Hero of the Yellow Emperor
Only Lien Chen could go to China.
The former president of Taiwan and leader of the Kuo Min-Tang party is in China today-probably sleeping right now-meeting with leaders in Nanjing. His itinerary also puts him in Beijing for a meeting with China President Hu Jintao. The press is abuzz with the words "historic trip," and "historic China visit." They're right. Never since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949 has a KMT leader met with a leader of the Chinese Communist Party, until now.
Many among the Democratic People's Party of Taiwan, the party currently enshrined in the presidency, protested the trip, including President Chen Shui-bian. Although Chen and the KMT have offered a tenuous reversal of their condemnation of Lien's visit, they remain cautious of what Lien may do while in China. Some sources report that their trepidation extended to warning Lien that he would be charged with treason should he attempt to reach some official agreement with China.
Despite the official opposition and the popular protest, Lien is in China. This is indeed a historic landmark for China-Taiwan relations, especially after China's passage last month of an anti-secession law that legalized the use of military force, if necessary, to prevent Taiwan from seceding. But what about accusations that Lien is using the visit to bolster the KMT's standing in Taiwanese political circles, a standing that suffered the loss of the last two presidential elections?
I disagree. Although I am the first to make the cynical observation, and the argument contains merit, I believe that Lien is acting with history on his mind. Rather than concerns for current political machinations, his motivation lies in thoughts of his place in history, and thoughts of what might happen should Taiwan and China open hostilities. Optimistic, perhaps, but for once, after examining the situation, I choose to believe that, if not all, then, the majority of Lien's reasons for going to China are altruistic.
And should it work...the opening of official dialogue between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China is indeed a historic first step toward positive relations and a lessening of tensions across the strait. Bravo, Mr. Lien Chan, bravo.
"Be seeing you."
The former president of Taiwan and leader of the Kuo Min-Tang party is in China today-probably sleeping right now-meeting with leaders in Nanjing. His itinerary also puts him in Beijing for a meeting with China President Hu Jintao. The press is abuzz with the words "historic trip," and "historic China visit." They're right. Never since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949 has a KMT leader met with a leader of the Chinese Communist Party, until now.
Many among the Democratic People's Party of Taiwan, the party currently enshrined in the presidency, protested the trip, including President Chen Shui-bian. Although Chen and the KMT have offered a tenuous reversal of their condemnation of Lien's visit, they remain cautious of what Lien may do while in China. Some sources report that their trepidation extended to warning Lien that he would be charged with treason should he attempt to reach some official agreement with China.
Despite the official opposition and the popular protest, Lien is in China. This is indeed a historic landmark for China-Taiwan relations, especially after China's passage last month of an anti-secession law that legalized the use of military force, if necessary, to prevent Taiwan from seceding. But what about accusations that Lien is using the visit to bolster the KMT's standing in Taiwanese political circles, a standing that suffered the loss of the last two presidential elections?
I disagree. Although I am the first to make the cynical observation, and the argument contains merit, I believe that Lien is acting with history on his mind. Rather than concerns for current political machinations, his motivation lies in thoughts of his place in history, and thoughts of what might happen should Taiwan and China open hostilities. Optimistic, perhaps, but for once, after examining the situation, I choose to believe that, if not all, then, the majority of Lien's reasons for going to China are altruistic.
And should it work...the opening of official dialogue between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China is indeed a historic first step toward positive relations and a lessening of tensions across the strait. Bravo, Mr. Lien Chan, bravo.
"Be seeing you."
posted by Thuan30 | 3:40 PM
2 Comments:
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
welcome to the blogosphere, Thuan!
I like your piece about Lien. I will be watching Asia intently for the next little while.
On that note, I will have, over the next few days, a series of blogs explaining the premise of my senior thesis: The Image of Ho Chi Minh in the New York Times, 1945 to 1975.
This was sparked by an excellent article at the blog "Done with Mirrors" linked to by Vietpundit. Check them out.
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