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Election ushers in
‘a new Taiwan’

Chen's victory today shows
that 'no matter what China
says, we have our own way'

By Helen Altonn
Star-Bulletin

Chinese historians and Taiwanese residents in Hawaii today hailed Taiwan's democratic election as unprecedented and the start of a better life for the country.

"This is a major landmark for the new millennium," said Daniel W.Y. Kwok, University of Hawaii history professor emeritus.

"This is the freest and most democratic election among Chinese people on Chinese soil."

Chen Shui-bian's peaceful defeat of the Nationalist Party, long in control of Taiwan, is significant because it shows "it can be done in an Asian context and a Chinese context," Kwok said.

"I think the vituperation will go up," he added, referring to China's threats against Taiwan, "but they still have to look at this accomplished fact. What I wish the mainland reaction would be is to breathe deeply and look at what really happened in Taiwan."

Oliver Lee, a UH associate professor of political science, said he does not expect China to react militarily in the near future since Chen "has backed away from the idea of Taiwan independence and is willing to go to Beijing to talk."

But Lee said he does not think Chen will be effective because "Beijing obviously is most suspicious about him, so I think Beijing is going to continue to make threats and try to also rattle the Taiwan economy."

He said this will create instability. He pointed out that the Legislature is still controlled by the Nationalist Party, "so his government is not going to be that efficient."

Dr. Taying Yang, with the Taiwanese Association in Hawaii, said, however: "We're a new Taiwan. Finally, our own Taiwanese people have our own new leader, a new direction."

He said the election will mean an end to corruption of the old regime. Taiwanese people want a positive relationship with China, but "no matter what China says, we have our own way," he said. "We don't want to be threatened by them."

Kate Zhou, a UH political science professor, said Beijing did not learn a lesson in 1996 when it tried to scare the Taiwanese people, and "the Taiwanese people got mad."

She said China's leaders tried the same thing in this election. "I'm sure a lot of people are scared, but they are also very, very angry."

"The Chinese government helped him (Chen) get elected."

Tony Chen, former president of the Hawaii chapter of the Taiwanese Association of America, expects Taiwan to have a relationship with China similar to that between America and England. "They are speaking English, but they are a separate country."

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Chen Shui-bian's Democratic Progressive Party
Independent James Soong
Nationalist Vice President Lien Chan