New Thinking on
Taiwan as the Subject
Lung-chu Chen
The New Century Foundation
in April held a series of symposia on policies for a new century, making
recommendations to the Chen Shui-bian¡¦s new administration. There were
altogether five of them on five consecutive Saturdays beginning on April
first. The topics of the symposia were: (1) national security and the
cross-strait relations; (2) Taiwan¡¦s new role in the world community; (3)
the constitutional system and party rotation; (4) finance, economy,
science and technology; and (5) society, culture and education.
A central theme ran through all five symposia, namely, to establish Taiwan
as the subject. Whether it¡¦s national security, international relations,
constitutional development, economy and technology, or culture and
education, Taiwan the subject should be the foundation of them all.
Expressing Taiwan the subject, the Taiwanese people should establish
national security geared to the defense of Taiwan, prepare a new role for
Taiwan in the world community, make the constitutional system responsive
to the real needs of Taiwan, build a high-tech country whose hallmarks are
democracy, the rule of law, and humanity, and develop a culture that is
Taiwan in fundamental identity and orientation.
The more Taiwan is subjected to its neighbor¡¦s intimidations, the more the
Taiwanese people must seek internal consensus and unity to defend their
island nation. The more Taiwan is stifled internationally, the more Taiwan
must overcome the obstacles by new thinking and practice. The
disempowering of the National Assembly offers Taiwan a new opportunity for
renewal and reconstruction of its constitutional system. A green, hi-tech
island needs democracy and the rule of law, as well as cultivation of the
humanities. To build a vigorous culture that is Taiwan in basic identity
and orientation is an enormous task requiring continuous efforts¡X¡Xlocalize
as well as internationalize, express its rich heritage as an island nation
as well as strive to be part of the mainstream of an emerging global
village characterized by democracy and human rights, market economy, and
civic society.
To establish Taiwan the subject that counts in the world community will
require concerted efforts of the Taiwanese people. They can do it! |