DATE=8/12/1999
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=TAIWAN MOOD
NUMBER=5-44043
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=TAIPEI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The question of whether Taiwan is independent
or not is the crucial issue at the center of its
relationship with China, which considers the island
nothing more than a renegade Chinese province. But as
V-O-A's Stephanie Ho reports from Taipei, for many
people on Taiwan, this question may already be moot,
because they consider themselves to be more Taiwanese
than Chinese.
Text: The one phrase about Taiwan that the Chinese
government repeats over and over again is that the
island is an inseparable part of Chinese territory.
Fifty years ago, when the Chinese Nationalists lost
the civil war to the Communists and fled to the
island, both sides might have agreed that this was
true. Now, however, things have changed.
Lin Chong-pin, the Vice-Chairman of the Taiwanese
government's Mainland Affairs Council, says that
although Taipei gave up its military claim to the
Chinese mainland in 1991, Beijing has not reciprocated
by abandoning its threat to use force against Taiwan.
// Lin act //
\
On the other hand, Beijing has not followed suit.
Beijing still retains its strategic offensive posture.
// end act //
Since 1992, the Mainland Affairs Council has regularly
gauged the island's sense of identity. Nearly every
six months, opinion poll-takers ask more than one
thousand people whether they consider themselves to be
Taiwanese, Chinese or both.
The results from a survey in April of this year, show
sharp changes in attitude and a rise in the percentage
of people who consider themselves to be Taiwanese.
More than 82-percent of the respondents consider
themselves to be Taiwanese and Chinese, or just
Taiwanese. This compares to 53-percent seven years
ago. In contrast, the percentage of people who
consider themselves to be Chinese dropped from 44-
percent in 1992, to only about 13-percent.
When the Nationalist government arrived in Taiwan five
decades ago, it ruled the island with an iron fist.
The grip has loosened, though, and Taiwan's 22-million
people now choose their leaders democratically.
The emerging sense of Taiwanese identity is one issue
that is not lost on those who aspire to be the
island's leaders. Chen Shui-bian, the former mayor of
Taipei city who is now the presidential candidate for
Taiwan's main political opposition Democratic
Progressive Party, is not shy about highlighting his
Taiwanese roots.
// Chen and interpreter act //
(Chinese) Since we were born and raised in
Taiwan and also live in Taiwan, we love this land.
And we are so proud of being Taiwanese. And this is
the first thing I would like to emphasize.
// end act //
The Taiwanese government lifted martial law a dozen
years ago. Nowadays, this freer atmosphere is evident
in the willingness of Taiwanese citizens to talk
openly to foreign journalists - a sharp contrast to
the situation in China. Unsurprisingly, many people
on the streets of Taipei say they consider themselves
to be Taiwanese.
Fourteen-year-old student Cheng Weizhi says he thinks
Taiwan is already an independent country.
// Student - Chinese in full, fade out //
He says the authorities in Beijing should not be angry
at Taiwan because the island has already been
separated from the mainland for so long.
One 37-year-old grocer agreed with the student. She
refused to give her name, but was very outspoken.
// Grocer - Chinese in full, fade out //
She says Taiwan achieved all of its successes by
itself. What, she asks angrily, has China ever given
to the island?
She points to the example of Mongolia, which many
Chinese -- both in Taiwan and on the mainland --
consider to be a historical part of Chinese territory.
She says if Beijing could allow neighboring Mongolia
to be a separate country, it should also accept
independence for Taiwan. (signed)
NEB/HO/FC
12-Aug-1999 03:56 AM LOC (12-Aug-1999 0756 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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