Saturday, March 26, 2005
Big Taiwanese Protests
Apparently, 1 million Taiwanese marched through Taipei to protest the new Chinese law mandating force should Taiwan refuse to be rejoined with the mainland. There's about 22 million people in Taiwan, so for America to have a comparably-sized demonstration, about 15 million people would have to descend on Washington.
I'm never going to understand why one group of people thinks it's so important to keep another group of people within their country (and ruled by them), even though they clearly do not want to be. But, that's like asking why America fought a civil war over secession of the South, Turkey has spent so long squashing national aspirations of its Kurds, or Serbia inspired a civil war to prevent the dissolution of Serb-dominated Yugoslavia.
Taiwan, by rights, should be independent. They've been so, at least in a de facto sense, for 50 years, and within that timeframe have moved from third world to first world and replaced a military dictatorship composed of former members of the escaping ruling party of China. That's impressive, and it simply isn't fair to deny them the fruits of all that work by returning them to control by absolute rulers on the Chinese mainland.
But, but, but...remember that China won't remain ruled by the Communist party forever. Just as the Kuomintang lost power once its people demanded it, the same will happen in China.
So, go slow. Time is on your side. The protests are good, as people power make it a lot harder for China to force your government to do what you don't want them to do (not that they would, as Chen is firmly in the independence camp). If it comes down to it, passively resist. You will win in the end.
Apparently, 1 million Taiwanese marched through Taipei to protest the new Chinese law mandating force should Taiwan refuse to be rejoined with the mainland. There's about 22 million people in Taiwan, so for America to have a comparably-sized demonstration, about 15 million people would have to descend on Washington.
I'm never going to understand why one group of people thinks it's so important to keep another group of people within their country (and ruled by them), even though they clearly do not want to be. But, that's like asking why America fought a civil war over secession of the South, Turkey has spent so long squashing national aspirations of its Kurds, or Serbia inspired a civil war to prevent the dissolution of Serb-dominated Yugoslavia.
Taiwan, by rights, should be independent. They've been so, at least in a de facto sense, for 50 years, and within that timeframe have moved from third world to first world and replaced a military dictatorship composed of former members of the escaping ruling party of China. That's impressive, and it simply isn't fair to deny them the fruits of all that work by returning them to control by absolute rulers on the Chinese mainland.
But, but, but...remember that China won't remain ruled by the Communist party forever. Just as the Kuomintang lost power once its people demanded it, the same will happen in China.
So, go slow. Time is on your side. The protests are good, as people power make it a lot harder for China to force your government to do what you don't want them to do (not that they would, as Chen is firmly in the independence camp). If it comes down to it, passively resist. You will win in the end.
