of China citizens in the Taiwan Region were delighted but fearful. Sure enough, on the third day, their fears were confirmed. The flag was taken down. Instead, a "Chinese Taipei" Olympic Team flag was hung in its place.

The "Olympic Committee Model" is a sore spot for Republic of China citizens on Taiwan. It is also a cross-Strait time bomb. In the early years, Beijing's attitude was rude and unreasonable. It even denigrated the Republic of China flag when it was flown on Taiwan. In 2008, the Olympic torch was supposed to pass through Taiwan. But Beijing demanded that the Republic of China flag not appear along the route of the Olympic torch. Therefore the planned torch run fell through. Fortunately this led to a more rational reevaluation.

In 2009 the World Games in Kaohsiung encountered this problem. The parties reached a tacit agreement. Official events would follow the "Olympic Committee Model." But outside official venues the public would not be subject to controls or interference. Since then, on Taiwan and overseas, cross-Strait conflicts have seldom arisen over the presence of red. white, and blue ROC flags in the viewing stands. This development has been positive for cross-Strait relations, and should be affirmed.

Logically speaking, the hanging of flags on Regent Street was the responsibility of the neighborhood association. It was outside official Olympic venues. It was not put up by an official Olympic Committee entity. There should have been more latitude. Perhaps the flag was a little too eye-catching. As a result, the flag flew for only three days. This was an unfortunate development for cross-Strait relations.

The core issue for both sides is national identity. Beijing must realize that defending the flag of the Republic of China is an important part of defending a "one China, different interpretations" national identity. If the Mainland rejects the ROC national flag, it insults much of the public on Taiwan, for whom the flag is an object of reverence. Who benefits from this?

Therefore the Olympic Committee Model is best limited to official events. The 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung established a tacit understanding. Beijing should strive to abide by this understanding, in order to garner goodwill. It should avoid rubbing salt into this wound of the public on Taiwan.

Consider Su Tseng-chang's response on Facebook. He said "The ROC national flag is the symbol of the nation. Those who love this country must fight for the dignity of its flag. We must fight to ensure it a foothold."

Su Tseng-chang's words were astonishing. One netizen said "Didn't the DPP insist that only the [green and white]"yam flag" can be considered the national flag of the "Nation of Taiwan?" He said, "The DPP should display the ROC national flag at all official DPP events. Otherwise this Facebook posting is going to strike people as more than a little strange."

As everyone on Taiwan knows, Su Tseng-chang's declaration was indeed strange. The Democratic Progressive Party has long used the [green and white] "yam flag" to oppose the red, white, and blue ROC Flag. The "dang wai" movement began over 40 years ago. Since then the ROC national flag is almost never seen at DPP mass rallies. One could even say the fundamental problem with politics on Taiwan is that at DPP mass rallies one never sees a single ROC national flag.

That said, Su Tseng-chang's "defense of the flag" deserves recognition. Is the DPP truly in pain because the ROC national flag was taken down on Regent Street? If so, then why not hang the ROC national flag at DPP party headquarters? Why not fly the ROC national flag at DPP mass rallies?

The DPP is reevaluating its cross-Strait policy. It is time that the DPP reevaluated its position on national identity. Su Tseng-chang has issued his "defend the flag" statement. Hopefully this means the DPP intends to "come home to the Republic of China." Hopefully this means the DPP will defend the flag consistently.

Actually Taiwan's political problems have two causes. One, Beijing cannot tolerate the red, white, and blue ROC national flag. Two. The DPP also rejects the red, white, and blue ROC national flag. The removal of the ROC national flag on Regent Street rubbed salt into our wounds. This wound has not healed for decades. One of the main reasons is the DPP's relentless attempt to purge all traces of the Republic of China from the island, and its futile attempt to promote Taiwan independence.

Su Tseng-chang said we must seek dignity and seek a foothold for the Republic of China and the ROC national flag. If so, the public must first seek internal consensus. Everyone on Taiwan must defend the dignity of the ROC as a nation, and seek a place for the ROC national flag on the international stage. At the very least, the DPP must treat the ROC and the ROC national flag with dignity during DPP mass meetings.

The ROC national flag has been taken down on Regent Street. We protest Beijing's unreasonable and unwise attitude. Su Tseng-tsang has issued his "defend the flag" statement. We will now "listen to what he says, and watch what he does."

國旗故事:攝政街撤旗 蘇貞昌護旗
【聯合報╱社論】
2012.07.29

倫敦攝政街上原本掛出的一面中華民國國旗被撤去,民進黨主席蘇貞昌在臉書上主張「愛這個國家就要為這面國旗爭取尊嚴」;前者反映了國旗對外的處境,後者則顯現了國旗對內的糾葛,皆是發人深省。

倫敦奧運開幕。鬧區攝政街為迎接盛典,在街區懸掛二○六面參賽國家的國旗,中華民國青天白日滿地紅的國旗亦在其中,迎風招展。

國旗掛了三天,台灣人見到,又高興,又擔心;到了第三天,擔心的事還是發生了,國旗被移去,經交涉換上了「中華台北」的奧會團旗。

「奧會模式」是台灣之痛,也是兩岸的不定時炸彈。早年,北京對此的態度極盡蠻橫無理,連在台灣本地的看台上出現國旗也以惡形惡狀相向;二○○八年奧運聖火原本打算經過台灣,北京竟提出沿途不可見到國旗的主張,因此告吹,但亦因而觸發了較趨理性的思考。

二○○九年,高雄世運又面對這個問題。當時得到的各方默契是:大會程序按「奧會模式」進行,但在大會官方程序外,民眾持旗不受限制及干涉。自此以後,不論在台灣,或海外,已極少在看台上持青天白日滿地紅旗而發生兩岸衝突的情事;此一發展,對兩岸關係有正面意義,值得珍惜。

照理說,攝政街懸旗,由街區協會主持;既在奧會場外,更非奧會官方主事,此中應有可以緩衝的空間。但或許因目標太過醒目,國旗只掛了三天,這其實對兩岸而言皆是可惜之事。

兩岸的核心問題是在認同問題。北京應知,維持中華民國國旗,是維繫「一中各表」政治認同的重要憑藉;倘不此之圖,卻以傷害台灣人民對中華民國國旗的感情為能事,豈為得計?

因此,奧會模式仍以限於奧會官方程序為宜;二○○九年高雄世運建立的默契,北京應努力維持,以累積善意,勿三不五時在這台灣人最痛的傷口上撒鹽。

回過頭來看蘇貞昌對此事的回應。他在臉書說:「國旗是國家的象徵,愛這個國家就要為這面國旗爭取尊嚴、爭取立足空間。」

蘇貞昌的這一段言語,令人驚異。網友說:「民進黨不是說『地瓜旗』才是『台灣國』國旗嗎?」「最好以後民進黨的活動都要有國旗,不然這篇(臉書)文章顯得有點怪怪的。」

蘇貞昌的表態確實有點「怪怪的」。因為任人皆知,民進黨的一貫主張就是以「地瓜旗」對抗「青天白日滿地紅旗」;自「黨外」至建黨以後四十餘年來,在民進黨的群眾集會中幾乎未見一面國旗。其實,甚至可以這麼說,台灣政治的根本問題,可以歸結反映到只因民進黨的群眾集會中見不到一面國旗!

但是,蘇貞昌的「護旗宣言」,仍是值得肯定與期待的。倘若民進黨真正心痛在攝政街的一面國旗被撤去,何不把國旗掛回民進黨黨部?何不讓國旗飄揚在民進黨的群眾集會中?

民進黨正在進行兩岸政策的研議,這也是民進黨對國家認同重新整建的時機;希望蘇貞昌的「護旗宣言」,是民進黨「回歸中華民國」的一篇序言,不日就能讓國人見到其護旗護國一以貫之的全文。

其實,台灣的政治難題,始終是糾纏在北京容不下這一幅青天白日滿地紅旗,與民進黨也不願扛起這一幅青天白日滿地紅旗。攝政街的撤旗事件宛如被人傷口撒鹽;但這個幾十年來未曾癒合的大傷口,主要原因之一,卻是民進黨的「去中華民國化」及倡議台獨所造成。

如蘇貞昌所說,中華民國和中華民國國旗,若欲對外「爭取尊嚴、爭取立足空間」,則首先應在台灣內部爭取到全民共同護守的尊嚴與立足空間,至少應在民進黨的集會場合中爭到尊嚴與立足。

對於攝政街的撤旗事件,我們抗議北京的無理與不智;對於蘇貞昌的護旗宣示,我們聽其言,觀其行。

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