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TianCai
Joined: 07 Mar 2006
Posts: 1
Location: DC
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| Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 5:14 pm Post subject: Taiwan's Nat'l Unification Council: Tempest in a teapot? |
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I'm interested in hearing people's opinions about the recent decision by Taiwan to "cease" applying the Guidelines for National Unification, and the "cessation" of its National Unification Council (NUC). There seem to be a lot of misunderstandings about the issue in the international media (e.g., the semantics used to describe the NUC's new status, and the tendancy paint Taiwan as the bad guy through gross oversimplification of Chen Shui-bian's aims and policies). Is the media wrong to characterize this issue as a serious provokation on the part of Taiwan, or could this indeed lead to military conflict? Does it constitute a unilateral change in the status quo? Is this indeed a move toward independence?
The way I see it, the NUC was of questionable legality to begin with (its establishment was never formally approved by Taiwan's legislature), and has existed in name only over the past six years. Since that time, Taiwan has moved on, passing the 2003 referendum law (whose importance to the overall situation is woefully underappreciated, IMHO) that basically erases any chances of a "back-room unification deal". The NUC's prejudice toward the ultimate goal of unification with China is now not only out of step with popular opinion (a recent poll showed something like 87% of the public prefer having a voice in Taiwan's future status), it's legally impossible, thanks to the referendum law.
As to the questions I posed above, I really don't think the "cessation" of the NUC can be considered a big enough issue to prompt Beijing into military action. Given its fundamental irrelevance to Taiwan's cross-strait policies, I definitely don't think the move changes the status quo as much as some would want to believe. Taiwan is well within its right to continue refining its democracy, and getting rid of dead weight like the NUC seems like a sensible enough place to start.
Finally, the "cessation" of the NUC has nothing to do with independence. As I said before, the ability to decide Taiwan's ultimate status (either unification or independence) now lies in the hands of the electorate thanks to the referendum law, making any unilateral change to Taiwan's status impossible. So why are there so many media reports tying the NUC decision to some wild-eyed Taiwan independence conspiracy? |
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daxuesheng
Joined: 10 Aug 2005
Posts: 633
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 12:00 am Post subject: |
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| At the current time the PRC cannot take taiwan by force before the US can stop them. In 20 years it may be a different matter. But until then I expect nothing bu saber rattling from everyone involved. |
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Greghuang
Joined: 05 Aug 2006
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 11:45 am Post subject: |
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THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS MORE THAN 85% OF TAIWANESE DO NOT SUPPORT THIS MOVE BY A-BIAN.
THE NUC HAS BEEN DORMANT FOR 10YRS, ABIAN IS SO STUPID TO DO THIS, ONLY CREATING TENSION AND REPRIMAND FROM THE U.S.
ABIAN'S POPULARITY IS 15%. HE IS SHAMELESS BY NOT STEPPING DOWN.
WHILE THE KMT'S MA YING JEOU'S APPROVAL RATING IS AT 70%, YOU TELL ME WHO SHOULD LEAD TAIWAN.
85% OF TAIWANESE SUPPORT THE NAME "REPUBLIC OF CHINA", AND CONSIDER THEMSELVES CHINESE ALSO. |
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