[Marxism] Re: Milestones in Taiwanese History

[l.willms@xxxxxxxxxxx (Lueko Willms)]

.    On  08.03.05
  wrote  Brian_Shannon@xxxxxxxxxxx (Brian Shannon)
     on  /ALIST/MARXMAIL
     in  aae34d1657feda481df779d3d93ae5a3@xxxxxxxxxxx
  about  [Marxism] Milestones in Taiwanese History


BS> http://www.taiwandc.org/hst-1624.htm

   I had a look at that site. The final paragraphs of that particular  
document might be cited as the core of the authors' position:

--------- schnipp -----------------------------------------

The 1971 and 1972 events, and even more the December 1978 United  
States switch in recognition from the Kuomintang regime to the Beijing  
regime hit hard in Taiwan. At the same time, it gave impetus to the  
growth and evolution of the democratic opposition movement in the late  
1970s and early 1980s.

The Kaohsiung Incident of December 1979 galvanized the Taiwanese on  
the island and overseas into political action. The tangwai ("outside- 
the-party") democratic opposition started to question the KMT's  
anachronistic claim to represent all of China, and began to work  
towards ending the 40-years' old martial law. In September 1986, this  
movement culminated in the formation of the Democratic Progressive  
Party (DPP), which then began its growth into a full-fledged  
opposition party.

The Martial Law was finally dropped in 1987, but replaced by a less- 
stringent National Security Law. However, it wasn't until 1991 that  
the KMT claim to rule all of China was dropped, and that aging  
Nationalist Chinese legislators -- elected on the mainland in 1947 --  
were sent into retirement. Since then the island has made major  
strides in the direction of a fully democratic political system, but  
the KMT and its "pan-blue" supporters continue to cling to this day to  
their outdated claim that "Taiwan is part of China."

This is the history of Taiwan in a nutshell. Two conclusions: Taiwan  
does have a history, and Taiwan has never been an integral part of  
China

------------------ schnapp --------------------------------

  The "1971 and 1972 incidents" refer to the USA's recognition of  
China.


  They also refer to two articles of a certain Li Thian-hok written in  
1958 in the USA, when this person was a student in Minnesota. The  
article was published in "Foreign Affairs" in its April 1958 issue,  
"together with essays by such luminaries as Dean Acheson, Henry  
Kissinger and Walt Rostow.". See http://www.taiwandc.org/hst-jloo.htm

  Here are some extracts from that article:



"The China impasse, a Formosan view"
--------- schnipp -----------------------------------------

The establishment of a free, independent state of Formosa as a
solution has many advantages and justifications.

The strategic, political and psychological importance of Formosa is
such that the United States cannot lose the island to the Communists
without suffering a severe blow to its prestige and presumably to its
security.

But if Formosa is to be kept in friendly hands permanently, rather
than until such time as it may be abandoned with a modicum of grace,
then a final settlement of the island s legal status appears
necessary.

An independent Formosa can rid the United States of the dilemmas
arising out of its support of Chiang Kai-shek. The United States need
no longer commit itself to the all-or-nothing proposition that Formosa
must either conquer China or perish. There will be no problem of
sustaining the morale of the people and the armed forces, since the
Formosans have a healthy distaste for any Chinese rule, and will
eagerly defend their native soil against aggression.

By relieving the Chinese Communists of a constant threat of
counterattack by the Nationalist regime, and at the same time
depriving them of a legal  pretext for the so-called  liberation of
Taiwan,  tension across the Formosa Strait may be materially relaxed.
Though in all likelihood Communist China will continue to claim
Formosa as Chinese territory, its case will be greatly weakened, for
it cannot oppose the principle of self-determination without
considerable embarrassment.

By separating Formosa from the issues of Chinese representation in
the United Nations and recognition of the Chinese Communist regime,
the United States can recover freedom of action.

If Formosa were independent and an ally, the United States would have
every legal and moral justification for defending the island, and
allies of the United States, the uncommitted nations of Asia and
countries which recognize Communist China would be able to support
such efforts.

------------------ schnapp --------------------------------


 Lete comrades judge for themselvs, and read more.


Yours,
Lüko Willms                                     http://www.mlwerke.de
/--------- L.WILLMS@xxxxxxxxxxx -- Alle Rechte vorbehalten --

"Es sind nicht die Generäle und Könige, die die Geschichte machen,
sondern die breiten Massen des Volkes"                - Nelson Mandela

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