Manipulating and playing with ethnic strategies has always been the favorite, most effective, and cheapest tool for ambitious regimes worldwide. The faction of the R.O.C. political circle led by the DPP has always been well-versed in these tactics—so much so that I suspect they have developed a standard operating procedure (SOP) or could even publish a book on it. The DPP (and their ilk) love to stuff people’s heads with fake issues; subsequently, we see a swarm of annoying flies enthusiastically and frantically immersing themselves in a pile of filth.
In the early days, the most effective tactic was manipulating the divide between “Mainlanders” and “Native Taiwanese.” However, having noticed that the KMT has begun to make amends for past mistakes regarding the so-called Native Taiwanese, they have now shifted to exploiting historical grievances between the R.O.C. and Mainland China.
They claim the KMT will sell out Taiwan and pursue unification with the Mainland.
The KMT fails to find effective solutions to these issues every single time. In my view, this is because the KMT is too “thin-skinned.” From a fundamental perspective, the party forced to explain is often the party taking the beating.
Defending oneself is never as fast, effective, or deeply resonant as labeling. Once a label is stuck in someone’s heart, no matter how others explain, it is psychologically difficult for that person to abandon their established perception. This trick is not just the exclusive specialty of certain political parties; many scam artists rely on this exact method to deceive people.
Unification, independence, selling out—these words have zero substantive meaning. Their only function is to serve as labels for the KMT. “Unification” is shouted by the DPP (and their ilk); “Independence” is also shouted by the DPP; as for “Selling out Taiwan,” that is shouted by the DPP along with the internet masses. Why not just let you guys do all the shouting?
From my perspective, the KMT and Ma Ying-jeou are simply focused on managing domestic affairs and regional cooperation (of course, some are focused on their own pockets, but that isn’t a problem obstructing the overall environment, so I’ll skip that for now). There are always those who cannot stand to see the R.O.C. prosper. Whenever the KMT plans to do something, some people start dragging their feet on these issues (for example, Sisy Chen pointed out that Hsiao Bi-khim lobbied the U.S. to delay the announcement of “Visa-Waiver” status for the R.O.C.). They don’t care if the issue is valid because they have already achieved the goal of demonizing the KMT’s image—a goal that expands in the minds of the masses who only listen to keywords, eventually becoming the only keyword they know.
However, looking at the KMT and even Ma Ying-jeou himself, based on ==all current administrative actions==, one cannot find any behavior that could be called “selling out” or “unification.”
(Note: If you intend to refute my point, please cite any actual behavior by Ma Ying-jeou that constitutes selling out or unification! Please also judge this through the lens of international relations—for example, if people from the Mainland can do something in the R.O.C., can Americans do it too? Otherwise, please refrain from leaving meaningless, defamatory comments.)
Framing a person or a politician is always easier than one might imagine.
This “Taiwan” is not so easy to sell.
Lee Teng-hui ruled for twelve years and didn’t sell the island to Japan. Chen Shui-bian ruled for eight years and didn’t sell it to himself (though he pocketed quite a bit). Ma Ying-jeou’s eight-year term is nearing its end, and we haven’t seen any “selling out” tricks.
Despite this, the slogan of “selling out” continues to circulate in society. I don’t know if the “selling out” these people talk about refers to selling Taiwanese bananas or Taiwanese guavas.
Every time Ma Ying-jeou tries to establish slightly closer cooperation with Mainland China, the crowd of internet commenters starts humming the tune of “selling out” and “unification,” ridiculing those working hard on stage. These commenters are completely unable to distinguish between sovereignty and international cooperation; they believe anything related to Mainland China is a honey-coated devil.
Furthermore, they think they are the smartest people in the world, believing other countries cooperating with China are idiots.
The narrow-mindedness and pettiness of a small island nation are plain to see.
==Denying exchange with Mainland China is actually a foolish act of self-isolation and a failure to recognize one’s own national sovereignty.==
I only see a group of people who, while shouting that the KMT wants unification and is selling out the nation, are simultaneously reaping benefits and even using the overall environment of the R.O.C. as chips on a gambling table.
They are having a great time playing, but what about the R.O.C.?
Looking at the changes in the global situation today, most of those chips have already ended up in certain people’s pockets, while the R.O.C. has been gambled away at the table. In Asia, every country except the R.O.C. is cooperating and competing with one another, flourishing on the international economic, trade, and cultural stages.
Who, exactly, is the one truly “selling out”?