Singapore, 18 January 1999
During a visit to Singapore, Mr. Lian Xisheng, a member of the
Chinese Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS)
was so "generous" to promise Taiwan 100 years of autonomy
if it accepts unification with China under the "one country,
two systems" formula.
The statement is yet another example of the audacious,
self-righteous arrogance of the Chinese in their relations with
Taiwan. Why would Taiwan ever accept such fallacious "autonomy"
if it can have autonomy forever by moving towards de jure
independence?
The experience of Hong Kong shows that China's promises are but
empty shells, which can disappear into thin air at a moment's notice
when the rulers in Beijing decide that it is inconvenient for them
to adhere to them. Does anyone in Hong Kong believe that elections
for the Legislative Council can be fairly and squarely won by the
Democrats ?
To add insult to injury, Mr. Lian of ARATS added in Singapore that
under China's "one Country, two systems", Taiwan would
have "...more international recognition and democratic reform."
Does Mr. Lian seriously think that anyone in Taiwan believes him ?
This statement comes from a representative of a regime, which has
left no stone unturned in its attempts to prevent international
recognition of Taiwan by the international community.
This statement comes from a representative of an extremely
repressive government, which has locked up anyone who dared to
question the one-party dictatorship of the Communist Party.
We urge China to renounce the use of force and accept Taiwan as a
friendly neighboring state instead of perpetuating the hostility and
rivalry dating from the Chinese Civil War which they fought against
the Kuomintang five decades ago. We Taiwanese never had any part in
that Civil War and do not want our future as a free, democratic, and
independent country to be a hostage to that Civil War.