From: 11442204@eng2.eng.monash.edu.au (DAVID HSU)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.taiwan
Subject: Re: Look ! Stupid Taiwanese !!
Summary: Personal Opinon
Keywords: Taiwan/Korea
Date: 30 Aug 92 04:01:55 GMT
Organization: Faculty of Engineering, Monash University

Recently I have just subscribed to the news group soc.culture.taiwan, and 
was surprised (at first) to see so many messages posted.  Then I realised 
that most of them (approx. 75%) are about the recent Taiwan/S.Korea 
developtment.  I was quite interested in the subject, so I spent few hours 
reading most of the article, but I was really DISSAPOINTED.

I don't want to swear, don't want to get too emontional, I just want to 
express my *PERSONAL* view here (as a Taiwanese who has stayed in Taiwan 
for over 14 years and been oversea in various countries for 6 years), and I 
welcome any open reply (rational, if possible; please) on the matter.

I can see that the main issue being discussed in the group are:

	1).	History of the relationship between Taiwan (sometimes 
		focused on the KMT) and S.Korea.
	2).	The recent incident --> who is wrong and who is right.
	3).	Korea airline in Taiwan. (??? -> Can't understand why is
		being discussed here.....)
	4).	Taiwan's future and Korea's role in China/Taiwan relation-
		ship.

First of all, I want to say that any well-educated Taiwanese would not have 
said such rude words about the Korea plane being shot down.  The incident is 
tragic and I believe no-one has the right to laugh at it.  As for the 
argument of Korea's airline/export car to Taiwan, personally I feel they are 
just one of the "side effects" caused by the incident, and have no 
importance on this matter. (Just think of this way: Suppose the Koreans did 
NOT sign the treaty with PRC, would you (Taiwanese/Chinese) still brought up 
the subject?)

Personally, I do not believe that the whole incident is Korea's fault.  (
Though I do not argue that the Korea government did not handle the matter "
cleanly")  After all, if one look back at the history (please don't quote me 
on this one, I would prefer any argument forwarded with a reference to a 
book or int'l mag.), we can see the Americans have done far worse things 
than this, and so did few of other countries.  Most of the Taiwanese (
include many oversea students) looked at the surface of the matter and 
simply stated that the Koreans "forsaken their *friend* and cheated us".  
But you will find those people are usually under 35 years old.  Why?  
Because they are the new generation of Taiwanese who were educated by the 
KMTs.  I was one of them, but I have been out here long enough and talked to 
many friends from all over the world (include all Asia&Euorpe&America 
countries) and I realised something.  Since primary school I have been 
taught that we are the "RIGHT" ones, all the communists are evil;  and we 
have to "revenge back to China" one day; and also that other countries have 
deserted us (since we are not in UN) and so on and so on.  Therfore, when 
people heard that the Koreans deserted us, they started to call them "
betrayer", "di**heads" and all those rude words.  But I believe deep in 
those people's hearts, they all had expected this incidents would happen 
sooner or later.  It is just that it has now happened, Taiwan is more 
alone in the world and no ones likes that feeling. (Take an example of 
getting a visa to UK from Taiwan, one has to go through the embassy in HK 
and is quite troublesome).  But we all know (at least most my friends admit) 
that this may always happen, to Taiwan, to the Chineses.

If you explain the situation between China and Taiwan to someone in the 
western world (not from a communist country), most of them will agree that 
it is almost *insane* to be friends with Taiwan and be enemy with China.  
Yes, there are still few countries still have formal relationship with 
Taiwan (mostly are Africa countries), but we also know that it is only 
because they need the economical support from Taiwan, not that they support 
the government; I personally doubt whether they care we are communists or 
not.

If we look at the matter from a third person point of view (as do most 
foregin newspapers), we can see that the cause is not because of the Korean "
likes" to "betray" Taiwan, (I believe many Koreans don't feel comfortable of 
what their government did, as expressed in some of the articles), but they 
are "forced" to accept it.  Not that they love Taiwan, nor that they love 
China, but the situation (of between N.Korea) will be much easier for them 
if they accept the treaty.

I think the Taiwanese should wake up (though no need for those were already 
awake).  For long we are being told that we one of the four "small dragons" 
in Asia, that we are how advanced in technology.  But the reality is that we 
are the "orphan of Asia" or simply put, a lone-dragon.

The fact is that *CHINA* is the one who forced Korea into this.  Though they 
are all telling us sweet words (or lies, as one may put), the Taiwanese 
seems to be jump into it like a bee found honey.  Many businessman seems to 
lose their sense of "nationalitiy" and goto China and invest huge sums of 
money there.  I wonder they all have a passport other than Taiwan's.  It is 
time people in Taiwan put aside difference (like the argument of people from 
mainland or from Taiwan) and look into the interest of the entire Chinese 
civilization. (But don't ask me what to do!.....yet, I *hope* I can find a 
way).


30 Aug. 92

David Hsu
Monash University, Australia.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.taiwan