Democracy in Taiwan

A Taiwanese achievement

Taiwan's first-ever presidential elections, held on 23 March 1996, are the culmination of Taiwan's transition from the authoritarian one-party Kuomintang rule to a full fledged democracy.

The KMT's repressive rule started after World War II, when Chiang Kai-shek was losing his Civil War with the Communists in China, and moved his troops and government to Taiwan. The widespread violations of human rights, restrictions on political rights, and the tight control over all aspects of the society lasted through the late 1980s: it wasn't until 1987 that Martial Law was lifted, while several laws restricting freedom of speech, and freedom of political expression were not repealed until 1991-92.

The democratic opposition on the island gradually organized itself in the early 1980s, and consolidated with the formation of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in September 1986. At each step along the route, the democratic opposition had to push hard to gain increasing freedoms for the Taiwanese society, and at each step the repressive forces within the Kuomintang fought hard to maintain the authoritarian status quo.

The main driving force in the whole democratization process was the fact that the native Taiwanese (85 percent of the island's population) wanted to end the repressive rule of Chiang's heirs and the mainlander dominance over the political system. Taiwan's transition towards democracy is thus first and foremost the achievement of the Taiwanese democratic movement on the island, which cherishes its Taiwanese identity, and strives to strengthen its own distinct culture, language, social system, and newfound democratic system.

Taiwan Communiqué comment: It is thus peculiar to read press reports which call Mr. Lee Teng-hui the first democratically-elected leader in China's nearly 5,000 years' history. The democratization process didn't have anything to do with China or with the Chinese people, and actually took place in reaction against the lack of democracy and human rights displayed by the Chinese both Nationalists and Communists.

"Taiwan is not part of China" demonstration

One day before Mr. Lee's inauguration, a large demonstration was held in Taipei to express support for formal independence of the island. Supporters of Taiwan independence took to the streets to let their voices be heard internationally. They emphasized that President Lee's anachronistic line of "eventual unification with China" does not have the full support of the people of Taiwan. As usual, the government-controlled media tried to downplay the event, and hardly gave it any coverage.

On 18 May 1996, Prof. Lin Shan-tien of National Taiwan University, the spokesman for the Association for Taiwan Nationbuilding (the main organizer of the event), issued a statement urging the new cabinet to take concrete measures to abolish the old and outdated "Republic of China" constitution (which dates back to 1947, when the Chinese Nationalists ruled China from Nanking) and to enact a new Taiwan Constitution. Professor Lin urged the new government to bring Taiwan back to the international community by joining the United Nations as "Taiwan".

The demonstration drew more than 10,000 participants, and included young and old, mothers with babies and teenagers. They marched from Ta-an park in the eastern part of Taipei around 5 p.m. and wound their way through the city. Many carried banners and placards saying that Taiwan is not part of China. They also strongly criticized President Lee for stating that "independence is unnecessary and impossible."

The demonstrators were joined by more than 100 vehicles, including taxis, cars and vans festooned with colorful pro-independence flags and banners. The convoy stretched for several kilometers through the capital city. After two hours they arrived at Taipei City Hall to hold a rally, including speeches by major political figures in the democratic opposition, and singing of Taiwanese folk songs.

More than 20 pro-independence groups and radio stations joined the Association for Nation-building in sponsoring the event. Prof. Peng Ming-min, the DPP's presidential candidate in the March 1996 elections, founded the Association for Taiwan Nation-building as a forum to continue advocacy of Taiwan independence.