Chinese anti-secession law

The government of China has passed an anti-secession law which authorizes the use offorce against Taiwan. The law contains two central concepts - 1) that there is only on China, encompassing mainland China and Taiwan, and 2):

In the event that the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces should act under any name or by any means to cause the fact of Taiwan's secession from China, or that major incidents entailing Taiwan's secession from China should occur, or that possibilities for a peaceful reunification should be completely exhausted, the state shall employ non-peaceful means and other necessary measures to protect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Taiwanese government reaction has been expectedly critical. VP Annette Lu points out that the law contradicts US-China understandings that difference with Taiwan ought to be resolved "in a peaceful manner."

From the Tawain News:

We strongly encourage the Chen administration to accurately weigh international reactions and concerns and ensure that any responses or countermeasures to the PRC law are adopted and designed to protect our democracy and are not being made merely for the sake of domestic consumption.

By adhering to the principles of democracy and peace, Taiwan can contrast its principled response with Beijing's unilateral and callous anti-democratic maneuver. Besides correcting our long-distorted image as a "trouble maker" in cross-strait relations, a pragmatic response will show the world that it is Beijing that is actually rocking the boat or "pushing the envelope" in the Taiwan Strait.

Furthermore, Taiwan can take this opportunity to persuade the world that what really "separates" the PRC and Taiwan is not so much the matter of sovereignty but the degree to which democratic values and institutions have taken root and become consolidated.

As a "goodwill response" to Washington's appeal to both sides to "avoid risking igniting a cycle of reaction and counter-reaction," Taiwan should continue to appeal to the universal values of peace and democracy as the most effective tools to garner international support.

President Chen himself must show his leadership by personally addressing the nation on why domestic unity is so necessary now and on how the DPP administration aims to systematically deal with the situation.

Moreover, the DPP administration should launch an intensive international campaign to explain to the world community that the Taiwanese public virtually unanimously objects to the anti-separation law and why.

Since the "anti-secession law" poses a "clear and present" danger and threat not only to the people of Taiwan but also to regional peace and stability, the DPP government should also ask for more explicit support from the international community, especially the U.S. and Japan, to protect our hard-won democracy in the face of Beijing's militarism and unilateralism.

Incorporation of Taiwan into the U.S.-Japan security dialogue and the passage of proactive legislation to safeguard Taiwan's security in the face of this qualitatively new threat are steps that should be fostered.

The success of the March 26 demonstration "for democracy and peace and to protect Taiwan," which will no doubt attract the attention of the world community, is also crucial.

For one million Taiwanese to take to the streets to protest the PRC's provocative and unilateral attempt to undermine our sovereignty and democracy could stand as an even more significant global event than the momentous march by 500,000 Hong Kong residents on July 1, 2003 to object to Beijing's scheme to impose repressive revisions in the Basic Law.

If the Hong Kong people can say "no" to China and force Beijing to back down, scenes of even more Taiwanese "voting with their feet" for democracy and against annexation will be even more embarrassing for PRC leaders in Zhongnanhai.

I have many friends in Taiwan, and am concerned about them. I will be following this story closely.