China Times Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
July 28, 2016
Executive Summary: Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je spoke to this newspaper on cross-Strait relations. He emphasized mutual understanding. Only then will cross-Strait relations be stable. Since the Tsai regime took office, official cross-Strait relations have become a constant source of anxiety, all due to the 1992 Consensus. People to people relations are threatened by the rise of populism. Ko Wen-je transcended blue, green and red political loyalties, and demonstrated a refreshingly high tolerance for political differences.
Full Text Below:
Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je spoke to this newspaper on cross-Strait relations. He emphasized mutual understanding. Only then will cross-Strait relations be stable. Since the Tsai regime took office, official cross-Strait relations have become a constant source of anxiety, all due to the 1992 Consensus. People to people relations are threatened by the rise of populism. Ko Wen-je transcended blue, green and red political loyalties, and demonstrated a refreshingly high tolerance for political differences.
The green camp has long nursed a hostile attitude towards the Mainland. It has poo-pooed the Mainland's growth and rise. Ko Wen-je however, differed. He reminded the people of Taiwan that seldom in China's history has everyone had enough to eat. The 1.3 billion people on the other side of the Strait are now reasonably well-off. That such a large economy has not gone off the rails is no easy feat. From an historical perspective, it can be considered a "Golden Age". Taiwan should not continue to deny the Mainland's achievements. It should offer encouragement. This evaluation of Mainland history, is both reasonable and fair.
Emotionally speaking, it was a highly compassionate evaluation. For some time, thinking on Taiwan regarding cross-Strait issues has been highly ego-centric. People see things only from Taiwan's perspective. They refuse to see things from the Mainland's perspective. This has led to bias and paranoia. Ko Wen-je's evaluation of the other side's circumstances, came from the heart. It is an important step towards gaining the other side's understanding.
Rationally speaking, Ko Wen-je's analysis was entirely accurate. If one ignores the historical context, the Mainland is lacking in many ways. It has much room for improvement. It faces many challenges. It has much that can be criticized. But view Mainland evolution from a larger historical perspective, and one realizes it has made tremendous progress. This cannot be denied. Ko Wen-je referred to objective reality. He also appealed to reason.
Ko Wen-je was being fair. He spoke the truth. This is something DPP officials cannot bring themselves to do. This is something President Tsai Ing-wen cannot bring herself to do. This is something that KMT officials, deathly afraid of being labeled “Communist sympathizers”, cannot bring themselves to do. Paradoxically deep green Ko Wen-je, had the courage to say something that risked charges of “Communist sympathies”. In part, this was because Ko Wen-je is fearless, In part, this was because he cannot be easily accused of "pandering to China and selling out Taiwan". As a result, he could get away with being fair and speaking the truth.
In fact, President Tsai Ing-wen has the same political credentials as Ko Wen-je. She could be fair and speak the truth, just as Ko Wen-je did. Just imagine, suppose Tsai Ing-wen had said this. She could have displayed a transcendent rationality unprecedented in history. She could have revealed deep empathy toward the Mainland. If only she were capable of demonstrating such “sense and sensibility”, who knows how many problems bedeviling the two sides could be resolved? How sad that she lacks Ko Wen-je's tolerance and wisdom.
Ko Wen-je has provided Tsai Ing-wen with the necessary inspiration. Such empathy and flexibility opens the door to another political realm. In other words, our empathy towards the Mainland, can win us Mainland empathy towards Taiwan.
Ko Wen-je invoked history. He was fair to the Mainland. As a result, Ko Wen-je earned the right to speak the truth to the Mainland on behalf of Taiwan. Ko Wen-je noted how Taiwan has been occupied by the Dutch, ruled by the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and occupied by the Japanese. Taiwan experienced KMT rule, democracy, citizens' movements, and immigration. Four hundred chaotic years of history shaped Taiwan's pluralistic, open, often clamorous political culture. People are often “passionate but irresponsible”. They often betray a “surfeit of enthusiasm, but a deficit of patience”. Ko hoped the Mainland would be a little more understanding and forgiving.
Without Ko's preface, Ko's remarks would have remained nothing more than parochialism. He would have made demands of others, without making demands of himself. The impact of his words would have been greatly reduced.
Some may find the motives behind Ko Wen-je's high-minded speech suspect. Ko Wen-je's administration in Taipei City is troubled. That may be why he thew open the doors on cross-Strait issues. He could be making a last ditch attempt to salvage his political career. Given Ko Wen-je's flip-flops in the past, such suspicions are not unfounded. We hope Ko Wen-je is not making these calculations. We warn Ko Wen-je against harboring such motives. Voters are not blind. One cannot fool all of the people all of the time. Ko Wen-je's poll numbers continue to plummet. His governance lacks essential consistency. This is a lesson that Ko Wen-je has learned.
Leave aside Ko's motives for the moment. Consider only the results. Ko Wen-je's remarks were highly constructive. For now, he deserves affirmation. Politicians and government heads should be given incentives to say the right thing and do the right thing.
"As long as the two sides can reduce conflict, I am willing to try. As long as the two sides are willing to act in good faith, I am willing to work hard". Ko Wen-je's concluding remark is exactly how Taiwan should be dealing with cross-Strait relations.
柯文哲的話 蔡英文要聽
2016/7/28 中國時報
台北市長柯文哲接受本報專訪談及兩岸關係，強調兩岸要互諒，兩岸關係才會穩健。蔡英文政府執政以來，兩岸官方關係因九二共識爭拗而變得晦暗不安，社會關係也因民粹抬頭而顯得危機四伏，柯文哲這段談話超越了藍綠紅的界線與局限，展現的高度與氣度，令人耳目一新。
長期以來，綠營對中國大陸採取否定、負面的態度，相信大陸即將崩潰，否定大陸的成長與崛起，柯文哲卻提醒台灣人，中國歷史上「人人有飯吃」的朝代沒幾次，對岸13億人口在經濟上已算是「小康」，這麼龐大的經濟體沒出亂子相當不簡單，以歷史眼光來看，可以算「盛世」，台灣不應該繼續否定大陸的成就，應該給予正面的鼓勵。這一段對大陸拉出歷史縱深的評價，說出了在情也在理的「公道話」。
從情而言，這是一段深富同理心的評價，長期以來，台灣在思考兩岸問題時，經常掉進本位主義的陷阱，只從自己的角度想像，不願從對岸的角度思量，而流於一種偏執。柯文哲站在對岸的角度進行評價，這是在情感面上取得對方認同的重要一步。
就理言之，柯文哲的分析確實沒錯。若以斷代的角度來看，中國大陸當然有很多還不足、還不夠的地方。待改進的地方、將遭遇的挑戰、可挑剔的做法，當然仍有不少，但如果拉出歷史的時代縱深來看中國大陸的演變，其進步之巨大，也是不容無視的客觀事實。柯文哲說出了客觀事實，也說出了一個理字。
說也特別，柯文哲這一段「公道話」，不要說民進黨人士說不出口、蔡英文總統說不出口，長期以來懼怕被扣上傾中大帽的國民黨，恐怕也不敢說。反倒是曾被稱為「墨綠」的柯文哲，卻有膽識說出會被扣上「媚共」帽子的政治禁忌。這一方面是柯文哲天不怕地不怕的人格特質所致，另一方面，也是因為「傾中賣台」的帽子不易加諸他身上，讓他有充裕的政治空間說出「公道話」。
其實蔡英文總統和柯文哲有相同的「政治資本」，說出和柯文哲同樣的「公道話」。試想，若這一段公道話由蔡英文說出，不但可以展現其站立於歷史的宏觀理性，也同時釋放她能以同理心看待大陸的溫柔感性，一旦她願意展現這樣理性感性兼具的態度，不知可消弭多少兩岸面臨的風雨，只可惜她沒有柯文哲的氣度與智慧。
柯文哲的話，可以給蔡英文重要的啟發。這樣的同理心，還延伸出了另一個政治上的柔性空間，也就是，用我方的同理心，取得呼籲對岸也應當有同理心的正當性。
正因為柯文哲拉出了歷史縱深，對大陸現狀說出了公道話，也讓柯文哲取得了為台灣向大陸說公道話、進良言的高度與空間。柯文哲說，台灣從荷蘭、明鄭、清朝、日治，再到國民黨政府時期和這幾年的民主、公民運動，加上屬於移民社會，400年來紛紛擾擾的歷史，塑造台灣多元、開放甚至「喧囂」的政治性格；常是「熱情但不想負責、一窩蜂又沒耐心」，他希望大陸看待台灣時，能多一分了解和諒解。
如果沒有前面的公道話，這一段話就會掉入「只要求別人卻不反求諸己」的本位主義陷阱，效果將大打折扣。
當然，也有人從動機論解讀柯文哲這一段「有高度的發言」，認為是由於柯文哲「市政」面臨困局，才會在「兩岸」上選擇大開大闔，為政治生命做最後一搏。以過去柯文哲常有的反覆來看，這一點的擔心不能說全然沒有根據，我們希望柯文哲不是，也提醒柯文哲不可以懷有這樣的動機。選民的眼睛是雪亮的，一時權算只能欺於一時，柯文哲的民調持續滑落，其問政的一致性不夠，是重要因素之一，這一點柯文哲當學到教訓。
動機論之外，「結果論」的檢驗最重要，這一段有高度、有建設性的發言，柯文哲既然說得「對」，就應當給他「對」的肯定。這也是對政治人物、政府首長的一種鼓勵，鼓勵他說「對」的話、做「對」的事。
「只要是可以減少雙方衝突的，都願意嘗試；能增加雙方善意的，也願意去努力。」柯文哲這句結語，應視為對台灣社會如何處理兩岸關係的寶貴建議與提醒。
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