TAIPEI - Ten days after China's mammoth October 1 parades celebrating its 60th
anniversary as a communist nation, Taiwanese celebrated their own national day
with thoughts of brighter days - despite overcast skies - and ties with the
near yet far mainland.
October 10 marked Taiwan's 98th Double Ten National Day, which signals the
start of an uprising in 1911 that led to the collapse of China's Qing Dynasty
and the establishment of the Republic of China in January 1912.
Taiwan continued to celebrate national day on October 10 after the Republic of
China government kept control of Taiwan but lost
control of mainland China in the wake of the communist victory of October 1,
1949. That day is celebrated by the People's Republic of China as its founding
day.
The past year has seen warmer cross-strait ties between Taiwan and China, said
Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, whose tenure since 2008 has brought Taiwan
the highest levels of normalization with the mainland in decades.
To many in this island of more than 23 million people, the passing of yet
another anniversary also brings thoughts of what binds the people in Taiwan and
China despite the backdrop of political tensions and saber-rattling that have
arisen from time to time over the last six decades.
"I think closer economic cooperation can help to ease political tensions
between both sides," said Lee Guo Guang, a 55-year-old professor. "For now, it
will be good if we don't put too much emphasis on confrontational issues."
"A confrontation will not be good for any of us," said Wong Sheng Ya, a
19-year-old undergraduate. "Taiwan's economy is interlinked to China's, and we
should aim for amiable cooperation with a little give and take."
In his national day address - muted because this year's celebrations were
canceled after Typhoon Morakot hit southern Taiwan in August and left at least
700 people dead or missing - Ma recalled that China and Taiwan had signed nine
agreements building on the 1992 consensus, also called the "One-China
principle".
The 1992 consensus refers to the outcome of a meeting between China and Taiwan
officials in Taiwan where both state that there is one China. However, the two
sides hold different interpretations of which one is the sole legitimate
representative of China's sovereignty.
Both sides are also looking to broaden their scope of cooperation, which
currently spans areas as diverse as tourism and food safety.
"This is the result of hard work on both sides, but we must remember that the
doubts and differences that we have are rooted in historical issues and cannot
be solved overnight," Ma said. "We must maintain confidence, face reality and
gradually build trust."
According to figures released by the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Taiwan,
its bilateral trade with China between January and July 2009 reached US$43.47
billion, accounting for 22.4% of total foreign trade.
Under Ma, also chairman of the Kuomintang (Nationalist) party, Taiwan opened
direct sea, air and mail links with China and ended a decades-long ban on such
linkages. The highest-level visit by a mainland Chinese official to Taiwan also
occurred in late 2008, though met protests by some quarters here.
But in his national day address, Ma was quick to assure the population that he
had not forgotten about the possible military threat across the strait. "We are
actively seeking peaceful cross-strait relations, but will not sacrifice
national security in doing so." He vowed, "We will actively develop a
professional army that is small but strong for national defense."
Such ambivalence is not lost on many here. Twenty-year-old Ann Wu, an
undergraduate student, said, "You don't feel the tensions strongly in your
everyday life, but they definitely exist."
"It feels like peaceful relations are possible when nothing comes up, but once
there is a conflict, you realize that there's still a huge gap between both
sides, and you start to think that a military solution is not impossible,"
Sukao Chang, a 36-year-old graduate student, said.
While it is apparent that cross-strait issues remain a balancing act, Ma
expressed confidence about the future. Citing the examples of the 2008 Sichuan
earthquake and Typhoon Morakot as proof of cross-strait amiability, Ma said
that the sentiment of "blood is thicker than water" on both sides is cause for
optimism.
"Looking at China's 60th anniversary, of course I have mixed feelings, but I do
feel happy for them that they are able to stand up and celebrate in this way.
After all, we are of the same descent," said Lee, the professor.
"I don't think their celebrations really hurt anyone's interests. It is
something that is worth celebrating in its own way," Wu agreed.
For now, Taiwan is looking ahead to celebrate its upcoming 100th anniversary in
2011 with a blast.
During his address, Ma announced that a 111-member committee would organize a
full year of activities for the occasion.
This might just be what the people are looking forward to. "National day was
not exceptionally memorable this year. It was a little bland, and in fact, some
people even seemed to have forgotten about it," Lee lamented.
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