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——localize 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!