Disarmament in the Asia-Pacific Region
2005 / 02 / 12
Lecture Presented at the Asian Pacific Greens 2005 Kyoto Meeting
Yenwen Peng, executive committee Green Party Taiwan
2/12/05
京都火車站
2005.1.13
I would like to thank the organizing committee for offering us a chance to speak on this very important issue. It is very rewarding to be here and learn about the political and social conditions of our fellow Asia Pacific countries. I believe that our mutual understanding and support will be radically advanced after the establishment of the Asia Pacific Greens Network, and that this Network will be a very valuable source for each and every party and organization that presents here today.
Speaking of peace and security in the AP region, I would like to share with you the Taiwan experience, and point out that not only the role of the US, but also of China that should concern us.
It is already known that the US operates bases in the Asia Pacific regions mainly for its own interests. With the rise of China, a stressful relationship is resurfacing in their competition of the leadership in this region.
Taiwan, as a country at the interface of these two super powers, has been squeezed into a corner. On one hand, Taiwan has faced the threat of military invasion by China since 1949, and now the recent increasing deployment of missiles across the Taiwan strait. Indeed, China has currently placed 700 missiles—each aimed at Taiwanese soil. On the other hand, Taiwan has recently been requested—again—to spend $18 billion US dollars for purchasing weapons from the US to defend itself from China. From Taiwan’s perspective, this endless nightmare is like a soap opera jointly directed by the two imperialist power to take advantage of the vulnerability in the middle of their geo-political relationship.
Recently, furthermore, the China government is busy proposing an Anti-Secession Law which, if passed, would authorize the use of military force to invade Taiwan if Taiwan declares independence. It is this kind of arbitrary and dominant attitude that drive the Taiwanese crazy. I am not a nationalist or fundamentalist in terms of Taiwan’s status. But since Taiwan and China have been de facto separated since 1949, we believe that the Taiwanese people are entitled to decide our own future—such as whether to unite with China or not. As such, the dictatorial attitude of China in excluding and threatening Taiwan’s claim for self-determination if by no means a matter of internal affairs as China claims. Rather, it is a matter of international injustice. It also leaves barely no choice for Taiwan, but to turn to another “big brother,” the US, for help.
Nevertheless, the Green Party Taiwan does not want to stick to this level of dilemma.
We believe that the political conflict between China and Taiwan can be and must be solved through democratic and diplomatic means. Therefore we are strongly committed to the Joint Appeal on Peace and security proposed by the organizing committee that is based on the fundamental principle of non-violence. We believe that small and medium sized countries in this country should reinforce the multi-lateral relations among ourselves, and hold explicit stance against any military action, especially those lunched in the name of national security or sovereignty. More concretely, we propose to add two points to the resolution. First is to call for the dismantling of Chinese missiles aimed at Taiwan and any other country in the Asia Pacific region. Second is for us to put joint efforts in the democratization of China through the AP Greens Network. We believe that these two points are very critical to the maintenance of peace and security in our region.
