What's in a name? Our country's freedom

By Li Thian-hok , Feb. 04, 2004

A great majority of Taiwan's citizens want their country to join the UN as an independent, sovereign nation. Yet the pan-blue opposition parties, and even the DPP government, continue to cling to the obsolete Republic of China Constitution due to short-sighted domestic politics. The ROC was expelled from the UN in 1971 and lost US diplomatic recognition in 1979, because it falsely claimed sovereignty over all China.

No major country recognizes Taiwan as a sovereign state today. The name Republic of China implies Taiwan is part of a divided China or even an intent to eventually integrate with the People's Republic of China.

There are several advantages in adopting Taiwan as the formal name of the nation through enactment of a new constitution. First, this action will put an end to China's civil war between the Chinese Communist Party and the KMT. It will deprive the CCP of an excuse to annex Taiwan in order to settle the score with pits ancient enemy.

The native Taiwanese and even the offspring of the Chinese refugees who escaped to Taiwan in 1949 had nothing to do with the war between the CCP and KMT.

Second, by rectifying the nation's name, the government can proclaim to the whole world that the 23 million Taiwanese have exercised their inherent right of self determination, which is guaranteed under the UN Charter, and have formally established a free and independent nation through direct election of its president and legislature and adoption of a new Taiwanese constitution.

Third, name rectification will delineate Taiwan's separate identity and remove an obstacle to Taiwan's efforts to join the community of nations as a new and equal partner.

Fourth, calling Taiwan by its right name will de-Sinicize Taiwan's culture, and help the residents to identify with, and pledge allegiance to, the Taiwanese nation.

Finally, name rectification is critical if Taiwan wishes to retain its sovereignty and democracy. The PRC is steadily building up its capacity to coerce Taiwan into submission through a multi-pronged blitzkrieg and concerted political warfare, degradation and hollowing out of Taiwan's economy, and psychological intimidation with the help of pro-unification media and pro-PRC elements of the political opposition. The military balance is shifting steadily in China's favor.

The Taiwanese must face this reality and decide what kind of future they want for themselves and their descendants: freedom and democracy or servitude under the CCP regime.

To keep their hard-won freedom, the Taiwanese must clearly show their determination, in words and deeds, that they will do whatever it takes to fight for Taiwan's sovereignty and democracy. This is the only way to ensure international support by fellow democracies such as the US and Japan.

Since the Sept. 11 attacks on the US, international politics has become fluid and unpredictable.

Taiwan must unequivocally and promptly consolidate its independent identity and demonstrate the resolve to defend Taiwan's freedom. This is the first prerequisite for friendly allies to come to Taiwan's aid in a crisis.

As our freedom-loving compatriots of The Alliance to Campaign for Rectifying the Name of Taiwan march in the streets of Taipei on Friday, the Taiwanese Americans here in the US applaud and support them. We join them in our hearts and minds.
Sep 01, 2003