MAC Urges China to Respect the Opinion of the Taiwan People
China’s recent passage of the “anti-separation law” (so-called anti-secession law) is a mistake which has seriously sabotaged cross-strait relations and brought emotional pain to the Taiwanese people. In response, an overwhelming number of Taiwanese people expressed their opposition and discontentment against the law by taking part in the Rally for Democracy and Peace to Protect Taiwan on March 26, 2005. Since the rally reflected the will of the majority of the Taiwanese people, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) urges the Chinese government to respect the collective opinion of the Taiwanese people expressed in a peaceful and democratic manner. The Chinese government should cease destructive and provocative actions immediately, and adopt effective measures to improve cross-strait relations, to amend the damages inflicted by an erroneous decision.
Since the end of 2004, Taiwan and the international community have shown their opposition and discontentment in China’s stubborn insistence on passing the “anti-separation law.” The law is both detrimental and non-constructive, and has brought emotional pain to the people on both sides of the Strait. The MAC indicated that since March 14, 2005, China has remained adamant and has proceeded to take further actions that adversely affect cross-strait relations. These include:
1. Forcing Taiwanese businessmen and students in China to make their political position clear. For instance, Chinese government forced the heads of Taiwanese businessmen’s associations in China to express support for the passage of the law. It used “exclusive interviews” and demanded Taiwanese students studying in Guangdong, Shanghai, and Beijing to express their support for the passage of the law and generated comprehensive propagandas. In addition, Chinese government demanded Hsu Wen-long, a prominent Taiwanese investor in China, to issue a public statement prepared by itself, to express support for the passage of the law on the eve of March 26, 2005. The MAC pointed out that the Chinese government has obviously begun the use of the “non-peaceful means” stipulated in the “anti-separation law.” The Taiwanese government expected the initial move of targeting the Taiwan businessmen.
2. Continuing to promote follow-up legislations. China has ignored opposition from the Taiwanese government and Taiwanese political parties, as well as criticisms from the international community. Despite arguing that the “anti-separation law” stresses peace, China has continued to formulate the State of Emergency Law and over ten additional related secondary legislations. The MAC stated that this unilateral move by China is a proof of its stubborn insistence and serves to aggravate the situation.
3. Taking repressive actions against Taiwan’s democratic development on all fronts. China has pressured more than fifty countries that are unaware of the “anti-separation law”, including Vanuatu, Tanzania, Cuba, Azerbaijan, and Madagascar, into criticizing Taiwan and supporting China’s war law. The Chinese government has supported and mobilized overseas associations for the promotion of the so-called peaceful reunification by sending congratulatory telegrams, organizing symposiums, and issuing announcements to voice support for China. It has intentionally distorted the democratic development in Taiwan as “de jure Taiwan independence.” China has also recruited a handful of mainland Chinese scholars to make slanderous remarks regarding the Taiwanese government and criticize the Taiwanese people for misrepresenting the “goodwill” in the “anti-separation law”. In addition, the Chinese government has continued to publish accented articles in the official media such as Xinhua News and People Daily to intimidate those who had intended to take part in the March 26 rally. China has also denied those Taiwanese scholars, businessmen, and politicians who had criticized the Chinese government of entry to China and Hong Kong. Moreover, China has actively encouraged people from Taiwan’s political, academic, and agricultural sectors to express their support for the “anti-separation law” or passively express their opposition to “Taiwan independence” in exchange for preferential treatment or relevant favorable repayment in China. Finally, China has incited the mainland Chinese people’s nationalist sentiment to fabricate false “public opinions.”
The MAC indicated that these blatant measures by China neither change the fact that the “anti-separation law” is a war law, nor excuse the Chinese government’s record of destructive and provocative actions against cross-strait relations. Although Taiwan has expressed the willingness to make peace and development its long-term goals, the MAC is concerned that there will be no room to improve the cross-strait relations unless China ceases these actions immediately.
The rally on March 26, 2005 highlighted the will of the majority of the Taiwanese people and their call for peace and democracy to protect Taiwan. The MAC urged China to immediately stop avoiding responsibilities, recognize the opinion of the Taiwanese people, adopt measures to amend its erroneous decision, and work together with Taiwan to foster opportunities for normalized cross-strait interaction. The MAC reiterated that if China continues to avoid responsibilities and intentionally distort the opinions of the Taiwanese people after the March 26 rally, the “placing hope on the Taiwanese people” will only lead to further disappointment for China.