For Bao Tong, Taiwan is a model of democracy for the mainland where the “big lie” reigns
Bao is a former aide to the late Party chief Zhao Ziyang, and both men opposed the Tiananmen crackdown”. Zhao was ousted from power for that reason, and Bao was jailed for seven years and has been under tight police surveillance since his release.
Although typhoon Morakot forced Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou to cancel ceremonies marking the national holiday, the island nation continues to see itself as the heir to the Republic of China founded by Sun Yat-sen after the fall of the Empire (1911). Indeed, for Bao Taiwan is the only part of China where full democracy is in place.
“In Taiwan, where there is no socialism, it is possible to ferret out corruption openly,” Bao wrote in his essay.
“On the mainland, where we enjoy the benefits of the dictatorship of the proletariat, masses of people who turn out to protest at corruption are suppressed as troublemakers.” Conversely, “Courts in Taiwan have the power to pass judgment on high-ranking officials.”
“In mainland China, where there is no separation of powers and everything is controlled by the Party, you need the permission of the provincial Party secretary to lodge a case against a county level official,” Bao added.
Quoting Mao Zedong who reportedly said that, “Unification can be achieved only on a democratic basis,” Bao stressed that, “Only peaceful reunification on the basis of democracy will bring happiness to compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.”
By contrast, for him 60 years of Communist rule in China are “big lie”.
“In the first 30 years, tens of millions either died of starvation or were ‘struggled’ to death under the banner of revolution."
“In the second 30 years, anyone standing up for civil and constitutional rights, for religious freedom, for ethnic autonomy has been declared an enemy of the people en masse, all in the name of stability.”
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