Steven Rogers:
I suspect that China will be no more than nominally Communist within a decade, and not even nominally Communist within a decade after that.
One common mistake is to have illusion that democracy will follow economical prosperity. Clinton administration's policies are based on that false assumption.
Chinese are obsessed with gaining back their national pride, thanks for 50+ years brainwash by communists. A question :Who were the most vehement supporters of women foot-binding in ancient China? The Chinese women themselves.
"Chinese" in Taiwan or Chinese American or any other non-mainland-born Chinese are total different people.
They don't share the same values as mainlanders'. They don't carry that "historical mission" to reunite whatever to the motherland. Don't underestimate the power of "nationalism". Of course from Chinese point of view their nationalism is good. Other minorities' nationalism are splitism. Communists believed in zero-sum: My gain has to be at the expense of your loss, and vice versa.
Younger generation of Taiwanese,tired of hostility from their so-called "brothers and sisters", have developed their own identity, new Taiwanese. More and more Taiwanese are pro-independence. I won't say war is inevitable but it is more and more likely when two nationalisms collide.
How to stop the trend? Both sides of "Chinese" have the responsibilities. Mainlander should learn to respect the minorities and stop using military force to solve everything. Unfortunately most of Chinese who in the states fail to educate their compatriots. On the other hand, Taiwanese brought the western values back to Taiwan. Why the difference? It is because Taiwanese don't have the historical burden as their counterparts'.
In the mean time, Taiwan is the only hope for the democracy of all Chinese. I wish all Chinese, especially those in the states, realize that.
You should not side with the strong against the powerless. |
