Lee Teng-hui denies promoting Taiwan independence

Lee Teng-hui denies promoting Taiwan independence
Bevin Chu
January 31, 2007


Has Godfather of Taiwan independence Lee Teng-hui really changed his mind about Taiwan independence?

Below is a United Daily News article on Lee Teng-hui's apparent recantation of Taiwan independence. I have translated it into English, FYI.

It offers quite a few clues as to what's going on in his head.

For example, Lee stressed that:

"Taiwan is already independent. The important point now is to allow Taiwan to become a normal nation. For example, amending Article 4 of the constitution pertaining to the nation's territorial sovereignty and other questions. These must all be amended or solved by means of public referenda."

Does that sound like recanting his commitment to Taiwan independence to you? It doesn't sound like it to me.

My own take is that it makes no difference what Lee's motives might be. The mere fact that the Godfather of Taiwan independence feels compelled to pay lip service to at least some Pan Blue political premises and to at least some Pan Blue policy prescriptions amounts to a major setback for the Taiwan independence movement.

Lee's so-called "recantation" is enormously harmful to the cause of Taiwan independence, and enormously beneficial to the cause of Chinese reunification, but only if Pan Blue leaders have the presence of mind to take advantage of this "gift from heaven."

Lee Teng-hui denies promoting Taiwan independence, wants to visit the mainland, praises Hu Jintao
United Daily Evening News, Yang Shengju, Taipei
2007/01/31

李登輝否認搞台獨、想訪大陸、讚胡錦濤
‧聯合晚報／記者楊昇儒/台北報導
2007/01/31

During a January 29 interview with Next magazine, former president Lee Teng-hui made an unprecedented declaration that he is not the Godfather of Taiwan independence. "I am not an advocate of Taiwan independence, nor have I ever advocated Taiwan independence." Lee Teng-hui even suggested that "[mainland] Chinese capital" as well as mainland tourists should be allowed to come to Taiwan. He also indicated that numerous organizations and individuals hoped he would visit the mainland, and that if possible, "I would like to visit the mainland and travel the same route that Confucius took 5000 years ago." [Correction: Confucius lived 2000 years ago, not 5000 years ago.]

前總統李登輝29日接受壹週刊專訪時首度公開表示，他不是台獨教父，「我不是台獨，也從來沒有主張過台獨」。李登輝還主張應該開放中資以及大陸觀光客來台；他並表示，其實有很多團體和個人都希望他去大陸看看，如果能成行，「我想去大陸將5000年前孔子周遊列國的路線走一遍」。

Lee Teng-hui had no sooner handed the chairmanship of the Taiwan Solidarity Union over to Huang Kun-hui, when he announced a change to a "left of center" political path. He also accepted an interview in which he made clear that he is not the Godfather of Taiwan independence, and instead indicated a desire to visit the mainland. His about face was so swift it left Taiwan's political arena no time to react.

李登輝才剛主導黃昆輝出任台聯黨主席，宣示改走「中間偏左」路線；又接受專訪撇清他是台獨教父，還表明想訪問大陸，變化之快，讓台灣政壇目不暇給。

The Pursuit of Taiwan independence is Dangerous

Lee Teng-hui made clear that the assumption that he was the Godfather of Taiwan independence had no basis. "I have published 25 books. In which one of them have I ever pushed Taiwan independence?" "I have no need to pursue Taiwan independence, because Taiwan is already a sovereign and independent country."

[Correction: No one on Taiwan has any need to pursue Taiwan independence, because Taiwan is already a province of the Republic of China.]

Lee Teng-hui was even more opposed to the ruling party treating Taiwan independence as a political goal to pursue. "The pursuit of Taiwan independence is regressive, moreover it is dangerous, because it not only demotes Taiwan to the status of a non-independent country, it undermines "Taiwan-centricism," and creates a multitude of problems for America and the mainland."

追求台獨是危險的

李登輝澄清他是台獨教父的說法，「我李登輝言論集有25篇，哪一篇我有強調過台獨？」；「我不必追求台獨，因為台灣事實上已經是一個主權獨立的國家」。

李登輝更反對執政當局現在把台獨當成追求的主張，他說，「追求台獨是退步的，而且是危險的做法，因為這種做法不但把台灣降格成未獨立的國家，傷害台灣的主體性，也會引起美國、大陸方面很多問題」。

The Two States Theory was not his Original Intention

He also criticized the Democratic Progressive Party for making "a phony agenda out of the pursuit of Taiwan independence." The Kuomintang then responds by waving the anti Taiwan independence flag. Actually the Blues and Greens are merely using reunification vs. independence issue. "Reunification and independence are both false agendas. The only thing real is power struggle."

Lee Teng-hui also indicated that the "Two States Theory" was not his original meaning. His expression was "Special State to State relations." This is not a Taiwan independence position.

兩國論不是他原意

他並批評民進黨製造「追求台灣獨立的假議題」，國民黨就祭出「反台獨」的大旗，其實藍綠只是利用統獨，「統獨天天談都是假的，都在權力鬥爭」。

李登輝還表示，「兩國論」並不是他的原意，他的說法是「特殊國與國關係」，這更不是什麼主張台獨。

Talk of Authoring a New Constitution is basically deceiving the Common People

He stressed that Taiwan is already independent. The important point now is to allow Taiwan to become a normal nation. For example, amending Article 4 of the constitution, which pertains to the nation's territorial sovereignty and other questions. These must all be amended or resolved by public referenda. But it is nearly impossible to do this at the moment. "The Democratic Progressive Party says one thing but does another. The threshold for a constitutional amendment is too high. A public referendum is beset with difficulties. Therefore screaming about a new constitution is basically deceiving the common people."

新憲法根本騙百姓

他強調，台灣早已主權獨立，現在重點是如何讓台灣國家正常化，例如修改憲法第4條有關國家固有疆域等問題，這些都必須透過修憲或公民投票的方式來解決，但是現在幾乎都做不到；「民進黨說是一套，做是一套，用修憲，門檻太高，公投又困難重重，還在喊什麼新憲法，根本就是在騙老百姓」。

The Avoid Haste, Exercise Patience Policy does not mean Saying No to the Mainland

During the interview Lee Teng-hui said he was extremely worried that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait had no channels of communication. He also criticized the ruling Democratic Progressive Party government for adopting its "Aggressive Opening" Policy as "opening a road to exit, but none to return." "On top of which, their policy flip-flops constantly. Aggressive Opening becomes Aggressive Management. This is simply absurd!" "Taiwan is like a barrel of water from which the water continuously flows out but never comes back. How are the common people supposed to live?" Lee Teng-hui indicated that during his term as president the "Avoid Haste, Exercise Patience" Policy he proposed did not forbid relations with the mainland. Economic exchange is bidirectional. The Democratic Progressive Party has turned it into something unidirectional."

戒急用忍非拒大陸

李登輝在專訪中非常擔心兩岸目前完全沒有溝通平台的狀況，他還批評民進黨政府採取「積極開放」，是「開放一條路走出去，卻沒有回來」，「而且他們的政策變來變去，積極開放又變積極管理，簡直豈有此理！」「整個台灣像一桶水，水一直流出去沒有回來，老百姓怎麼生活？」。李登輝表示，他在總統任內提出的「戒急用忍」，並不是不能和大陸有關係，經濟原本就雙向，民進黨卻把它變成單向。

Hu Jintao may not say much, but he's a Man of Substance

Lee Teng-hui proposed more boldness in allowing [mainland] Chinese capital to enter Taiwan, and mainlanders to come to Taiwan as tourists. He said "Don't treat everyone who comes from the mainland as a spy. Why don't you have the courage to deal with such matters? They should be allowed to come as consumers, enabling Taiwan to become a place where global brands gather."

Lee Teng-hui's attitude toward [mainland] China changed from critical to open-minded. He even praised current Chinese leader Hu Jintao's solid background as a water conservationist. "He says little. He doesn't indulge in idle talk. He simply acts. He has adopted a soft approach to the reunification of Taiwan. He avoids an excessively hard approach, allowing the people of Taiwan to become less defensive, unlike Jiang Zemin, who accomplished little."

胡錦濤話少較實在

李登輝主張應該更大膽開放讓中資來台、大陸人民來台觀光。他說，「不要把每個大陸來的，都當成特務，你沒有膽量怎麼做事情？應該開放他們來消費，讓台灣也可以成為世界名牌集中的地方」。

李登輝對中國態度從批判改為開放，他還讚揚現任中國領導人胡錦濤是讀水利出身的人，比較實在，「話很少，不講空話，默默的做」；「對台灣的統戰採取軟調的，不再採取太強硬的動作，讓台灣人民瓦解心防」，不像江澤民說的多，做的少。