Taiwan’s Past and Future

Yesterday marks the day in which Taiwan inaugurated its third presidential elect Ma Yin Jo. It might come as a surprise that Taiwan, as unstable as its relationship with China, is one of Asia’s freest societies. It is one of the few nations in Asia which can elect its own president and has vast freedoms of speech and press, so much so that it is actually hurtful to the image of Taiwan. You see on TV people screaming at each other, politicians throwing things at each other, and even saying very disrespectful and uncultured things to everyone and anyone including the president. However that is Taiwan, you take the good and the bad which comes with freedom. This freedom actually only started recently. Taiwan held its first presidential elections in 1996. In 2000 history was made when the ruling party KMT, who ruled Taiwan for over 50 years through its martial law period, was ousted for the pro-independence party DDP. This year the KMT regained the presidency with its softer stance on Taiwan/China relations.

My family was quite disappointed with the outcome of the election this year. Our family has a very negative history with the KMT government back in its martial rule period. Several things happen from back then which can never be forgiven. However the present is what it is and the Taiwan people has made its choice. The DDP party will need to grow and learn from this defeat. For KMT and President Ma, though the viewpoints are different everyone wants Taiwan and Taiwan people to be prosperous, I wish him luck.