[Editor’s note: Early in 2007 Xiamen Star (a satellite TV station in Xiamen, Fujian Province) issued a "2006 Taiwan Report" authored by a group of "experts" and scholars from Mainland China and Taiwan. Those from Mainland China suggest that Taiwan has entered a new period of political turmoil, that "color revolution" is taking place in Taiwan, and that public opinion will decide who is the winner in the Taiwan election. ("Color revolution" usually means a democratic liberalization from an authoritarian society in post-communist countries in Central and Eastern Europe. [1] Here the term is borroed to imply that Taiwan’s democratic society is being overturned by red (pro-communist) forces.)
Southern Weekend (Nanfang Zhoumo) obtained the exclusive right of publication. Here is a translation of excerpts of the report that Southern Weekend published on January 11, 2007. [2]]
Liu Hong: Taiwan Has Entered a New Period of Political Turmoil
Liu Hong, a senior researcher at the Institute of Taiwan Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, [3] believes that Taiwan politics has intensified and entered a new period of political turmoil. "Anti-corruption and elections were the leading themes of the 2006 Taiwan political evolution and will continue into 2007." "Taiwan’s political situation has entered a new period of turmoil."
Li Jiaquan: Color Revolution Is Taking Place in Taiwan
Li Jiaquan, another senior researcher at the Institute of Taiwan studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, believes that Taiwan had a "color revolution."
Li observed that in the months of September and October 2006, over a million people in Taiwan wearing red shirts took to the streets in support of the anti-corruption campaign meant to bring down Chen Shui-Bian. "Although it has now come to an end for the time being, one cannot ignore its far-reaching implications, i.e., Taiwan’s so-called ‘color revolution’ has emerged. Sooner or later, the revolution will likely rekindle in Taiwan and spread throughout the entire island."
The two most important colors in the Taiwan’s political arena are the Democratic Progress Party’s (DPP’s) green and the KMT’s blue. "Now all of a sudden, over a million red shirts have emerged." "The ‘red’ rises above and beyond the ‘blue’ and ‘green.’" "Isn’t it wonderful when red, blue and green integrate together as one symbol of the harmony and cooperation of the future of Taiwan society?"
"Taiwan’s so-called ‘red’ originally referred to the Communist Party. When blue battles with green, the green DPP frequently caps its opposition with ‘red hat’, i.e. ‘pro-Communist.’ Being ‘pro-Communist’ used to amount to ‘betraying Taiwan’ and ‘do not love Taiwan.’ Since 2006, the tide has reversed. In particular over a million red shirts have taken to the streets and paraded around the island. Even the commander of the red shirts, Shih Ming-teh, a former DPP chairman wore red all over. More surprisingly some small businesses, hawkers, and small shops, have hung small five-star red flags [the national flag of Mainland China] on their doors, without any fears whatsoever. Then there are others who drive convertibles around the island with five-star red flags, singing the PRC’s national anthem. The communities have had no negative reactions. This was inconceivable in the past."
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"The colors of flags represent ideologies. If we take out the color and ideologies, what is left is that we are all Chinese. That we are all Chinese is the common denominator shared by both sides of the Taiwan Straits. If we all acknowledge this denominator, then, many issues pertaining to Taiwan and cross-Strait relations can readily be resolved." "To sum it up, the island would be harmonious, both sides of the Straits would be reconciled and peace would rein in Taiwan Straits. Isn’t it wonderful?"
Li was a drafter and a participant of the White Book on Taiwan that the Chinese government issued in August 1993 and February 2000, respectively. [4]
Zou Zhengdong: Public Opinion Will Decide Who The Winner Is
Zou Zhengdong, an adjunct professor in the Media Department at Xianmen University, suggests that it is still too early to tell who will win over public opinion in the media war.
1. The Main Stream of the Public Opinion
"The most important change in Taiwan public opinion in 2006 was the rise of independent public opinion, represented by the ‘million men to bring down Bian.’ This is the largest mass movement independent of any party since Taiwan lifted the martial law (i.e., the ‘Temporary Provisions Effective During the Period of Communist Rebellion’ from 1948 to 1987). It goes beyond the blue and green and beyond the parties, representing the rise of public opinion a new force."
2. The Concerns of Public Opinion
"What public opinion is concerned about is a barometer of the political situation and a weather vane of social changes. The most notable change in Taiwan’s 2006 public opinion is the relative weakening of "unification or independence."
3. Media Forms
"The most notable change in Taiwan’s public opinion in 2006 was that public opinion became increasingly artistic, in particular the ‘million men to bring down Bian’ campaign has become a controversial carnival, indicating Taiwan’s public opinion has entered a new era that utilizes the technique of art design such as advertisement (so it becomes more creative, delicate, and effective)."
4. Tactics of the media war
"The most important feature of the media war in 2006 was that it had no strategy, only tactics. Neither the DPP nor the KMT could see any strategy." "Whoever can master the changes and go along with Taiwan public opinion will take control of public opinion in the future. From a wandering Taiwan to a hopeless Taiwan, there is nothing that can touch the heart of the Taiwanese people as much as the future of Taiwan does. What future does Taiwan need? Who can promise Taiwan a future? Perhaps history has an answer ready. But who will be the prophet?"
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References:
[1] Color revolutions or Flower revolutions are the names given collectively to a series of related movements that developed in post-communist societies in Central and Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. Some observers have called the events a revolutionary wave. Participants in the color revolutions have mostly used nonviolent resistance to protest against governments seen as corrupt and/or authoritarian, and to advocate democracy and national independence. These movements all adopted a specific color or flower as their symbol. The color revolutions are notable for the important role of Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and particularly student activists in organizing creative nonviolent resistance. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_revolution
[2] Southern Weekend (nanfang zhoumou), January 11, 2007 http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/zm/20070111/xw/tx1/200701110012.asp
[3] The Institute of Taiwan Studies was founded in 1984 with over 90 research associates. Over 20 of them are senior researchers. http://www.cass.net.cn/y_03/y_03_50twyjs.html
[4] China Taiwan Net http://www.chinataiwan.org/web/webportal/W5267389/index.html
Translated by Chinascope.