Sun Yat-sen: Nanjing Can Accept Him. Tainan Cannot

Sun Yat-sen: Nanjing Can Accept Him. Tainan Cannot
United Daily News editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China)
A Translation
February 26, 2014

Summary: Compare the bronze statue in the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing with the Sun Yat-sen statue in Tainan's Tang Dezhang Park. Sun Yatsen was broad-minded and profound. Taiwan independence zealots are narrow-minded and superficial. The two sides must think anew and confront the reality of the Republic of China.

Full text below:

On February 12, Wang Yu-chi, in his official capacity as Mainland Affairs Council Chairman, laid a wreath at the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing. He then delivered a speech. He spoke of the era of Republic of China rule over the Mainland, using official titles. He spoke of "extolling the Father of the Nation," of the "Founding of the Republic," of the "Three People's Principles and Five Powers Constitution," of the "1992 consensus, seeking common ground while setting aside differences," of "facing reality," and of "Win-win." At the Bo Ai Plaza he declared, "The Republic of China has been in existence for 103 years."

On February 18, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, Lien Chan told Xi Jinping, "Everyone should acknowledge the existence of the Republic of China." He said, "During the process of expanding cross-strait relations, the Republic of China is an asset, not a liability." Xi Jinping's response was, "As long as something helps cross-strait relations, it can be discussed."

On February 22, at the Tainan Tangde Memorial Park, Green Camp Taiwan independence advocates pulled down the bronze statue of Sun Yat-sen. On the back of the statue they spray painted the words "ROC OUT." This is Chinglish for "Throw the ROC out!" On the front they spray painted the words, "KMT DOWN." This is Chinglish for "KMT, step down!"

These three scenes played out on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait over a ten day period. The Blue Camp seeks to uphold the Republic of China's status within the "one China framework." Green Camp Taiwan independence zealots seek to repudiate the Republic of China, and sever all links with "China." Pulling down the statue of Sun Yat-sen was a symbolic attempt to sever the cross-strait link. This is the major difference between the Blue and Green camps on cross-strait policy. It can be evaluated from two perspectives, "inside Taiwan" and "internationally and cross-strait."

Consider the "inside Taiwan" perspective. The Republic of China's constitutional democracy has evolved to the point where calls for the KMT to step down are not a problem. After all, the DPP controlled the central government for eight years. In the Tainan region, the KMT has been out of power for over 16 years. Even calls to "Throw the ROC out!" are tolerated. For example, some political parties openly demand Taiwan independence. Even ROC President Chen Shui-bian openly demagogued the "rectification of names" issue. Consequently, pulling down the statue of Sun Yat-sen is merely "destruction of public property." And spray painting "Throw out the Republic of China!" is merely "freedom of speech."

The Republic of China is a rare bird. It is a democratic nation that tolerates demands tha tit be overthrown. It is highly tolerant of Taiwan independence. It bends over backwards for it. The political shennanigans perpetrated by the DPP during its eight year rule demonstrated that independence is unattainable to everyone inside and outside Taiwan. Taiwan independence has been unable to implement the "rectification of names" and subvert the Republic of China by means of the democratic process. Pulling down a bronze statue of Sun Yat-sen does not prove that Taiwan independence is a righteous cause. It is a political faux pas that merely reveals one's intolerance. Without 65 years of Republic of China governance, established by Sun Yat-sen, the statue in the park would have been Mao Zedong's, and the Tang Dezhang Park would did not exist.

Consider the "international and cross-strait" perspective. The Wang Zhang meeting and Lien Xi meeting in February show that the two sides seek a solution in between "not state to state relations" and "acknowledging the existence of the Republic of China." In other words, they must establish a big roof concept of one China that can acknowledge and accomodate the Republic of China. This is precisely why when Wang and Zhang referred to each other by their official titles, it was seen as a sign of progress by the international community, especially the U.S. and the EU. 

Consider international "one China" strategic theory. For Taiwan, Sun Yat-sen and the ROC are links within the "one China framework" difficult to break. They are the primary lever by which Taipei can counter political pressure from Beijing. Sun Yat-sen's authority on Mainland China is unchallenged. This is due to the ideal of the Three People's Principles. Its moral authority cannot be denied. Even Beijing reveres Sun Yat-sen. Can a handful of Taiwan independence zealots demonize Sun Yat-sen by pulling down his statue? Cross-strait relations have entered "deep water." Sun Yat-sen and the ROC are Taipei's chief credentials vis a vis Beijing. Pulling down a statue of Sun Yat-sen and shouting "Throw the ROC out!" are foolish and suicidal acts that merely reveal one's ignorance about the international strategic situation.

Taiwan independence zealots pulled down the statue of Sun Yat-sen. They abetted the Taiwan independence agenda. They rejected the trade in services agreement. Taiwan must become more closely associated with Sun Yatsen and the Republic of China. This will enable it cope with growing pressure from Beijing. Yet Taiwan independence zealots choose to spit into the wind.

Beijing once said that "The Republic of China is no more." Taiwan independence zealots scream, "Throw the ROC out!" At the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum Wang Yu-chi said, "The ROC has been in existence for 103 years." In Beijing, Lien Chan urged everyone to "acknowledge the existence of the Republic of China." Yet Taiwan independence zealots pulled down the statue of Sun Yat-sen. Beijing told "Republic of China" officials that "Anything can be discussed." Yet Taiwan independence zealots still want to "Throw the Republic of China out!" Little do they know that Taiwan is the water. The ROC is the glass. As long as the glass remains, the water will stay in the glass. Once the glass is broken, the water will run off.

Compare the bronze statue in the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing with the Sun Yat-sen statue in Tainan's Tang Dezhang Park. Sun Yatsen was broad-minded and profound. Taiwan independence zealots are narrow-minded and superficial. The two sides must think anew and confront the reality of the Republic of China.

孫中山：南京能容 台南不容
【聯合報╱社論】
2014.02.26 03:04 am

二月十二日，在南京中山陵，王郁琦以陸委會主委的正式官銜獻花，並以中華民國紀元及正式官銜宣讀祭文，內容呈現「偉哉國父」、「民國肇建」、「三民主義、五權憲法」、「九二共識，求同存異」、「正視現實」、「共創雙贏」等立場。又在陵區博愛廣場宣示：「中華民國已經一○三年了。」

二月十八日，在北京釣魚台賓館，連戰對習近平說，「中華民國大家應該來正視」；又說，「中華民國在兩岸關係拓展的過程中，是一個資產，不是負債」。習近平的回應是：「只要對兩岸關係有幫助，都可以提出來談。」

二月二十二日，在台南湯德章紀念公園，綠營獨派拖倒了孫中山銅像，在銅像背面噴漆寫著「ROC OUT」（中華民國滾蛋），正面噴上「KMT DOWN」（國民黨下台）。

這十日之間出現在兩岸的三個場景顯示：藍營兩岸政策的主軸訴求是，在「一中架構」中力爭中華民國的地位；綠營獨派兩岸政策的主軸訴求則是否定中華民國，並據以斬斷與「中國」的一切「連結點」，拖倒孫中山銅像正是企圖斬斷兩岸「連結點」的象徵之作。這是台灣藍綠雙方對兩岸政策「兩條路線」的主要分歧，可從「台灣內部」及「國際與兩岸」兩方面略作析論：

就台灣內部言。中華民國的憲政民主進展至今日，其實，「KMT DOWN」已不是問題，因為民進黨曾執中央政權八年（在大台南地區，KMT也已OUT超過十六年）；甚至連「ROC OUT」亦可存在於中華民國的民主議程之中，例如，有公開倡議台獨的政黨、有公開運作的台獨活動，連中華民國總統陳水扁亦可公開操作「正名制憲」。所以，拖倒「國父銅像」可能只涉「毀損公物」，而噴漆「中華民國滾蛋」也是「言論自由」。

其實，中華民國是全世界少見竟能容忍「顛覆國家」的民主體制；這對台獨而言，已是最大的包容，可謂「仁至義盡」。但是，民進黨執中央政權八年的台獨操作，已可證實無論對內及對外，台獨皆無可能實現。爾今，台獨不能循民主路徑「正名制憲」來顛覆中華民國，卻出以拖倒孫中山銅像的這一幕；這絕不能顯示台獨的正大，其實卻是違背民主互重共容的政治醜行。如果台灣六十五年來在法理上不是由孫中山創建的中華民國治理，在這個公園裡的銅像將是毛澤東，而「湯德章公園」也根本不可能存在。

再談國際及兩岸。二月的王張會及連習會顯示，兩岸正嘗試在「不是國與國的關係」及「正視中華民國」之間，找尋解決方案。也就是說，必須建立一個「正視及容納中華民國」的「大屋頂一中架構」；這也正是「王張互稱官銜」的進展受到國際輿論高度肯定的理由（尤其是美國與歐盟）。

就國際間「一個中國」的戰略論，對台灣而言，「孫中山／中華民國」既是與「一中架構」難以切割的連結點，也是平衡北京壓力的主要政治槓桿。孫中山在中國大陸之所以屹立不搖，是因三民主義的理想性、道德性不可能被摧毀；而連北京政府亦仍尊崇孫中山，幾個台獨分子難道想用拖倒銅像就否定孫中山？伴隨兩岸關係進入「深水區」，「孫中山／中華民國」將是台灣應對北京的主要憑藉；拖倒孫中山銅像及叫囂「ROC OUT」，這類愚妄行為不啻皆是對國際戰略無知的政治自殺行徑。

台獨人士拖倒孫中山銅像、包庇台獨課綱、杯葛《服貿協議》，這些作為顯然與台灣必須愈來愈憑藉「孫中山／中華民國」來應對北京壓力的大局走勢背道而馳，因而亦隱然呈現了一個值得玩味的政治悖論：

北京曾謂「中華民國已經滅亡」，台獨則迄仍叫囂「ROC OUT」；王郁琦在中山陵說「中華民國已一○三年」，連戰在北京主張「正視中華民國」，台獨入士則在台南拖倒孫中山銅像；北京當局對「中華民國」釋出「什麼都可以提出來談」的訊息，台獨仍兀自主張「中華民國滾蛋」，殊不知：「台灣是水，中華民國是杯；杯在水在，杯破水覆。」

這儼然是南京中山陵國父銅像與台南湯德章公園國父銅像的一個政治對照；映照出孫中山的博大深厚、台獨的愚妄淺薄，與兩岸必須對「正視中華民國」作出新思考。