From: liaohen@cbnews.cb.att.com (Heng-Hsin Liao)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.taiwan
Subject: Re: more than 50% support TI
Date: 29 Dec 92 22:54:22 GMT
Organization: AT&T Bell Lab

From article <1992Dec29.201716.19891@cbfsb.cb.att.com>, by ykhsu@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (yung-kao.hsu):
> In article <1992Dec28.183258.15056@cbnews.cb.att.com> liaohen@cbnews.cb.att.com (Heng-Hsin Liao) writes:
>>...
>>The questions above do not mean that I am pessimistic on independence.
>>What I am saying is we need to think about a lot of issues and prepare
>>for those before an independence referendum is held. The key thing is
>>this is under our own control although it won't be easy.
>>
>>Yes, we need some "time." But what we need it for is to prepare for
>>our future instead of watching the world goes by. Sitting and watching
>>just won't work the issues out. Agree?
> 
> 	Though I have tried not to post anything about TI or unification,
> 	I am a bit bored in this holiday season. So...
> 
> 	I think many TIers are working with the wrong agenda. To reach
> 	the goal of TI, like it or not, China is the key. As long as
                                        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I disagree. People in Taiwan is the key.

> 	TIers continue to confront CCP face to face, the goal of TI can
> 	only move backwards. In the smaller scale, what's the point of
> 	having shouting matches with pro-CCPers in the netnews; you win no
> 	understanding but bad feelings toward each other.
> 
> 	IMO, arguments like Taiwanese is (not) Chinese, TI can acquire
> 	international recognition, or China will not attack because of TI
> 	only create problems for TI. Those who buy such arguments have
> 	already supported TI, making such arguments more only further
> 	alienate those who don't buy them. Bottom line, even if you win
> 	the argument, you lose.
> 

Good point.

> 	Time is valuable for TIers not in preparing Taiwanese for an
> 	independence referendum but a
> 
> 		CHINA POLICY aimed at reducing hostility and promote
> 		understandings (though China may not like what we
> 		will do with our future)
> 

I agree. China policy should be part of the work. I don't see conflict
between these two. I did mention international affairs. But you are
right. China is probably the biggest part of it.

> 	This is what true TIers should work on and help execute it.
> 	And the beauty of it is that it also applies to those pro-unific-
> 	actioners. That is, despites ideological differences, they are heading
> 	to the same direction.  As for those who don't want to make a decision,
> 	like me, I cannot think of one reason why you will oppose it?
> 
> 	Let time decide what we will do when circumstances change while we
> 	attempt something will help our causes no matter what may happen.
> 	Certainly, this is not doing nothing.
> 

There is a bottom line by letting time decide what we will do - unification.
What if China don't buy our effort toward mutual understanding eventually?

If you agree that there should not be a bottom line and if you
agree that we need to prepare for the worst case, then independence also
should be considered as one of the strategies. My argument is that
independence takes time. To allow a smooth transition, we need time.

Assuming the perfect case, China say fine with them, there will be no
problem that we set any transition time frame. On the other hand, what if
China do whatever they can to stop us when we eventually realize that
independence is the way to go? There will be little time for us
to think about a smooth transition and execute it. That's why I said
we need to prepare for it earlier than we say it.

Do you agree that one of the major obstacles against Taiwan's jumping
levels higher is that we are still nobody to most of the important
international organizations? There's not much we can do on it if
we let time go by and probably attempt "something." If Taiwan have
problem to jump to higher level, it is quite possible that we will
be sandwiched by Japan and Guangdong/Fujian. You know what is going
to happen to Taiwan at that time. Time is on the unification's side.

However, I believe we share a point here: we cannot do nothing as time
goes by. My suggestion is the complexity of independence need to be
evalued and some of the resource need to be spent on the preparation
if we think independence is possible. At the same time, evaluating and
preparing for unification is fine since it is another choice. Eventually,
it is through people's choice that decide which way to go, not just few
intellectuals.

> 	In a political sense, regardless of one's political belief, there is
> 	a common and urgent mission for every one in Taiwan. Both DPP and KMT
> 	should be demanded of such mission instead of playing ideology games.
> 	I know this is naive but it is also so obvious and easy to understand.
> 
> 	Trust is established by understanding and willing to understand.
> 
> 
> Yung-Kao Hsu
> 
> 

Thank you for the comment. I really appreciate it. Happy New Year!


Heng-Hsin
Newsgroups: soc.culture.taiwan