The Fraud from China

The CCP recently revealed a list of concessions they would graciously grant Taiwan should the island nation decide to supplicate and accept a one country two systems paradigm for governance. These included essentially full autonomy in all but name. What the CCP failed to mention, and what the Taiwan people ought to know, is that the offer is a fraud and China is trying to double deal the Taiwanese people as they have done in every political situation since the foundation of the PRC.

They are not acquiescing to Taiwanese demands for independence, democracy, and freedom. They are selling a fake bill of goods as an irrevocable contract that one signed, is irreversible and will potentially lead to the deaths of millions, and the oppression of tens of millions more.

China has already defrauded the people of Hong Kong, and continues to suppress the minority peoples and politically outspoken in every territory that they maintain sovereignty. Consider Tibet, then Xinjiang, and now Ningxia.

When Taiwanese people analyze any “offer” made by the Chinese government, they should first consider their democracy and its fragility. They should second consider their independence and the immutability of any decision they could make to sacrifice this. Third, they should recognize the fact that the CCP is a dishonest actor and has been since the formation of the party.

Taiwan has as much right to independence from the neo-colonial monster China as the United States of America did when it declared independence from its former, much more powerful master, the UK. Cultural similarities and a shared history amongst some of its peoples does not entail that for the interminable future, states must be linked: a difference in aim for political systems and separate historical claims fully legitimate that the two separate nations continue their peaceful coexistence as amicable friends, without the hegemonic militaristic tyranny and oppression led from China as it attempts to politically colonize Asia on it way to Africa.

To those who aim for stability, cross-strait peace, and prosperity, those who might be willing to consider an offer, to sacrifice their ideals to sell the island to China, the fact this deal that screams “too good to be true” should give pause.

Much more importantly though, it is worth remembering, two weeks after 228, that freedom isn’t always free. Taiwanese fought for more than four decades and earned their democracy by bathing the streets in their blood. To forget this and give up democracy, liberty, and the right to a Taiwanese identity over a cheap economic package and a bag of false promises would be the biggest shame in the history of China, or Taiwan.

Democracy and freedom are, and always will be, more important than economics; those who don’t treasure these values deserve neither.

Staff writer: Ari B

Photo: ibid, Sun Yat Sen Mausoleum, Nanjing, PRC