History has shown that Taiwan is an island with multiple characteristics and complicated destinies. First and foremost, Taiwan is by nature an island of misfortune. As Taiwan’s early inhabitants failed to organize themselves into a nation state, the island suffered the tragic fate of being constantly invaded and ruled by foreign countries. Consequently, early inhabitants were never able to establish themselves as the masters of their own homeland. Moreover, as the alien ruling regimes differed in race, culture, and language, and changed hands with great frequency, Taiwan’s inhabitants, especially the first generation in a new regime, always suffered discrimination and spiritual torture during the period of adjustment to their new masters. This continuous change of alien rulers also meant that Taiwan had difficulty in developing a sophisticated culture, which requires the accumulated efforts of several generations.
Looked at from a different perspective, however, Taiwan was also an island of blessings. Since most of the foreign powers occupying the island were from more developed regions, such as the Dutch, Chinese, and Japanese, advanced production techniques and cultures were quickly introduced, allowing the island to progress rapidly. Furthermore, once these foreign powers left, the effects of their respective cultures became important assets for enriching and diversifying Taiwan’s own culture.
Looking to the future, one could also say that Taiwan is an island of hope. Firstly, the island’s achievements in democracy, economic liberalization, and cultural diversity make it an ideal model to follow for other Chinese societies, such as China, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Secondly, Taiwan’s highly educated populace living on an island possessing all modern facilities, particularly convenient transportation and communication, has produced a cluster effect, expediting economic and cultural innovation and giving Taiwan unlimited potential for development. Thirdly, Taiwan is at the confluence of the world’s two most commonly used languages, English and Mandarin Chinese, with many Taiwanese speaking both. This places Taiwan in the perfect position of serving as a bridge or melting pot between the two communities. In due course, Taiwan is bound to play an important and unlimited role in the world arena.
There is still a hidden social illness that needs to be eliminated, however, which is Taiwan’s national identity. After the establishment of the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949, the Republic of China continued to claim that it represented all of China and adhered to a strict policy of “one China,” when, in reality, it only exercised jurisdiction over Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu. Consequently, Taiwan became increasingly isolated diplomatically. In 1971, the ROC was forced to withdraw from the United Nations and, on January 1, 1979, the US severed formal ties with the island, making Taiwan an orphan in the international community. This difficult situation in international relations subsequently caused a crisis in governance and, since then, the legitimacy of the government and the people’s sense of national identity have become controversial issues. If the government accepts a Chinese identity, it faces the problem of being ruled by the Chinese Communists whereas, if it acknowledges a Taiwanese identity, then independence becomes inevitable. Where to go? Here one crucial and critical problem derives from the fact that citizens of different origins in Taiwan hold widely differing views on this issue. The mainlanders have long controlled Taiwan’s political, economic, and social resources, but are a minority on the island, and thus risk becoming a disadvantaged group should the government choose to accept a Taiwanese national identity. Thus, it is only natural that they support the “one-China” principle through every means possible. Conversely, native Taiwanese favor independence for fear that, if Taiwan is unified by China, they will fall back to the hereditary tragedy of being ruled by outsiders and the hard-earned fruits of the past half century, which cost many people their lives, will be destroyed overnight. As these two groups hold opposite stances and have many conflicts of interest, a consensus is difficult to reach, and this has resulted in political instability and social disharmony. A community can be likened to a boat cruising in the ocean, which can be navigated toward its destination only with the concerted efforts of the crew. Unfortunately, Taiwan’s different ethnic groups hold controversial national identities so strongly that it poses a great threat to Taiwan’s survival. How this deep-rooted social illness can be eliminated and a harmonious society be created will test the wisdom and abilities of Taiwan’s people in the years to come.
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