THE DEMOCRATIZATION OF THE DEMOCRATIZATION OF TAIWAN IN INTERNATIONAL TAIWAN IN INTERNATIONAL

PERSPECTIVE PERSPECTIVE

By Linda Gail ArrigoBy Linda Gail Arrigo

Introduction

In almost any international accounting, Taiwan is fortunate as of 2005 to be at a high per capita income, nearly to the level of some European countries, and substantially democratic. It faces threats, but probably not immediate ones.

•However, the young people in Taiwan However, the young people in Taiwan are in general not aware of their own are in general not aware of their own history, because of the past decades of history, because of the past decades of suppression – forty years of martial suppression – forty years of martial law, 1947-1987. Moreover, the non-law, 1947-1987. Moreover, the non-violent and gradual transition to violent and gradual transition to democracy in Taiwan has yielded a democracy in Taiwan has yielded a reluctance to examine this past, as has reluctance to examine this past, as has been done with “Truth and Justice” been done with “Truth and Justice” Commissions in Latin America and Commissions in Latin America and South Africa.South Africa.

•Added to this, young people in Taiwan, Added to this, young people in Taiwan, as in the rest of the world, are caught as in the rest of the world, are caught up in the e-age of instant information up in the e-age of instant information that is fast but has a very shallow time that is fast but has a very shallow time depth, and of virtual images that can depth, and of virtual images that can depict imagination but also blur a depict imagination but also blur a sense of reality. The common outcome sense of reality. The common outcome is materialistic values for the moment, is materialistic values for the moment, and a weak sense of long-term and a weak sense of long-term purpose.purpose.

•Still, this past should be understood, Still, this past should be understood, and understood in a perspective that and understood in a perspective that is international, not just the view is international, not just the view from within Taiwan. That is the from within Taiwan. That is the purpose of my lecture.purpose of my lecture.

•My view is that of an American who My view is that of an American who has worked for human rights in Taihas worked for human rights in Taiwan, after coming here first in 1963. wan, after coming here first in 1963. I have also been in communication I have also been in communication with human rights activists from mawith human rights activists from many parts of the world, and that has sny parts of the world, and that has shaped my world view.haped my world view.

After World War II, the United States was the only major power that had not suffered great losses from the war. Thus it was in a suitable position to take over the center of world empire from Great Britain.

American Power after World War II

•This it could do with economic power anThis it could do with economic power and free markets rather than direct coloniad free markets rather than direct colonial control. So in some ways at first it appel control. So in some ways at first it appeared to be a liberating force, and it advoared to be a liberating force, and it advocated land reform and liberal political focated land reform and liberal political forms, against the feudal structures of old rms, against the feudal structures of old colonial governments and empires.colonial governments and empires.

• But as a large inward-looking and self-sufficient country, the United States did not and still does not have a deep understanding of the other people of the world. Its priority has been to maintain its control of cheap labor and resources.

• In competing against the Soviet Union aIn competing against the Soviet Union and China and their ideals of social revolund China and their ideals of social revolution, following WWII, the US strategy wation, following WWII, the US strategy was to support “liberal” elites – usually ds to support “liberal” elites – usually dictators who actually exploited their owictators who actually exploited their own people, although they pretended to be n people, although they pretended to be democratic.democratic.

•Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek was one Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek was one such early example. Here as in many cassuch early example. Here as in many cases the US was careless of the rights and es the US was careless of the rights and welfare of small countries. Although durwelfare of small countries. Although during WWII, US propaganda promised the ing WWII, US propaganda promised the people of Taiwan freedom and self-detepeople of Taiwan freedom and self-determination if they turned against Japan, rmination if they turned against Japan, actually the US turned a blind eye to the actually the US turned a blind eye to the White Terror in Taiwan after 1945White Terror in Taiwan after 1945

• It was in the interest of the United StateIt was in the interest of the United States to deny to the Chinese communists the s to deny to the Chinese communists the China seat in the United Nations, althouChina seat in the United Nations, although they won the Chinese civil war in 194gh they won the Chinese civil war in 1949. So the United States supported Chian9. So the United States supported Chiang’s claim of legitimacy of the “Republig’s claim of legitimacy of the “Republic of China” on Taiwan, representing “c of China” on Taiwan, representing “one China” (including Mongolia), althoone China” (including Mongolia), although it was obviously a ridiculous claim. ugh it was obviously a ridiculous claim.

• And now that the US has come to teAnd now that the US has come to terms with the Peoples Republic of Chrms with the Peoples Republic of China and Taiwan is a pawn in that barina and Taiwan is a pawn in that bargain, the US still expects the people gain, the US still expects the people of Taiwan to bow to US interests in tof Taiwan to bow to US interests in this manipulation of fiction.his manipulation of fiction.

•During the long years of martial law During the long years of martial law in Taiwan, the news in Taiwan did in Taiwan, the news in Taiwan did not report objectively on political not report objectively on political developments around the world. developments around the world.

•The Chiang Kai-shek government allied iThe Chiang Kai-shek government allied itself with the most conservative and reptself with the most conservative and repressive regimes in Asia and Latin Americressive regimes in Asia and Latin America, though the World Anti-Communist Lea, though the World Anti-Communist League. For example, the Park Chung-hee ague. For example, the Park Chung-hee regime in South Korea, dictators in Braziregime in South Korea, dictators in Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay, and Central Al, Uruguay and Paraguay, and Central America.merica.

•The ROC aided the United States in its wThe ROC aided the United States in its wars in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. The ars in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. The Kuomintang’s intelligence networks in Kuomintang’s intelligence networks in Asia helped the US Central Intelligence AAsia helped the US Central Intelligence Agency. US bombers and aircraft were regency. US bombers and aircraft were repaired in Tainan, and the families of US paired in Tainan, and the families of US officers in Vietnam lived in Tienmou. Millofficers in Vietnam lived in Tienmou. Millions of Vietnamese and SE Asians died.ions of Vietnamese and SE Asians died.

•There were US military bases in Taipei aThere were US military bases in Taipei at Chungshan N. Road, at Gung Guan, at Lt Chungshan N. Road, at Gung Guan, at Linkou, and in the Kaohsiung harbor, and inkou, and in the Kaohsiung harbor, and elsewhere. Finally these were mostly witelsewhere. Finally these were mostly withdrawn by about 1970 as the US decidehdrawn by about 1970 as the US decided to play “the China card” against the d to play “the China card” against the Soviet Union.Soviet Union.

•However, the US still insisted on tight However, the US still insisted on tight control of Latin America. The CIA control of Latin America. The CIA helped the Chilean military to helped the Chilean military to overthrow a democratically-elected overthrow a democratically-elected leftist government in Chile in 1973; leftist government in Chile in 1973; the military killed about 30,000 the military killed about 30,000 people. There were similar anti-people. There were similar anti-communist terror operations by communist terror operations by government-run death squads in government-run death squads in Argentina and elsewhere. Argentina and elsewhere.

•The US was accused of providing torture The US was accused of providing torture training to the governments. Taiwan training to the governments. Taiwan provided military training to many of provided military training to many of these same governments, and in these same governments, and in particular gave money and training to El particular gave money and training to El Salvador in the early 1980’s, when Salvador in the early 1980’s, when death squads were killing about 300 death squads were killing about 300 people a month – killing leaders of people a month – killing leaders of peasant and labor movements, as well peasant and labor movements, as well as intellectuals, priests and nuns.as intellectuals, priests and nuns.

•Similarly, from 1980 the ROC became Similarly, from 1980 the ROC became very good friends with the South African very good friends with the South African generals. The white minority generals. The white minority government of South Africa was coming government of South Africa was coming under increasing international pressure under increasing international pressure and boycott for its vicious treatment of and boycott for its vicious treatment of the black majority; it named Taiwanese the black majority; it named Taiwanese “honorary whites”, and Taiwanese “honorary whites”, and Taiwanese moved in with formal diplomatic moved in with formal diplomatic recognition, and provided investment to recognition, and provided investment to stabilize South Africa economically and stabilize South Africa economically and exploit the cheap black labor.exploit the cheap black labor.

• International criticism of US support International criticism of US support of dictatorships did lead President of dictatorships did lead President Jimmy Carter to declare a human Jimmy Carter to declare a human rights policy in 1978, and although rights policy in 1978, and although this policy was directed mostly this policy was directed mostly against the Soviet Union, it did against the Soviet Union, it did provide some breathing space for provide some breathing space for the Taiwan democratic movement in the Taiwan democratic movement in 1978-79.1978-79.

•However, my own experience was tHowever, my own experience was that the US Embassy cooperated withat the US Embassy cooperated with the Taiwan security agencies in trh the Taiwan security agencies in trying to stop my own human rights rying to stop my own human rights reporting, and the US tacitly approveeporting, and the US tacitly approved the Kuomintang’s crackdown on d the Kuomintang’s crackdown on the Meilidao movement in late 1979.the Meilidao movement in late 1979.

The Economic Development and Democratization of Taiwan

Both Korea and Taiwan had good basic infrastructure from the period of Japanese colonization, and following WWII the United States moved to build up South Korea and Taiwan as a frontline in the containment of communism

•Taiwan received more US aid per caTaiwan received more US aid per capita than anywhere else in the worlpita than anywhere else in the world. In the late 1960’s, the US opened. In the late 1960’s, the US opened up its markets to Taiwan and Soutd up its markets to Taiwan and South Korea exports, and by the mid-198h Korea exports, and by the mid-1980’s, both countries were highly ind0’s, both countries were highly industrialized.ustrialized.

• It could be said that the rising It could be said that the rising demands for democracy, largely led demands for democracy, largely led by the middle classes, proved the by the middle classes, proved the American promise that economic American promise that economic development would lead to development would lead to democracy. democracy.

However, there is little reason to thank However, there is little reason to thank the American government for this. It the American government for this. It was not an easy process. Both was not an easy process. Both Taiwan and Korea suffered decades Taiwan and Korea suffered decades of brutal military rule, with of brutal military rule, with thousands of political prisoners, and thousands of political prisoners, and suppression of legitimate social suppression of legitimate social movements like labor and movements like labor and environment.environment.

•Although Taiwan seems poised to Although Taiwan seems poised to continue its economic advance continue its economic advance spearheaded by its place in the spearheaded by its place in the international e-industry, it has international e-industry, it has already paid a heavy price in already paid a heavy price in industrial pollution and industrial pollution and environmental destruction. environmental destruction.

•As Taiwanese capital increasingly mAs Taiwanese capital increasingly moves to use cheap Chinese and SE Aoves to use cheap Chinese and SE Asian labor, there is of course polarizsian labor, there is of course polarization of incomes in Taiwan. ation of incomes in Taiwan.

• The same thing has happened and contiThe same thing has happened and continues to happen in the United States; nonues to happen in the United States; now computer programming is being movw computer programming is being moved to India. This is the huge process of gled to India. This is the huge process of globalization, which will likely pull down tobalization, which will likely pull down the standard of living of labor all over the he standard of living of labor all over the world, and make it increasingly difficult world, and make it increasingly difficult for governments to provide social welfarfor governments to provide social welfare and environmental protections. e and environmental protections.

• It is not likely that much of the world It is not likely that much of the world can follow in Taiwan’s happy path of can follow in Taiwan’s happy path of development. Taiwan benefited from development. Taiwan benefited from a particular geo-political history. It a particular geo-political history. It has been relatively privileged, but has been relatively privileged, but that does not mean that such that does not mean that such privilege will necessarily last forever.privilege will necessarily last forever.

In international perspective, Taiwan is now a rich country with a low rate of unemployment. Its resources are relatively ample. But it needs to make further advances and reforms to become a humane and advanced country with a pleasant living environment.

Facing the Future

•Moreover, it is an extremely wastefuMoreover, it is an extremely wasteful country – wasteful of food, water, el country – wasteful of food, water, energy, and environment. nergy, and environment.

•The pattern of economic The pattern of economic development is to continually tear up development is to continually tear up clean land and mountains and clean land and mountains and seashore, and to over-develop until seashore, and to over-develop until the beauty of nature is extinguished. the beauty of nature is extinguished. This is not sustainable development, This is not sustainable development, and the people of Taiwan will pay a and the people of Taiwan will pay a high price for it in the future. high price for it in the future.

•A great deal of effort must be put A great deal of effort must be put into forging a new social and into forging a new social and political agreement for the future political agreement for the future of Taiwan. High rates of of Taiwan. High rates of economic growth may not be economic growth may not be beneficial.beneficial.

•Taiwan faces the threat of invasion Taiwan faces the threat of invasion by China. It is continually being by China. It is continually being warned by the United States not to warned by the United States not to “rock the boat”. Taiwan has not in “rock the boat”. Taiwan has not in the past had a good reputation the past had a good reputation internationally among many peoples internationally among many peoples of the world, because it has been of the world, because it has been seen as a pawn of US imperialism. seen as a pawn of US imperialism.

• Even now the US presses the TaiwaEven now the US presses the Taiwan president to make statements in sn president to make statements in support of its vicious invasion of Iraq,upport of its vicious invasion of Iraq, and Taiwanese seem to have no co and Taiwanese seem to have no conscience on this matter.nscience on this matter.

• I believe that Taiwan must demonstrate I believe that Taiwan must demonstrate that it has its own principles of internatithat it has its own principles of international human rights, in order to persuade onal human rights, in order to persuade the world to support its self-determinatithe world to support its self-determination in the face of Chinese threats.on in the face of Chinese threats.

•There is danger both in action, and in There is danger both in action, and in lack of action. But any people must lack of action. But any people must take responsibility for their own take responsibility for their own future, and the young people of future, and the young people of Taiwan must know that they must Taiwan must know that they must make their own decisions, and live make their own decisions, and live with the consequences.with the consequences.