The continuing efforts by Taiwan to gain entry to the United Nations took another step today with demonstrations by different groups in four cities. Two of these demonstrations were quite big, especially if compared to recent US demos against the Iraq war (Saturday's Washington march drew only around 10,000+ according to the authorities). In Taiwan we are talking hundreds of thousands - in a country of only 23 million.
Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in southern and central Taiwan yesterday in support of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) respective referendum proposals on the nation's bid to join the UN.
The DPP's government-backed referendum would ask voters whether the nation should apply for UN membership under the name "Taiwan," whereas the KMT's referendum would ask voters whether the nation should apply to "return" to the UN under the name "Republic of China" (ROC) or any other "practical" and dignified title.
Demonstrations in Taiwan are usually quite a lot of fun, taking on a party or carnival type atmosphere with whole families taking part. Maybe that is why they can get so many people to show up, or maybe it's just that this stuff really does matter to the people there.
I was able to take in the demonstration 2 years ago against Beijing's Anti Secession Law. It had one of my favorite placards from a demo.
As for today's demos: There were actually four demonstrations.
Demo 1: In Kaoshiung (south of Taiwan)
This demo was put on by the DPP. The DPP are pro-independence, pro Taiwanese. Their position is that they want a referendum to vote on supporting joining the UN under the name "Taiwan". This demo was the biggest with estimates of those attending reaching 500,000 (according to the DPP, the police did not offer a figure). This is a huge number of people to turn out for any demo and shows the depth of feeling on the issue. The last line of the quote below highlights he "fun" atmosphere.
Holding signs with slogans such as "UNlimited Taiwan," "Taiwan My Country," "Taiwanese" and "Republic of Taiwan" in both English and Mandarin, people of all ages chanted "Go Taiwan!" and "UN for Taiwan" as they marched.
A marching percussion band composed of some 15 Aboriginal teenage musicians accompanied the parade with its drumming.
Young staffers from Hsieh's campaign office drew attention at the rally by dressing up as objects characteristic of Taiwan, with one staffer clad as a bowl of braised pork rice.
Demo 2: In Taichung (Middle of Taiwan)
This demo as organized by the KMT (the party that once ruled in China and then ruled Taiwan under martial law until 1987). The KMT have been forced to address the referendum issue as they realize that it is a vote winner for the DPP. They now want a referendum that asks to have Taiwan enter the UN under the name "Republic of China", which is its current official name, but also the name it had when the KMT ruled the mainland too. This demo had a crowd of between 150,000 (KMT estimate) and 50-60,000 (Police estimate).
Addressing the party, Ma condemned the DPP version of the referendum as an election gimmick designed to stir up emotions.
Ma said that the KMT version would not harm Taiwan's relationship with Washington.
"The KMT knows where the bottom line is and won't irritate our allies ... Our version proposes to maintain the status quo, but will help the nation gain UN membership," Ma said.
Ma further urged China not to oppress Taiwan by blocking it from participating in the international community and vowed to defend the nation's interests.
Demo 3. Taipei (north of Taiwan)
This demo was organized by groups in favor of rejoining mainland China. This demohad only about 10,000 people (according to the police).
Demonstrators in favor of unification with China rallied in Taipei City yesterday against referendums for Taiwan's membership in the UN initiated by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT).
The rally was organized by approximately 20 leftist and pro-unification groups including the Alliance for Reunification with China, the China Tide Association, Labor Rights Association and the Labor Party.
Demo 4: New York
It is good to see Democratic congressmen speaking in favor of the issue as typically this has been the preserve of the Republicans.
Several members of the US Congress expressed their support for Taiwan's bid to gain membership in the UN ahead of a rally promoting the bid scheduled for yesterday in New York.
In a letter to the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA), one of the rally's main organizers, US Representative Anthony Weiner said he deeply regretted that the UN continues to disregard the sovereignty of Taiwan and deny the right of self-determination to its people.
"There is no question that the United States must stand strong and advocate Taiwan's independence from China and inclusion as a United Nations member state," Weiner said.
Also writing to FAPA, US Representative Edolphus Towns said that Taiwan is not only a free, open and independent democracy, but also a good neighbor and friend to countries in need around the world.
Towns said Taiwanese, who have demonstrated they are responsible citizens of the world, deserve a voice and a seat at the UN.
Representative Robert Andrews said that for too long Taiwanese have lived in the shadow of China, which he said has loomed so large that Taiwan has been blocked from membership in the UN.
"China must recognize that Taiwan is neither rival nor vassal. Rather, it is a neighbor," Andrews said.
And
The United States has also criticized the DPP U.N. effort, saying it could provoke a new instability in the perennially volatile Taiwan Strait, which separates the democratic, self-governing island from the mainland.
Chen has questioned the refusal of the U.S. to support its U.N. bid, saying in a speech Friday via video to an audience in New York that the U.S. seems more interested in improving relations with communist states like North Korea than in backing Taiwan.
On Saturday, scores of DPP referendum supporters gathered for a rally near U.N. headquarters in New York, waving green flags and holding signs reading "Don't Let Taiwan Fight For Independence Alone" and "One Taiwan, One China."
Summary:
Obviously a lot of this is politics...but that is to be expected. The aim of the DPP is to continue to build the idea of a Taiwan consciousness. The KMT on the other hand is being forced, by issues such as the referendum, to commit to the idea of an independent Taiwan in order to have a chance to govern again.
The numbers today clearly show that there is widespread support in Taiwan for joining the United Nations (using a name to be determined). And as one congressman correctly stated
Releasing a statement on the issue, Representative Dana Rohrabacher said it was incongruous that a world body founded on the principles of universality and self-determination would exclude a free, democratic and independent nation whose population is larger than three-quarters of the UN' member states.
Discussion ideas:
- Do a people have the right to self determination? or is their fate to be determined by those outside for geopolitical reasons?
- On what grounds can a county of 23 million people be kept out of the UN, when so many smaller nations are already in?
- Is China's claim over Taiwan actually a case of racism. That is, is it based on the notion of "we are all Chinese" more than on territorial issues.
Update:
There is a great writeup on the Taichung demo here
and on the Kaoshiung demo here
There are lots of great pics and background. Loved this quote
The march through the streets of Kaohsiung was the best part. During the march, the focus was very clearly on Taiwan joining the UN. It was a powerful and moving experience to watch the overwhelming working class and rural crowd affirm that they too deserve a seat at the world table. I grasped emotionally what I had intellectually understood already: the KMT must be very, very careful in handling this issue or risk suffering another defeat.