Taiwan celebrates 93 years of progress and prosperity

For much of the world, January 1st holds a special place in our hearts as a day that represents the ability to start anew, put the difficulties of the past behind, and look to the future with unabated potential for improved quality of life. In Taiwan, Oct. 10 is even more significant, marking the founding anniversary of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Asia’s oldest democratic republic. Oct. 10th is known in Taiwan as National Day, a day to celebrate the anniversary of the revolution that led to the Republic of China’s rise to power in 1911.

Standing at a seemingly precarious crossroads, the Republic of China (Taiwan) is in much need of a political renewal. Taiwan is a nation that functions, in every conceivable aspect, as wholly sovereign, yet is not accepted as such by major international power.

The Republic of China (Taiwan) took root in 1911, when ROC founding father, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, led a revolution over the Ch’ing rulers in China. The ROC remained in power in mainland China until 1949, when the Communist Party replaced the Kuomintang Party, founding the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Taiwan, an island that had withstood hundreds of years of imperial rule by the Chinese, Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish, then Japanese, was ceded to Chinese rule at the conclusion of World War II. With their removal from power in mainland China in 1949, the KMT relocated to Taiwan, where they continued to rule as the ROC, planning to eventually recapture mainland China from the Communists.

Even after their removal from power in mainland China, the Republic of China (Taiwan) continued to claim ruling power over all of China. With the United States’ support, the ROC was officially received, for more than 20 years, as the representatives for China to the United Nations, including a seat on the nearly omnipotent Security Council. In 1971, the U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution that established the People’s Republic of China as the rightful representative power for China to the UN, replacing the ROC. The Republic of China on Taiwan no longer claims rule over the rest of China, but has requested admission into the U.N. as a sovereign state.

Currently, there are 26 countries that recognize Taiwan’s statehood. The ROC has less official diplomatic support than the United States and UK had with their meager “coalition of the willing.” Using their seat on the U.N. Security Council, and their powerful position in global economics, the PRC has threatened negative consequences for any nation it has diplomatic ties with, should any move be made toward recognizing Taiwanese statehood.

Even so, the Republic of China on Taiwan governs themselves independently of the PRC, and maintains a sizeable military, aided by large-scale arms sales from the United States. Further military aid has been provided by the U.S. in times of need, to keep Communist China’s aggression toward Taiwan at bay.

In 1996, responding to what they perceived as moves toward a declaration of Taiwanese independence, China made hostile advances on Taiwan, staging a number of military exercises just miles off the Taiwanese coastline, and within near reach of Taiwan’s biggest trade ports. For weeks, China used ballistic missiles, capable of carrying nuclear warheads, to intimidate the ROC on Taiwan, apparently threatening invasion and/or a trade embargo. Before long, the U.S. stepped in, showing support toward the ROC as an ally, moving two aircraft carriers into the region, enough to convince the PRC to back down.

Since then, the heated relations have cooled significantly, between the ROC and the PRC. In 2000, after winning Taiwan’s first public elections, Chen Shui-bian stepped into power as president of the Republic of China on Taiwan. President Chen vowed, in his 2000 inauguration speech, that in the best interest of his people, he would never make any declaration of independence from the PRC, nor would he attempt to change the status quo, as long as the Communist China party regime has no intention to use military force against Taiwan.

Based on polls taken in the same year, President Chen appears to have the support of his people, in their simultaneous desires for independence and maintaining the status quo. Standing on the grounds of a rock-solid economy, the people of Taiwan don’t seem too motivated to rock the boat. In public opinion polls taken in 2000, over 60 percent of the people surveyed favored keeping the status quo unchanged, at least for the time being, while just under 20 percent favored a declaration of independence, and less than 12 percent favored reunification with mainland China.

Taiwan is now one of the world’s leaders in the high-tech industry, and their economy is booming. The United States is Taiwan’s largest trade partner, and Taiwan, by the year 2000, had become the eighth largest trade partner for the U.S. Taiwan’s gross domestic product is in line with the world’s economic powers, currently the 18th highest in the world.

Although the Republic of China (Taiwan) has been refused admittance into the U.N. and the World Health Organization, they have gained membership into 18 intergovernmental organizations, including, most notably, the highly influential World Trade Organization. And, while they aren’t technically recognized as a state by most of the world, they do have substantive diplomatic ties with 140 nations.

The Republic of China (Taiwan) has emerged as a leader in advancing human rights, and as an example of successful democracy in Asia. The universal values of human rights have become core national values and a new focal point for ROC diplomacy. President Chen has committed the government to moving toward full integration of Taiwan in the international human rights system spearheaded by the United Nations.

Taiwan is also very active in promoting humanitarian assistance. Taiwan participates in the activities of more than 2,000 international nongovernment organizations, and more than 30 Taiwanese charitable groups have provided emergency relief in some 50 countries.

To further the aims of pragmatic diplomacy and mutual interest, the ROC continues its endeavors to establish diplomatic ties or enhance its relations with the rest of the world’s countries.

Taiwan and its people are ready and willing to participate in all types of international activities. In bilateral cooperation, humanitarian relief, scientific exchanges, promotion of human rights, environmental protection, maintenance of regional and global peace, and even the fight against terrorism, the sincerity and enthusiasm of the Taiwanese is clear for all to see.