Shift of strategic direction of United States following the Korean War
I have been wondering why Taiwan wasn't returned to China as promised in the Cairo Declaration. It turned out that outbreak of Korean War was the turning point for America's shift of international order for East Asia.
After losing the Chinese Civil War to the Communists, the Chinese Nationalists fled to Taiwan. The United States, having lost confidence in the Chinese Nationalist regime, pursued a policy of not intervening in civil wars. The Chinese Communists were prepared to cross the Taiwan Strait to completely defeat the Chinese Nationalists and unify all of China.
The outbreak of Korean War in June 1950 prompted the United States under President Harry S. Truman to dispatch Seventh Fleet to the Taiwan Strait so as to prevent hostilities between opposing factions of China, while war was ongoing at the Korean Peninsula. Notwithstanding that Chiang Kai Shek was spared from Communist attack, the dispatch of Seventh Fleet threatened strategic interests of the nascent People’s Republic of China.
The shift in US strategic direction for East Asia is reflected in the change of territorial clause in the Treaty of Peace with Japan. In a draft released on 8 May 1950, it was stipulated that Japan renounce Taiwan without naming a recipient country.
The People’s Republic of China, through Premier Zhou Enlai, filed a protest at the United Nations on 24 August 1950, claiming that the United States was invading the Chinese territory of Taiwan with the Seventh Fleet. This motion was tabled in the Security Council on 29 September 1950. All members of the Security Council, except USSR and India, voted against the motion. The Chinese government-in-exile, by voting against the motion, denied that Taiwan is a sovereign Chinese territory. The vote also spared the question of Chinese seat to be resolved immediately, against a backdrop of containing Communism.
Resolution of the Security Council was a bitter defeat for the Chinese Communist Party. Having no formidable navy, their nascent regime was at the mercy of United States.
The Communists, up to 1947 still supported Taiwan independence; changed their direction after 1950 to opposing Taiwan independence and claiming Taiwan as Chinese territory.
People’s Republic of China intervened in the Korean War on 25 October 1950, pushing United Nations solders back to the 38th parallel North, cementing the division of Korea lasting to this day.
Taiwan, originally planned to be returned to China, was not returned to China in the Treaty of Peace with Japan. Similarly Kuril and South Sakhalin were not de jure returned to the USSR. The peace treaty provides a basis to argue for Taiwanese independence in the future, at the same time providing a room for future unification with China. The treaty reaffirmed the United States as the "principal occupying power" over former Japanese territories. By law, Taiwan is currently under friendly occupation of the United States.
This is politics: As situation changes, promises made earlier will not hold.
Showing posts with label history. Show all posts
Showing posts with label history. Show all posts
Monday, April 10, 2017
Thursday, March 9, 2017
The truth about Taiwan Retrocession Day
Was Taiwan returned to Chinese sovereignty on 25 October 1945?
In order for us to know the significance of the so-called "Taiwan Retrocession Day" it is paramount for us to understand the basis of Republic of China's authority on Taiwan.
First, we must establish that Taiwan was ceded in full and perpetuity to Japan under the terms of Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895.
On 2 September 1945, Japanese forces surrendered to the Allied Powers. The Japanese Government issued a document called Instrument of Surrender, while the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers issued the terms of surrender called General Order No. 1. Under the terms of General Order No. 1, Japanese forces in Taiwan and Penghu surrender themselves to Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek.
On 25 October 1945, Japanese forces in Taiwan surrendered to the Allied Powers in a ceremony. Surrender of the Japanese paved the way for military occupation by Chiang Kai Shek's forces. Authority of Chiang came from General Order No. 1. The basis for Chiang's governance is military occupation. As a rule, military occupation does not transfer territorial sovereignty to the occupying State.
Did any of the Allied Powers recognize transfer of sovereignty for Taiwan, from Japan to China on 25 October 1945? The answer is NO.
On 12 January 1946, the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China issued an order to restore Chinese nationality to the Taiwanese population on and effective from 25 October 1945. This led to diplomatic protests by the United States and United Kingdom. In diplomatic memorandums sent to the Republic of China, both US and UK insisted that transfer of Taiwan's sovereignty be formalized in a treaty of cession with Japan.
Pro-unification camps argued that the Cairo, Postdam and Yalta Declarations could restore Taiwan back to China. Common sense tells us that declarations are statements of intentions which do not carry the force of law. The diplomatic protests are solid evidence that US and UK did not recognize those declarations as having the force of law. Those documents cannot be cited as the basis for return of Taiwan to China. Instead, only a treaty can settle territorial questions.
What's wrong with changing the nationality of Taiwanese population? Firstly, China altered the nationality of Taiwanese people without first obtaining documentary evidence of sovereignty. Secondly, it is a violation of Article 45 of Hague Conventions governing wars on land, since China could only be recognized as occupying power over Taiwan.
25 October 1945 was the day when Taiwan came under Chinese [military] occupation. It can only be called Taiwan Occupation Day.
In order for us to know the significance of the so-called "Taiwan Retrocession Day" it is paramount for us to understand the basis of Republic of China's authority on Taiwan.
First, we must establish that Taiwan was ceded in full and perpetuity to Japan under the terms of Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895.
On 2 September 1945, Japanese forces surrendered to the Allied Powers. The Japanese Government issued a document called Instrument of Surrender, while the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers issued the terms of surrender called General Order No. 1. Under the terms of General Order No. 1, Japanese forces in Taiwan and Penghu surrender themselves to Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek.
On 25 October 1945, Japanese forces in Taiwan surrendered to the Allied Powers in a ceremony. Surrender of the Japanese paved the way for military occupation by Chiang Kai Shek's forces. Authority of Chiang came from General Order No. 1. The basis for Chiang's governance is military occupation. As a rule, military occupation does not transfer territorial sovereignty to the occupying State.
Did any of the Allied Powers recognize transfer of sovereignty for Taiwan, from Japan to China on 25 October 1945? The answer is NO.
On 12 January 1946, the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China issued an order to restore Chinese nationality to the Taiwanese population on and effective from 25 October 1945. This led to diplomatic protests by the United States and United Kingdom. In diplomatic memorandums sent to the Republic of China, both US and UK insisted that transfer of Taiwan's sovereignty be formalized in a treaty of cession with Japan.
Pro-unification camps argued that the Cairo, Postdam and Yalta Declarations could restore Taiwan back to China. Common sense tells us that declarations are statements of intentions which do not carry the force of law. The diplomatic protests are solid evidence that US and UK did not recognize those declarations as having the force of law. Those documents cannot be cited as the basis for return of Taiwan to China. Instead, only a treaty can settle territorial questions.
What's wrong with changing the nationality of Taiwanese population? Firstly, China altered the nationality of Taiwanese people without first obtaining documentary evidence of sovereignty. Secondly, it is a violation of Article 45 of Hague Conventions governing wars on land, since China could only be recognized as occupying power over Taiwan.
25 October 1945 was the day when Taiwan came under Chinese [military] occupation. It can only be called Taiwan Occupation Day.
Monday, March 6, 2017
Taiwanese are Chinese? A US memorandum dated 1946 raised concern
An issue pertaining to the Taiwan question is the nationality and citizenship of the Taiwanese population. The question of nationality and citizenship is a matter of law, not racial identity per se. At some point in time, citizenship can be altered without the consent of the population involved, without due consideration to law. Since when Taiwanese people have become Chinese citizens?
It is to my knowledge that the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China issued an executive order on 12 January 1946 to restore Chinese nationality to the Taiwanese population effective 25 October 1945, the day when China "regained" Taiwan. The executive order was issued without prior consultation with other Allied Powers.
The sovereignty of Taiwan was transferred to Japan on the conclusion of Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895.
25 October 1945 is termed "Taiwan Retrocession Day" by the Nationalist Government of the Republic of China. This term is disputed today because de jure sovereignty of Taiwan was not restored to China, since a peace treaty between China and Japan has yet to be concluded. According to British Parliamentarians, the Nationalist Government was merely administering Taiwan on the basis of military occupation based on Japanese Instrument of Surrender and General Order No. 1 issued by Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers. 25 October 1945 can only be accurately named "Taiwan Occupation Day".
On the act of converting the nationality of Taiwanese population to China, a memorandum was sent by the Military Intelligence Section of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers to Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China, dated 2 April 1946. It raised a few questions:
Why is nationality of Taiwnese people a matter of concern?
Since the British Parliamentarians contended that the regime of Chiang Kai Shek was exercising authority on the basis of military occupation, the law of military occupation applies. The law of military occupation is governed by Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907, in which China is a signatory.
The situation in Taiwan after 1945 was that the Republic of China as the occupying power and Taiwan as an occupied territory. Japan remained the de jure sovereign, but with her governmental powers suspended. It has to be noted that the Republic of China was not acting by herself, but as part of the Allies, as an agent of the United States as principal occupying power. The return of Taiwan to China requires a treaty of cession be concluded between the two countries.
The Hague Conventions prohibits that the allegiance of the population in an occupied territory be altered to that of a hostile power. Republic of China was considered a hostile power for Taiwan during the period of World War II, due to the fact that Taiwan was Japanese sovereign territory. Legally, people of Taiwan remain Japanese subjects from 1895 up to 1952. The conversion of nationality of the Taiwanese population to China is a violation of Hague Convention and constitute a war crime.
Moreover, the Executive Order contravened nationality laws of the Republic of China at that time, which was promulgated in 1929.
The Nationalist Government of China continued to impose Chinese nationality on Taiwanese people unlawfully throughout the martial law era. With the rise of Mainland China and the Chinese claim on Taiwan, it is tough to address the question of legitimate nationality for the Taiwanese population. The imposed nationality also poses much problems for Taiwanese people over Republic of China passports, at immigration checkpoints overseas.
Notwithstanding that the Republic of China has lost the Chinese mainland, the nature of its governance in Taiwan has not changed since 1945. By law, Taiwan remains an occupied territory of the Republic of China.
I am a Chinese by ethnicity, no doubt. The Chinese people is considered a nation. As a nation, we are not entitled to commit acts to suit the national narrative, but contravene existing laws. As much as we desire an outcome, the process to achieve it must be done according to law. Only then the Chinese nation will be respected.
It is to my knowledge that the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China issued an executive order on 12 January 1946 to restore Chinese nationality to the Taiwanese population effective 25 October 1945, the day when China "regained" Taiwan. The executive order was issued without prior consultation with other Allied Powers.
The sovereignty of Taiwan was transferred to Japan on the conclusion of Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895.
25 October 1945 is termed "Taiwan Retrocession Day" by the Nationalist Government of the Republic of China. This term is disputed today because de jure sovereignty of Taiwan was not restored to China, since a peace treaty between China and Japan has yet to be concluded. According to British Parliamentarians, the Nationalist Government was merely administering Taiwan on the basis of military occupation based on Japanese Instrument of Surrender and General Order No. 1 issued by Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers. 25 October 1945 can only be accurately named "Taiwan Occupation Day".
On the act of converting the nationality of Taiwanese population to China, a memorandum was sent by the Military Intelligence Section of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers to Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China, dated 2 April 1946. It raised a few questions:
- That the Chinese government to express its views in regard to these individuals:
- Individuals of mixed parentage such as Chinese-Taiwanese, Japanese-Taiwanese and Chinese-Japanese.
- Taiwanese people who have established residence in Japan and collaborating with Japanese war effort.
- People born in Taiwan but elected to remain in Japan rather than being repatriated to Taiwan.
- On whether there are laws of the Republic of China governing the citizenship of native and former residents of Taiwan.
- The unnecessary restriction on the use of the term "Taiwanese" to refer to the Taiwanese population.
Excerpt from Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, Volume VIII, The Far East, p. 187-188
Why is nationality of Taiwnese people a matter of concern?
Since the British Parliamentarians contended that the regime of Chiang Kai Shek was exercising authority on the basis of military occupation, the law of military occupation applies. The law of military occupation is governed by Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907, in which China is a signatory.
The situation in Taiwan after 1945 was that the Republic of China as the occupying power and Taiwan as an occupied territory. Japan remained the de jure sovereign, but with her governmental powers suspended. It has to be noted that the Republic of China was not acting by herself, but as part of the Allies, as an agent of the United States as principal occupying power. The return of Taiwan to China requires a treaty of cession be concluded between the two countries.
The Hague Conventions prohibits that the allegiance of the population in an occupied territory be altered to that of a hostile power. Republic of China was considered a hostile power for Taiwan during the period of World War II, due to the fact that Taiwan was Japanese sovereign territory. Legally, people of Taiwan remain Japanese subjects from 1895 up to 1952. The conversion of nationality of the Taiwanese population to China is a violation of Hague Convention and constitute a war crime.
Moreover, the Executive Order contravened nationality laws of the Republic of China at that time, which was promulgated in 1929.
The Nationalist Government of China continued to impose Chinese nationality on Taiwanese people unlawfully throughout the martial law era. With the rise of Mainland China and the Chinese claim on Taiwan, it is tough to address the question of legitimate nationality for the Taiwanese population. The imposed nationality also poses much problems for Taiwanese people over Republic of China passports, at immigration checkpoints overseas.
Notwithstanding that the Republic of China has lost the Chinese mainland, the nature of its governance in Taiwan has not changed since 1945. By law, Taiwan remains an occupied territory of the Republic of China.
I am a Chinese by ethnicity, no doubt. The Chinese people is considered a nation. As a nation, we are not entitled to commit acts to suit the national narrative, but contravene existing laws. As much as we desire an outcome, the process to achieve it must be done according to law. Only then the Chinese nation will be respected.
Sunday, February 19, 2017
关于台湾国族认同问题 - 回应刘乐妍
Taiwanese entertainer Fanny Liew wrote a piece about identity politics in Taiwan. She contended that Taiwanese and Chinese identity should not be at odds with each other. Her family fled to Taiwan with the Chinese Nationalist (KMT) regime to Taiwan at the conclusion of Chinese Civil War. I showed that her viewpoint is limited by her family background, and the island of Taiwan speaks a different narrative than hers.
There are currently three types of identities held by the population in Taiwan: Purely Taiwanese, both Taiwanese and Chinese, and purely Chinese. Each of these types of identification are characteristically distinct from each other, as it turned out from academic research.
您在2016年1月18日发表关于国族认同的文章我迟至2017年我方有机会阅读。过去一年里，我钻研了台湾国际地位与身份认同政治，开始时我一窍不通，到今天得以理性地回应您的文章，这可是个艰苦的过程。
您在文章提及家庭背景，您的祖辈参与第二次中日战争和国共内战，随着中国国民党逃到台湾的土地，并带着中国大陆的历史记忆在台湾此落地生根。我不难看出，您的家庭是典型的外省人。您在文中主张，台湾人和中国人的身份不需要对立。纯粹地以主观看待身份认同问题恰恰是您最大的盲点，因为许多事物乃大学问也。
我在此说明，台湾人的历史记忆各不同。本省人（包括原住民）的记忆有别于外省人。
本省人的历史记忆是什么？我就要从《马关条约》说起。台湾自从割让给日本后，退出了中国的历史舞台，而进入了日本的历史舞台。日治台湾的初期，本省人有武装的抗日运动，但全都被日本镇压了。从此，中国的历史不再追究台湾，可是台湾在日本的统治下继续发展。
每个人终究是历史的产物，造就他们今日对人物，乃至他国的态度。日治时期，实行总督制，台湾人成了二等公民。日本在台湾搞的建设，推行教育，大大提高台湾的文明水平，这些功劳是不容否认的。我了解，您的祖辈当初不敌共产党而到台湾，事实上本着日本留下的基础继续建设，也不会歌颂日本对台湾的所有贡献。
日治台湾的后期，搞了皇民化运动，教育台湾人取个日本名，学日文，效忠天皇，生活习惯与真正的日本人无异。日本当时搞皇民化的目的，无非就是从台湾征取兵力，以应付作战的需要。有者从日本得益，有者当了军夫为日本作战，而李登辉就是典型的例子。您可能不知道，1945年4月1日，天皇颁布了诏书，明治宪法全面在台湾实行。二战时期，有日本飞机从台湾起飞去攻击中国的目标，当日的中国也有参与空袭台湾的目标。您有听过台北大空袭这一事吗？历史课本怎么没写呢？
1945年10月25日，台湾重回中国的统治。中华民国宣称，台湾被 ”光复” 了，可是实际的性质，普通人都没搞清楚。须知，今日的国际法规定，拥有领土的实际统治不意味着拥有领土的法定主权。没有法定主权，又怎么有领土的实际统治呢？我知有两种方式，一是租借，二是军事占领。当时的中国接管台湾，是代表盟军进行军事占领，而台湾的主权并没有转移到中国那里。台湾的主权转移有待与日本签订和平条约，方才有效。
当时的本省人还有效的持有日本国籍。蒋介石派了国军统治台湾。受过日本教育的本省人当年对国军的印象如何？国军就是不守纪律的流氓！国民党随意印刷钞票，导致恶性通货膨胀，又加上台湾物资拿去资助国共内战，民不聊生。很不幸的，1947年爆发了228屠杀事件，有人死在 ”祖国“ 枪下，台湾对中国的幻想破灭了。
盟军还没解决台湾的归属，国民党就不敌共产党，逃到了台湾，成了个流亡政权。怎么说是流亡政权呢？就是政权的所在地不是它的主权领土。有人听了这话可能不高兴，但这可是国际法学说，外交人员的眼中，中华民国的真正国际地位。蒋介石曾沉痛地说道：“我们（中华民国人 / 外省人）今天都已成了亡国之民，……”
在1951年的对日和平条约《旧金山条约》，日本只被要求放弃对台湾的主权，而没有点名任何国家接收。如何解读这个合约条文也把专家弄得团团转，简单的说台湾的主权就是转到本省人手中，有待他们主张最终的归属。外省人是何人？他们就是真正的，法理的中国人。显然的，中国没有接到台湾的法定主权，时任中华民国外交部长叶公超已多次声明这一点。
接下来漫长的国民党威权时期，也就是两蒋时期，政府对台湾岛民实行了党国教育，教台湾人做中国人。我之前不是提了日本对台湾实行皇民化教育吗？党国教育和皇民化教育的性质根本无异！两者都是同化教育：一个教你做中国人，一个教你做日本人。
直到1980年代后期，台湾开始解禁，走向民主之路，实行与有别于中国大陆的社会制度，开创了台湾认同。
两幢事件，重创了台湾对中国的认同。一是1994年的千岛湖事件，再来是1996年随着总统直选的台湾海峡导弹危机。海峡导弹危机更使台湾认同大幅度上升，远远超过当时受教育的年轻人，去中国化和台湾本土化政策尚不足以解释此转变。试问，如果中国大陆是祖国，祖国会对人民做出这种事吗？
2000年成功实行政党轮替，台湾独立运动当道，起了巩固台湾认同的重要作用。2008年马英九主政时期开启的大三通，两岸人民接触频繁，越察觉彼此的差异，越加深台湾的单一认同。
今日，无论本省人或是外省人，两者纵然没有共同的记忆，却生活在台湾岛上，成了命运共同体。既然您在自由的台湾占有一席之地，您应该珍惜祖辈当年用生命捍卫三民主义，奠下台湾实行民主的基础。您的祖辈在中国大陆的战场上遇到的日本是敌人。可他们到达台湾时，台湾人印象中的日本是殖民者，他们没那么恨日本。还是多亏日本，国民党在台湾有立足之地，才赶得上台湾经济起飞。在国际关系里，敌友关系随着形势转变而易位。
如果说中国的历史是朝代更替的历史，台湾的历史就是一套殖民史。
由此可见，国家认同取决于各种客观的因素，包括历史和社会环境，并不是一张证件就足以定论的。各不同的历史记忆，不同世代的环境，也不断地重塑着身份的认同。国家认同，不只停留在一面旗帜，或是名词，它更体现着一套价值观，一套生活哲学。国家认同，对我作为外国人而言，是给予您定位的名字。我不反对您说 ”我是中国人“ 以反映您对中国的情结，可当别人说出单一的 “我是台湾人” 时，他不只说出对土地的认同，更要表达台湾有别于中国的历史经历。
There are currently three types of identities held by the population in Taiwan: Purely Taiwanese, both Taiwanese and Chinese, and purely Chinese. Each of these types of identification are characteristically distinct from each other, as it turned out from academic research.
您在2016年1月18日发表关于国族认同的文章我迟至2017年我方有机会阅读。过去一年里，我钻研了台湾国际地位与身份认同政治，开始时我一窍不通，到今天得以理性地回应您的文章，这可是个艰苦的过程。
您在文章提及家庭背景，您的祖辈参与第二次中日战争和国共内战，随着中国国民党逃到台湾的土地，并带着中国大陆的历史记忆在台湾此落地生根。我不难看出，您的家庭是典型的外省人。您在文中主张，台湾人和中国人的身份不需要对立。纯粹地以主观看待身份认同问题恰恰是您最大的盲点，因为许多事物乃大学问也。
我在此说明，台湾人的历史记忆各不同。本省人（包括原住民）的记忆有别于外省人。
本省人的历史记忆是什么？我就要从《马关条约》说起。台湾自从割让给日本后，退出了中国的历史舞台，而进入了日本的历史舞台。日治台湾的初期，本省人有武装的抗日运动，但全都被日本镇压了。从此，中国的历史不再追究台湾，可是台湾在日本的统治下继续发展。
每个人终究是历史的产物，造就他们今日对人物，乃至他国的态度。日治时期，实行总督制，台湾人成了二等公民。日本在台湾搞的建设，推行教育，大大提高台湾的文明水平，这些功劳是不容否认的。我了解，您的祖辈当初不敌共产党而到台湾，事实上本着日本留下的基础继续建设，也不会歌颂日本对台湾的所有贡献。
日治台湾的后期，搞了皇民化运动，教育台湾人取个日本名，学日文，效忠天皇，生活习惯与真正的日本人无异。日本当时搞皇民化的目的，无非就是从台湾征取兵力，以应付作战的需要。有者从日本得益，有者当了军夫为日本作战，而李登辉就是典型的例子。您可能不知道，1945年4月1日，天皇颁布了诏书，明治宪法全面在台湾实行。二战时期，有日本飞机从台湾起飞去攻击中国的目标，当日的中国也有参与空袭台湾的目标。您有听过台北大空袭这一事吗？历史课本怎么没写呢？
1945年10月25日，台湾重回中国的统治。中华民国宣称，台湾被 ”光复” 了，可是实际的性质，普通人都没搞清楚。须知，今日的国际法规定，拥有领土的实际统治不意味着拥有领土的法定主权。没有法定主权，又怎么有领土的实际统治呢？我知有两种方式，一是租借，二是军事占领。当时的中国接管台湾，是代表盟军进行军事占领，而台湾的主权并没有转移到中国那里。台湾的主权转移有待与日本签订和平条约，方才有效。
当时的本省人还有效的持有日本国籍。蒋介石派了国军统治台湾。受过日本教育的本省人当年对国军的印象如何？国军就是不守纪律的流氓！国民党随意印刷钞票，导致恶性通货膨胀，又加上台湾物资拿去资助国共内战，民不聊生。很不幸的，1947年爆发了228屠杀事件，有人死在 ”祖国“ 枪下，台湾对中国的幻想破灭了。
盟军还没解决台湾的归属，国民党就不敌共产党，逃到了台湾，成了个流亡政权。怎么说是流亡政权呢？就是政权的所在地不是它的主权领土。有人听了这话可能不高兴，但这可是国际法学说，外交人员的眼中，中华民国的真正国际地位。蒋介石曾沉痛地说道：“我们（中华民国人 / 外省人）今天都已成了亡国之民，……”
在1951年的对日和平条约《旧金山条约》，日本只被要求放弃对台湾的主权，而没有点名任何国家接收。如何解读这个合约条文也把专家弄得团团转，简单的说台湾的主权就是转到本省人手中，有待他们主张最终的归属。外省人是何人？他们就是真正的，法理的中国人。显然的，中国没有接到台湾的法定主权，时任中华民国外交部长叶公超已多次声明这一点。
接下来漫长的国民党威权时期，也就是两蒋时期，政府对台湾岛民实行了党国教育，教台湾人做中国人。我之前不是提了日本对台湾实行皇民化教育吗？党国教育和皇民化教育的性质根本无异！两者都是同化教育：一个教你做中国人，一个教你做日本人。
直到1980年代后期，台湾开始解禁，走向民主之路，实行与有别于中国大陆的社会制度，开创了台湾认同。
两幢事件，重创了台湾对中国的认同。一是1994年的千岛湖事件，再来是1996年随着总统直选的台湾海峡导弹危机。海峡导弹危机更使台湾认同大幅度上升，远远超过当时受教育的年轻人，去中国化和台湾本土化政策尚不足以解释此转变。试问，如果中国大陆是祖国，祖国会对人民做出这种事吗？
2000年成功实行政党轮替，台湾独立运动当道，起了巩固台湾认同的重要作用。2008年马英九主政时期开启的大三通，两岸人民接触频繁，越察觉彼此的差异，越加深台湾的单一认同。
今日，无论本省人或是外省人，两者纵然没有共同的记忆，却生活在台湾岛上，成了命运共同体。既然您在自由的台湾占有一席之地，您应该珍惜祖辈当年用生命捍卫三民主义，奠下台湾实行民主的基础。您的祖辈在中国大陆的战场上遇到的日本是敌人。可他们到达台湾时，台湾人印象中的日本是殖民者，他们没那么恨日本。还是多亏日本，国民党在台湾有立足之地，才赶得上台湾经济起飞。在国际关系里，敌友关系随着形势转变而易位。
如果说中国的历史是朝代更替的历史，台湾的历史就是一套殖民史。
由此可见，国家认同取决于各种客观的因素，包括历史和社会环境，并不是一张证件就足以定论的。各不同的历史记忆，不同世代的环境，也不断地重塑着身份的认同。国家认同，不只停留在一面旗帜，或是名词，它更体现着一套价值观，一套生活哲学。国家认同，对我作为外国人而言，是给予您定位的名字。我不反对您说 ”我是中国人“ 以反映您对中国的情结，可当别人说出单一的 “我是台湾人” 时，他不只说出对土地的认同，更要表达台湾有别于中国的历史经历。
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)